Chapter 5 — Healing After Days of Neglect

Aunt Ba: "I heard that Van Van opened some design company in the city?" Uncle Two: "Really? Salary 3,500, where can I get the money to open a company?" Lam Huyen said nothing. But I know, she's looking. The storm came faster than I thought. One afternoon in late June, I was editing the plan. The door was pushed open. I raised my head. Standing at the door were three people. Lam Huyen, Tran Hao Vu... and my mother.

“This is what you call having no money?”

Lam Huyen glanced around. The design company is 300 square meters large, with brand new furniture, more than a dozen iMacs neatly arranged, and walls full of award-winning designs.

“You lied to me.”

“When did you lie to me?”

“You said you quit your job without any income, you said you ate man tou.”

She pointed around. “This is called eating man tou?”

“The company is just starting out, it's not very profitable yet.”

"No profit yet? How much is the annual rent for this place?"

“I bought it.”

“Bought it?!” Tran Hao Vu glared. "Where will I get the money to buy space? This area is at least—"

“Hao Yu.” Lam Huyen interrupted and walked straight in front of me.

"Lam Van, tell the truth. How much money do you have?"

“What does it have to do with you?”

"You are my sister. You have money but don't help your family, and lie about not having it. Can your conscience handle it?"

"You took 4,200,000 yuan in compensation money, and you didn't share a single penny with me. Was your conscience okay at that time?"

Lam Huyen's face changed completely. My mother quickly interjected.

"Van Van, your sister said that because she was in such a hurry. It's really difficult right now, Hao Vu's lawsuit isn't over yet—"

"Mom, I earned my money myself, it didn't fall from the sky. Why should I give it to you?"

“You are siblings!”

"When the compensation money was divided, why didn't you remember me?"

“Why do you keep mentioning that!”

“Because in everyone's eyes, that was never a problem.”

I stood up and looked straight at the three of them.

"From childhood to adulthood, my sister took piano lessons for 20,000 yuan a year and said she was doing it. I took painting lessons for 3,000 yuan and said it was a waste.

She passed the second-class school entrance exam and opened three banquet tables. I passed a first-rate school and said girls studying too much is useless. She got married and had a dowry of 200,000 yuan. As for me, no one bothers to ask."

"Now the compensation is 4,200,000 yuan, I'll take it all. You don't have even a penny."

“And then you lose money, everyone comes to you to borrow money?”

“Based on what?”

The whole office was silent. The surrounding colleagues all stopped and looked this way. Phuong Vien stepped out from inside and stood behind me. Tran Hao Vu's face was sometimes red, sometimes white. Lam Huyen bit her lips tightly. On my mother's face was confusion mixed with surprise.

“Van Van… do you always think like that?”

“I'm not biased, I just think your sister needs it more—”

"Mom, there's no need to explain. How everyone divides it is everyone's business.

As for your money... it's your business."

“How much money do you have?” Lam Huyen suddenly took another step forward.

“It has nothing to do with you.”

“Miss Lam.” Phuong Vien stepped up to block us. "There are still employees working in the office. If there's something wrong, please come out and talk."

Lam Huyen glanced at her.

“Who are you?”

“Partner of Van Chu Design, Phuong Vien.”

"Partner?" Lam Huyen smiled coldly. "Outsiders are partners, but my biological sister won't lend me any money. Lam Van, you're really good."

"Thank." I sat down on the chair. “I'm busy, everyone please about."

“Okay, let's go.” Tran Hao Vu pulled her hand, his face unsightly. “Is it terrible to have money? Okay, go.”

The three people turned and left. At the door, Tran Hao Vu turned around and threw a sentence.

“Lam Van, don't think that opening a small company is terrible. You've been working in the market for so many years, what haven't you seen? For a company like this, it's good to survive for three years."

I didn't raise my head.

“Close the door gently for me.”

The door was banged hard. Phuong Vien came over.

“Are you okay?”

“Your hands are shaking.”

I looked down. Truly shaking. Not out of anger. It's because... the words that have been suppressed for twenty-six years have finally come out.