Chapter 7 — My Neighbor Sold My Car For 2,500 Yuan, I Sue Them To The End

The meeting lasted forty minutes. I presented the preliminary plan, Co Minh Than nodded repeatedly. Two assistants next to him took two pages of notes. Leaving the Vien Canh building, Phuong Vien laughed so much that he couldn't close his mouth.

“Sure.”

“Not signed yet.”

"A person like Co Minh Than, if he doesn't find a mistake on the spot, means it's already been finalized. The contract will be sent next week."

He patted my shoulder.

"This year the studio will definitely surpass the five million mark. Do you know what that means?"

“Preparing to force me to register the company again.”

“Exactly what I meant.” Phuong Vien smiled. "A personal studio is completely different from an official company. There was the Vien Canh case project, and later on the customer level jumped up."

“Do well.”

“Listen to you.”

When we got back to the area, it was already dark. As soon as I entered the lobby, there was a new notice on the first floor notice board. This time it's pre-printed.

"Regarding the incident where resident 701 reported to the police: Through research, resident Lam had a dispute with 702 over an old motorbike. The vehicle's appearance was old, but residents 701 said it was worth 260,000, so the authenticity is questionable. Hope everyone will not be led by one-sided information."

Do not sign. I tore that paper down. Fold it up and put it in your pocket. On the seventh floor, door 702 opened slightly, the sound of the TV echoed out. I didn't look, entered the house. Close the door, take a photo of the paper, and save it. Then text Tan Nam:

"Help me make an appointment with Tieu Tran with those people. I'll invite you this weekend."

Tan Nam answered immediately: My living room. There are four people. Tieu Tran, Mr. Ly on the sixth floor, and Duong Man — the wife of the young couple on the fourth floor. Tan Nam stands and makes tea. Mr. Ly is in his sixties, a retired teacher, speaks slowly and calmly.

"I've been taking care of those flower pots for three years. Orchids, jasmine, gardenia... were all planted when my grandmother was still living with me. She said they were windproof, and without saying a word, pushed them all down from the window sill, both the pots and the soil. I went to ask for clarification, she said private items are not allowed in public areas. I went to the manager, and they said she had a point."

Duong Man is younger, around twenty-five or twenty-six, with a soft voice.

"My husband and I just moved in and planted some onions and peppers on the balcony. Within a few days, she knocked on the door, saying that a worm had flown to her house. My husband explained that it was impossible, so she immediately reached out from the balcony and pushed all the pots down. My house is on the fourth floor, the pot fell and almost hit the people walking below. Then the manager told us to apologize, saying the pot almost fell on people because of us."

“So you two really apologized?” Tan Nam asked.

Duong Man nodded.

“My husband doesn't want to cause trouble.”

Tieu Tran standing next to him shook his head angrily.

"Do you see? Everyone is like that. After being bullied, in the end it's the person who was bullied that has to apologize. She knows everyone is afraid of being bothered, so that's why she did it."

I'm done listening.

“Are you… ready to come forward?”

The four people looked at each other. Mr. Ly spoke first.

"I'm ready. I can't find anyone to reason with those flower pots anymore. After she passed away, I only had them left."

Tieu Tran immediately nodded. Duong Man hesitated a bit.

“I… have to discuss it with my husband first.”

“No rush.” I said. “Think carefully and then decide.”

Seeing everyone off, Tan Nam helped me clean up the cups.

“Miss Van, what are you going to do next?”

"There's no rush. Next week, we'll sign the Vien Canh contract, we'll be free to figure it out."

"Are you sure? Chu Que Phuong is not waiting for you."

“She is now worried about saving herself, I don't have time to cause trouble."

As soon as he finished speaking, the phone rang. Old Han called.

“Tieu Lam, Ms. Chu said you were gathering people in the building, intending to make a collective application? Why did you do that?”

“I invite you to my house for dinner, is that okay?”

“Tieu Lam, don't beat around the bush. Sister Chu made it clear, you are inciting others to oppose her.”

“Old Han.” I interrupted. “She sold my car for 260,000. She threw away Mr. Ly's three-year-old flower pots. She pushed Duong Man's pot and almost hit him. You know all these things. Do you want to continue pretending you don't know, or wait for a few more people to come to the management company to complain about you?"

The other end of the line was silent.

“This… Tieu Lam… you see…”

“You don't need to tell me. You tell your manager.”

I hung up. Tan Nam stood next to him, gaping.

“Lam Van, have you enlightened today?”

“I'm always awake.”

“So why wasn't it like that before?”

I glanced at my father's photo on the tea table.

“Because before… I don't want you to think I'm not okay living here.”