Chapter 1 — One Card, Exposing the Whole Family

My father gave me a dowry card, inside was 10,000,000 yuan (about 35 billion VND).

“Remember, this is your support.”

The night before the wedding, I quietly transferred all the money. Put the empty card back in its place without saying a word. On the seventh day after getting married, when I went out, my husband secretly took that card away. He didn't speak. I didn't ask either. Until one afternoon, the BMW 4S salesman called:

"Hello, the payment card shows an insufficient balance. Your husband said this is your card..."

I slowly put down the glass of water and put on my shirt. The wedding ceremony has just ended, the real drama... has just begun. The wedding ended, it was midnight. I sat on the bright red wedding bed, my fingertips gently caressing a bank card. The card's face is so cold and hard that it makes people stay awake. In my head, I still hear the words my father, Tu Chan Hoa, said yesterday afternoon when he pulled me into the study. He stuffed this card into my hand, his eyes as serious as ever.

“Ruoc Nhien, there is 10,000,000 yuan in here.”

"It's the dowry my father gave me."

“It's not much, but it's the biggest support I can give you.”

"Remember, money is the dead thing, people are the living thing. It's not for you to save anyone, but for you to have the right to say no at any time, if you have the capital to turn around and leave."

The bridge of my nose stung, I almost shed tears. Dad patted the back of my hand.

“Don't cry, a newlywed bride is unlucky.”

"Save it carefully, don't let your in-laws, especially your newlywed husband, Ly Hao, know the specific amount of money."

I nodded vigorously, stuffing the card into my pocket close to my body. At that moment, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. Ly Hao walked out wearing a bathrobe, his hair still dripping. His face still had traces of alcohol from the wedding party, his eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

“Wife, are you tired?”

He walked over, sat next to me, and naturally pulled me into his arms. My body stiffened slightly, but didn't push away. He took the opportunity to lie down, hug me, his chin resting on the top of my head.

“Wife, from now on we are one family.”

"My parents, my sister Ly Manh, will all be your family in the future."

“They are all very simple people. If there is something wrong, please give in a little.”

I listened silently, not responding. Simple? Since setting the wedding date, his mother Luu Mai has used all kinds of excuses, talking far and near, so that my family can prepare more. The small ones are cigarettes, alcohol, tea and cakes, the big ones are electrical appliances, gold and silver gifts. Ly Hao always stood up to make peace, saying that his mother was only afraid that I would suffer loss as a daughter-in-law and wanted to take care of things properly. My parents didn't want me to feel awkward, so they almost agreed. As for his sister, Ly Manh, she just graduated less than two years ago, and her cosmetics are more expensive than mine. Ly Hao asked for money, always in a commanding voice. Those things... are called simplicity. Ly Hao didn't seem to notice my silence and continued to speak.

“I heard what mom said, did your dad give you a dowry card?”

His voice was very light, as if he was just asking casually. My heart sank slightly. I slightly separated from his arms and looked straight into his eyes. Ly Hao's eyes lit up.

“So… how much is in there?”

He rubbed his hands, unable to hide his excitement and curiosity.

“Dad said it was my own money, told me not to talk nonsense.”

I repeated my father's words. The smile on Ly Hao's face stiffened for a moment. But Very quickly, he hugged me tightly again.

"Yes, yes, you're right. It's my money, keep it safe."

"I'm just asking out of curiosity, nothing else."

The mouth said that, but the arms that hugged me tightened, carrying an undeniable feeling of possession. That night, we slept separately. I used the excuse of being tired and pushed him to the sofa bed next to me. He wasn't happy, but maybe because he was newly married, he still endured it. The next morning, I was still dreaming when I was woken up by the sound of talking outside the living room. It's mother-in-law, Luu Mai. I changed clothes and went out, seeing her commanding Ly Hao and Ly Manh to open each of my dowry items and then rearrange them. These are all things my parents carefully selected and conveyed many good meanings. Seeing me, Luu Mai smiled.

“Are you awake yet?”

"The children don't know how to clean up, so mommy will help."

Saying help, her hand directly opened my locked chest. Inside were personal jewelry and papers.

“Mom, that trunk…” I said.

Liu Mai did not raise her head.

"One family, there's nothing we can't see."

“Let me see what good things your mother gives you.”

She took out each item, as if she was assessing the price. Ly Manh ran over, took one of my jade bracelets, and put it on his hand.

“Sister-in-law, this bracelet is so beautiful, can you give it to me?”

I looked at her, but before I could speak, Luu Mai spoke first.

"Your sister's things are also yours. Take them if you like."

Ly Hao stood next to him and smiled wryly.

"Mom, Tieu Manh, don't touch anything. This is Nhuoc Nhien's stuff."

“Whatever belongs to whom,” Luu Mai glared, “once you enter this house, it belongs to this house!”

Having finished speaking, she looked at me with a meaningful smile.

“Oh right, Nhuoc Nhien, where is the card your father gave you?”

"I'm still young, I don't know how to manage money, it's not safe to keep it on me."

"Give it here, Mom, keep it for me. Later, the money will make money and buy me a big house."

Luu Mai's words were like a stone thrown into a still lake, causing the entire living room to immediately fall into silence. The eyes of Ly Hao and Ly Manh simultaneously turned towards me, one was inquiring, the other was greedy and not hiding it. I laughed coldly in my heart, but on the outside I still looked awkward enough, like a new wife not used to being touched.

"Mom, my dad told me to keep that card myself. There's not much money in it, just my heart."

Luu Mai's face immediately darkened, her tone began to sharpen like a blade that had just been sharpened.

"This girl, why don't you understand? Is it possible that mom still takes your money? She does this for the good of the children!"

"Ly Hao, look at what kind of wife you should marry. As soon as you enter the door, there is such a clear division."

Ly Hao immediately stepped forward and held my hand, his voice soft as if comforting but carrying invisible pressure.

"Nhuoc Nhien, my mother doesn't mean that. She's just afraid that you'll spend too much money, so she wants to keep it for you. Just give her the card. The money in the house is already managed by her."

He said it so naturally, as if it was an obvious thing that didn't need to be discussed, making me look at him with a cold, strange feeling. This is the man I chose, a man who never had any principles in front of his mother and sister. I withdrew my hand, my voice as light as water.

"The money in the card is a term deposit. You can't withdraw it right now. Wait until it matures and then calculate it."

It's an excuse, also a test to see their boundaries Where is it in the end? Luu Mai's face softened a bit but she still couldn't hide her unwillingness.

“Term, so how much money is in it?”

“Not much, probably around a few hundred thousand.”

Hearing that number, Luu Mai and Ly Manh's eyes were immediately disappointed, as if they had just lost something valuable. Luu Mai pouted, her voice disdainful.

"Several tens of thousands are still deposited in term deposits, what can you do with that little interest?"

"Okay, just keep it yourself, don't let it be lost."

The matter of the dowry card has temporarily subsided, but the undercurrent has just begun to flow. In the following days, Ly Manh stopped by almost every day. He did not mention the bracelet, but every time he came, he conveniently took something away. Today it's a newly purchased lipstick, tomorrow it's a bottle of perfume with the label intact, all of which disappear very naturally. I didn't say anything, just coldly observed, and Ly Hao saw me and just pulled me aside to advise.

"Tieu Manh is still young and doesn't understand things. As a sister-in-law, give her a little, don't take it personally."

I still didn't answer, because I knew the thing that would make me truly make up my mind hadn't come yet. On the night of the fifth day after getting married, Ly Manh came again, lying on the sofa and refusing to go home, scrolling on the phone and raising his voice.

“Brother, take a look, the new model of the BMW Series 4 has come out, it's so beautiful, my friend bought one last month, and it's annoying to post it every day to show off!”