Chapter 17 — I Overturned My Own Sentence

Mother's name is Co Cam Thu. She is the second lady of the Co family in Hac Thanh. Mom could have lived in a big mansion. Wear silk. Drive a luxury car. In and out of the most luxurious places. But my mother chose to sell vegetables at the market. Choose an ordinary man. Choose to wake up every day at four o'clock in the morning to go import goods. Choose to use your hands, chapped from the cold, to peel apples for me. Mom chose to protect me.

“They can't hurt you anymore.”

The wind blew across the mountainside. Grass and trees rustle. When I stood up, there was another person behind me. It's Co Tham. In his hand he held a bunch of white daisies.

“I came to visit you.”

He placed a bouquet of flowers in front of the tombstone. Standing for a long time.

“When I was little, I heard my grandfather tell a story.”

“The day second aunt left the Co family's house, grandpa chased her all the way to the train station.”

“Second aunt just said one word…”

He bowed his head.

“‘Dad, I don't need your money. I want to live my own life.’”

“She did it.”

I replied softly.

“My mother did it.”

We stood next to each other in front of the tombstone. No one said another word. On the way down the mountain, Co Tham suddenly spoke up.

“Everyone in the company now knows about you.”

“Know what?”

"The story of the exam case has been turned over."

“Your identity too.”

“What identity?”

He tilted his head and looked at me.

“My cousin.”

I stopped walking.

“Paper cannot wrap fire.”

Co Tham looked at me.

“After Tien Vinh Xuong was investigated, the will also came out.”

"The reporter tracked down her mother's true identity and deduced the relationship between her and the Co family."

“I already said it.”

“I don't need the Co family's shares.”

"I know."

He replied softly.

“But the story of the Co family… is not just about shares.”

He looked straight at me.

“You are my grandfather's only grandchild.”

“There are many people in the Co family.”

“My father, my uncle, my cousins…”

“Someone wants you back.”

“There are also people…”

He stopped for a moment.

“I don't really want to.”

“People don't want it because of money.”

“Thirty percent shares.”

“No one wants their share to be divided.”

“I told you…”

“You said you don't need it.”

Co Tham interrupted.

“But the law is not something you say and do.”

“The will is still there.”

“Your inheritance is also there.”

“Just because you don't want it… doesn't mean it doesn't exist.”

I thought silently for a while.

“I only have one request.”

“Changed the name on my mother's gravestone.”

“Change to what?”

“Co Cam Thu.”

He nodded.

“Let me take care of it.”

Fifteen days later, the court's verdict was announced. One, annul the guilty verdict against Lam Van in 2019. Two, declare Lam Van innocent. Third, it was determined that Tran Duyet was guilty of organizing exam fraud and slandering others, summarizing the punishment and sentencing him to five years in prison. Fourth, it was determined that Phuong Tieu Linh committed the crime of assisting in organizing exam fraud, and sentenced her to one year and six months in prison. Five, Liu Si Tu was found guilty of assisting in organizing exam fraud and sentenced to one year in prison. Sixth, Tran Kien Hoa's case was merged with the money laundering case to continue trial. When I held the verdict in my hand, I turned to the last page.

“According to the law, the court declared appellant Lam Van innocent.”

Black letters on white paper. I looked for a long time. Then fold up the judgment and put it in your pocket. That afternoon, I went to Hac Thanh Number One High School. The school has changed a lot. The teaching building was repainted. The gymnasium also has a new running track. I didn't step in. Just standing Outside the gate, look at the sign "Hac Thanh High School Number One". Three years ago, I walked out of this gate and was taken away by the police. That afternoon the sun was very beautiful. Like today. A little girl wearing a uniform came out of the school and looked at me curiously.

“Are you a former student?”

“It can be considered that way.”

“Which course is it?”

“That's been a long time.”

I smiled softly. The girl laughed and then ran away. Eighteen years old. I don't know that in this world there are people who are willing to ruin other people's lives just for profit. I turned around and left. On the way home, I passed by the market. My mother's previous vegetable stall is still there. Now a young woman is selling. She recognized me.

“You are... Ms. Truong's daughter, right?”

"After your mother passed away, this stall was vacant for a long time. Only then did I take it back."

She wiped her hands on her apron.

“Your mother is a very good person.”

"In the past, she used to say that her daughter was extremely smart and would definitely get into a good university in the future."

I laughed very softly.