Chapter 1 — Mom's Real Chess Game

THE NIGHT MY MOTHER DIED, I FOUND A SAVINGSBOOK OF 3,460,000 RMB UNDER THE MATTRESS... UNTIL I LOOKED AT MY 18 YEARS STATEMENT, DAD TAKES OUT A PHOTO THAT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE ME! The night my mother died. While cleaning her bed, I accidentally discovered a savings book hidden under the mattress. The balance appearing on the book made me speechless. 3,460,000 yuan (About 14 billion VND). My mother used to be a textile worker. After being fired, his monthly pension was only 1,800 yuan. Dad sat quietly next to me. He lit a cigarette. The tip of the finger holding the lighter is still surprisingly steady.

"My mother and I have worked hard to save all our lives."

"You keep it."

A lifetime of saving? I looked at the savings book. There's only one question left in my mind. With only 1,800 yuan in pension money per month... How can mom save more than three million yuan? The next morning. I took the notebook to the bank. Request printing of entire transaction history. The employee just handed out the statement. I felt like my whole body was falling into an ice cellar. For eighteen years. Every month a fixed amount appears. Not missing a month. Not once late. Remitter... There's only one name. Luc Vien Chau. I've never heard of this person. The first transfer... It happened on the day I was born. I held a stack of statements. Quietly return home. Just walked in the door. I placed all the papers firmly on the dining table.

"Who is Luc Vien Chau?"

My father did not answer immediately. He just stared at those three words. It took so long that the cigarette in my hand had almost burned out. He slowly stood up. Go straight to the bedroom. He opened the old cabinet. Search deep inside. After a while, I picked up a photo that had turned yellow over the years. It is unknown how long it was stored. The man in the photo is wearing a neat suit. Wear a tie. Gentle eyes. The moment I saw that face clearly... I was stunned. He looks like me, like he was cast from the same mold. I silently looked at the photo in my hand. Fingertips trembled every now and then.

“What do you mean, Dad?”

To Kien Quoc. The man I called dad for eighteen years. Quietly lean back in the chair. The eyes were red. He looked at me for a long time. Finally, he said hoarsely:

“I... am not your biological son.”

Those five words. Not sharp like a knife. But it cut straight into my heart. Suffocating pain. I opened my mouth. Want to ask something. But the throat is stiff. Not a single sound can be emitted. He continued slowly.

“When I was young, my mother worked in a textile factory.”

“At that time, there was a young boss who often came to the factory to discuss cooperation.”

"Spruce."

“Speaking is also very elegant.”

He stopped. The pharynx moved slightly.

“At that time…”

“Your mother is the most beautiful girl in the whole factory.”

“Later she became pregnant with a child.”

“That man…”

“Luc Vien Chau.”

“He promised to take your mother away.”

“I will give you a title.”

“What happens after that?”

My voice is so low that I can hardly hear it myself.

“Then…”

“His wife knows about it.”

To Kien Quoc's voice suddenly became heavy with hatred.

“Her name is Tong Minh Chau.”

“The family works in real estate.”

“One day she led six or seven people and rushed into the factory.”

“Right in front of hundreds of workers.”

“She grabbed my mother's hair.”

“Dragging on the cement floor.”

I clenched my fist. Nails dug into the palms of his hands to the point of pain.

"Fighting has not yet satisfied your anger."

“Tong Minh Chau even sent someone to report to the leaders workshop."

“Tell your mother to seduce married men.”

“Destroying the happiness of others.”

“The factory is afraid of being implicated.”

“The next day, immediately fire your mother.”

“What about Luc Vien Chau?”

I interrupted.

“Where is he?”

To Kien Quoc laughed. A bitter smile to the end.

“He knelt before his wife.”

“I swear from now on I will never see your mother again.”

“Right in front of your mother.”

I slowly closed my eyes. My heart felt like it was being strangled by someone.

“Your mother is pregnant.”

“Fired from my job.”

“All over the city it is rumored that she is a fox spirit.”

“No one dares to rent.”

“No one dares to harbor it.”

His voice became more and more hoarse.

“At that time, dad was just a factory security guard.”

“A gentle person.”

“I can't even get married.”

“Your mother needs a place to rely on.”

“So you two live together.”

I opened my eyes.

“From the very beginning…”

“Dad, you know everything?”

“Eighty thousand yuan every month…”

“Dad also knows?”

He nodded.

“Since the day I was born.”

“Luc Vien Chau all transferred money on time.”

“Your mother has never spent a dime on herself.”

“When I was hospitalized.”

“Pay tuition.”

“It's all from that money.”

“The rest…”

“You keep it.”

My voice choked.

“Three million four hundred and sixty thousand…”

To Kien Quoc shook his head.

“Not only that.”

I looked up.

“What do you mean, Dad?”

“Eighteen years.”

“Eighty thousand per month.”

“I'll try it myself.”

I took the phone. Tremblingly dialed the camera. 80,000 × 12 × 18. 17,280,000 yuan. But... There's only 3,460,000 yuan left in the book. Where is the remaining nearly 14 million yuan?

“Where is the money?”

To Kien Quoc stood up. Searched for a long time. Then took out an old yellow paper envelope. It's my mother's familiar handwriting. But it only took one look for me to realize it.

“Nim Niem body opens.”

I tore the envelope. Inside was only a business card. Truong Duy Vien. Duy Vien Law Office. Senior partner. Flip to the back side. It's my mother's handwriting.

“Nem Niem.”

“Let's find him.”

“He will tell you everything.”

“This whole life…”

“Mom is the most sorry for me.”

“But everything I do…”

“It's all because of you.”

I tightened my grip on the business card. Nails dug deep into palms. A textile worker was fired. The monthly pension is only 1,800 yuan. After all... Since when have you known a famous lawyer? And for the past eighteen years... She has silently hidden it from everyone... For what?