Chapter 12 — Live towards the light

150,000 yuan. That number is like a mountain, pressing down on everyone. Vuong Le immediately fell silent. Co Vi also stopped screaming. The two of them looked at Co Thanh almost at the same time. That look was terrifyingly familiar. A kind of default that he has to bear the burden. As if he was born... to pay for everything in this house. Even though this disaster... they caused it. Co Thanh seemed not to see. He was absent-minded and walked step by step to the toll counter. Take the card I gave you... put it in. A few seconds later, the employee pushed the card out.

“Sorry, the balance is not enough.”

15 Final Responsibility

“Not enough balance.”

Four words cold as ice. Hit Co Thanh straight in the face. He stood still. The face is sometimes red, sometimes white. Only then did he remember. In that card... is all the accumulated money of our small family. It's money to start life again. Not to pour into that bottomless pit. Gu Wei and Vuong Le also heard it. Vuong Le immediately showed disdain.

“Appears terrible, turns out to be empty.”

She muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. Co Vi rushed forward and grabbed the card.

“What do you mean?”

"Isn't it said that your wife makes a lot of money? Not even 150,000 yuan?"

"You hid the money, right? You don't want to save your mother, do you?"

Still the same old trick. Coercing people with morality. Co Thanh was forced to the point of speechlessness. He looked at me, his eyes filled with helplessness. I walked over and took my card back. Look straight at Co Vi.

“The money in this card is ours, mine and Lac Lac.”

“Not to clean up the consequences for you.”

“My mother's hospital bills, you guys also have to contribute.”

"We?" Vuong Le immediately shouted.

“Where do we get the money!”

“The salary is not enough to pay for the car!”

"What's more, she was hospitalized... it wasn't because of you!"

“If you hadn't forced her, would she have jumped from the building!”

Push all responsibility to me. The surroundings began to whisper.

"Looks like you're dressed nicely, but your heart is really evil."

"My mother-in-law is in there and still refuses to pay."

"It's true that having a wife forgets your mother."

Those words, like needles. Co Thanh lowered his head, so embarrassed that he didn't dare look up. As for me... I did not waver. Arguing with them makes no sense. I just looked at Co Thanh.

“This money… how does he plan to handle it?”

I pushed the choice back to him. That's his mother. It's his younger brother. He must decide for himself. Co Thanh was silent for a long time. Inside him… was an unprecedented war. On one side is responsibility and guilt. On one side is a promise to me and my child's future. He knows. If you give money. Our small family... will fall into the old spiral again. But if you don't give it. He won't get over himself. He raised his head. Bloodshot eyes. Hoarse voice.

“Tieu Nghien, he's sorry.”

he said.

“This money, he is forced to pay.”

“No matter how wrong she is… she is still his mother.”

“He couldn't stand by and watch her lie in the hospital without anyone worrying.”

“This is the ultimate responsibility… as a son.”

After listening, Co Vi and Vuong Le's faces immediately showed victorious smiles. As for my heart... little by little it gets colder. I predicted this result. But still disappointed. Bloodline, like an invisible net. He... still couldn't escape in the end. I nodded, didn't say anything else. I took the phone and called my boss - General Ly.

“General Ly, it's me, Khuong Nghien.”

“Sorry for that late call.”

“My family has an urgent matter and needs some money.”

"I asked you to keep the previous salary for me... can you advance me 150,000 yuan?"

“I need it now.”

The other party was silent for a second, then immediately agreed.

“No problem, I'll tell the accountant to send it right away.”

“I sent the account number.”

I send the card number. Less than five minutes. Bank messages appear. 150,000 yuan. Enough for every penny. Co Vi and Vuong Le's eyes immediately changed. I don't look at them. I went straight to the counter.

“Payment, 150,000 yuan.”

Receive invoice. I gave that paper to Co Thanh.

“Money, I paid.”

“I have also helped him fulfill his sonship status.”

“From now on, we owe no one anything.”

Co Thanh was dumbfounded.

“Tieu Nghien… what do you mean?”

“The idea is very simple.”

My eyes scanned each person.

“The rest of Liu Yumei's life... is left to you.”

“Eating, cleaning, care, recovery… the two boys are on their own.”

“This 150,000 yuan is considered as buying out all future support obligations.”

"As for you guys... if you don't spend money, you spend effort."

“Don't you always say you're filial?”

“Now is the time to show off.”

The sentence just ended. The air exploded. Co Vi and Vuong Le's faces were dark. Tell them to take care of a paralyzed person? Carry the potty, wipe the body, feed? It's harder than killing them.

“No way! Why!" Vuong Le shouted.

“Mom is not ours alone! You guys have to worry too!”

"YES." I nodded. “So we paid.”

“150,000 yuan, how long can you hire someone to take care of, you can figure it out yourself.”

“The rest… let's see how good your filial piety is.”

I won't say more. I held Lac Lac's hand. Then looked at Co Thanh one last time.

“I gave him two options.”

“Stay here, continue to be a buffalo and a horse for his mother and younger brother, living in this vicious cycle.”

“Or… come with me.”

“To our home.”

“Living our lives.”

“This is the last chance.”

I stood in the middle of a noisy hospital hallway. Cold white light shines down. Facing me... was the man I had loved for ten years. Our future… Lies in one of his answers.