Chapter 7 — My Parents Lived in AA for 45 Years

“1996.”

“Payment for the first batch of raw materials.”

“It matches again.”

“Year 2005.”

“Capital advance for factory construction.”

“Continue matching.”

The more I listened, the more surprised I became.

“How do you remember so much?”

“I don't remember.”

“I just wrote it down.”

Lawyer Chu took a deep breath.

“I used to think Mrs. Tran kept these notebooks for protection.”

“Not until I read it all.”

“I just realized I was wrong.”

He placed a notebook in front of me.

“Nem Niem.”

“Please open the last page.”

I followed. The page has turned yellow. Mom's handwriting is still as neat as the first day. At the bottom of the page there is only one line. If you get old and forget how you lived, open it and read it. I was dumbfounded. Not evidence. Not litigation evidence. A way for mothers to preserve their entire lives. I raised my head. The eyes were red.

“So why…”

“You left everything to the lawyer?”

Mom was silent for a long time. Then slowly responded.

“Because someone said.”

“I don't contribute anything to this family.”

“If even mother can't prove it…”

“Who will believe anymore after this?”

Right at that moment. A female assistant walked in quickly.

“Lawyer Chu.”

“The results are out.”

She placed a newly printed document on the table. Lawyer Chu opened it. The corners of the lips gradually curl up.

“There is good news.”

He gave the documents to his mother.

“All the bank data you saved matches.”

“Otherwise.”

I stared at the number on the report. Unbelievable. Forty-five years. Thousands of income and expenses. Not once wrong. Lawyer Chu burst out laughing.

“I've been doing this for twenty-three years.”

“First time meeting someone so careful.”

“Honestly.”

“If you don't see it with your own eyes.”

“I don't believe it either.”

At the same time. At Tran Thi Group. The atmosphere is completely different. As soon as my father entered the meeting room, the head of the finance department rushed over.

“Chairman Tran.”

“It's not okay.”

“The tax authority requires all initial capital contribution documents to be supplemented.”

Dad frowned.

“Didn't you say it was lost?”

“If lost.”

“The reason must be explained.”

“Then compare it with the stored data.”

Dad smiled faintly.

“If you compare, compare.”

“What is there to fear?”

Right at that moment. His personal lawyer entered. His serious expression was different from usual.

“Mr. Tran.”

“We need to talk.”

The two entered the office. The door just closed. The lawyer immediately placed a photocopy on the table.

“This is a copy of the commitment paper.”

“I saw it.”

“Just an old piece of paper.”

“No worries.”

The lawyer shook his head.

“What's worrying…”

“Not a piece of paper.”

“It's the one who keeps it.”

Dad stopped.

“What do you mean?”

“I did some research.”

“Forty-five years.”

“My ex-wife has a habit of writing everything down.”

“There is more than just a piece of paper on their side.”

“A complete system of evidence.”

The smile on Dad's face gradually disappeared. He held a cigarette. Turn on the lighter several times. Can't light it at all.

“No way.”

“She's just an office worker.”

“How to understand the law?”

The lawyer looked at him.

“There is no need to understand the law.”

“Just understand the truth.”

Those words made the room fall silent. Afternoon. My mother and I had just arrived home when her phone rang. Mom clicked to listen. On the other end of the line came a low male voice.

“Long time no see.”

Mother calmly replied.

"What is up?"

Tran Kien Quoc. I immediately looked at my mother. Dad cleared his throat.

“Let's meet and talk story.”

Mom didn't ask why. Just replied leisurely.

“Van Son tea shop.”

Mom hung up. I'm impatient.

“He definitely knows about it.”

Mom smiled.

“I know.”

“So mom is still going?”

"Of course."

Mom looked at the iron box placed on the shelf. The corners of the lips curled slightly.

“It's time.”

“Let him know.”

“For forty-five years.”

“Someone who really calculates.”

“It's not him.”

“It's mom.”

Outside the window. The originally clear blue sky was suddenly covered with dark clouds. A summer storm is quietly approaching. Just like the storm that was about to hit my father's life. Seven o'clock in the evening. Van Son tea shop. I decided to go with my mother. But she just shook her head.

“I'll wait outside.”

"If anything happens, I'll call right away."

Just those two words left me speechless. Mom walked into tea room number eight. The door closed. Through the frosted glass window, I could only see the backs of two people sitting opposite each other. In the room. My father arrived first. On the table is a pot of Long Tinh tea that has just been brewed. He poured a cup and pushed it towards his mother. Mom didn't touch it.

“If there's anything, just say it.”

Dad looked at her for a long time. This was the first time after the divorce that he looked directly at his mother.