Chapter 16 — I'm No Longer A Reasonable Daughter-in-law

Luc Vien Chu nodded. During the third week of construction, when we started digging the lake, a problem arose. Under the ground, a rusty old pipe was revealed, located right near the center of the lake. The foreman suggested changing positions. I walked around and shook my head.

"There's no need to change it. Keep that piece of pipe intact, turn it into a part of the landscape. Old traces don't need to be covered up, just let it exist in the whole."

The foreman looked at Luc Vien Chu, and Luc Vien Chu looked at me.

“Are you sure?”

They adjusted the drawing according to my wishes. Three days later, the lake took shape. The rusty pipe rises from the bottom of the lake like a vestige of time. When water is pumped in, the rusty brown layer reflects under the water's surface, creating a very special warm color. Luc Vien Chu took a photo and sent it to Tien Thu Ngoc. The response was a recording:

"Keeping that tube was the right decision. Soulful."

I stood by the lake, watching the water reflect the steel frame and skylight above. Every little detail is gradually turning what I once imagined into reality. This feeling... is truly addictive. While the project is progressing smoothly, the Ha family is not at peace. Her father-in-law still doesn't talk to Ha Tuan. My mother-in-law calls every few days, the same familiar words—your father has high blood pressure, why are you so cold, Man and his wife live in a miserable rented house, and the children cry all the time. Ha Tuan just listened quietly, did not argue, did not respond. After hanging up the phone, his face looked a bit heavy, but his attitude remained unchanged. One morning, after taking Doa Doa to school, he texted me:

"This morning my mother said... 'If you knew that, I wouldn't have let you marry To Uyen'."

After reading it, I was not surprised. Only one word answer: "Yes."

“Aren't you angry?”

"No. Because she's been thinking about that sentence for six years, now she just said it."

Ha Tuan no longer responded. I continued to draw. The next morning, the mother-in-law appeared at the door. The bell rang while I was braiding Doa Doa's hair. Ha Tuan opened the door.

"Mom? Why did you come?"

The mother-in-law held a thermos box and stood silently outside the door.

“Mom came to visit me.”

Doa Doa ran out: "Grandma!" She sat down and hugged the baby, her eyes were red. I stood at the door of the room, silent.

“Mom, come in.” Ha Tuan moved aside.

She walked in and looked around the house.

“You two have cleaned up your office.”

“Are Man and his wife's belongings all packed up?”

“It's all cleaned up, Mom.”

The mother-in-law sighed, sat down on the sofa, and placed the thermos box on the tea table.

"Mom stewed some ribs. Da Doa likes to eat them."

Doa Doa shouted and ran forward. Ha Tuan awkwardly poured water for her. The awkward atmosphere was clearly visible. I sat still in the chair, neither warm nor cold.

“To Uyen.” Mother-in-law called softly.

“Mom… thinks a lot.” Her hand rubbed the hem of her shirt, "What you said the other day... was partly true. Mom is... biased."

I didn't speak up.

"But..." She changed her tone, "You also have to understand me. Ha Man is a girl, getting married is hard. I will help you with whatever I can, the heart of a mother is like that."

"Mom." I interrupted, "I'm also someone else's daughter. My mother was also worried that if I got married, she would suffer a loss. But she never forced my husband's family to sacrifice to help my maternal family."

The mother-in-law moved her lips, unable to say anything.

“I didn't come here to argue…”

“I don't want to argue either.” I replied, "But there are things that need to be made clear. I don't blame you, nor am I angry. But from now on, my small family—you, Ha Tuan and Doa Doa—is an independent unit. At home, we decide for ourselves. The same goes for money. If we help Ha Man, it must be within our ability, and must have the consent of both husband and wife. Not everyone who wants to decide can decide.”

Mother-in-law was silent.

“Just clear boundaries.” I continued, “Mom can come visit you anytime. I still welcome you as before."

She looked at me for a long time without speaking. Ha Tuan stood next to him, holding his hands tightly.

“Mom, To Uyen is right.” He finally spoke up, "From now on, each side will be more moderate, maybe it will be better."

Mother-in-law sighed.

“Okay, you two take care of yourselves. Mom is old and can't manage it anymore."

Not a complete reconciliation. But at least… a starting point. She stayed for about an hour. Before leaving, she gave Doa Doa an envelope of five hundred yuan. The little girl was so happy that she hugged her neck and kissed her repeatedly.

“Grandma, come again next time!”

“Yes, she will come again.”

The door closes. Ha Tuan leaned his back against the door and breathed a sigh of relief.

“You're better than I thought.”

“What do you mean?”

“When talking to my mother. Not weak, not arrogant, but very clear. If it were me, I would have argued loudly."

“Because I'm afraid of making her sad.”

"YES." He nodded, “But thanks to you I understand—being afraid of making others sad doesn't mean you have to give up your principles.”

“It's also progress.”

“You're two months older than me.”

“You're still right.”