Chapter 2 — Life is Finally Gentle to Me

The next day was Saturday, I woke up very early. Maybe last night Lam Vi and his mother "got on well" so no one has woken up yet. I put on light but delicate makeup, put on a newly bought windbreaker, and stood in front of the mirror, smiling softly. The woman in the mirror, her eyes were clear, carrying a bit of determination. My mother's house is not far, just three stops by train. She was on the balcony taking care of plants, and when she saw me, she was a bit surprised.

"Why are you here so early? Have you had breakfast yet?"

“I've eaten.”

I took out my salary card from my pocket, along with an additional credit card with a credit limit of 200,000 yuan, and placed it in my mother's hand. My mother was stunned.

“What is this?”

“Mom, from today on my money… you keep it for me.”

I told you everything about last night. After hearing that, my mother was so angry that she slapped her thigh.

"That old woman is really too much! And Lam Vi, is she blind? A good wife like this doesn't know how to appreciate her!"

“Mom, don't be angry.”

I poured my mother a glass of water.

“I didn't come to complain, but to ask for your help.”

“Tell me, what should I do?”

"This salary card will be paid 10,000 yuan every 1st of the month. This credit card has a limit of 200,000 yuan."

I looked at my mother and said every word clearly.

“From today, I can buy whatever I want, no need to save money.”

"Clothes, bags, cosmetics... take whatever you like."

"If there's anything missing in the house, just swipe the card, no need to ask."

“I only have one request.”

I stopped for a moment.

"Every time you spend money, remember to post to your friends circle... and remember to block Lam Vi and his family."

My mother is observant and immediately understood.

“Do you want to… show it to your mother-in-law?”

I shook my head.

“I want to show Lam Vi.”

“He thinks giving money to his mother is 'for us', so I'll show him... how 'for us' my mother is.”

“His mother regrets spending money on him, but your mother doesn't.”

"His mother took his money to help relatives, and your mother... used your money to take care of her own family."

My mother was silent for a moment, then tightened her grip on the card.

"Okay. Mom, listen to me."

"This anger, mom, help me release it!"

Leaving my mother's house, I felt like half of my burden had been lifted. The sky is blue, the sun is beautiful, even the stray cat on the side of the road looks cuter. I didn't go home right away, but went to the shopping center. Using Lam Vi's extra card - which his mother didn't know yet - I bought my father a set of the latest version of fishing rods, and chose for my mother a cashmere coat that she had been talking about for a long time. Then, I booked myself a luxury SPA care package. A spending notification message will be sent to Lam Vi's phone. I can almost imagine the look on his face when he saw it… it must have been like seeing a ghost. That night, when I got home, Lam Vi and his mother were already sitting in the living room. The atmosphere was as heavy as an interrogation session. On the tea table I placed my phone, the screen lit up. This is my mother's latest post. Nine photos, all of which are today's "trophies". Brand new SK-II set, newly purchased designer bag, and exquisite afternoon cake. The status line reads:

“A filial daughter, the joy of spending money turns out to be that simple.”

Below are a series of likes and admiration.

“To Nhien, what do you mean?”

The mother-in-law pointed at the phone, her voice shrill.

“You let your mother spend money like that, are you trying to provoke me, right?”

“Mother-in-law, what you said is not correct.”

I changed my shoes, walked in and sat down.

“Lam Vi gave money to his mother to keep because he wanted it better family.”

“You give money to your mother… it's the same principle.”

“Your mother saw you working hard, so she bought you some things to nourish you, to make you happy and comfortable…”

“Isn't… also for our good?”

“…so I can put all my effort into making this house better. Is there something wrong?”

This set of arguments is almost exactly what Lam Vi used to advise me last night. My mother-in-law's throat was blocked by me, she was speechless, her face was as red as pig liver. Lam Vi finally spoke up. He pointed to the bags on the tea table.

“What about the things I swiped to buy this afternoon… explain?”

“Ah, this.”

I slowly opened the bag and took out the cashmere coat.

“This was bought for my mother. It was not easy for her to raise me this much. Now that I have the ability, respecting her is the right thing to do."

“So… what about your dad's fishing rod?”

“My father worked hard all his life, and having a few hobbies is not easy. As a daughter, I support you a little... shouldn't I?"

“So… what about your SPA?” Lam Vi's voice began to tremble.

I pretended to be surprised.

“I go to work every day to make money, and when I come home I still take care of the housework. Treat yourself a little from time to time… shouldn't you?”

“Or is it that in your eyes, I don't even have the right to spend money to make myself comfortable...?”

Lam Vi was completely speechless. He probably didn't expect that I could return the "of course" things he said intact... without him being able to refute them.

“You guys…”

The mother-in-law regained her breath and changed into a truly heartbroken look.

“Living is not like this. Money must be spent in the right place.”

"Both of you hand over the money. What will happen if there are big or small problems at home in the future?"

“Are we going to rely on two old people like us?”

“Mom, don't worry.”

I looked at her, her smile was so sincere that... fake was also real.

“My mother and my mother are all for the good of us.”

“We will definitely figure it out.”

“I trust you two.”

Having finished speaking, I took the SPA booking form and leisurely returned to the room.

“Ah yes.”

I turned my head, my voice light.

"Tomorrow I'm going to get skin care, I won't be home for dinner."

“Next week I'll meet my friends to go skiing in Sung Le, about three days.”

“Please tell my mother again for me.”

Behind me... There was a dead silence. The war entered its first month, so quiet that it was like the sea before a storm. Lam Vi and I fell into a strange state of cold war. Living under the same roof, but like two strangers renting a house. He no longer serves me food. I also stopped reminding him to bring the key. The air in the house is so cold that... it feels like it could freeze into ice. My mother-in-law was probably made to feel guilty by my tactic of "dragging her into the water together" and temporarily did not dare to cause trouble. It's just that every day he always has a heavy face and a look like a knife cutting into my body. And my mother... became the strongest "ally". She seriously implemented my plan, spending money both ostentatiously... and reasonably. On Monday, she signed up for herself and her father for a luxury 7-day tour of Yunnan, posting to her circle of friends:

“The world is so big, if you can go, you should go with your partner.”

On Wednesday, she went to Sam's Club supermarket, bought a car full of imported beef, cherries and all kinds of snacks I like, then ordered a car to deliver it straight to my house. Status line:

“Child Girls are having a hard time these days, they need to be nourished a bit. As a mother, how can I let my child suffer?

On Friday, she went to the mall again, bought me the newest Dyson hair dryer and a full set of La Mer cosmetics. Status line:

“Beautiful skin is achieved through nourishment. Girls must know how to love themselves.”

These posts are all blocked for Lam Vi and his family, but are completely open to my relatives and friends. In an instant, I became "a filial daughter" in their eyes. And my mother... also became "the nation's mother-in-law". Compared to that side, the mother-in-law seems completely "humble". As soon as Lam Vi's salary of 8,000 yuan entered her account, she immediately transferred 7,500 yuan. Only left him 500 yuan, called "pocket money". But Lam Vi did not know how to limit his spending money. Cigarettes cost 70 yuan a pack, and lunch with colleagues was either Japanese or Western. 500 yuan... is not enough to fill your teeth.