Chapter 1 — My Neighbor Sold My Car For 2,500 Yuan, I Sue Them To The End

I went on a business trip for 7 days, and my neighbor voluntarily sold his car and paid 3,000 yuan (~10.5 million). I don't argue. Just pulled out the 230,000 yuan (~805 million) contract... and then reported it to the police. I had just returned from work, pulled my suitcase into the apartment complex. From afar I saw my parking space... empty. So clean that not even a trace of cake remained. The neighbor's aunt named Chu sat in front of the door, biting a melon seed and calmly said:

"Your motorbike is too noisy, affecting my nephew. I conveniently sold it for 2,500 yuan."

She also took out a wrinkled wad of money, counted 800 yuan short, and said in a calm voice:

"I'm a little short, I'll take it for you to see a doctor."

Everyone in the building advised me to be a little more generous. I didn't say a word. Just quietly go home, open the drawer, and take out the car purchase contract. The number printed on it was blindingly clear: 260,000 yuan. The next morning, I took the contract with me and went straight to the police station. On a seven-day business trip, I pulled my suitcase into the apartment complex. From afar I saw my parking spot. Empty. So clean that... there are no tire marks left. I stopped and stared at that cement floor for five seconds. Next to the flower bed, Chu Que Phuong was gathering and talking to a few old women, holding a handful of melon seeds in her hand, biting nonstop. She glanced at me, her eyes lit up, and she waved.

“Tieu Lam is back?”

I didn't move. She didn't pay any attention and naturally continued:

“Your motorbike, I took care of it for you.”

She said those two words lightly, as if she had just conveniently thrown away a trash bag.

"Your car explodes loudly every morning, startling my nephew so he can't sleep. I told you several times, but you didn't pay attention. Just when someone collecting scrap came, I had it towed away."

She took out a wad of money from her pocket, wrinkled and colorful.

“2,500 yuan, here.”

She handed the money towards me, her arms not yet straightened, her body tilted, like she was throwing change to a roadside beggar. I don't accept. She held up the money and waited a few seconds. Next to him, Mr. Ton put down the thermos and walked around.

“What's going on?”

Chu Que Phuong's voice immediately became much higher.

"Look, Mr. Ton, I was kind enough to help her take care of that broken car, but I still don't appreciate it. You know that car, it's so noisy every day that the whole building can't calm down. My grandson is only four years old, and he's scared to cry in the middle of the night."

Mr. Ton looked at me and nodded.

"Tieu Lam, Mrs. Chu is also helpless. Children can't stand the noise. Don't worry about it anymore."

Aunt Trieu also chimed in: "That's right, every time that car starts, my windows shake. Sell it for peace." Ms. Tien chimed in: "2,500 yuan is not a lot. I think that car is old."

“That's right, young people should be a little more generous.”

One sentence from this person, another sentence from that person. Everyone is talking. But they are all lying. No one asked me: how did the car disappear? Who gives permission to sell? Have you asked me yet? No one asked. When Chu Que Phuong saw me silent, his complacency became even more obvious. She stuffed the money straight into my hand and patted the back of my hand.

"Okay, this matter is over. Don't drive that kind of car again in the future, it's better to live in peace."

I bowed my head and looked at the money in my hand. Count once.

“Where is the 800 left?”

Chu Que Phuong blinked, his expression unchanged.

"After taking Duong Duong to the hospital for a check-up, the registration and inspection money was all spent. Your car has scared my nephew like that, are you asking me to pay for it myself?"

Aunt Trieu stood next to him and nodded repeatedly: "That's why, children's health is the most important thing." I folded the money and put it in my pocket. Turn around, pull the suitcase and walk towards the stairs. Behind him, Chu Que Phuong's voice was still chasing.

“Tieu Lam, just go, don't you even say thank you?”

Mr. Ton advised her: "Forget it, young people don't understand, so why bother?" The elevator door closed. All sounds were cut off. There's only me left. In the elevator mirror, my face was scary white. That car. Silver gray color, made in Italy, limited edition number 037. My father saved for four years, hid it from his mother, and bought it from a car enthusiast. He personally took care of each component, changed three sets of tires, and drove more than twenty thousand kilometers. The day he picked up the car, he drove from the east of the city to the west, going around nearly half the city, just to get to the school gate to pick me up after school. He said, daughter, this car will be yours from now on. He said, I can't be with you forever, but I can. Two years ago, he left. This car is the last thing he left me. The elevator stops on the seventh floor. I stood in front of the house, the key couldn't get into the lock. Entering the house, I threw my suitcase in the mysterious entrance without turning on the lights. On the tea table there was a photo frame of my father sitting in that car. Behind is the coastal road, he is wearing a helmet, giving a thumbs up to the lens. That was his last trip away. I stood in front of the tea table for a long time. Then enter the bedroom and open the bedside table drawer. At the bottom of the drawer, pressed to the bottom is a kraft paper envelope. In the envelope is the car purchase contract. Product name, model, limited number, purchase price. 260,000 yuan. The paper is black and white, has the agent's stamp, and the date of signing is six years ago. I stared at that number for a long time. She sold it for 2,500. 800 was deducted. I stuffed the contract back into the envelope and opened the phone book. Tan Nam's call rang three times then picked up.

"Miss Van? Isn't she coming back tomorrow?"

“My motorbike was sold by someone.”

The other side was silent for two seconds.

"What do you mean? Who sells it?"

"The neighbor's aunt's name is Chu. She said my car was noisy and affected her grandchildren. While I was on a business trip, she sold 2,500 to the scrap collector."

"2,500? That car?"

Tan Nam's voice immediately rose.

“Does she know what car that is?”

“She said the car was broken.”

"The car is broken? The limited edition is 260,000 and she calls it a broken car? Lam Van, have you called the police yet?"

“So what are you waiting for?”

I squeezed the envelope tightly, without speaking. Tan Nam on the other side was impatient.

“Lam Van, don't say you're going to let it go.”

“I don't intend to let it go.”

“So what do you think?”

“Come to the station tomorrow.”

“I'll go with you.”

"No need."

"What do you mean you don't need it? With your personality, when you go to the police station and ask, you're silent. Last time the taxi driver charged you an extra 50 yuan, you still—"

“This time is different.”

I hung up. Standing by the window looking down, Chu Que Phuong was still in the flower bed, smiling and talking with the old women. She raised her head a little, as if glancing in my direction, then turned away again. I pulled the curtain. Open the computer, type a phrase:

“Arbitrarily selling other people's property.”

The results appeared, I read them line by line. Then turn off the engine, take the car purchase contract, dad's invoice, and vehicle registration, gather everything up and neatly put it in a file bag. Can't sleep tonight.