Chapter 6 — Leaving That Dinner Table, I Had 70 Million Yuan

In mid-October, just after the holiday, the eldest son got married, set up more than twenty banquet tables, and both his father's family and relatives from near and far came. At first I didn't plan to go, but my eldest uncle called me personally and said I must be present at my cousin's wedding. Uncle was not bad to me before, at least fairer than mother, so I still came. Before leaving, I changed into a new shirt, dark blue, neatly cut, not brand name but very fitting. Standing in front of the mirror, I looked at myself for a moment. These past few months I've lost a little weight, but my spirit is better than before. Arriving at the hotel, the lobby was crowded with people, voices and laughter rang out endlessly. I found my right seat and sat down. Before I could even warm the chair, Chu Le's sister-in-law's voice echoed from several tables far away. Her voice is loud, so you don't have to lean close to hear every word clearly.

"Don't mention it again, Vien Chu, if you have a little money, you won't accept family members anymore. When your brother is in trouble, he won't even help you even a penny, it's truly ungrateful."

She lowered her voice, but not low enough that no one could hear her.

"My mother-in-law has favored her for so many years, and finally raised this kind of person."

I raised the teacup and took a sip, my hands were fine, not shaking. Those words spread very quickly among relatives. Before the dishes were served, someone arrived. The first person was Aunt Hai, she patted my shoulder and sighed.

"Vien Chu, it's not easy for your mother to raise you. Your brother is in trouble, please help."

Before I could speak, a second person interrupted. As Uncle Ba's cousin, she sat down next to me, her voice full of advice.

"Honey, you two blood brothers, broken bones and tendons, don't make a big deal out of it, it won't be a good thing if it spreads out."

I took a look at her.

"Sister, the last time you borrowed 20,000 yuan from Aunt Ba, you didn't even tell me."

The smile on her face stiffened for a second.

“What do you mean by that?”

“It's okay, I'll be able to understand what's going on.”

She got up to leave, but before she could go far, someone else came. A distant uncle, holding a glass of wine, walked over with a bright voice.

"Vien Chu, your mother has worked hard for many years, now she's older, don't let her worry anymore, your brother is the eldest son, there's a lot of pressure, if you're the younger brother..."

I put down the teacup, the bottom of the cup hit the table and made a sound that wasn't loud, but enough to make the surrounding tables turn to look. I stood up.

"I'll say a few words, everyone for a minute."

The voice wasn't loud, but the whole table was more than half silent. Chu Le's face changed completely. My brother sat at the main table, his chopsticks picking up food also stopped in mid-air. My mother was talking to her aunt-in-law and heard my voice and immediately turned around. I looked around, then opened my mouth.

“First sentence.”

“On August 10, my mother put four red books on the table, all of them were transferred to my brother, the total value was 9.6 million yuan, not a single one belonged to me.”

I looked around.

“Out of everyone here, has anyone ever said something for me?”

No one spoke up. Second Aunt bowed her head. The cousin held the glass of wine in mid-air, neither putting it down nor drinking it.

“Second sentence.”

"My sister-in-law said that my salary is 5,000 yuan and I don't deserve to have a house. She said that my condition is just to live temporarily."

I looked straight at Chu Le. Her face turned red, her mouth opened as if to refute.

“Among everyone here, does anyone think that statement is wrong?”

Still no one spoke up. She closed mouth again.

“Third sentence.”

I closed my eyes and didn't look at anyone anymore.

"Now my brother is losing money and needs to pay off his debt. My sister-in-law behind my back says I'm ungrateful, and everyone comes to advise me to help, don't make a big deal out of it, don't lose face."

I stopped for a moment.

“If I share the money, there is no part for me.”

“When you need money, you remember that I am your younger brother.”

The entire hall was silent, only the sound of the air conditioner blowing. The cousin finally put down the glass of wine, bowed his head and looked at the table, without saying anything more. I held my coat on the back of the chair.

“From now on, I will no longer participate in family matters.”

"My brother is responsible for all the care for his old age, that's been made clear before."

I put on my shirt.

"Done."

I walked away from the table and went straight outside. Twenty tables of relatives. No one called me back. When arriving at the hall door, a very soft noise was heard from behind. Mother's chopsticks fell to the ground. I don't turn around. Push the door and step out. The air outside is cool, the October wind carries the faint scent of flowers. I stood in front of the hotel door and took a deep breath. It was as if something in my chest, something that had been accumulating for twenty-eight years, dense, tangled, unnameable, finally loosened a little. Just a little. I got in the car, started the engine, and as I drove out of the parking lot, the hotel lights in the rearview mirror gradually receded. The steering wheel is in my hands, the road stretches out ahead. No more turning around.