Chapter 5 — Let go at the right time, life will bloom

"My mother... no... my mother-in-law..."

"I really can't stop taking the medicine..."

"The doctor said if I continue not to take the medicine..."

"The consequences will be very serious..."

"That damn Canh Tham..."

"Dad beat him..."

"Calm down your anger..."

"What's wrong..."

"Let's sit down and talk..."

Voice interrupted. By the end... I was so choked up that I was about to cry. I don't answer. Half an hour later. The phone rings again. It's Ha Canh Tham. But he used his father's phone to call. Because his number... I blocked it a long time ago. I picked up the phone.

"Where are you?"

"I heard you explain..."

"Ha Canh Tham."

I interrupted. The voice was calm and cold.

"How many days did you and Dinh Vy stay in Tam A?"

"One hundred and twelve days."

"Right?"

The other end of the line. Immediately fell silent.

"Hotel room facing the sea."

"Every day 1,600 yuan."

"The necklace was bought at a duty-free store."

"23,000 yuan."

"The bag I bought for her."

"18,000 yuan."

"There's also a couple's spa package that the two of you do together."

"8,800 yuan."

"All..."

"All swiped with the activity card I gave you."

I read each clause. One account at a time.

"I have all the notes."

Ha Canh Tham's voice... Started to tremble.

"I... I..."

"How do you know those things?"

I calmly replied:

"It's not important to know how."

"The important thing is..."

"Have you read the divorce agreement?"

"Nem... Niem Chu..."

"I know I was wrong..."

"But your mother's illness..."

I smiled softly. The smile no longer had any warmth.

"Your mother has been sick for two years."

"Nearly 2,000,000 yuan for treatment."

"I carry it alone."

"What about you?"

"You took my money to support another woman."

"And then tell your mother..."

"That I'm just an old buffalo."

"Working all day long."

"Never found out anything."

On the other end of the line... There was no more sound. A moment later. From far away came Ha's father's voice.

"Canh Tham!"

"What did you say to your mother?"

"What did you say Niem So?"

Right after that. It's a chaotic mess of sounds. I hung up. Manh Tuyet poked her head out from the other side of the desk.

"Done?"

"He hasn't signed yet."

"So what are you going to do?"

I leaned back in the chair. I'm in no hurry. People are really impatient... It's the fifth day since Ha's mother ran out of medicine. Ha Canh Tham brought his father to my new apartment. I don't know how they looked up the address. Asked the building management. The doorbell rang. Right at the time I was editing the plan for a new project. I opened the door. Ha Canh Tham stood outside. Just over four months. But he looked like he had aged ten years. Deep sunken eye sockets. Jagged whiskers. Wrinkled clothes. Behind is Ha's father. His face was mixed with all sorts of emotions. I turned and walked into the living room. Do not pour water. Not even invited to sit. Just walked through the door. Ha Canh Tham knelt down on the floor.

"I beg you."

"My mother cannot be without medicine."

"You are wrong."

"I really know it's wrong."

"I want you to do whatever you want..."

"Stand up."

I sit on the sofa. Look at him calmly.

"Kneeling can't solve anything."

"First."

"Answer me a few questions."

Ha's father quickly pulled Ha Canh Tham up. Let him sit in the chair next to you.

"You ask."

"We will tell the truth."

I looked straight at Ha Canh Tham.

"Third question most."

"You and Dinh Vy..."

"When did it start?"

Ha Canh Tham bowed his head. The voice was so low that it was almost inaudible.

"...Last October."

October last year. I just won a big project. Continuous overtime for half a month. Lost four kilos. He said he loved me. Also bought me a bouquet of flowers. Brings the taste of guilt. I asked again.

"Second question."

"My mother..."

"Do you know about my affair?"

Ha Canh Tham did not respond. But silence... Was the answer. Ha's father's expression immediately changed.

"Canh Tham!"

"Your mother knows?"

Ha Canh Tham still bowed his head. Ha's father's hand began to tremble.

"And yet..."

"And yet your mother still..."

"And help you hide..."

I interrupted him.

"Third question."

I looked at Ha Canh Tham.

"1,934,700 yuan for your mother's medical treatment."

"How are you going to pay?"

Ha Canh Tham suddenly raised his head.

"1,934,700 yuan?"

"Where did you get so much money?"

"No?"

I took out my phone. Open a statistics table. Push it in front of him.

"Every month 40,000 yuan for medicine."

"Twenty-four months."

"It's 960,000 yuan."

"Plus the cost of the test."

"Hospital money."

"Nutrition food."

"Cost of care."

"The whole massage chair."

"Water purifier."

"Air purifier."

"My mother once asked to buy it."

"Total."

"1,934,700 yuan."

"Every clause."

"All have transfer history."

Ha Canh Tham's face was as white as paper. Father Ha was also dumbfounded.

"...That many..."

I put the phone away.

"It's normal that you don't know."

"Because..."

"In this amount."

"Ha Canh Tham has never spent a penny."

"It's all my personal income."

I looked straight at the father and son.

"I consulted a lawyer."

"This amount."

"I have the right to ask for it back."

"If you two do not agree to divorce as agreed."

"Then we'll meet in court."