Chapter 5 — I Can't Be Patient Anymore

“What time does the show air?”

I asked, my voice cold and calm.

“Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, Giang Thanh station.”

Chu Dinh Tranh said, his voice still carrying a bit of excitement.

"Sister-in-law, come along. In case it's a real treasure, I'll even get to appear on TV!"

“Where to shoot?”

I asked again.

“At the TV station, I sent you the address.”

Chu Dinh actually took out his phone. But I turned away.

“Hey, where are you going!”

Mother-in-law called from behind. I don't turn around. The door slammed shut. Go downstairs, get in the car. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, my hands shaking so much I could barely hold it. Porcelain vase with flowers. Before my mother passed away, she held my hand, her voice was weak but she still tried to smile:

"Uyen Thanh, that vase belongs to your grandmother, passed down three generations. It's not worth much money, but it's a souvenir... keep it well, and then pass it on to your children."

I choked up at that time:

“Mom, I will be careful.”

She shook her head slightly, her eyes filled with guilt:

"I'm sorry, I can't leave you anything valuable, only that vase... and this old house... don't criticize."

I quickly shook my head:

“Those are all treasures.”

Laughing and tears falling.

"I'm most worried about you... Uyen Thanh, you have to live well in the future, okay?"

I nodded. Crying until I couldn't say a word. But now... That vase. It's been taken away. Take it for inspection. Still intending to… break it. I slumped over the steering wheel, my shoulders shaking, but not a single tear fell. After a while, I raised my head. Start the car. I didn't go to the hotel. I drove straight to the old house my mother left behind. Located in the old neighborhood, the area is not large, only about sixty square meters, but clean and warm like memories that have never left. Every month I come to clean. It's like mom still lives here. I opened the door. Everything remains the same. The wool blanket covering the sofa, the pot of green plants on the window sill, the family photo hanging on the wall—me, mom, dad... at that time my dad was still alive, I was still an elementary school student. I walked to the closet. Open the bottom compartment. An iron box lay there—where my mother kept the most important things. Savings book. My birth certificate. A parchment bag has turned yellow over time. I took it out. Inside is a stack of documents. At the top is an inspection certificate. The paper is old. But the text is still clear. Headline in bold: Antiquities appraisal center — Palace Museum. Appraised object: Thanh Hoa porcelain vase with Thanh Hoa era, vine motif. Assessment conclusion: National first-class artifacts. Reference price on the market: 30,000,000 yuan. Examiner: Vuong Chan Hoa (signed, sealed). Date of appraisal: June 12, 1987. There were a few more sheets of paper tucked underneath, the auction records of that year, the collection certificate, and a handwritten letter from my mother, the handwriting had turned yellow over the years.

"Uyen Thanh, when you read this letter, maybe I will no longer be there. This vase is real, very valuable, but I never told you, because you were still young, I was afraid you wouldn't be able to keep it. Now that you are grown up, I will tell you. But you must remember, talent should not be revealed, peace is a blessing."

"If you like it then keep it, if you don't like it then sell it, the money is for you to use, but no matter what you decide, remember, this is a memory my grandmother and mother left for you, not a burden. I just want you to live well, happily, healthily, nothing else is important."

Picture When the letter was written here, the handwriting began to be shaky, perhaps at that time my mother's hands no longer had enough strength.

"The thing I'm most proud of in this life is having you as my daughter. Don't cry, I'm just changing to another place to be with you."

My tears finally fell. Falling onto the paper, a smear of ink spread out. 30,000,000 yuan. The vase my mother left me… is worth 30,000,000 yuan. But she never said. She just said: "Not worth the money, just a memory." She was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep it. I'm afraid I'll get into trouble because of money. So until the moment she left, she did not tell the truth. And now. That vase... Was taken away by her mother-in-law. Bring it to the inspection program. Tomorrow… live broadcast. If the experts say it's fake... If she really broke it... I wiped my tears, carefully folded all the documents, and held them tightly in my heart as if hugging something left of my mother. Then I took my phone and called my assistant.

"Tieu Truong, help me look up the phone number of Giang Thanh station's appraisal program, including the recording process tomorrow. In addition, contact lawyer Truong, tell her the situation has changed, I need her to immediately prepare a legal document about the intentional destruction of high-value property, and prepare to prosecute criminal proceedings."

“Miss Lam, are you planning to…”

The other end of the line was a little hesitant.

“Just follow me.”

I interrupted.

“Also, tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, mobilize all the company's media resources, I want this matter... to the top.”

I hung up. Look out the window. Giang Thanh city shines like a never-ending dream. I bowed my head, looking at the discolored appraisal paper in my hand.

“Mom, this time… I won't give in anymore.”

“One inch, one dime... not even that.”