Chapter 1 — Once I don't hold back, your whole family has to pay the price

My brother-in-law secretly ordered five computers online, chose the payment method upon delivery, and the address was written directly to my house. The moment I received the call from the shipper, I was standing in the kitchen washing dishes. The water was still flowing, but my hand stopped. Five computers, totaling nearly 30,000 yuan. This calculation of hers... is truly "exciting". I just said softly:

“Dear, would you mind delivering it to the house opposite, number 5 for me?”

Hanging up, I continued to wash the dishes, as if nothing had happened, quietly waiting for the drama behind me to begin. Unexpectedly, just two hours later, the phone call came from her mother-in-law, and the other end of the line was crying so much that she couldn't speak. When I received the call from the shipper, the stream of water was still pouring, washing the ceramic bowl in my hand.

“Hello, we have five computers that need you to sign for and pay upon delivery, a total of 29,800 yuan.”

Slippery soap bubbles fell from my fingertips. I turned off the faucet, and the whole kitchen immediately became quiet, with only mixed noise from the other end of the line. Besides her, no one could blatantly "repay money" like this, throwing such a large bill straight in my face. I dried my hands, stepped out onto the balcony, and looked at the gray building number 5 opposite the apartment complex.

“Dear, this is not what I ordered.”

My voice was strangely calm.

"If you mind delivering it to building number 5 opposite, the same person named Chu will accept it, she will pay."

Shipper hesitated a bit, but eventually agreed. I hung up the phone, without a wave in my heart, and went back to continuing to wash the dishes as if nothing had happened. During the three years I was married to Chu Minh, the times I had to "pay for" Chu Dong, if not ten, it was eight. From clothes worth a few hundred yuan, to handbags worth a few thousand yuan, she always had every reason, and in the end it was still me who picked up the wallet. Chu Minh always says one sentence:

“She is my only sister, if I don't help, who will?”

Mother-in-law also always defends:

"Dong Dong is still young and doesn't understand things. You're my sister-in-law so you should give in a little."

Time and time again she endured... in return, her greed only grew bigger and bigger. This time, it was nearly 30,000 yuan in computer money. My heart has long been cold. After washing the dishes, dry them and put them neatly in the cabinet. I glanced at the clock. Three thirty in the afternoon. A little calculation... this play is about to reach its climax. Sure enough, at exactly five o'clock, the phone rang. Mother-in-law called. I pressed listen, turned on the speaker, and put it aside.

"Lam Thu! You cruel woman! Do you want to kill Dong Dong?"

The high-pitched screams seemed to tear apart the eardrums. I picked up an apple and slowly peeled it.

“Mom, what's wrong?”

"You're still pretending! What have you done with Dong Dong's computer! It was a life-saver! Now it's been taken away! If you still recognize me as your mother, recognize Chu Minh as your husband, then immediately bring 30,000 yuan here!"

Her voice shook from crying, but was still full of command. My action of peeling the apple paused for a moment. Court No. 5 opposite… aren't normal people there?

"Mom, I don't understand what you're talking about. Chu Dong bought things to send to my house, I just told him to change the address."

"You still deny it! Don't you know where building number 5 is? That's Mr. Bao who specializes in loan sharks! Dong Dong thought of this method because he owed money! You sent the computer there, didn't you push it into the fire pit!"

It turns out that's it. Loan debt heavy interest, immediately wanted me to stand in as the one to bear the burden. Use my money... pay off her debt. This calculation is truly "beautiful".

"I don't know any Leopard. I just know, whoever buys, pays, that's obvious."

"Lam Thu! I order you, immediately bring the money! Otherwise I will show you death!"

I smiled softly, cut the apple into small pieces, and put them in my mouth.

"Mom, she is your daughter, not mine. I have no obligation to pay for her life."

The mother-in-law was so angry that she was speechless, the only sound on the other end of the line was heavy breathing. At that moment, the door of the house was pushed open with a "bang". Chu Minh rushed in, his face full of anger, his eyes bloodshot. He snatched the phone from my hand and shouted:

"Mom! Don't worry! I'll be right over!"

Hanging up, he glared at me, as if he wanted to tear me to pieces. His hand tightened on my wrist, the force was so strong that the bones felt like they were about to break.

“Lam Thu, what did you do to Dong Dong?!”

The blue veins on the back of Chu Minh's hand appeared, my wrist was squeezed by him until it hurt. I forcefully pushed his hand away, rubbed my red wrist, and coldly looked straight into his eyes.

“What did I do?”

“I'm just returning something that doesn't belong to me to its rightful place.”

"Return it? You give the computer to loan sharks, is that called returning it?"

Chu Minh's eyes were bloodshot, clearly having just heard an embellished version from his mother.

"Lam Thu, I always thought you were gentle and generous, but I didn't expect you to be so cruel! That's my sister! My biological sister!"

Each question was like a knife blade, stabbing like that. It's just a pity... my heart has been hardened for a long time.

"Chu Minh, before asking me, why don't you ask your sister a question—why did she buy five computers? Why did they send them to our house? And why was the address 'coincidentally' written to Mr. Bao's?"

A series of questions made him pause. Lips moved, but couldn't say a word. Just think carefully, this story is full of holes everywhere. Chu Dong's lie... was so loopy that it was funny.

"She... could have just been careless..." Chu Minh's voice weakened, even he couldn't believe this excuse.

I looked at him, suddenly feeling ridiculous. This is the man I loved for five years. Always trusting my family unconditionally, but my sacrifice... I take it for granted. I pulled out the drawer under the TV shelf, took out a thick stack of files, and threw them on the coffee table in front of him.

"Look, over the years, I've paid for how many of her 'accidents'!"

The file opened up, inside were transfer statements and credit card invoices.

“Three years ago, she said she wanted to start a business, I gave her 100,000 yuan to buy our car, and until now I haven't paid a penny.”

“Two years ago, she swiped her credit card and cried and begged me. I hid from you and paid 30,000 yuan instead.”

“Last year, she said she wanted to study more, but I gave her 20,000 yuan.”

“And these other petty funds, which ones don't come from this family?”

“Chu Minh, our inheritance… is about to be wiped out by your sister.”

My voice was not loud, but each word was clear, hitting straight into his heart. Chu Minh's face turned from red to white, then pale. He held those papers, his hands shaking slightly. He is not unaware of these things. It's just... always intentionally not think deeply. Now, black and white is clearly laid out before our eyes, there is no way to fool ourselves anymore. At that moment, his phone frantically vibrated. Still mother-in-law. Chu Minh hesitated for a moment then turned on the speakerphone.

"Ah Minh! Come quickly! The Leopards are about to cut off Dong Dong's hand! If something happens to your brother, mother won't live anymore!"

The cry was heartbreaking, mixed with it was Chu Dong's scream.

"Brother! Help me! I'm so scared!"

"Where's that bitch Lam Thu? Tell her to bring the money! It's all her fault! Tell her to bring the money!"

That scream... in just one second destroyed the little guilt that had just arisen in Chu Minh's heart. He turned to me, his eyes burning with anger again.

"Lam Thu, even if Dong Dong is wrong, she is still my sister, I can't stand by and watch!"

“So what?” I asked, my voice calm.

"So we have to save it! 30,000 yuan, just take it out first, I'll make it return later!"

That sentence again.

When is “later”?

The previous payments… have any of them been paid yet?

"I have no money." I said coldly.

"No way! There's still 50,000 yuan left in the account, that's for..."

“It was money for my dad's surgery.” I interrupted.

Last month, my father was diagnosed with heart disease and needed bypass surgery. That 50,000 yuan... is the life-saving money I've been saving for so long. Chu Minh was stunned. He knows about it.

"But... but Dong Dong's side is more urgent! Your father's surgery can wait..."

“Can't wait.”

My heart… completely sank. He could say that again. Because my sister is like a bottomless pit.

“Chu Minh, I'll say it for the last time—I won't give a single penny of my money to Chu Dong.”

"Lam Thu! Do you have to be so cruel?" he shouted.

"Sell the house! Sell the house to make money! Save Dong Dong first!" The mother-in-law's voice suddenly rang out from the end of the line.

For this house, the deposit was paid by my parents, and the loan was paid by both of us. Yet they... dared to target it. It's really good. I looked at Chu Minh, at the man I thought I could spend the rest of my life with, slowly speaking each word.

“Okay, sell the house.”

His eyes immediately lit up, thinking I had given in. I looked straight at him and calmly said the rest.

"After the sale, we will divorce. You take your share... go save your sister."