Chapter 2 — Me Five Years Later

Now I stood up straight, wanting to take a breath, but they felt like they were at a terrible disadvantage. "Mom, do you remember? When I was twelve years old, I picked up bottles and jars all summer vacation to save money to buy reference books. Tham Minh turned around and broke my savings account to buy toys, everyone told me not to care. When others laugh at me, I'm a trash picker, do people ever care?" The country gave him extra tuition and was planning to let him study abroad. Why is it that I have a direct admission abroad, but people won't pay me the airfare?" "Now I just want to live, is that okay?" Mom's face turned pale. Dad raised his hand again to slap me. I grabbed his wrist tightly. I pointed with one hand to Uncle Vuong's working position inside. Next to him was a large, faded red rope. The other end of the rope was tied to a tall man who was drooling and smiling innocently. "It's not that everyone doesn't have money to treat your illness, it's that they can't bear it, don't want to waste money on you. Forcing you to marry this kind of person, to put it in a harsh way, is to use the bride price money to buy your life!" My every word seemed to be bleeding, wanting to scream out all the anger and unwillingness of the past twenty years. "As long as we are still your father and mother, I am the only one. Every day, I will definitely cause trouble until everyone is willing to pay for my medical treatment!” Dad's face turned pale. He was silent for a long time. Finally he spoke up: "I told you, this is for the whole family! Whether the person with cancer today is me or your younger brother, my decision is still to keep the house, keep the family, and get through it in a stable way." "I don't have money to treat your illness. Either you marry there and figure it out yourself, or stop being my daughter!" "Tomorrow morning we go to the lawyer's office. I want to break off the relationship between father and daughter. You!" "Wherever you die in the future has nothing to do with me. If you dare to come and cause trouble, don't blame me for calling the police and taking you to jail!" Tham Minh was full of satisfaction. Mom remained silent and did not speak, expertly acting as an observer. I was like a defeated rooster, bowing my head. No one sees the smile at the corner of my lips. I have to be faster! I had to get an agreement to break off the relationship before the lottery announced the results, then run towards my own life. Early the next morning, my parents and younger brother waited in front of the lawyer's office, but they still didn't see me for a long time. Dad proudly said: "Do you still want to take our money to treat the cancer? If you want to cure it, think of a way. Isn't it okay to marry there? At that time, tell Mr. Vuong to transfer the bride price directly to our card, and let Tieu Minh study abroad next year." As soon as he finished speaking, I ran over panting. "You forgot to bring your household registration book, so you had to run back to get it. After signing the agreement to break off the relationship, we went to the police station to separate the household registration book. always speak.”4. Mom wanted to say it again, but Dad's face turned pale. Tham Minh said nonchalantly: "Tam Vy, are you really coming? Your parents have raised you for so many years, but they just refuse to treat you, is there a need to make such a big deal of it?" I sneered: "If I had cancer and you and my parents ignored me, would you also think like that?" Tham Minh's face immediately turned red: "You curse me?" Mother covered Tham Minh behind her: "You are Sister, it's natural to take care of your younger brother. Now, saying things like that is so wrong!” Of course. I'm tired of hearing it. When I was fifteen years old, I received a five thousand yuan incentive scholarship. Tham Minh stole money to buy a pair of limited edition basketball shoes. I told my father, he slapped me: "Your brother doesn't dress properly."

What should I do about a sister like you? Why are you so petty?" When I was eighteen years old, I participated in a contest and won a camera. Tham Minh sold the money to give to the game show host. I was about to go and question her, but my mother stopped me: "As an older sister, you have to be a little more generous. It's just a camera, not worth being angry with my little brother." Over the past ten years, I took step after step back, finally reaching the brink. Dad's voice lowered: "Stop talking about those useless things. If you want to break off the relationship, you must say it clearly today!” He spread out the agreement the lawyer presented, his voice cold, reading every word clearly: “From the date of signing this agreement, the two parties do not have to bear any obligation to care for, care for, or pay for expenses related to health and insurance for each other. Regardless of whether either party suffers a serious illness or has an accident, they cannot ask the other party to provide any economic support. "Life and death are not relevant. The meaning could not be clearer. Just like that, I also wanted the same. I smiled, without hesitation took the pen and signed my name and finger. After that, they quickly accompanied me to the police station. My household registration was transferred to a new book. Look at the lonely name in the household book. I suddenly felt a sense of relief all over my body.