Chapter 4 — Mother's Boundaries

“Thanh Hoa is right.” He also opened his mouth. “A child's first month is a happy thing, not an opportunity for anyone to show off.” Luc Minh Vien's face could no longer be maintained. He said to the other end of the line. "Mom, that's it first, I'll explain to you later." Ma Phuong Lan was angry. "Explain what?" "Today I want to know, why didn't she invite us?" I continued. "Based on the hotel I booked." "Based on the deposit I paid." "Based on this month, my mother has held her and endured it every night." "Based on you saying your body is not okay." The sound of breathing came from the end of the phone. urgently. Luc Giai Giai chimed in again. "Sister-in-law, you're intentionally causing trouble." "Whether or not adults are invited to the full-month party is politeness." I said: "Riquette is two-way." "The second day after the child was born, everyone went to the hospital to sit for ten minutes, telling my mother to come take care of her would be more convenient." "At that time, did everyone think about politeness?" Luc Giai Giai didn't say anymore. I put the phone on the table and opened the photo album. The first screenshot is the sentence Luc Minh Vien sent. Mom is old, I sympathize a bit. The second picture is Ma Phuong Lan saying she will come visit her child in a few months. The third picture is the receipt I recorded after the video call. I don't really send into the clan group. I just turned the screen towards Luc Minh Vien. "Look carefully." "You didn't suddenly go crazy." "I just remembered every single thing everyone did." Luc Minh Vien looked at those words, his expression had a moment of panic. Maybe you never thought, I will take a screenshot. You never thought I would make such clear calculations. He has always believed that women in pregnancy cry a little, make a mess, and eventually it passes. But there are some things that pass by time, not self-pity. Finally my mother opened her mouth. "Minh Vien, today is your first month." "If you want to finish this feast, then sit down to eat." "If you want to fight this anger for your mother, you can go now." Luc Minh Vien raised his head to look at her. There was dissatisfaction and awkwardness in his eyes. But the guests all over the hall were watching. I can't go. He could only hang up the phone and sit back in his old seat. I saw his hands shaking. Not angry to the point of shaking. It's about discovering that things are no longer under your control. After the party started, the atmosphere quickly became bustling. Auntie held An An and poked her to open her eyes. My cousin held the camera and took pictures for us. He drank two glasses, patted the table and said. "Not talking today is no fun." "Our An An family is healthy and safe, more important than anything." I smiled and nodded. But from beginning to end, Luc Minh Vien did not move much. His phone is still vibrating. I didn't need to look to know who it was. Ma Phuong Lan will not let it go. The same goes for Luc Giai Giai. When the party was almost over, the hotel manager came over holding the remaining bill. Luc Minh Vien finally found a chance to express himself, reaching out and saying. "Let me pay." I passed the card over. "No need." His face darkened. "You are An An's father." I looked at him. "So why don't you remember before?" This sentence was not loud. But I heard it. His hand stretched out stiffly in mid-air. I swiped my card and signed. After the hotel manager left, Luc Minh Vien stared at me. "Tham Thanh Hoa, what do you want?" I put the signature pen back in my pocket. "I want you to know." "It's not that I don't have a temper." "It's just that in the past I was willing to save face for everyone." He still wanted to say something. The phone suddenly rang again. This time it's not Ma Phuong Lan. It's a message in the Luc family group. Luc Minh Vien opened it and took a look, his face immediately turned pale. I sat next to him and clearly saw the first voice message in the group sent by Ma Phuong Lan. "Tham Thanh Hoa lost all face today."

It's our Luc family." Right after that, there was a photo she sent out. In the photo is the confinement bill I just pushed to Luc Minh Vien. But she only cut half of it. Cut off the part of the person who paid. Leaving only the cost numbers. Below there was a sentence. "Everyone, look, this daughter-in-law of mine, just a month old, took money from her husband's family." I stared at that photo, my smile fading little by little. Turns out she also knew how to take screenshots. It's just that she I forgot. I have the full copy in my hand. 05 Luc Minh Vien's first reaction was to turn the phone upside down. He looked at me. "Thanh Hoa, don't send it." I raised the glass of water and took a sip. "Why?" His voice was low as if he was pleading with me. "Your mother is old, she was just angry." I put down the glass. "If she is angry, she can cut off her head and tail?" years old?" "She needs face, but your mother doesn't need face?" Luc Minh Vien was silent. I picked up my phone. In the family group, someone began to answer. Some said, don't make a big deal about the conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Some said, it's normal for a daughter-in-law to spend money, and her husband's family should also help. There were also people who said nonsense, a woman changes as soon as she gives birth, and threatens the elderly with the slightest move.