Chapter 1 — From Worker to Boss

I worked three rotating shifts in the factory for ten years, and was finally assigned an apartment. On the day of moving house, my husband Tieu Hong Binh brought his childhood friend, Co Nguyet, into the door. Behind her were two suitcases. "Nguyet Nguyet just got divorced, her mother's house really has no place to live, she could just live with us." I stiffened, looked at the new house I had just cleaned, trying to suppress my anger: "There's only one bedroom here, where are you going to put Co Nguyet?" Co Nguyet's eyes were red and she spoke cautiously: "Sister-in-law, I know you don't welcome me, but I really have no choice but to Okay. You just need to put a simple bed in the living room, absolutely not bothering the two of you." Tieu Hong Binh immediately looked at her sadly: "Your health is not good, how can you sleep in the living room? This bedroom is sunny and spacious, you can stay." I was so angry that I burst out laughing. He was heartbroken because Co Nguyet's health was not good, but forgot that my waist was always in pain due to the nature of my work. "Tieu Hong Binh, you left Co Nguyet in the bedroom, so where are we? Are the two of us crowded together on a folding bed outside the living room?" Tieu Hong Binh's face turned slightly unsightly: "That's enough. I'm the head of the family, this matter is decided like that. Nguyet Nguyet is in the bedroom, you put a folding bed in the living room, and I in the school dormitory." "Everyone is comrades, right now Co Nguyet is having a difficult time, you don't care too much as a person." "If you continue to cause such unreasonable things, I really can't live with you anymore in this marriage." To keep Co Nguyet there, he used divorce to threaten me. I didn't say anything, just went to the factory office to ask for a divorce certificate. I used my seniority to apply for this house from the factory. Without my permission, you both have to get out of my house. …… Seeing that I didn't say anything, Tieu Hong Binh thought I had compromised, a smug look flashed in the corners of his eyes: "Isn't it good to agree early? You definitely have to make a fuss. Go get the newly bought silk bedding set for Nguyet Nguyet. That set is soft, Nguyet Nguyet will be more used to it." My hands clenched into fists in my sleeves. He even aimed at my bedding set. "That's the set my mother saved up for three months to buy for me at the department store, for my own use." Tieu Hong Binh snorted coldly, his expression not caring at all: "I knew it was from the department store, so I asked you to take it out for Nguyet Nguyet to use. As for you, your skin is rough and your meat is thick, isn't it still good to use hemp fabric all these years? Why are you acting so cool?" "Moreover, a worker. Weaving machines every day in the factory like you, are you used to using good things? It turns out that in his eyes, I don't deserve to use good things. Looking at my pale face, Tieu Hong Binh realized that his words were a bit harsh, so he softened his voice: "I only say what I have to say, don't pretend to be quiet." "Nguyet Nguyet is used to using good things, things made of linen she is not used to, will cause rashes on her body. Have some sympathy." "Later I will save money to buy you a set." Because Co Nguyet is used to using good things, so good things must be let her use. As for me, I'm used to using inferior items, so I can only continue to use inferior items. But based on what? This house is a fertilizer factory for me. The bedding set was also a gift my mother bought to celebrate me moving into a new house. Why do I have to give all my things to Co Nguyet to use? "There's no need for you to buy them. If she wants to use them, you can buy them for her yourself. This house is for me from the factory, only I have the right to decide how to live in it." Seeing my attitude suddenly stiffen, Tieu Hong Binh's face became extremely ugly: "What do you mean by that?" I looked up.

head, coldly looking at him: "What do you mean?" "Aren't you afraid..." I interrupted him: "Divorce, I agree." Tieu Hong Binh widened his eyes in surprise, looking at me in disbelief: "Just because of such a small thing, you want a divorce?" I shook my head: "It's not me who proposed, it's you who proposed. I just respect your opinion." Co Nguyet's eyes were red, her face full of self-pity: "Mr. Hong Binh, don't Because of you, you're arguing with your sister-in-law. She doesn't like you here, so you should still go back." After saying that, she pretended to leave, but was pulled back by Tieu Hong Binh. He looked at Co Nguyet sadly: "Nguyet Nguyet, where else can you go? After the divorce, your mother's house did not welcome you. When you returned, you could only sleep on the mat in the kitchen, which was too pitiful for you." Then, he looked at me angrily: "Nguyen Du, just because of a room, do you have to force Nguyet Nguyet to die? I said she was in trouble." "Mr. Her mother's sister at home doesn't like her, forcing her to do laundry and cook every day. Her parents favor men over women, she really can't live at home." "Now you force her to return, it's like forcing her to die." I stiffened, looking at the husband who had been with me in the countryside for three years, returned to the city and then been married for ten years, suddenly feeling uncomfortable in my heart. I never knew he could be so delicate, able to understand a woman's difficulties. He knew that after the divorce, Co Nguyet's life at her mother's house was not good, that her siblings forced her to do one thing after another, and that her parents also did not treat her well. But he forgot that during the past ten years, I lived in his house and went through exactly the same days. Every day, at five or six in the morning, I have to wake up to prepare food for the whole family, then wash clothes for a large family. Salary must be paid in full every month. When I eat, I have to eat the least. Because his mother said that men are the breadwinners of the family, let the men eat their fill first, while the women can eat a few bites at random. Normally he lives in the dormitory and only comes home on weekends. And I can only sleep in the bedroom when he comes home. As long as he is not home, the bedroom must be given to his siblings' children, and I can only spread the mat under the cold kitchen, reeking of an unpleasant smell. I once complained to him, but he coldly scolded me: "Don't married women all live like that? Mom only wants the best for us, can you please stop comparing like that?" I slept in the kitchen for ten years, and he was never heartbroken. As for Co Nguyet, who was just divorced and had been sleeping in the kitchen for a month, he was so heartbroken that he used the divorce to threaten me and force me to give up my bedroom. Turns out it wasn't that he didn't understand. It's just that the person he cares about is not me. I lowered my head to look at the thick calluses on my palms. Those are calluses created by ten years of work. For the past ten years, I haven't dared to rest for even a moment, every day I've been spinning like a top. Other people don't want to be on night shift, I'm on duty. Others criticize the work as tiring, I do it. I did all that just to be eligible to be assigned a house as soon as possible, so I could move out of that cannibal house. Now I have been assigned a house, but there will soon be an outsider in the house. "This house is the result of ten years of hard work for me. I have slept in your kitchen for ten years, and now you force me to continue sleeping in the living room. Tieu Hong Binh, do you think this is appropriate?" A guilty look flashed across Tieu Hong Binh's face. Just as he was about to speak, Co Nguyet covered her mouth and said desperately: "I knew right away that I was the one left over. If only I were

"Let's just die." Having said that, she pushed Tieu Hong Binh away and ran straight out. Tieu Hong Binh panicked and chased after her, not paying attention even when he bumped me to the ground. I stood up holding the table, then started to tidy up the room myself. I folded all my clothes into the closet, leaving Tieu Hong Binh's things untouched. After that, I went to the factory office. "Please give me a referral, I want a divorce." Ms. Vuong, the factory office leader, had a pretty good relationship with me. Hearing that I wanted a divorce, she asked in surprise: "Nguyen Du, why do you suddenly want a divorce?" Is it because of Co Nguyet?" I nodded: "That's right. If the two of them are compatible at first love, I will consummate it for them." Ms. Vuong pulled my hand and advised with concern: "Nguyen Du, I know that Co Nguyet is not a good person. Previously, she divorced because her husband discovered that she had an unclear relationship with someone else." "Tieu Hong Binh is a teacher, now the country values education, his social status is higher. If you divorce, you will suffer a loss. You have worked very hard to endure until today, do you want to make it easier for Co Nguyet? If you divorce, this will affect you. Absolutely don't do anything stupid." Looking at Ms. Vuong's sincere concern, I knew that she truly wanted the best for me. But I couldn't waste my whole life in this mud. I recounted all the things I had experienced in the past ten years, including what happened today. After listening, Ms. Vuong's eyes turned red: "It's true that you are worthy of being slashed with a thousand knives, not a good thing. Over the years, you really have suffered too much resentment." "If you really think carefully, I will give you a referral." I nodded: "I have thought carefully." Holding the referral letter, my mood was much lighter. I went to the store to buy half a kilo of ribs. As soon as I walked out the door, I saw Tieu Hong Binh and Co Nguyet looking at leather shoes. The two of them leaned close to each other, extremely intimate. "These shoes are too expensive, Mr. Hong Binh, I can't accept it." Tieu Hong Binh affectionately pinched Co Nguyet's cheek: "Buy it for me, no matter how expensive it is." "Only genuine leather high heels are worthy of you." Co Nguyet blushed and shyly asked: "So has Hong Binh ever bought high heels for his sister-in-law?" Tieu Hong Binh laughed contemptuously: "Every day she only does housework or goes to the textile factory, so how does she have the opportunity to wear high heels?" Isn't it a waste to buy it for her?" Co Nguyet cooed: "It seems you are really lucky, to have Mr. Hong Binh who loves you." I stood on the corner of the street, feeling like my heart was being hit by a heavy object, my chest choking so much that I couldn't breathe. A year ago, when high heels were just starting to become popular, I also wanted to buy a pair. But he immediately turned cold: "Spending money indiscriminately to buy that thing is a waste." what? The cost of a pair of high heels is equal to half my month's salary, enough for the whole family to buy as much rice as possible. It's true that I don't know how to cultivate." It turns out that it has nothing to do with whether I know how to cultivate or not. It's just that in his eyes, I don't deserve to wear high heels. I carried the meat, and as soon as I turned around and walked a few steps, someone stopped me. It was Co Nguyet. She looked at me smugly: "You saw it just now, right? Even though Mr. Hong Binh is married, the most important person in his heart is still me.” “By the way, he gave me the fabric stamps and meat stamps that the unit gave him over the past few years. He said you don't need to wear good fabric, and you don't need to eat meat." Then, she glanced at the bag of ribs in my hand: "I like to eat braised ribs, remember to add a lot of sugar at a time."

little.”