Chapter 9 — Mother's Last Painting

"Based on the fact that I know who paid for every brick of this house, based on the fact that I know whose family your husband has been eating for all these years." Lam's mother hugged the scroll and ran out. "I don't listen to your nonsense anymore. I brought this painting to find someone to see." I chased. I don't know when Lam Hao slipped in through the front door; by the time I noticed him, he was blocking the backyard exit. "Sister, mother, go quickly!" Uncle Trieu rushed from the side to stop him. During the chaos, Lam's mother stuffed a scroll of paintings into Lam Hao's hands. Lam Hao turned and ran away. When I chased him to the front yard, he rushed out the big door. Aunt Chu shouted from behind: "Don't chase, call the police first." I stood at the door, still holding the key. Lam Uyen held the door frame, her voice carrying a smile. "Hua Thanh Thanh, it's just a torn picture, you're not that petty, are you?" I turned my head to look at her. "That was the last painting my mother completed while she was alive." Lam Uyen said indifferently: "Dead people can't use it." I looked at her, suddenly not wanting to say another word. The police came to the house again. This time, there would be no mediation. Lam Hao stole the painting scroll, had cameras and witnesses. At first, Lam's mother was still speechless. "I just brought it to see, I said I won't return it." Aunt Chu slapped the list on the table. "That painting is catalogued and has been kept in perfect condition. Just one more crease would be enough for her to have to sell her house as compensation." Lam's mother was scared. "How much can a torn painting be worth?" Aunt Chu said a number. The melon seeds in Lam's mother's hand fell all over the ground. Lam Uyen also sat up straight. Tham Minh Trach blurted out: "Is it worth that much money?" Aunt Chu looked at him. "You only care about this?" Tham Minh Trach lost face. "I'm just asking." Lam Uyen's eyes darted. "If it's worth so much money, it's even more impossible for Hua Thanh Thanh to hold it alone. She's still young and doesn't understand things, so what if she gets scammed?" I looked at her. "Your brother just stole my painting, now you say you're afraid I'll be scammed?" Lam Uyen said: "Lam Hao was only a little excited, but he was also worried about me. If you had explained everything clearly early on, it wouldn't have come to this point?" I asked: "Is it also my fault that I didn't tell you about my assets?" She said it very clearly. "We live together, of course we have to trust each other." Aunt Chu smiled coldly. "Return the painting first, then talk about trust." Lam's mother started calling. She called Lam Hao but no one answered the phone. The third time, the other end finally picked up. Lam's mother turned on the speakerphone, so frantic that her voice was hoarse. "Lam Hao, where is the painting?" Lam Hao's side is very noisy. "Sold." Immediately no one in the room spoke. Lam's mother shouted: "Who are you selling to?" Lam Hao lost patience. "An old furniture collector. He gave me twenty thousand yuan. Don't bother me, Mom, I'm busy." Aunt Chu grabbed the phone. "Address." Lam Hao said a word. "Who are you?" Aunt Chu said: "What you stole is enough to put you in jail. There's still time to tell me the address." Lam Hao's side was silent for a few seconds. "Don't scare me. It's just a torn piece of paper." The call was disconnected. Lam's mother's legs softened and she sat down on the chair. Lam Uyen immediately looked at me. "Hua Thanh Thanh, you can't blame Hao Tu for this matter. He doesn't know." I said, "Then let the police tell him." Lam Uyen stood up. "If you dare to call the police to arrest my brother, I will not give birth to this child anymore." The second aunt rushed to cover her mouth. "Uyen Uyen, don't talk nonsense!" Lam's mother seemed to have caught a life-saving buoy. "Yes, if you dare to harm Hao Tu, my daughter will go to the hospital to abandon the baby. At that time, the Tham family will be extinct, it will all be because of you!" The second uncle angrily said: "What do you Lam family think is the baby?" Lam's mother scolded back: "Isn't it because the Tham family tricked you into getting married? My daughter was married for three years and received nothing, and now even your younger brother has been sent to prison. Do you still have a conscience?" Tham Minh Trach looked at me, his voice hoarse. "Thanh Thanh, Lam Hao, nothing can happen." I said: "The painting cannot be lost." He said: "No matter how much money, I will slowly compensate you." Aunt Chu interrupted. "You can't compensate." Tham Minh Trach was angered by that sentence. "Don't look down on others." Aunt Chu said: "It's not to belittle, it's to tell the truth." Lam Uyen cried. "Minh Trach, have you heard? They don't consider you family. Hua Thanh Thanh wants to force us to death." I picked up the phone and called the police. Tham Minh Trach suddenly held my wrist. "Thanh Thanh, consider me begging you." I looked at his hand. "Let go." He didn't let go. "Your parents are dead. My parents are your only relatives. Do you really want to destroy this family over a dead object?" Aunt Chu's face changed. I raised my head to look at Tham Minh Trach. "What the hell?" He gritted his teeth. "Maybe not?" I slowly pushed his hand away. "To you, it's only a scrap of paper. To me, it isn't." The call went through. I said: "I want to report to the police. Someone stole a painting from my warehouse." Lam Uyen shouted and sat down directly on the ground.