Chapter 5 — My Wife Is Not An Outsider

The tube light in the parking lot emitted pale white light, clearly illuminating the cement wall and fire hose system.

“It wasn't like that at first.” She spoke, her voice was very light, as if afraid of alarming something: "When we first got married, my mother still waited for me to eat with her. Even though she didn't look happy, at least there was still my bowl on the table."

“So when did it change?”

"Probably around the second month. One day I worked overtime until after eight o'clock and didn't come home. Mom said she couldn't wait so she ate first. She said it was okay."

She paused.

“Later, it becomes a habit.”

"I also tried to leave early. One time I asked for a half-day break, and I got home at five o'clock — but everyone had finished eating." Wen Duong curled his lips and smiled bitterly: "Mom said it's finished cooking at four thirty. Four thirty."

“What did you eat that day?”

“Braised ribs, cinnamon fish with sweet and sour sauce, corn rib soup.” She closed her eyes: "I bought the ribs, I bought the cinnamon fish."

The car fell silent for a long time. The sound of the ventilation fan in the parking lot buzzed overhead, a hollow echo.

“Why didn't you tell me?” My voice sounded extremely strange, carrying a choking repression.

“Tell me what?” She opened her eyes and looked at me: "Are you saying your mother bullied me? And then what? I'm stuck in the middle, I can't do both sides. My work is tiring enough..."

“So I just have to bear it alone?”

“I can handle it.”

“I can't stand it.” I turned on the car's ceiling light. As soon as the light turned on, her face appeared clearly in the light.

The cheekbones are higher than half a year ago, the chin is pointed in a complete circle, there are light dark circles under the eyes, a sign of lack of sleep or lack of nutrients for a long time.

“How much weight have you lost?”

She said nothing.

“Wen Duong.”

“…Four kilograms.”

I took a deep breath and turned off the ceiling light. Darkness rushed in again, enveloping the two people. Her voice came from the darkness, even lighter than before: "Actually, it's not just about eating and drinking..."

“What else?”

“An An... I borrowed some money from you.”

“How much?”

“…Twelve thousand.”

My teeth clenched tightly together, my bite muscles twitched continuously.

“It's not that I regret that money.” She quickly explained: "It's just... every time she says to pay next month, but she hasn't paid yet, so I'm afraid to ask."

“What else?”

"On the weekend... my mother told me to clean up. Clean the whole house, including An An's room. And An An sat outside in the living room watching TV."

She said this and suddenly burst into laughter. That laugh was very short, as if it was muffled by something.

"Actually, I also feel like a coward."

The car was silent for a long time. I reached over and lifted her hand from above her knee. Her fingers were very cold, her fingertips were rough — the result of doing housework in water for too long. I held her hand tightly and said nothing. Don't say any words of comfort. Because those words are too light. It was so mild that she was sorry for her one hundred and eighty-two days of suffering. In my heart, I have arranged every single thing that needs to be done. No rush. But it won't be too slow. * 【Chapter 3】 Saturday morning, I woke up half an hour earlier than usual. Wen Duong is still sleeping. She lay on her side, her arms tucked under her pillow, her breathing steady. The collarbone is much higher than when we first got married, and the shoulder blades rest on two small arches under the thin blanket. I gingerly got dressed and left the bedroom. Outside the living room, My mother got up. She was wearing pajamas at home and sitting on the sofa, the TV was on, the volume not too loud.

“Are you awake?” She glanced at me: "There's breakfast in the kitchen, porridge and dumplings."

“Yes.” I sat down at the dining table.

The porridge is white porridge, the dumplings are steamed leftovers from the day before yesterday. On the table there is a plate of mustard and a plate of colander. I took two sips of porridge, then put the bowl down.

“Mom, after eating, let's have a family meeting for a while.”

The mother's finger that was pressing the remote stopped.

“What family meeting?”