Chapter 1 — I Was Evicted From Home In The Middle Of The Night, I Rebuilt A Home For My Children

At two o'clock in the morning, my mother-in-law knocked on my door. She threw a plastic bag on the bed. Inside were some old clothes and a bank card.

"There's 3,000 yuan left on the card, enough for you to temporarily rent a single room."

I sat up.

“What about home?”

"Han Thanh, before going on a business trip, transferred the name to me. House, car, savings, all have changed names. You can check it yourself and you'll know."

All assets. It's all been moved. From a week ago.

"Don't complain. You were born a girl, the Han family needs a grandson. Mr. Trieu's daughter has been pregnant for four months and is a boy."

In the next room, my four-year-old daughter was still sleeping. Mother-in-law lowered her voice:

“Go through the back door, don't make any noise.”

"Han Thanh said, before he returns, we must clean the house."

I stuffed the bank card into my pocket. Gently pick up your daughter. She leaned her head on my shoulder, dreamily calling out: When I went downstairs, I sent my sister a text message.

“Sister, do you still have the recordings and transfer statements I asked you to keep three years ago?”

Three seconds later, she replied:

"Still. What's going on?"

I hugged my daughter tighter.

“Tomorrow, help me file a lawsuit.”

The mother-in-law locked the anti-theft door from the inside. The sound of the lock clicking into the lock sounded very clearly, echoing back and forth in the quiet hallway at dawn. Niem Niem was startled slightly, her small hand tightened on the collar of my nightgown, then she fell asleep again. I stood in the hallway. Under the feet are slippers. She was only wearing a nightgown. A plastic bag hung on his wrist, inside were some old clothes and a bank card worth 3,000 yuan. No ID card. No phone charger. Niem Niem's milk bottle, school bag, and kindergarten pick-up card were all still in the house. I knocked on the door. No one responded. I knocked again. The mother-in-law's voice echoed from the crack in the door:

"Are you going? If you make trouble again, I'll call the police."

"My daughter's things..."

"The Han family's things have nothing to do with you."

After that sentence, there was complete silence inside. Hot July night. The hallway light has been broken for a long time. Only white light shines from the phone screen. I carried Niem Niem downstairs. Slippers clacked on the stairs. Every step is reminding me that... I've been kicked out of the house. Two o'clock in the morning. The lights in the security room of the residential area were still on. Security guard Liu raised his head and looked at me.

"To Van? At night like this..."

"I'm going down for a walk."

He looked at the nightgown on my body, then looked at the child sleeping in my arms. But don't ask anything more. I went to the gate of the residential area and called a taxi. After getting in the car, the driver looked at me through the rearview mirror. I was stunned. Where are we going? I have lived in this city for five years. Married five years. Giving birth, raising children, and being a full-time housewife for five years. No work. No income. No private house. Even the ID card is still in the drawer in that house. But since ten minutes ago... That place is no longer my home.

"Driver, help me find a cheap motel."

"The cheaper the better."

The driver didn't say anything, just quietly started the car. The phone suddenly rang. It's my older sister, To Mang.

"What's wrong? Are you in trouble?"

I lowered my voice, afraid of being hit Consciousness of Remembrance.

"Han Thanh transferred all his house, car and savings to his mother's name."

"His mother just kicked me out."

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds.

"Where are you now?"

"In a taxi. Looking for a hotel."

"Come to my house."

"It's too far. I'm in the new area, you..."

Her voice is not loud. But full of weight. I read the address to the driver. When she arrived at her house, it was nearly three in the morning. She was wearing pajamas and waiting downstairs. As soon as she saw me, she immediately picked Niem Niem from my arms. Don't ask any questions. Niem Niem was woken up by the movement of her hand. The girl opened her eyes, saw To Mang and then whispered:

"Let's go to aunt's house to sleep."

In one hand, she held Niem Niem. The other hand pulled me upstairs. Entering the house, she placed Niem Niem on the living room bed, covered her with a blanket carefully, and quietly closed the door. The living room only has one standing lamp on. Pale yellow light covered the floor. She poured me a cup of hot water.

"Since the beginning."

I started from that plastic bag. Old clothes. Bank card. When it comes to the saying:

"You gave birth to a daughter, the Han family needs a grandson."

The cup in my hand trembled constantly.

"What is the name of Mr. Trieu's daughter?"

To Mang asked.

"Trieu Tieu Man."

"Han Thanh's company reception."

"Last year at the year-end party I met her once."

"Four months pregnant..."

She quietly calculated.

"If we count the time..."

"That's right."

I smiled faintly.

"At that time, Han Thanh and I hadn't argued yet."

"The baby is already there."

To Mang sat down opposite me.

"The recordings and transfer statements are still intact."

"The USB you sent me to keep three years ago, I backed up two copies."

"A copy in the safe."

"A copy is in the law office filing cabinet."

Three years ago. At that time, Niem Niem was only one year old. One night, I woke up to make milk for my baby. I accidentally heard Han Thanh calling on the balcony.

"Okay, continue transferring money next month..."

"Yeah, I told her to invest..."

I stood silently in the kitchen for a long time. Then quietly picked up the phone. Turn on recording. Since that day. Every suspicious phone call. Each transfer is unclear. Each message is ambiguous. I saved them all. It's not because I'm smart. It's because I'm scared. I once called To Mang.

"If one day he wants to leave me..."

"Will I be empty-handed?"

At that time, she only said one sentence:

"Hold the evidence carefully."

"Let me take care of the rest."

That day has finally come. I sat on the sofa at her house. Wear a wrinkled nightgown. Under his feet were a pair of torn slippers at the gate of the residential area.

"Tomorrow..."

To Mang looked at the wall clock. Then edit:

"No, today is correct."

"At nine o'clock in the morning, I will take you to apply."

"Now get some sleep."

I didn't move.

"He doesn't even need his own daughter anymore."

To Mang gently took the cup from my hand and placed it on the tea table.

"So..."

Her voice turned cold.

"We're not just asking for money back."

"But you still have to make him pay."