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

The next morning, at eight o'clock, I went downstairs. As soon as he left the building, old Han from the management side came over.

“Tieu Lam, I heard about your motorbike.”

I stopped.

“Sister Chu told me.” Old Han rubbed his hands and smiled wryly, "She said your car is too noisy, and several households have complained. This... is all about neighbors..."

“She sold my car, you know?”

“Know, know.” Old Han nodded vigorously, "But she's just for the sake of the child. Besides, that car, left in the parking lot, is also left empty, making a lot of noise when it comes out, so why not..."

“Should it be better to let someone else sell it?”

I interrupted. Old Han was stunned.

"I mean... can this matter be resolved privately? Ms. Chu has been in our area for more than twenty years, and is a long-time member of the management board. Neighborly relations have always been good. You make a big deal of it, it's hard for everyone to see each other..."

“She sold my car for 260,000 yuan, you tell me about face?”

Old Han's face changed completely.

"How much?"

“No… that can't be… that car just looks…”

“Car purchase contract, invoice, registration papers, I have everything.”

Old Han's mouth opened and could not be closed. He looked at me, as if trying to see if I was joking.

“That… Tieu Lam, don't rush, let me go talk to Ms. Chu, see if I can…”

“No need.”

I carried my file bag and walked past him.

"Tieu Lam! Where are you going, Tieu Lam?"

“Police station.”

He called after me two times, but I didn't turn around. Going out of the apartment complex gate, I saw Chu Cuong, son of Chu Que Phuong, just returning from outside, carrying two bags of breakfast. He looked at me, as if he didn't know me, then bowed his head and continued walking. I don't stop either. Turn right out of the gate, the police station is three hundred meters away. On the way, Tan Nam texted:

"Are you there yet? Do you need me to come over?"

“No need, it's almost there.”

"Take a photo of the contract and send me a copy, I'll save it for you."

I took a photo and sent it over. Tan Nam answered immediately: "260,000. She really dares." In front of the station there are two police cars. I picked up my bag of documents and walked in. The person who welcomed me was a police officer in his thirties, surnamed Tran. The nameplate on the table reads: Tran Khai.

“Tell me the situation.”

I recounted everything from beginning to end, then opened the file bag and placed the car purchase contract, invoice, and registration papers on the table one by one. Tran Khai picked up the contract to look at it, then looked at me.

“Are you sure this car is the one sold by the neighbor?”

“The chassis number and engine number are both on the registration certificate and can be compared.”

He turned over the registration paper and wrote down the information.

“How much money did the neighbor give you?”

"I said I sold 2,500, but in reality I received 1,700. She kept 800 and told me to take him to the doctor."

Tran Khai stopped writing and looked up at me.

“Car costs 260,000 but sells for 2,500?”

“She said the car was broken.”

He didn't say more, bowed his head, completed the document, and then gave it to me to sign.

"We will verify. What is your neighbor's name? Which apartment does he live in?"

"Chu Que Phuong. On the same floor, I live in 701, she lives in 702."

“Okay, go back and wait for the announcement.”

I stood up, carried my bag of documents and headed out the door.

"Wait."

Tran Khai called back.

“Do you know where the car is now?”

"She said she sold it to scrap collectors, but I don't know the rest."

He nodded and didn't ask any more questions. I left the police station. As soon as I got to the door, the phone rang. Old Han called.

“Tieu Lam, have you really reported it to the police?”

"Oh my god, I said I would help you talk to Ms. Chu. If you do this, the whole building knows everything, how will we see each other in the future?"

“She sells her belongings I'm worth 260,000, how do you think we should look at each other?

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.

“260,000… was it true what you said yesterday?”

“The contract and invoice have been submitted to the police.”

“This… let me find out more.”

He hung up. I stood in front of the station gate, the sun was shining brightly. The phone rang again.

“It's done.”

“What did they say?”

“Tell me to come back and wait.”

“That's all?”

Tan Nam was silent for a while.

"Miss Van, if you need a lawyer, Phuong Vien has an acquaintance."

“Not needed for now.”

“Okay, call me if you have anything.”

I hung up the phone and returned to the apartment complex. As soon as she arrived at the door of the building, she saw Chu Que Phuong standing in the lobby, her hands on her hips. Seeing me, her face stretched.

“Lam Van, have you gone to the police?”

The news spread really fast. Chu Que Phuong stood blocking the door, behind her was her son, Chu Cuong. Chu Cuong was a head taller than her, wearing a black coat, hands in pockets, tilting his head to look at me.

“I asked you.” Chu Que Phuong took a step forward. “Are you going to report to the police?”

“What did you report? Didn't I already give you money about that broken car?

"The car cost 260,000, you sold 2,500, and kept 800. That's what you call giving money?"

Chu Que Phuong paused for a moment.

“260,000? Who are you fooling? That pile of scrap metal is worth 260,000?”

“The contract is at the police station.”

Her expression changed briefly, then quickly regained her defiant look.

“Contract? Who knows how real or fake it is? Don't scare me. I have lived in this area for 23 years, how many days have you been here?

Chu Cuong now spoke up.

“That's right, don't play tricks. A broken car, you can say as much as you want? My mother helped you deal with it, but you still come back and bite back?”

“Your mother has no right to touch my things.”

“What right do you have? That car is so noisy every day that my child can't sleep, it affects my whole family, what's wrong with my mother handling it?"

“It's my personal property.”

“Personal property? Putting it in a common parking space, affecting others is no longer your personal matter."

I looked at him.

“The parking management fee is several hundred yuan each month. Have you ever paid for your mother?”

Chu Cuong's face immediately turned red.

“What do you mean?”

“My parking space, my car, my money. What does this have to do with you?”

Chu Cuong took a step forward. Chu Que Phuong immediately pulled him back.

“Okay okay.” She turned to me. “Lam Van, I tell you, it's useless for you to call the police. I just helped you deal with your broken car. Is 3,000 yuan not enough to buy a new one? If you like to make a big deal out of it, just do it. The whole building is watching, who is right and who is wrong, everyone knows clearly.”

She pulled Chu Cuong into the elevator. Before the door closed, I heard Chu Cuong whisper:

“Mom, is she just threatening? That car can't be worth that much.”

Chu Que Phuong snorted:

“What is it worth? One person rents a house, where can he get 260,000 to buy a car?

The elevator door closed. I stood in the lobby for a while, then pressed another elevator. When you get home, lock the door. I sat down on the sofa and looked at my father's photo on the tea table. He rode a silver-gray car, smiling like a young man. The phone rang again. This time it's a strange number.

“Hello, may I ask if you are Ms. Lam Van? I'm Tran Khai from the regional police station.”

“We have a preliminary understanding of the situation. I want to invite you to come over tomorrow morning to compare the documents. We will also notify the neighbors.”

“There's one left We have looked up your job and vehicle registration information, but have not yet completed the title transfer procedure. If a buyer is found, the vehicle can be recovered.”

I hung up. Put the phone down on the table, lean back on the sofa, close your eyes for a moment. Let's see what else she can say.