Chapter 23 — My sister-in-law kicked me out of the house, and as soon as I turned my back, I confiscated the villa worth more than tens of millions of yuan!

I sit on the chair. Quietly look at the scene before your eyes. In the past, Co Minh Vien always said:

“The family is in harmony and everything is prosperous.”

Now he finally understands. There are families that are not harmonious. It's about taking someone's blood and wiping away all the dirt, then pretending that everything is okay. Come evening. Official processing results are released. Lam Man and Trinh Ngoc Cam were punished for disorderly conduct and intentionally destroying and seizing other people's property. The online slander case continues to be handled in a separate order. To Thien recorded an apology video on the spot. She admitted to cutting and reassembling content to defame others and agreed to compensate. Trinh Dai Hai for organizing a disruptive banner in front of the school gate was also administratively sanctioned. When walking out of the mediation room. The makeup on Lam Man's face was smeared to the point of being unrecognizable. She looked at Co Minh Vien.

“Are you really ignoring me?”

Co Minh Vien replied:

“I will send you the divorce agreement.”

“I don't agree.”

“Then follow the legal procedure.”

Lam Man burst out laughing. The smile is distorted and unsightly.

“Co Minh Vien.”

“If you divorce me, who else can you marry?”

My mother walked over. For the first time, it was completely impossible to save face for the in-laws.

“Whoever he marries is his business.”

“And you should learn how to be human first.”

Lam Man's throat was so blocked that her whole body trembled. Trinh Ngoc Cam picked up her daughter and pulled her away. The mouth still kept cursing.

“No one in the Co family is kind.”

Right at the door of the police station. Two women who came to work accidentally heard it. One person glanced at her and said:

“If you steal someone's things, you'll come back and scold them.”

“Your facial skin is really thick.”

Trinh Ngoc Cam's curse immediately choked. On the way home. Co Minh Vien did not say a word. Go to the gate of the residential area. He suddenly stopped walking.

“I want to move out.”

I looked at him.

“I should have moved away a long time ago.”

He nodded.

“I owe you thirty thousand yuan, including the wedding banquet.”

“I will pay in installments.”

“My tea room will also be restored to its original state.”

"Lam Man's matter, I'll handle it myself."

I don't say forgiveness. He didn't ask for more. Come home. My father put the iron box back in the closet. My mother carefully wiped the silver lock clean. Then string it back with a new red string. She placed it in the palm of my hand.

“Don't hide your self-pity from now on.”

I gently tightened the silver lock.

“From now on I won't hide it anymore.”

My father coughed loudly.

“That small apartment, Mom and Dad don't need it.”

“You just keep it.”

I smiled.

“From the moment I bought it, I wanted to leave my parents a way out.”

My father looked at me for a long time. A thin layer of water shined in his eyes. But he didn't let it fall. He just held up the misshapen wooden horse.

“There is a way out.”

“The house is still here.”

“This horse, let me fix it for you.”

A few days later. Quy Vi Lau's food tasting session was held again. Hua Truong Xuyen personally came to pick me up. My parents also went along. Luong Tinh gave me the apron. I walked into the kitchen later, trying one last time on the staple soup. The old chef handed me the ladle. The young chefs standing next to him were all seriously waiting.

“Miss Co, please try it.”

I took a spoonful and sipped lightly.

“The fire is half a minute bigger.”

“The old tangerine peel is missing.”

“Cook another pot Go."

Hua Truong Xuyen stood at the door and laughed loudly.

“Do you hear me clearly?”

“This is exactly why I invited her.”

“Just one sentence from her is enough to save an entire party.”

There were many guests in the hall. Co Minh Vien also came. He was dressed simply, holding a repaired wooden horse and a debt repayment plan. Lam Man did not appear. Her account has been locked. To Thien's apology video is pinned at the top of the page. And the video of Trinh Ngoc Cam crying and recounting his suffering was determined by the platform to be fabricated content. In the group of relatives. My aunt also specially sent a recording.

"Hieu Duong, before I didn't understand clearly, I quickly advised you."

"It's my fault."

My mother only answered one question.

“It's okay to know you're wrong.”

"In the future, don't see someone cry and defend that person."

That night. Quy Vi Lau's new menu officially launched. Hua Truong Xuyen raised his glass in front of all the guests.

“Today, the person who determines the flavors for this banquet table is Co Hieu Duong.”

“She doesn't like being in the spotlight.”

“But I must let everyone know.”

“The old flavors of Thanh Nam can return today, half the credit goes to her.”

My father's colleagues were all shocked. Then raise their glasses in unison.

“Old Co, your daughter is really good.”

My father looked at me. The corners of his eyes smiled so much that the wrinkles were clearly visible.

“She's always been good.”

“We just knew it too late.”

Co Minh Vien stood in a corner. Hearing that sentence, he quietly placed the debt repayment plan in front of me.

“I will slowly make up for it.”

I take it.

“Money can be paid slowly.”

“But people must wake up faster.”

He nodded. Tears fell onto the paper. He didn't dare even raise his hand to wipe it. One month later. Before the divorce trial took place. Lam Man actively signed the agreement. She still wants to fight over property division. But the mediator at the court gate stopped him with just one sentence.

"The house of your husband's parents is not under your right to divide."

"Your sister-in-law's ownership is even more irrelevant to you."

When walking out of court. Seeing me, she still stubbornly said harsh words.

“Co Hieu Duong.”

“What if you have a house and money?”

“Not necessarily happy.”

I looked at her empty hands.

“I have never had to rob others to find happiness.”

The bitterness on Lam Man's face gradually disappeared. In the end, only a look of struggle and patheticness remained. When spring comes. The tea room returned to its original state. Grandma's scrapbook is covered in new protective film. The silver lock hangs in the glass cabinet. Although the wooden horse is slightly misaligned, it still stands firmly on the window sill. My parents sometimes come to my small apartment to stay for a few days. The two said the lower floors were more convenient to go to the market. Co Minh Vien moved to a single apartment near the office. Pay on time every month. On weekends, I come home and cook for my parents. Words are less. More jobs. The day Quy Vi Lau's signature soup officially returns to the menu. There was a long line outside the restaurant waiting for their turn. Hua Truong Xuyen asked me:

“Understanding Tang.”

“Do you want to have my name engraved on the menu?”

I shook my head.

“Carving into the flavor is enough.”

Return home in the evening. Mom brought me a bowl of hot soup. Dad is on the balcony tending to some flower pots. Try Minh Vien is in the kitchen washing dishes. The sound of gurgling water echoed steadily. I held the silver lock in the palm of my hand. I heard someone outside the window praising Quy Vi Lau's soup as delicious. I also heard my mother calling from inside the house.

“Understood Tang, the soup has gone cold.”

I replied softly:

“I'll be right out.”

Then walked towards the dining table. At the dinner table, no one forced me to give in. No one forced me to leave anymore. No one takes my sacrifice for granted anymore. My family no longer needs to use patience in exchange for peace. I sat down. Take a sip of soup. The fire level is just right. The taste is also just right. Everything fits like the ending I've been waiting for for years.