Chapter 1 — Husband Takes Little Tam to Party, Big Screen Shows My 31 Million Yuan Project

My ex-husband brought Xiao San to the party, and the big screen played my technology transfer worth 30 million yuan

"Mom, my sister-in-law still hasn't sent me living expenses this month."

Chu Dien sat on the sofa in the living room, crossed her legs in a cross-legged position, raised her phone towards the camera in a V shape with one hand, her tone was calm as if she was just saying the weather is nice today. Chu's mother immediately turned her head to look at me, her eyes filled with a sense of urgency.

"Nguyen To, have you forgotten? Next month Tieu Dien has to pay the training class tuition, please transfer 4,000 yuan."

I stood at the kitchen door, my apron still had some oil stains on it.

"Mom, didn't I just transfer 5,000 yuan last month?"

"That was last month, and this month is this month."

Chu's mother placed her chopsticks firmly on the table.

"The new media operations class that Tieu Dien is taking costs 8,000 yuan per course. How is a little bit of my parents' pension enough?"

I opened my lips slightly, intending to say something. Chu Dien still did not bother to raise his head.

"Now your brother is the deputy chief. I'm a full-time housewife, just enjoying happiness every day. Isn't it too much to spend a little money to help my family?"

I looked at my twenty-six year old brother-in-law in front of me. After graduating from college in three years, I had seven jobs, the longest job only lasted four months. Now I'm at home, "unemployed to study", and I rely on my husband and me for food and shelter. I bit my lip, without saying another word, turned around and walked into the kitchen. The pot of soup on the stove is still boiling. The phone vibrated once. Message from Chu Yen: I have a social party tonight, I won't be home for dinner. I placed the phone face down on the kitchen counter. This was the fourth time this week he used the "social" excuse. Chu Dien's voice echoed from the living room again.

"It's convenient to transfer it, I already have your WeChat."

My movement of scooping soup stopped. I suddenly remembered what happened to the Chu family three years ago. The father-in-law speculated on futures contracts and lost more than 600,000 yuan, and creditors came to the door. At that time, Chu Yen was still just a low-level manager, his salary was completely insufficient to cover that debt. I took out all of my pre-marital savings, then borrowed 200,000 yuan from my uncle, paying off their debt in installments on behalf of their house. At that time, Chu's mother held my hand and cried, saying:

"To To, you are the benefactor of our Chu family."

Yet now, that "benefactor" has to pay living expenses on time every month, and also has to spend extra money to support a brother-in-law who only knows how to parasitize. I brought out the soup and placed it neatly on the table, took off my apron and folded it neatly.

"Mom, I'll go upstairs first. I'm a little uncomfortable."

"Are you upset again?"

Chu's mother still did not raise her head, picked up a piece of ribs and put it in Chu Dien's bowl.

"You're so young and you always complain that you're not feeling well. When I was your age, I took care of my two children alone, everything inside and outside was my responsibility..."

I didn't finish listening, so I turned around and went upstairs. The bedroom was unusually quiet. I sat down on the edge of the bed and my phone vibrated again. Not Chu Yen. It's an email notification from an unknown number. The technical plan I sent out three months ago... Got a response. I stared at the title on the screen for three seconds.

"Letter of Intent for Technology Cooperation 'Indoor Environmental Intelligent Control System'"

Sender: Due Hang Technology Group. My hand suddenly dither. From downstairs came Chu Dien's laughter and the background music of the short video. Chu's mother called out:

"Tieu Dien, stop playing on the phone. After eating, wash the dishes... Okay, don't wash anymore, wait for your sister-in-law to come down and then wash."

I turned off the phone screen, tightened the corner of the blanket, and sat quietly for a long time. The next morning at seven o'clock, I still woke up on time to prepare breakfast. I don't know when Chu Yen returned, he slept in the guest room. As I passed by, I smelled the scent of alcohol wafting from the crack in the door, mixed with a strong sweet scent of perfume. Not the brand I use. I stood still for two seconds then left. In the kitchen, the porridge has already been simmered, and four eggs have also been fried. By the time Chu's mother came downstairs, I had finished setting the table.

"Your dad has a stomachache today, let's make something softer."

"I steamed the eggs. They're still in the pot to keep warm."

Chu's mother quietly said "yes" then sat down to eat.

"Ah yes."

She suddenly spoke up.

"Next Sunday, your aunt's house is having a one-month party. Mom and Tieu Dien will go. Remember to prepare a 1,200 yuan welcome money."

"Also, have you transferred the money for Tieu Dien's class yet?"

"I've moved."

Last night before sleeping I moved. Chu's mother nodded with satisfaction, then suddenly remembered something.

"Last time you said you wanted to take some certification, right?"

The chopsticks in my hand stopped. A month ago I mentioned once that I wanted to take the engineer certification exam. At that time, Chu's mother didn't say anything, I thought she didn't take it to heart.

"What certification exam?"

Chu's mother chewed and spoke.

"Now that Chu Yen has a high salary, why are you still worrying about that? There are so many things up and down in the house. If you have time to take exams, it's better to clean the house properly. Last time we had guests over, the bathroom tile floor was full of water stains, it was so embarrassing."

I bowed my head and drank porridge, not answering.

"Sister-in-law is really busy."

At this time, Chu Dien came down from upstairs, wearing pajamas, with messy hair.

"Just taking care of my family is tiring enough, what else can I do to get a certificate?"

His voice carried a smile, I don't know if it was a compliment or sarcasm. I put the bowl down.

"Mom, I'm going out for a while. I'll be back to cook before noon."

"Where are you going this early in the morning?"

"...Go to the supermarket, we're out of soy sauce."

I changed my shoes and left the house. But I don't go to the supermarket. I went to the printing shop next to the city library and printed the letter of intent to cooperate that Due Hang Technology Group sent to my mailbox. Twelve pages. I sat on the steps in front of the printing shop, reading each page one by one. Technology cooperation intention, initial transfer fee quote... 31 million yuan. My hands started shaking again. I spent two full years completing this plan. Every night, waiting for the whole family to fall asleep, I secretly open my laptop in the kitchen, on the balcony, and even in the bathroom to write. During the nights when Chu's mother still thought I was "playing a movie", I was actually calculating and recalculating the parameters of the model. No one knows. Even Chu Yen. Seven years ago, when I married into the Chu family, I had just graduated from the University of Industry for a year. At that time, I worked as an assistant engineer at a small design institute, with a monthly salary of 4,500 yuan. Chu Yen once said:

"Don't go to work anymore, I'll take care of you. The family also needs someone to take care of them."

I believed. I quit my job.