Chapter 1 — Mother's Last Painting

The day I received notice of permanent employment, my cousin's wife announced that she was pregnant. Just when the whole family was rejoicing, my cousin's wife said: "Thanh Thanh has a permanent job, and now I'm pregnant. After having children, it won't be convenient for everyone to live together, so tell Thanh Thanh to move out." As soon as this sentence came out, the whole house was silent. Seeing that everyone disagreed, my cousin's wife took a step back: "If you insist on staying here, that's fine, but you have to pay ten thousand yuan for living expenses every month!" But the house with a yard where they live belongs to me, and I pay for food and living expenses. In the end, who is the one who has to give living expenses to whom? The day I received the notice to become a full-time employee, my second uncle cooked me a table full of dishes, and even took out the bottle of precious wine that had been stored for a long time. Even my cousin, who always said the store was busy, returned before mealtime. After three rounds of drinks, my cousin's wife, who had always been quietly serving herself food, suddenly spoke up. "I'm pregnant." The room was quiet for a few seconds, then quickly filled with laughter. Cousin Tham Minh Trach was so happy that his face turned red. His chopsticks clattered onto the table, and he didn't even pick them up; he only stared at Lam Uyen's stomach. "Really? Uyen Uyen, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Lam Uyen bowed her head and touched her belly. "I wanted to surprise you." The happiest were of course the second uncle and second aunt. My cousin and his wife had been married for three years but still had no children. The second aunt immediately muttered a few words of blessing from the ancestors, and the second uncle also poured wine into his cousin's cup, saying that the Tham family was finally about to have another descendant. I was also happy for my cousin's wife, thinking in my heart that when the baby was born, I would definitely give her a large red envelope. As soon as the bustling atmosphere rose, Lam Uyen put down her chopsticks. "Besides this, I have one more thing to say." The second aunt laughed until her eyes narrowed. "What?" "Tell Thanh Thanh to move out." Lam Uyen's voice was not loud, but her words were like a pot of dirty water splashed down, causing the entire dining table to immediately fall silent. "She has become a full-time employee, and now I'm pregnant. After I have a baby, I'm afraid living together won't be convenient." The wine cup in the second uncle's hand stopped in mid-air. My cousin said nothing. I looked at Lam Uyen and spoke for a long time. "It's not inconvenient, I'm not helpless. After my nephew or niece is born, I can still help you take care of the children." Lam Uyen pulled out a piece of paper to wipe her hands. "After I give birth, there won't be enough room for the baby in this house." "How is that possible?" I tried to speak softly. "The east room is always empty, just clean it up. If it's still not enough, you can use the small house in the backyard, the baby will definitely have enough room." The old house has three courtyards and more rooms than we could ever use. For the past few years we have lived in the front yard, the back yard is only used to store calligraphy and old furniture left by my parents. Lam Uyen raised her head to look at me. She looked at me not as a relative, but as a shameless tenant who refused to leave. The second aunt quickly tried to smooth things over. "Uyen Uyen, don't worry. Even if anyone in the house suffers, we can't let you and the baby suffer." Lam Uyen crumpled the paper into a ball and placed it next to the bowl. "Once the baby is born, I will need peace and privacy. How am I supposed to live with an outsider in the house?" After speaking, she changed her tone again. "Thanh Thanh, I didn't mean to fire you. But you've been in our house for so many years, it's time to move out." I put down my chopsticks. Seeing that my face was not good, she continued: "Your parents died young. Your aunt and uncle supported you while you were in school. Girls these days focus on being independent. You should also be a little ashamed and take care of yourself." Hearing those words, I looked at my second uncle and second aunt. The second uncle was silent for a long time, then slammed on the table. "That's enough! Enough! The more you talk, the more ridiculous you sound. Minh Trach, take your wife and children back to your room." Tham Minh Trach immediately protected Lam Uyen. "Dad, Uyen Uyen is pregnant; why are you so cruel to her? Besides, what she said wasn't wrong." The second uncle's face turned red, he placed the wine glass firmly on the table. "You two, go back to your room!" Lam Uyen stood up holding her stomach, looking like she had suffered a great injustice. "I knew it right away. In this house, I will always be an outsider. Thanh Thanh's last name is Hua, my last name is Lam, so even though I'm a descendant of the Tham family, it's still not as good as a niece living on the sidelines." The second aunt frantically supported her. "Uyen Uyen, don't get angry. A pregnant woman must not get upset." Lam Uyen shook her second aunt's hand away. "So everyone, give me a definite answer. Are you going to transfer the house to me or not?" The second uncle gritted his teeth. "This matter is not your turn to decide." "If I can't decide, who will? What about her?" Lam Uyen raised her hand and pointed at me. "She lives off her parents' inheritance and stays in the house they left her; on what basis does she have the right to make decisions?" The plate of steamed fish on the table was still steaming hot. I suddenly felt like the rice in my mouth no longer had any flavor. I asked my second uncle: "Second uncle, doesn't your sister-in-law know about this house?" The second uncle did not answer. Second aunt was startled first, she pulled my sleeve. "Thanh Thanh, don't talk about this now. Uyen Uyen is pregnant." Lam Uyen immediately caught something suspicious. "What about the house? Are you guys hiding something from me?" Tham Minh Trach also frowned. "Dad, Mom, what are you two hiding from us?" The second uncle bowed his head and touched the cigarette but couldn't get a single cigarette. Looking at the reactions of their entire family, the warmth in my heart gradually cooled. It turned out that Lam Uyen was not the only one who considered me an outsider. There were words they had hidden for a long time, but they didn't expect that today I would ask them directly in front of them. The second aunt forced a smile. "Nothing happened. Just you young people, stop arguing. Thanh Thanh hasn't been here for a day or two." Lam Uyen burst out laughing. "So what do you mean she's still here? Okay, she can stay if she wants to, she has to pay ten thousand yuan for living expenses every month, not even a penny short of it." Tham Minh Trach added: "Ten thousand is not much. Now renting a decent house is even more expensive than that price. She can't keep taking advantage forever." I raised my head to look at him. "Cousin, do you think so too?" Tham Minh Trach avoided my eyes, picked up a chopstick of food and then put it down. "Thanh Thanh, don't blame me for being difficult to hear. You're so grown up now, you really can't just let my parents raise you forever." The second uncle finally couldn't bear it anymore. "Tham Minh Trach, shut up for me!" Lam Uyen immediately stepped in front of her husband. "Why did you yell at him? Is he wrong? Is it wrong for him to want some justice for his wife and children?" The second aunt frantically patted the edge of the table. "Stop arguing, today is a happy day." Lam Uyen picked up the bag. "I feel like this happy day is not for me. Minh Trach, let's go." Tham Minh Trach looked at me and then stood up to follow. "Thanh Thanh, think carefully for yourself. Don't take adults' feelings for you for granted." After they left, no one touched the food table again. The second uncle sat in place, not saying anything for a long time. The second aunt closed the door, and as soon as she turned around, her eyes were red. "Thanh Thanh, don't take it to heart. Uyen Uyen is a young woman, so she has a bit of a big temper." I looked at her. "She said the house belonged to her uncle and aunt, and the money for food and drinks was paid by her uncle and aunt. Who taught her these words?" The second aunt opened her mouth but could not speak. The second uncle banged the bag on the table. "It was your foolish uncle's fault." The second aunt immediately panicked. "Can't blame you all. When Minh Trach got married, the Lam family just opened their mouths and asked for a house in the city. Where do we get the money to buy it? I think after all, Thanh Thanh is a family member, just use the name of this house to hold the wedding first, and later explain slowly." I said nothing. The second aunt's voice became smaller and smaller. "Who would have thought it would last until now." The second uncle wiped his face. "Thanh Thanh, this house was left to you by your parents. Your aunt and uncle only helped look after you, and absolutely will not do anything against your conscience to take over your property." I nodded. "Then find time to tell your sister-in-law clearly." The second aunt quickly said: "It's not appropriate to talk about it now. She's just pregnant, what if she has an abortion?" I looked at my second aunt. "So when is it appropriate? After the baby is born? When the baby is a month old? Or wait until the baby goes to school and move the entire household here?" My second aunt was speechless when I asked her. The second uncle raised his head. "Tomorrow I will tell Minh Trach." I trusted him. Because my second uncle has treated me well these past few years. After my parents passed away, he and his second aunt moved to live with me. When I went to school away from home, they also took care of the house for me. Previously, my father opened a small tea shop, and my mother knew how to restore ancient paintings. This house is something they saved up for half their lives to buy. My mother had planted the pomegranate tree in the yard. The year they died in the accident, I had just finished my university entrance exam. In the hospital, second uncle patted my shoulder and said: "Thanh Thanh, don't be afraid, there are still second uncle and second aunt." At that time, I really believed him. Returning to my room in the evening, I had just put my official documents in a drawer when the phone rang. The name Aunt Chu appeared on the screen. I answered the phone. "Thanh Thanh, the key to the backyard shed is still in your hand, right?" "Yes, is something wrong?" Aunt Chu lowered her voice. "Today someone came to ask about my mother's paintings, and asked if this house belonged to Tham Quoc Cuong. You have to be careful, don't let unrelated people enter the backyard." I looked out the window. The front-yard light was still on. The second aunt was cleaning up the dishes in the kitchen, the second uncle was sitting under the pomegranate tree smoking tobacco. I said: "I know." Aunt Chu paused for a moment. "Also, what your father left behind that year, don't prolong it any longer. You cannot keep testing people's hearts." I locked the drawer. "Aunt Chu, when I finish handling the matter at home, I will come find you." After hanging up, the yard door was kicked hard by someone outside. Lam Uyen's voice echoed through the door. "Hua Thanh Thanh, come here!" I went out to the yard. Lam Uyen stood at the door, behind was Tham Minh Trach. One hand supported her waist, the other held the phone. "Did you gossip to your parents?" I said: "No." "No? So why did Minh Trach just say dad told him to come home and talk about the house tomorrow?" Tham Minh Trach pulled her. "Uyen Uyen, go back first." Lam Uyen refused to leave, holding the phone up to my face. "Hua Thanh Thanh, I'll make it clear today. Either you move out, or you pay the money. Don't rely on your soft-hearted parents to cling to the Tham family and suck blood." Before I could speak, my second uncle walked out of the room. "This is the Hua family, not the Tham family." Lam Uyen was stunned. Tham Minh Trach also turned to look at him. The second aunt ran out of the kitchen, her hands still covered in water. "Mr. Tham!" The second uncle put out his cigarette. "Minh Trach, Uyen Uyen, come here at noon tomorrow. Dad will explain everything clearly." Lam Uyen's face changed. "What do you mean?" The second uncle looked at her. "It means this house is not yours." The night wind blew through the pomegranate tree, the leaves rustled.