Chapter 19 — My Wife Is Not An Outsider

The first month he received his salary, he transferred three thousand to Wen Duong, along with the note "Repay 1/4". When Wen Duong received the money, he was stunned for a long time, then ran out and asked me: "What did you say to her?"

“You didn't say anything.”

I didn't really say anything. But my mother said. I don't know what to say specifically. But according to what my father told me, the gist was — "You're twenty-four years old, your brother raised you enough. If you borrow money from people and don't pay back, are you any different from that cousin who used to borrow money and pay off debts when your father and I were young?" That uncle who borrowed money and didn't pay back was the classic villain of our whole family. Luc An An's heart was stabbed by this sentence. The next day, bring your resume and apply for a job. Everyone can change. On the condition that someone must force them into a match. As for my mother — The first month after moving out, she didn't contact me. I also did not proactively call her. My father occasionally sends a WeChat message: "Your mother eats very little these days, she's gotten thinner." I texted back: "Dad, tell mom to eat well." My father said: "She doesn't not eat, but she cooks food and sits alone, unable to swallow it." I don't text back anymore. The second month, my mother called Wen Duong. When Wen Duong picked up the phone, her fingers were shaking slightly. My mother's voice on the phone was very soft: "On Duong, are you free this weekend?" On Duong looked at me, I nodded.

"I'm free, did you call me for something?"

“So… let's go home for dinner?”

That weekend, we went home. Pushing open the door and entering, the smell in the house was completely different. The range hood on the kitchen counter is humming. There are a few dishes on the table - braised meat, pickled fish, rib soup. There's also a plate of sauteed cauliflower with garlic and a fruit salad. Cauliflower and salad are new additions — On Duong loves to eat these two dishes. They have never appeared on this dining table before. My mother walked out of the kitchen wearing an apron. She became much thinner. Her hair is tied neatly at the nape of her neck, with a few loose curls sticking to her temples. There was still some flour on her hand — she had just made steamed dumplings. Seeing us enter, she wiped her hands on her apron. Lips moved, but could not say a polite sentence like "You two are home". She just stood there, her hands clasped together. Wen Duong changed his slippers and walked in. Looking at the full tray of food, his steps slowed down.

“Mom, you cook so many dishes…”

“Not much.” My mother bowed her head: "See if there's anything missing, let me finish it."

“That's enough, that's enough, mom.”

Two women stood on either side of the dining table, in the middle was a tray of hot rice. The atmosphere was silent for a few seconds. My mother spoke first.

“Wen Duong.”

“Yes?”

She took a deep breath.

"What happened before... was wrong."

Just this one sentence. There was no long speech explaining, no excuse "I only want the best for you", no black and white exchange of "you too are wrong". Just simple, neat five words. *It was my mother who was wrong.* Wen Duong's eye sockets immediately turned red. She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Shake your head. Opening his mouth again, his voice was hoarse.

“Mom, it's over.”

Tears welled up in my mother's eyes. She reached out her hand, hesitated for a second, then pulled On Duong into her arms. Arms around her shoulders. The movements were extremely awkward — she had probably never hugged her daughter-in-law before. But Wen Duong collapsed her shoulder, not avoiding it at all. The two women hugged each other next to the steaming dining table, no one said another word. My father sat next to me, pretending to be watching TV, but the channel hadn't changed properly and was playing commercials. He picked up a tissue and blew his nose twice. Luc An An stood at the door of his room, stuck half his head out to look for a moment, then quietly retreated back inside. I stood in the mysterious entrance, still carrying the bag of fruits that Wen Duong brought in my hand. Choking in the throat.