Chapter 19 — I Overturned My Own Sentence

Tran Kien Hoa went to prison. Fifteen years. Hoa Kien officially entered the liquidation bankruptcy stage. Tran Duyet five years. Phuong Tieu Linh one and a half years. Liu Sisi for one year. Tien Vinh Xuong, for forging will documents, abusing his power and acting as a protection agent for Tran Kien Hoa, was stripped of his lawyer's license and sentenced to four years in prison. In just one month… The empire that had dominated Hecheng's commercial world for more than ten years— Uprooted. Villas, super cars, and commercial premises in the name of the Tran family were all sealed off for auction. The eldest lady of the Tran family was once noble and noble—Tran Duyet. Finally, wearing the gray prison uniform, she entered block B of Hac Thanh women's prison. Exactly like me three years ago. I don't know if she was assigned to cell number three or not. But I know— The iron bed there is very hard. Fluorescent lights buzzed all night. Winter is so cold that it hurts my bones. Those things… I've experienced it for her. Tong Dat's end was even more tragic. Hoa Kien collapsed, he lost his job, lost his house, and lost all his social relationships. He came to me. One afternoon, when I left the Bang Vien building after work, he stood on the steps. Much thinner than when he was in Hoa Kien. Jagged whiskers. Wrinkled clothes. I stopped and looked at him.

“Tong Dat.”

“Can you…”

“Impossible.”

“You haven't finished speaking yet.”

“I know what you mean.”

“Didn't ask me to help you find a job…”

“It's also an apology.”

Tong Dat paused.

“I can't help with my job.”

“Sorry, I don't need it either.”

“Van Van, that year you really…”

“How were you really that year?”

I looked straight into his eyes.

“During that trial, you watched me get sentenced to three years.”

“I hug Tran Duyet's shoulder.”

“Do you know I was wronged?”

Tong Dat bowed his head.

“I know.”

I said calmly.

“Maybe you don't know everything.”

“But I know Tran Duyet is not clean.”

“I choose to be silent.”

“Because she is Tran Kien Hoa's daughter.”

"Follow her, you have a house, a car and a future."

“Tong Dat.”

I interrupted.

“You don't owe me an apology.”

“Because apologizing is useless.”

“What you owe me…”

“It was three years.”

I walked around him and left. He stood still. And I go very far. Never turned around. The second month after the not guilty verdict came into effect, I received national compensation. Fifty-two thousand three thousand yuan. The price of three years of freedom. Not much. But enough for me to do a few things. First thing— Replace a new tombstone for mother. On the stele is engraved: Dear Mother Lam Van's daughter's grave. On the day the new stele was built, Co Tham also came. He carried a bouquet of white roses.

“Your grandchild…”

He paused for a moment then burst out laughing.

"Incorrect."

“Your nephew is here to visit you.”

He bowed his head before the tombstone. Then turned to look at me.

“You're crying.”

"Do not have."

I turned away.

“It's just a big wind.”

He passed the handkerchief over. I don't accept. Second thing— Pay my uncle. He lived and died refusing to accept it.

“In the future, I have many places to spend money…”

I stuffed the envelope into his hand.

“During the time my mother was in the hospital, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to cope.”

“This is not debt repayment.”

“It's a thank you.”

His eyes were red. Finally received it.

“Do you have any plans for the future?”

“Continue to work.”

“Save money.”

“If there is a chance…”

“I want to go to college.”

He was stunned.

“I'm twenty-one there."

“So what?”

“I'm not in a hurry.”

The third thing— I went to Hac Thanh women's prison. But not to meet Tran Duyet. The person I want to meet... Is a new prisoner in the camp. Is a thirty year old woman. Due to years of domestic violence, she finally resisted and killed her husband. She sat huddled in the corner of the cell. Hair is messy. Empty eyes. Exactly like me three years ago. I stood in front of her.

“What's your name?”

She raised her head.

“Chau Tieu Me.”

“Chau Tieu Me, are you literate?”

I took out a book "Criminal Procedure Law" from my pocket.

“Read this whole book.”

“If there's anything you don't understand, I'll come see you once a week.”

She looked at me.

“Who are you?”

“Spent three years in prison.”

When I walked out of the prison gate, I stood there for a long time. This gate… I once entered. Also step out. But this is the first time— I returned to this place on my own as a free man. Trieu Hong is right.

“You walked out alive, there's still work to do.”

My work… Not done yet.