Chapter 8 — Neighbors Occupied My House For Three Months, Finally Their Entire Family Had To Pay The Price

They will search the entire house of the Vuong family's relatives. Investigate any relevant bank accounts. Reveal all of this family's social relationships. Each person. One by one. Of course. They won't find anything. Because in the first place, that money did not exist. But that search process, for the Vuong family, was itself a torture. Their relatives will turn away because they are constantly questioned by the police. Their friends will cut off their relationship because they are suspected of hiding evidence. From a family that was once envied by others because they "got a great deal"... They will turn into people that everyone avoids. A family known as suspects of a huge theft. Social death. That's what I really want.

“Miss Tran, thank you for your cooperation.”

Officer Truong stood up.

“You can go back first.”

“If there are new developments, we will notify you immediately.”

“Before the case ends, that house still needs to be sealed off as a crime scene for a while longer.”

"I get it."

I nodded and stood up. As I walked to the door, I suddenly remembered something. Immediately turned around.

“Ah yes, Officer Truong.”

“That safe was broken into…”

“After the case is over, can I get it back?”

Officer Truong was stunned.

“But it was just a broken iron box.”

“It is no longer of any use.”

I smiled slightly. In his eyes flashed a loneliness that no one could understand.

"It's OK."

“I just want to keep it as a souvenir.”

“That's what my dad left me.”

“Even though it's not worth anything anymore.”

Officer Truong's eyes immediately softened. Bring a little sympathy. Perhaps he thinks so. What's in that safe is the memories and nostalgia I have for my father. But he didn't know. That safe is something left over from my father's years of failed business. Debt piled up. In the end, it had to be mortgaged to the creditor. I spent 20,000 yuan. Buy it back from that creditor yourself. What I bought back... It's not a memory. It's a lesson. I placed the safe in the most visible position in the bedroom. Just to wake up every day and be able to see it. Remind yourself that. Absolutely do not follow in your father's footsteps. Absolutely do not let your life fall to that stage. As for Vuong Quan's claim that there were 20,000 yuan in the safe and some old jewelry... That's true. I put them in there myself. That's the gift I prepared for them. Evidence of "theft". Which I left before. I returned to the hotel where I was staying temporarily. Take a hot bath. Change into clean clothes. Then stand in front of the ground-level glass door, looking at the busy traffic in the city. The phone suddenly rang. It's a strange number. I picked up the phone.

“Excuse me, is this Tran Hy?”

On the other end of the line was the voice of a middle-aged woman. Brought a choking sob. Careful to the point of nervousness. I don't answer.

"You... you are Ly Quyen's mother. My daughter... is your neighbor..."

“What's wrong?”

I asked leisurely.

"Miss Tran! Miss Tran! I beg you!"

The woman's voice immediately collapsed. Turned into sobbing.

“Please raise your hand and hit them gently, please let them go!”

“We know it's wrong! I really know it's wrong!”

“We shouldn't have taken over your house!”

“We were blinded by greed!”

“We haven't spent a single penny of that 20,000 yuan!”

“We will return it to you immediately!”

“We'll pay back all that jewelry, too!”

“We kneel down and apologize to you!”

“We bow our heads and admit we were wrong!”

I listened quietly. No interruptions. 20,000 yuan? It seems that after being arrested, Ly Quyen was still able to contact her family. Their whole family only believed in the testimony of Vuong Quan and Ly Quyen. They believe this is just a normal theft with the amount of money involved being 20,000 yuan. Still not realizing the true severity of the incident.

“You listen to me!”

“My little girl Quyen was just confused for a while!”

"He's very cowardly, he's never made a big mistake since he was little!"

“If this case leaves a criminal record, his whole life will be ruined!”

“And my two grandchildren!”

“They are so small!”

“I can't be without my mother!”

The woman cried and told of all her sufferings. It was as if he had said everything that could be used to beg. Wait until the crying subsides. I slowly spoke up.

“Are you done talking yet?”

The other end of the line suddenly froze.

“20,000 yuan?”

“Who told you that they only took 20,000 yuan from me?”

“It's... it's Quyen who said it herself...”

“So did she tell you what the police arrested them for?”

“It's... it's theft...”

“It's serious theft.”