Chapter 3 — I won the lottery but my life didn't change

“The corn is still hot, eat one ear first.” “I'm not hungry yet.” “My brother said the ribs need to be stewed for a while longer to be delicious.” I took the thermos. Dad took the electric scooter and slowly walked home next to me. "Is work busy these days?" "It's okay." "Is it good?" "Pretty good." "Is the money enough to spend?" "Enough." He nodded. Every time father and son called, the questions and answers were almost identical. What I said… It wasn't necessarily a lie. I just never finished it. "I won't take 80,000 yuan." As soon as the rice was served on the table, I spoke first. The older brother picked up the plate of ribs and pushed it towards me. "Let's eat first." "Let me and Ninh divide the compensation money. Dad also keeps more." The younger sister put down the chopsticks. "Why?" "I don't need it." "You heard what she said, right?" "It has nothing to do with you." The older brother scooped a bowl of soup and gave it to his father. "Dad, tell me." Dad took out a notebook from the cupboard. "The money hasn't been received yet. Dad wrote it down." I've already decided how to divide it, so you guys can take a look." A total of 360,000 yuan. Repairing the roof and toilet cost 90,000 yuan. Brother 80,000 yuan. Sister 80,000 yuan. I'm 80,000 yuan. The remaining 30,000 yuan was saved as medicine money for my father. Behind each account, carefully write the recipient's name. "I do not agree." I pushed the book back. Dad raised his head. "Where is it unreasonable?" "My medical expenses are too little." "I have rural insurance." "My leg has to be checked again." "Checked." My sister immediately raised her head. "When was that?" Dad glanced at her. The older brother continued: "Last month, I took my father away. It's just an old wound, not serious." "Why didn't you tell me?" The younger sister pouted. "Every time I called, she said she was busy. Dad didn't dare say anything." I remained silent. Dad tapped lightly on the table. "Ninh, don't say a few words." "Am I wrong? She never said anything to our family. She didn't say anything when she moved, didn't say anything about her job. Dad gave her 2,000 yuan during Tet, the next day she transferred it back." "I can take care of myself." "We know. But she always puts up a wall, not letting the whole family in." The older brother picked up a piece of ribs and put it in his sister's bowl. "Eat rice." Go, don't be angry." Hua Ninh didn't move her chopsticks. "Sister..." "Do you always think that just receiving a little something from the family..." "... will have to give back more later?" I looked at her. The girl's eye sockets were red. "When I was a child, our family was really poor." "But now..." "No one calculates how much an ice cream cost you in the past." Dad bowed his head and looked at the notebook. "An Nhien." "This 80,000 yuan is not to compensate you." "Nor is it for you to owe the family." "You are my daughter." "Whatever the family shares..." "Originally there must be your share." "But you really don't lack it." money." "Whether or not it's lacking is your problem." "Whether you give it or not..." "... is your matter." My brother nodded. "This time dad is right." I looked at him. "Isn't your shop in need of capital?" "If you need it, I'll find it myself." "If you take my part too..." "... then what else can you do?" Hua Ninh also spoke up: "The money to study for my certificate is enough. Even if you give it up, I won't take it." Dinner table suddenly quiet for a moment. Dad picked up his chopsticks again. "Let's eat. The money hasn't been received yet. Don't go hungry because of the numbers on the paper." I took a bite of ribs. Still the way I like to cook since childhood. Stew until soft first, then simmer until the sauce thickens. Dad has remembered for more than twenty years. But... I still don't know which month my father went to get his foot checked. "360,000 yuan, the whole family closes the door and it's all divided?" Ms. Hua Tu Lan pushed the door and walked in, behind was her daughter, Trinh Man. My brother stood up. "Auntie, don't you know how to knock when you enter the house?" "This is your mother's house, why do you need to knock?" Dad quietly put the notebook away. "The house papers are in my name." "At that time, my mother lent me 20,000 yuan, what should I do?" "Second year."

After the wedding, I paid it." "Did you say you paid it? Where's the evidence?" The brother took out an old iron box from the closet. "Here's grandma's notebook. Do you want to see?" Hua Tu Lan's outstretched hand paused in midair. Trinh Man was the first to speak. "What can an old piece of paper prove? We just want a fair thing." I looked at her. "How fair do you want?" "My mother also took care of my grandmother that year, the compensation must be my mother's part." "From the beginning, the old house was divided by my grandfather to my father, the red book has also been in my father's name for 18 years." "As for the money to take care of my grandmother, the three brothers in the family all contributed monthly." "If you want to calculate..." "... then we will bring all the books to compare." Trinh Man glanced at me. "My cousin has lived in the city for a long time, her conversation is really sharp." "I heard that you can't even worry about rent..." "...now you're standing here teaching us how to calculate the accounts." Hua Ninh immediately stood up. "What does it have to do with you whether or not my sister rents a house?" "Of course it has nothing to do with it." "But she only comes back once a year.