Chapter 1 — My Parents Lived in AA for 45 Years

My parents lived a pay-as-you-go lifestyle for 45 years. Dad earns 5 million yuan a year but has never given mom a dime. On the day of his retirement, he asked for a divorce. Mother calmly signed, saying only one sentence: "In seven days, remember to receive delivery." At the gate of the Civil Affairs Department, my father smiled brightly and stuffed the divorce certificate into his pocket.

“Free!”

He brushed off his suit, from beginning to end, not bothering to look at his mother once. Forty-five years. Forty-five years of living a pay-as-you-go lifestyle, he has never given my mother a penny. Electricity and water bills are divided in half. The market money is divided in half. You only pay half of my tuition. When you are sick and hospitalized, everyone pays for it. He has an annual income of five million yuan. Mom only earns four thousand yuan a month. He drives a Mercedes. Mother crowded on the bus. He wears Armani. My mother's down jacket has not been changed for eight years. Now, having just retired, the first thing he did was ask for a divorce.

"The house is in my name, the car belongs to the company, everyone keeps the money. How do you share it?"

I clenched my fists. But my mother pulled me back and smiled.

“Nim Niem, don't be hot.”

“In seven days, remember to receive delivery.”

June 15, 2024, my father retired. That same day, he proposed a divorce. The place is home. The time is eight o'clock in the morning. Mom had just brought breakfast to the table when he sat down and pushed over a printed divorce agreement. Mom paused.

“Divorce agreement.” Dad's voice was calm as if he was talking about the weather. "I've thought about it carefully. After retirement, everyone lives their own life."

That day, when I came home to visit, I was standing in front of the kitchen door. When I heard it, I was speechless.

“Dad, what did you just say?”

“Nien Niem, don't interfere in adult matters.”

He didn't even look at me, just stared at my mother.

"Sign. If you sign early, you'll be freed early."

Mom put down her chopsticks, picked up the agreement and read each page.

“Asset division…”

Mom read it out loud.

"Pre-marital assets are kept by each person. Post-marital assets are on a pay-as-you-go system, with no common assets to divide."

Dad nodded.

"Up until now, we've all spent and paid for it. Everyone uses the money, the books are clear. You can't share anything from me."

“What about home?”

"It's in my name. You didn't spend any money when you bought it."

“Company-issued car, not mine.”

“Savings?”

"Everyone keeps it for themselves. Whatever you have is yours, whatever I have is mine."

Mom nodded. Just two words. No arguing. No tears. Don't ask a question why. Just two words. Dad was stunned. Perhaps he himself did not expect everything to go so smoothly.

“You… you really agree?”

“If you want a divorce, get a divorce.”

Mom put down the agreement.

“I have no opinion.”

“So… let's go do the procedure today, okay?”

Dad immediately stood up. The corner of his lips showed a hint of pride that he couldn't hide. He thought he won. He thought that for the past forty-five years, he had carefully planned it, so that his mother could not take a penny from him. But little did he know… the real reckoning had just begun. On the way to the Civil Affairs Department, I sat in the back seat, so angry that my whole body was shaking.

“Mom, why did you agree so easily?”

“What if it doesn't?”

Mom looked out the window, her voice still calm.

“If he wants a divorce, just divorce.”

"But those forty-five years! How much Mom sacrificed for this house. He earned five million yuan a year without ever giving my mother a penny. Based on what?

“Nem Niem.”

Mom turned her head to look at me.

“I think over the past forty-five years… who raised whom?”

I was about to answer.

“Of course…”

But as soon as the words reached his mouth, he choked. During those forty-five years, who raised whom? Dad earns five million yuan every year. But that money was only spent on himself. Mercedes is the driver. He used the golf course membership card. Maotai wine is what he drinks. What about mother? The monthly salary is only four thousand yuan. Yet all the expenses he refused to pay for were borne by his mother. Household appliances are bought by my mother. Money for joy and filial piety is nothing. From tutoring, gifted classes to my university living expenses, because the split system was applied, he only paid half, the rest was taken care of by my mother. One time I was in the hospital.

“Everyone pays for hospital fees.”

So only my mother stayed by my bedside for seven days and seven nights. The day I got married. He gave 100,000 yuan, saying it was "a donation". And my mother took all the money she had saved all her life and gave me a deposit to buy a house. He earns five million yuan a year. Mom only has four thousand yuan a month. He never felt indebted. Mom never complained once. My voice choked.

“Why didn't you say anything all these years?”

Mother smiled faintly.

“Is it useful to explain morality to someone who has been calculating with you all your life?”

“So mom just accepts it like that?”

“Who told you to accept it?”

Mom looked at the stream of cars rushing by outside the window, the corners of her lips curled slightly.

“Nim Niem, do you believe it?”

“In seven days, your father will kneel down and beg me to remarry.”

I was stunned.

“Mom… what do you mean?”

"Nothing."

Mom gently patted my hand.

“You will know then.”

At the Civil Affairs Department. When checking in, staff follow the procedure to ask:

“Do both parties confirm their voluntary divorce? Is there no dispute about property division?

Dad immediately replied:

“Confirmed. No comments.”

Mom also nodded. Get a certificate. The whole process took less than twenty minutes. A forty-five year marriage ended just like that. As soon as he walked out of the Civil Affairs Department, Dad almost ran out.

“Free!”

He stood in the sunlight, stretching comfortably. The smile on his face cannot be hidden. At that moment the phone rang.

“Hello? Vien Vien... Yes, it's done... Let's go celebrate tonight..."

He smiled and said, turned and walked straight back to his Mercedes. From start to finish. Never looked back at my mother once. I clenched my fist. Mom pulled my hand, even a smile on her face.

“Mom, aren't you angry?”

“Meaning what?”

“He… he's already looking for someone else!”

“Liu Yuan, thirty-eight years old, administrative director of his company.”

Mom's voice was calm as if she was reading the weather report.

“Those two have been vague to each other for five years.”

I was completely dumbfounded.

“Mom… have you known for a long time?”

“Nem Niem.”

Mom looked at me with calm eyes.

"There are things that mom doesn't say, but that doesn't mean she doesn't know."

“Then why don't you…”

“Not exposed? Don't make a fuss? No divorce?”

Mom smiled softly.

“Because the time has not yet come.”

“What opportunity?”