Chapter 11 — Marriage Book

Song Luu area, old teachers' dormitory area. In front of the door of the house at the end of the third-floor hallway, a faded Chinese string hangs. The paint on the door is peeling but has been wiped clean. Inside the house, the electric kettle boiled, steam rose and flew toward the window. I poured hot water into the teapot, then brought a bowl of dumplings filled with shrimp and meat that I had just finished wrapping and placed on the table.

"Mom, eat a bowl first to warm your stomach, take the rest back to the apartment to freeze."

Mom took off her apron, sat down at the table, looking at me from top to bottom.

"I've become thinner these past few days, and my eye bags are heavy."

"No problem." I laughed, deliberately changing the subject, "Mom, the filling is better this time, should I add more mushrooms?"

“Don't make excuses.” Mom glanced at me and sighed, "I only have one daughter, you can tell if she's okay or not."

“So you said you're not okay, should you cry for me to see?” I picked up a dumpling, blew gently and put it in my mouth, "But I'm not the type to cry easily."

“It wasn't like that when I was little.” Mom laughed, "When I was three years old, a neighbor boy took my doll away, and I cried loudly all over the yard."

"When you feel sorry for yourself, you have to cry. No one forces you to be strong."

“And now.” I tilted my head to look at my mother, "Now I will say, I only have one daughter, you must be strong."

Mother paused, bowed her head, scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew gently, and then slowly spoke.

"I don't want you to be strong, this life forces people to learn to be strong."

"My father passed away early, my mother raised me alone, so I didn't know how to confide in anyone. At that time, at the welfare housing distribution agency, I was supposed to have a spot, but with just one sentence from the leader, I gave it to someone else, and I didn't even dare to complain."

"When you were young, what I was most afraid of was that in the future you would also meet someone who didn't know how to love you."

"I didn't expect..." Mom stopped for a moment, her eyes reddened, "round and round, still unable to avoid it."

“Mom, I'm sorry.” I put down my chopsticks and looked at my mother very seriously, "I should have been more careful."

“Idiot.” Mom patted my hand gently, "When looking at people in love, everyone sometimes sees things wrong. I don't blame you."

“My mother only blamed me when I went to Chengdu and didn't stay a few more days to closely observe that boy and his family.”

"If you really can't live there, then come back here. Even if the house is a little cramped, there will always be room for you."

“I've moved back to my apartment, I don't live there anymore.” I smiled softly, "I came here to tell you good news."

“What good news.” Mom squinted at me, clearly still wary.

“I finally decided to stop this marriage that was wrong from the start.” I said, "If it doesn't last a few years and then regret it, that's already lucky."

“Listening to you, you sound like a lawyer.” Mom sighed, "Where are the divorce procedures? Are they done yet?"

"Not yet." I shook my head, "My side has already signed, his side is still hesitant."

“What if he refuses to sign?” Mom couldn't help but ask, "Is it going to take this long?"

“The longer it goes on, the more face he loses.” I said very calmly, "I'm not in a hurry."

I poured my mother a cup of tea, then poured it for myself, holding it in my arms to warm my fingertips.

"Don't worry mom, I won't get involved with him, nor will I post curses online."

“I just go step by step according to the law.”

“What if his family comes to cause trouble?” Mom frowned, “I heard someone is still running Go to the company or go home to your wife and make a fuss."

“The law department has already reminded me.” I laughed, "Besides, whoever causes trouble will lose face."

"If someone really dares to come, I will call and ask Chu Nhiem to contact the local police."

“Mom, just take good care of yourself, don't worry about me.”

Mom looked at me, both proud and sad.

“You're like that, I really feel heartbroken.” she said softly, "A daughter of marriageable age should be cherished like a treasure."

“And yet I have to go to war by myself.”

"Mom." I held her hand, "That's also a kind of luck."

“At least, I have enough ability to protect myself.”

"There are many people who have no chance to turn themselves around in their entire lives, and can only endure injustice."

I stopped for a moment, a dark glint flashed in my eyes.

“Just like my mother in the past.”

Mom was silent for a few seconds, then finally nodded. A week later, Monday morning meeting, which was a regular project reporting session. The projection screen in the meeting room was pulled down, the lights dimmed, and the computer screen clearly appeared on the white wall. Before the manager could speak, the screen suddenly flashed and a strange folder appeared.

"Who hasn't turned off the device yet? The USB is stuck." The manager frowned, preparing to call someone to turn it off.

But the first video automatically popped up. That's a camera image of the hotel hallway, the angle is a bit high, the time clearly shown is Friday night three months ago. The elevator door opened, Chu Khai Hang stepped out, next to a woman in a red dress, the two were almost close to each other. She raised her head and smiled at him, gently putting her hand on his arm, then they both walked into the room at the end of the hallway.