Chapter 21 — I Can't Be Patient Anymore

I smiled slightly.

“Chu Minh, since the day you had an affair, there is only hatred between us.”

I finished speaking, walked around him, and headed straight towards the parking lot.

“Uyen Thanh!”

He called behind him. I don't turn around. Not even once. Get in the car, close the door. The whole world immediately became quiet. I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes. But my heart is empty. There was no feeling of gloating, no joy of revenge, only an endless desolation remained. The phone rang. Is a company.

"Ms. Lam, the partner in Shenzhen just called back. They watched the livestream and the news. They said you work decisively and cooperate with you very assuredly. They accepted an additional 5% discount, the condition is that the project must be entirely in charge of you, what do you think?"

“Tomorrow I fly to Shenzhen.”

"Yes! I'll arrange it now!"

I hung up and started the car. In the rearview mirror, the court gate gradually receded. Sunlight shines through the glass door, falling on the passenger seat, so bright it's blinding. I squinted my eyes. The car entered the stream of people. Ahead is a long road with no end in sight. But I know. I can go. One year later. Thanh Minh. City cemetery, gloomy sky, light rain and dust. I placed a bunch of white daisies in front of my mother's tombstone. The photo on the tombstone I restored from an old album, not the one from the past, but the smile is still as gentle.

“Mom, I came to visit you.”

The rain fell very lightly, touching the cold skin like a touch of memory. I stood under the black umbrella, looking at the photo for a long time. Over the past year, a lot of things happened. In the end, the mother-in-law did not have to go to jail. After sentencing, she developed a heart attack, was hospitalized for two months, and the medical examiner concluded that she was not fit for detention, so the sentence was suspended. But the compensation of thirty million is not missing a penny. The Chu family sold their house in the countryside and Chu Minh's car, raising 3,800,000 yuan. The remaining 26,200,000 yuan, the court ordered to be coerced, deducted directly from Chu Minh's salary every month. He was fired from his old company, then struggled to find a job at a small company, with a salary of 8,000 yuan, with 6,000 deducted each month. Their life. Start from that smash. And never come back again. Her pension was also frozen, each month she could only keep 1,000 yuan to live on, the rest was deducted and transferred to me. Chu Minh was put on the bad credit list, not allowed to take high-speed trains, not allowed to fly, and not allowed to spend more than the prescribed limit. Trieu Thien had an abortion when she was six months pregnant, then broke up with Chu Minh. It is said that she quickly married someone from another province and left the city. Chu Dinh was also divorced, custody of the children belonged to her ex-husband, she returned to her hometown, worked as a supermarket cashier with a low salary, and still had to deduct money to pay the debt on behalf of her mother every month. The entire Chu family. Complete collapse. As for me, using the first round of 3,800,000 compensation plus my own savings, I established the "Uyen Thu Women's Legal Support Fund", specializing in helping women who suffer injustice in marriage, violence, and property violations. Seventeen women were helped. Nine lawsuits won. My work is also favorable. The project in Shenzhen was successful beyond expectations, the partner was very satisfied, signed a three-year contract, the company promoted me, and increased my salary. Currently, my main job is in Shenzhen, but I return to Giang Thanh once a month to attend manage the fund, and... visit my mother. I bought a small apartment in Shenzhen, facing south, with a balcony. The balcony is filled with green plants. In the living room, I kept one wall. Above it, hung a restored photo of my mother, enlarged, placed in a new peach wood frame—I had it custom-made, almost identical to the old one. Next to it is a glass cabinet. In it was placed a blue and white vine-patterned vase. Simulation goods. Very delicately done. But I know, it's fake. Can never go back again. But this fake one, I wipe it once a day, just like my mother used to do. There are times. I feel she is still there. The rain gradually became heavier. I bent down and used a towel to wipe away the drops of water on the tombstone.

“Mom, there are some things I still want to tell you.”

"First, about the vase, I'm done with it. That person has suffered the consequences, the money has to be paid, not even a penny is missing. Mom, don't worry anymore."

"Second, Chu Minh is already in prison. Not because of this case, but for misappropriating public money. The company later reported the case, verified it, and sentenced him to two years. Mom once said, when looking at a person, you have to look at their qualities. You were right, but I didn't listen."

I stopped for a moment, my throat choked.

"I live very well. My job is stable, my health is good, and I can help some people. Mom, rest assured."

The wind blew the rain away, wetting my pant legs. But I didn't move. Just standing there, looking at the smile on the stele. I stood up, my legs were a little numb.

“Mom, I'm going now, I'll come again next time.”

I turned around. Take a few steps. Turn around.