Chapter 12 — I Can't Be Patient Anymore

Leaving the police station, I did not go home, because that place was no longer my home, but my mother-in-law's, Chu Dinh's, Chu Minh's, only there was no more room for me. I rented a hotel room near the company for a long-term stay, temporarily creating a small corner for myself in the middle of this noisy city. In the days that followed, I didn't contact Chu Minh, nor did he look for me, but I knew he was frantically running for money. The 500,000 yuan guarantee was like a mountain on his shoulders, leaving him no time to think about anything else. As expected, on the third day, my phone received a bank message: account 8879 received 500,000 yuan. It was Chu Minh transferred. He really gathered enough. I looked at that number and just smiled coldly. 500,000 yuan. Just the first step. 30,000,000 yuan behind, enough to ruin a person's life. On the fourth day, lawyer Truong called me, saying that my mother-in-law had been released on bail, had returned home, but was restricted from traveling, could not leave Giang Thanh, and must always be ready when summoned.

"The criminal part, the evidence is very clear, the prosecutor's office will soon prosecute."

The lawyer said.

"As for the civil part, I have calculated it, in addition to the value of the vase of 30,000,000 yuan, there are also recovery costs and mental damage, a total of about 32,000,000 yuan."

“Can it be done?”

She spoke frankly.

"The assets in the name of her mother-in-law, plus her husband and brother-in-law, if sold all, would be at most about 5,000,000 yuan. The remaining 27,000,000 yuan, if there is no other source, can only be paid in installments with income. But with their age and salary... they may not be able to pay it off in their whole life."

“Then pay for life.”

"If she doesn't pay, the son will pay, the daughter will pay. If she can't pay, the judgment will be enforced, the account frozen, and put on the list of loss of credit. If it's not done in one lifetime, it will last a lifetime."

The lawyer was silent for a few seconds.

"Miss Lam, do you really not want to reconcile? If they accept compensation, even if it's a little less..."

“No reconciliation.”

I interrupted.

“Not even a penny is missing.”

She sighed.

“I will continue to process.”

Hanging up the phone, I stood at the hotel window on the twenty-eighth floor, looking down at half of Giang Thanh city, crowded cars, rushing people, each with their own story. And my story. They are broken pieces of porcelain. And a marriage cannot be put back together. In the afternoon, I returned home. Not because I want to go home. But because there are still things to pick up. Papers, laptop, important documents... all still there. Enter password. The smell of instant noodles wafted out. The living room was so messy that there was no place to put one's feet, food boxes were thrown on the table, toys and trash were scattered everywhere, the mother-in-law was lying on the sofa, her eyes were red and swollen, clearly having just finished crying, Chu Dinh was standing on the balcony, arguing on the phone, his voice harsh. Chu Minh is not at home. When my mother-in-law saw me, her eyes immediately sharpened, as if she wanted to curse, but her lips trembled and she swallowed, probably still afraid of the police. I don't look at her. Go straight to the bedroom. The room used to be mine. Now completely occupied. Her luggage was piled everywhere, my dressing table was covered with all kinds of cheap cosmetics, the bed sheet had been changed, no longer the one I chose, but the bright red peony, dazzlingly colorful. I opened the wardrobe. My things were pushed aside. The rest hangs full of their clothes. I stood and looked. Not angry. Not sad. Just empty. I pulled out the suitcase. Start cleaning. Clothing, shoes, cosmetics, jewelry.

“What are you doing?”

The mother-in-law stood at the door and finally spoke.

“Move.”

“This is your house, where are you going?”

I smiled slightly.

“Is it still mine?”

She was silent. But his eyes were full of resentment. I don't care. Continue cleaning. In the deep corner of the cabinet, there is a small safe, which I use to store important documents. Only Chu Minh and I know the password. Empty. Marriage certificate. Mom's jewelry box. All gone.

“Where are my things?”

Mother-in-law avoids.

“In the safe.”

“I… I don't know…”

“Don't know?”

I looked straight at her.

"The password is only known to me and Chu Minh. If it's not you, it's him."

She didn't speak anymore. I took the phone. Chu Minh picked up the phone after a long time. Tired voice.

"What's in the safe, can you take it?"

“Uyen Thanh, let's talk…”