Chapter 1 — Private House in a Joint Family

The second day after receiving the red book, my mother knocked on my door.
"Son, it's not safe to hold the red book in your hand. Let me keep it for you."
She smiled widely, took the red book from my hand, turned around, stuffed it into her bag, and zipped it up. I didn't say anything, turned around and went straight to the real estate registration center. That afternoon, I changed all the smart door locks and erased all the fingerprints of all my relatives. The next day I went on a business trip and received a phone call from my younger brother.
"Dear, why can't you open your door? My girlfriend and I have been standing in front of the door for half an hour."
I calmly said: "Ah, I forgot to mention, I changed the lock." Less than a minute later, my mother called.
01
"Son, it's not safe to hold the red book, let me keep it for you."
My mother smiled widely, took the red book from my hand, then turned around and stuffed it into her bag. I looked at the old black faux leather bag, the sound of the zipper was very clear. The red book was just received yesterday, the red cover still smells of ink. I saved for five years and borrowed for another twenty years to buy this small 70 square meter apartment. Mom stayed at my house for three days, saying she came to help clean the new house. Actually, it's to keep an eye on the red book.
“Mom, I'll keep the red book.”
“What do you know? What if I lose it?” Mom put her bag on her shoulder, "It's not safe for you to live alone."
After she finished speaking, she left and didn't even eat dinner. I stood in the living room, looking out at the sky on the balcony. September afternoon, the sky is still bright. I called my mother.
“Mom brought the red book back to me.”
"What if Mom loses my notebook? It's safest for Mom to keep it."
She hung up. I changed clothes and went out. The real estate registration center closed at 4:30. When I drove there, it was already 4:20. The staff was cleaning.
“Hello, if I lose my red book, how can I get one again?”
The female employee raised her head to look at me.
“Bring your ID card with you, fill out the form, post a notice of loss, and come pick it up a month later.”
“If someone takes my red book, can the house be transferred?”
“Must be present and bring ID card.”
I feel a little more relieved.
“What about adding someone else's name to the book?”
"Both parties must also be present and sign for confirmation."
I nodded, thanked him and turned to leave. On the drive home, I called the locksmith.
“I want to replace all smart locks, can it be done today?”
“Okay, the worker will arrive at six o'clock.”
“OK.”
When I got home, I carefully checked each room. During the three days my mother was here, my bedroom was ransacked. The bank card in the drawer was relocated, the notebook on the bedside table was touched, and even the pocket in the wardrobe was ransacked. I gathered all my important things into my backpack and put it on my body. The locksmiths arrived at ten past six, two of them, carrying a toolbox.
“Which doors do you want to replace?”
“Everything, main door, bedroom door, office door.”
“Which doors use smart locks?”
“The main door uses smart locks, the rest have regular locks.”
The worker started removing the lock. I sat on the sofa, watching them work. The phone rings, it's my brother.
“Dear, my girlfriend and I will come to your house for a few days this weekend.”
Not a request, but an announcement.
“Inconvenient.”
"What's so inconvenient? Isn't your house two bedrooms? We live in a small room."
“I'm not home this weekend.”
"That's even better, we can live on our own, Mom has the key."
I looked at the worker who had just finished removing the old lock.
“You two, book a hotel.” "What are you talking about? I'm going to my brother's house and I have to book a hotel?"
My sister's voice is so high.
“I'm busy, hang up now.”
I hung up. The locksmith did the job very quickly, in less than an hour it was all done.
“I came to write down fingerprints and password.”
I recorded my fingerprint and set a password.
"Does anyone else need to write one down? Usually family members also write one down."
"No need."
The worker paused for a moment, then said nothing more. I paid, they left. I close the door, the smart lock automatically locks. Current screen: 7:40 p.m. I booked a high-speed train ticket to another province the next day. The company had a project that needed to be discussed with the branch. I could have refused, but I proactively accepted. When I packed my luggage, I checked it again. Bring important things with you, leave unimportant things behind. The next morning at six o'clock, I pulled my suitcase out of the house. The breakfast restaurant at the gate of the apartment complex had just opened. I bought two dumplings and a glass of soy milk, intending to eat on the train. On the train, I put my phone on silent mode and put it in my backpack. The seat was close to the window, it was just getting light outside. The train started rolling, I closed my eyes. This week, I don't want to be bothered. Arriving at the branch, entering the hotel, it was already noon. I opened my phone. Seventeen missed calls. My mother's eight times. My brother is six times. My father had three fights. There are a few WeChat messages left. My brother: "Brother, why can't you open the door?" My sister: "My girlfriend and I have been standing in front of the door for half an hour." My brother: "What do you mean?" My mother: "Why did you change the lock? Quickly give me the password." My mother: “You're good, right?” My father: "Son, your brother is still standing outside the door, what are you going to do?" I called my brother back. After three rings, he picked up the phone.
"Hey bro!"
Its voice is very loud.
"Why can't my door open? Mom's key doesn't work either."
“Ah, I forgot to mention, I changed the lock.”
I said very calmly. The other end of the line was silent for two seconds.
"Why are you changing the lock? Do you know how long we've been waiting?"
“I didn't know you were coming.”
“I called you yesterday!”
“I said it's inconvenient.”
"What do you mean it's inconvenient? I'm your younger sibling! What's so inconvenient about coming to your house?"
I heard its voice. From childhood to adulthood, whenever he wanted something, my mother always forced me to give it to him.
“You two are going to rent a hotel.”
"Based on what? That house is mine, why do I have to pay for the hotel?"
“Because it's your house.”
After I finished speaking, I hung up. The phone rang again. My mother. I answered the phone.
"What are you doing? Your sister and girlfriend are standing in front of the house, you forced them to rent a hotel?"
“I'm on a business trip, I'm not home.”
"If you're not home, give me the password and I'll take them in."
"Impossible."
My mother's voice changed.
“What did you say?”
“I can't say it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don't want to.”
On the phone, my mother's rapid breathing rang out.
“Today you have to give me the password.”
“I'm in a meeting, I'm hanging up.”
I turned off the phone, then turned off the phone. Outside the window is a strange city, the sun is very beautiful. I lay on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. The moment my mother took the red book, I knew this day would come. If not today, then tomorrow. I closed my eyes. Tired, but relieved.
02
I was out of town for five days and my phone was always turned off. The project connection work went very smoothly, my colleagues at the branch invited me for two meals, talk a lot about work. Thursday night, I turned on my phone. Messages fill the screen. My mother's, my father's, my younger brother's, and a few other relatives. I read every single news. My mother: "What do you want to do?" My mother: "I raised you for twenty-eight years, do you treat me like that?" My sister: "Dear, my girlfriend broke up with me, are you satisfied?" My brother: “It's all because of you.” My father: "Son, your mother hasn't been able to swallow rice these past few days, please answer." Eldest aunt: "Tieu Vu, your mother called me, are you having a disagreement with your family?" Boy: "Tieu Vu, if there's anything, just say it clearly, don't let your mother feel pain." I don't answer. On Friday, I took the high-speed train back. When I got home it was three o'clock in the afternoon. In the elevator, I met Ms. Vuong, the neighbor opposite.
"Tieu Vu is back? A few days ago, a large number of people came to my house, arguing loudly in front of the door."
“Yes, I know.”
"It's your mother and younger brother, right? You sound very similar."
“That's right.”
Ms. Vuong looked at me and didn't say anything else. Getting out of the elevator, my front door was very clean, no one was there. I entered the password and opened the door to the house. There were no signs of disturbance in the house. I put down my luggage and opened the window for fresh air. The phone rang, it was a high school classmate calling.
"Hello, Ly Vu, are you free tomorrow? Old friends are gathering for a bit."
"Where?"
“Old place, hot pot restaurant on Nhan Dan Street.”
"What time?"
“Seven o'clock at night.”
"Okay."
I hung up the phone, then went to the supermarket to buy things. At night, I cook my own rice, one salty dish and one bowl of soup. After eating, I cleaned up and sat on the balcony. The night view of the city seen from the 18th floor is filled with bright lights. When buying this apartment, the salesperson said this floor was the floor with the best view. At that time, I stood on the balcony of the model apartment, looking out at the river in the distance, feeling: this is exactly what I want. A quiet place, my own, that belongs only to me. The phone rang again, this time it was my dad.
“Hello, dad.”
“Are you back?”
"Yes."
"Tomorrow, come home to eat at noon. Your mother will cook your favorite braised meat dish."
“I'm not coming back.”
My father was silent for a while.
“What's the matter with your family?”
“Nothing.”
“So why don't you let my younger brother stay there?”
“I don't want to.”
“He's my little brother.”
“I know.”
“And yet you're still like that?”
“Dad, I'm tired, I'm hanging up.”
"Wait."
My father's voice was a bit hasty.
"Your mother keeps the red book because she's afraid you'll lose it. Your sister wants to come to your house because she's taking her girlfriend and there's no place to go. Why can't you understand your family a bit?"
I looked out the window, admiring the night view.
"Dad, I have already reported the red book lost. A new copy will be made a month later."
"What are you doing? The book is in good condition, so why did you report it missing?"
“I'm afraid of losing it.”
“How can my mother keep it and lose it?”
“I'm scared.”
My father's breathing became heavier.
“You're angry with your family, right?”
“No, I'm just afraid of losing it.”
“We must come back tomorrow, let's talk clearly.”
"I've made it clear, Dad. The house is mine, let whoever wants to live in it let me, if you don't want to let it, don't let it."
After I finished speaking, I hung up. The phone immediately rang again, I turned it off. The next afternoon, I went to meet my high school friends. Four people, two working locally, one opening a company, one working at a bank.
“Ly Vu, I heard you bought a house?”
“Yes, I just got the red book last month.”
“Pay it all?” “Bank loan.”
“That's okay, houses are expensive now, it's good to buy them.”
We talked for a while about the house, then talked about work, then about each other's lives. There is a friend who is married, his wife is pregnant, and is about to give birth.
"What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Not yet."
“Hurry up, it's almost thirty.”
“Just take your time.”
After eating, everyone went home.