Chapter 5 — Live towards the light

08 Branch Family Luu Ngoc Mai's hand tightened on my wrist like an iron grip. Her nails dug deep into my skin, causing pain. In her eyes were mad flashes of blood, like a cornered animal. Co Vi stood next to him and continued, his voice full of threats: "Yes, sister-in-law!"

“We are one family, I cannot see death without saving!”

"If I'm really arrested, the Co family's reputation won't be good, it will also affect Lac Lac in the future!"

The mother and daughter were juggling each other, using so-called love and honor to coerce me. Co Thanh was also flustered and quickly stepped forward to pull his mother.

"Mom! Mom, calm down! Say something slowly, don't move your hand!"

He tried to pull me out of Luu Ngoc Mai's arms, but she pushed me away forcefully. Luu Ngoc Mai shouted.

"Useless thing! Even my wife can't handle it!"

“Today I will definitely force him to give me the money!”

Vuong Le hugged Co Tieu Bao and stood in the corner, pretending to wipe away tears, her voice choked with drama: "What should I do... if something happens to Mr. Vi, how will we, mother and daughter, live..." The living room was in a moment of extreme chaos. Crying, screaming, and arguing intermingled endlessly. It's just me and Lac Lac, the two calmest people in this drama. I don't know when, Lac Lac was standing behind me. The boy's small body was tense, there was no fear in his eyes, only a coldness beyond his age. I grabbed my child's hand and smiled softly to reassure him. Then, I raised my head, cold eyes scanning every ugly face in front of me.

“Let go.”

My voice is not loud, but it carries irresistible power. Luu Ngoc Mai was shocked by my gaze, her hand strength unconsciously loosened. I took the opportunity to pull out my wrist. Red nail marks were clearly visible on the skin.

“This 30,000 yuan, I don't give a penny.”

I made my stance clear.

"Co Wei is an adult and must take responsibility for his own actions."

“Whoever causes trouble, solves it themselves.”

Co Vi's face immediately turned red like pig liver.

"Khuong Nghien! Don't be too harsh!"

"I don't have money! If I had money, would I still have to beg you?"

“Then sell the car.”

I said lightly.

"The car you bought last month, if you sell it, don't say 30,000 yuan, 50,000 yuan is enough."

As soon as he finished speaking, Vuong Le immediately screamed.

"No! Absolutely not!"

"That car took me so much effort to get Vi Vi to buy it for me! Why do I have to sell it!"

"That's right! Based on what!"

Co Vi also screamed. I looked at them and felt so funny that it was cold.

“Depending on that is your own business.”

“You have no right to make others pay for your mistakes.”

Seeing that Luu Ngoc Mai couldn't force me, she immediately turned to Co Thanh. She made a "thud" sound and knelt down in front of him.

"Co Thanh! Mom, I beg you!"

She cried until her heart was broken, tears and runny nose streaming down her face.

"He only has this one younger brother! Can you bear to see him go to jail?"

"I've never asked you for anything in my whole life. I'll only ask you this one time today!"

“Quickly tell your wife and children to take out the money!”

“Mom bows to me!”

Having finished speaking, she really intended to bow her head. Co Thanh was so panicked that he quickly hugged her tightly.

"Mom! What are you doing! Get up quickly!"

A man He was arrogant, but was forced by his own mother until his eyes turned red. He turned his head to look at me, his eyes full of pain and pleading.

“Tieu Nghien… consider… consider him borrowing from me, okay?”

He opened his mouth, his voice trembling.

“He will pay you double later.”

I looked at him, my heart grew cold little by little. Up to this point, he still wanted to reconcile the whole village. Up to this point, he still wanted to sacrifice my interests to protect his so-called "family". I took a deep breath, forcing down the disappointment rising in my heart.

“Co Thanh, he doesn't need to borrow.”

“We can give this money.”

My words made everyone stunned. On Co Thanh and Luu Ngoc Mai's faces, joy immediately appeared as if they had found a savior. Co Vi and Vuong Le also breathed a sigh of relief. They think that in the end I still have to give in.

“But I have one condition.”

I suddenly changed my tone.

“What conditions?”

Luu Ngoc Mai asked immediately, her voice urgent.

“Very simple.”

My eyes scanned each person in the living room.

“We don't live in this house anymore.”

“We split families.”

“From today onwards, our big house and your small house are completely separate.”

“This 30,000 yuan is the ‘farewell fee’ I gave you.”

“How you live or die in the future has nothing to do with us.”

The two words "divided family" were like a bomb exploding in the living room. The joy on Luu Ngoc Mai's face immediately froze.

“Division… division?”

She couldn't believe her ears.

“What did you say?”

“I said, division.”

I pressed every word.

“Me, Co Thanh and Lac Lac will move out.”

“This house is in your name, so let it be left to you and your youngest son's family.”

“We left empty-handed.”

“As long as you all agree, I will immediately transfer 30,000 yuan.”

I took out my phone and opened the banking app. I stood there, calmly looking at them, waiting for an answer. The air seemed frozen. Luu Ngoc Mai's face was even more unsightly than when she knew there was only 4,000 yuan left on her card. Let her eldest son, whom she was always proud of, move out? Who will bear the household expenses in the future? Who will take care of her in her old age? Who will be the long-term "money printer" for the youngest son's family? She had never thought about that before. In her mind, we are like two money-making trees, forever rooted in this house, no matter what she wants. But now, that tree is about to leave. Her plans completely collapsed. She looked at the transfer screen on my phone, then looked at her youngest son who was waiting for money to save his life. For the first time in her life, she fell into a dilemma. Or lose the economic source she relies on. Or just stand by and watch the son she loved the most be taken away. 09 The last straw Luu Ngoc Mai's chest heaved violently, clearly struggling internally. Dividing the family means cutting off her most important financial source. Co Thanh's salary, my high income, are all support for her old age and the luxury of her youngest son's family. But if we don't divide the family, Co Vi's immediate problems cannot be resolved. 30,000 yuan, with the house as depleted as it is now, is no different than a huge number.

“Mom, why are you still hesitating!”