Chapter 8 — I'm No Longer A Reasonable Daughter-in-law

"Just freelance, work remotely. The studio will find it themselves."

“Is it trustworthy?”

“Looks good.”

“You really can't sit still.” Phuong Linh sighed, "But it's good, it's better to have something to do than to be free and think about it."

I looked towards the computer screen. The sketch is still unfinished. Old photos of the textile factory are scattered about—rusty steel beams, patchy brick walls, machinery covered in the dust of time. In my head, everything is gradually transforming into a new space. A story of rebirth. Just like my own life. Five days have passed since the two-week deadline. Ha Tuan came here again. This time he went empty-handed, his face was pale, and he looked like he hadn't slept for several nights. This morning, Doa Doa went to neighbor Ms. Luu's house to play with her daughter next door. My parents went to the market, leaving only the two of us at home. Ha Tuan sat down on the sofa, rubbing his forehead with his hand.

"What's wrong?" I poured him a glass of water.

“Ha Man is on the company's dismissal list.”

My hand holding the kettle froze slightly.

"There was an announcement last Friday. Trieu Loi's place is no better, the landlord increased the rent by thirty percent, he is planning to close the store."

I put the glass of water down in front of him.

"So, you came here to inform me that now she's even more miserable, and has even more excuses for not moving out, right?"

Ha Tuan looked up at me, his eyes filled with red blood.

"To Uyen, I didn't come here to bargain with you. I just... I don't know what to do now."

His voice exuded an utter helplessness that I had never seen before. I pulled up a chair and sat across from him.

"Ha Tuan, it's true that Ha Man is having difficulties, I don't deny it. But her burdens cannot all fall on us and my husband."

“I know…”

“Do you really know?” I looked straight into his eyes, "During the past two weeks, your mother has made seven phone calls to me. Each time, she scolded me for being unreasonable, selfish, narrow-minded, not taking care of the big picture. Your sister even boldly commented on my Facebook post 'When will my sister-in-law come back? The whole family misses her so much', then below a group of friends followed suit, acting like I was the cold-blooded one who accidentally left home."

Ha Tuan's hand tightened.

"Ha Tuan, do you know what makes my heart cool the most? It's not your parents' favoritism, it's not your sister's desire to dig gold. It's you. From beginning to end, you've never dared to stand up straight in front of them and loudly declare a sentence - To Uyen is right, what everyone does is wrong."

"You always maintain a peaceful attitude. You soothe them with the words 'Sister-in-law is also having a hard time', then turn to comfort me, 'They are also in trouble'. You always try to please both of them, filling out all conflicts. In the end, everyone thinks they are innocent victims, only you are the one who has to bear all the resentment."

"You said you were on my side. But standing on my side isn't just a matter of lip service, you have to take action to prove it. Six years have passed, and I've never seen you make any decisions for me. Not once."

Ha Tuan leaned back on the sofa, as if his strength had been drained from him. After a while, he whispered back: "If I kick Ha Man out of the house, my father will give up." Your face is gone.”

“So are you scared?”

He remained silent.

“Ha Tuan, I ask you one last question.” I said seriously, "Suppose one day Ha Man's difficulties were resolved smoothly and your parents no longer needed you. Would they have the audacity to make unreasonable demands on you like now?"

He was dumbfounded.

“In their hearts, you will always be the number two choice. When he needed help, he was the eldest son, his biological brother; When he was safe and sound, he was just a person who was 'a little better off', 'naturally contributed a little more'. How long do you have to wait to see this truth clearly?

Ha Tuan sat motionless in place. He didn't stay to eat lunch. As he drove the car out, he stood in front of the door and left a sentence: "Give me a few more days to think about it." Having finished speaking, he turned and walked down the stairs, the sound of footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.