Chapter 13 — Private House in a Joint Family

11
Another two months have passed. The weather started to turn cold, I was promoted to deputy head of the department, my salary also increased a lot. The day I moved into the new office, my colleagues loudly asked me to invite them to celebrate. I smiled and agreed, made reservations at the best restaurant near the company, and that night everyone celebrated together. At the party, everyone was very happy, raised their glasses to congratulate me, and said many nice words. I also drank a lot, but I wasn't drunk, my mind was very clear. I know, all of this is what I deserve. It's me, after getting rid of the burden of my original family, that I have this new life. After ten o'clock at night, the party ended. I called a car to go home. Downstairs, I saw a figure that was both familiar and strange. It's Ly Loi. He sat huddled next to the flower bed in front of the unit's door, wearing a thin sweatshirt, shivering in the autumn wind. His hair is very long, messy, his beard is shaggy, and he looks even more haggard than the last time I saw him. It saw me and immediately stood up, its eyes flashing with hope.
“I…”
I didn't answer, I went straight to the door. It quickly chased after me, blocking me.
“Brother, don't go, I beg you, help me…”
Its voice carried the sound of crying, sounding very miserable. But I'm not at all soft-hearted.
“I can't help.”
"I can help! I definitely can help!" He quickly said, "Brother, I really know I was wrong. I will live properly in the future and won't bother you anymore..."
“It's useless for you to talk to me.”
"No, it's useful! Brother, I'll just lend you some money, fifty thousand... no, thirty thousand is fine! I found a job, I'll have a salary next month, I'll definitely pay you back right away!"
I looked at it, like I was looking at a stranger.
“I won't lend you money.”
"Why?" His eyes were red, "I'm your younger brother, are you going to watch me die?"
“I can't save you, the only person who can save you is yourself.”
I pushed past it, swiped my card to open the unit door. He stood outside frantically banging on the glass door, loudly calling my name.
"Ly Vu! You bastard! You're not my brother! You have no heart!"
I didn't turn around and went straight to the elevator. When I got home, I took a shower and changed into pajamas. Sitting on the sofa, I had mixed feelings in my heart. To be honest, looking at its appearance like that, I can't help but feel sorry. After all, we are brothers who grew up together. But reason tells me, I cannot be soft-hearted. As long as I help this time, there will be a next time, and a next time. It was like a bottomless pit that could pull the life I worked so hard to build back into the abyss. I can't take that risk. While thinking, the phone rang, it was an unfamiliar number. I picked up the phone.
"Hello, Ly Vu? It's your aunt."
“Auntie, is something wrong?”
“Hey Tieu Vu, did Ly Loi come to find you?”
"Yes."
"Don't care about him, don't give him money." Her voice sounded very angry, "That bastard, it's getting more and more outrageous."
I was a bit surprised.
“Is something wrong?”
“A few days ago, he stole my mother's jewelry and sold it!”
I was stunned.
"The gold necklace and gold bracelet my mother was wearing were given to me by my grandmother when she got married. She treasured it very much. As a result, it was secretly taken to the pawn shop and stolen."
“My dad found out, was so angry that he almost had a heart attack, kicked him and kicked him out. home."
“Now he has no place to live and no money to spend, he will definitely come to you. Don't be soft-hearted, people like him can't be helped. Help once, it will cling forever and not let go.”
I didn't expect things to come to this. Stealing your biological mother's jewelry — this is no longer a frivolous matter, but is no longer human.
“I understand, aunt.”
“That's good. Don't pay attention to him, let him suffer for a few days, then he will know how good our house is."
Hanging up the phone, the last bit of pity in my heart completely disappeared. Such a person is not worthy of my continued affection. The next morning when I went to work, I saw him sleeping in the hallway on my floor, covering himself with some newspapers. I passed by it without stopping. It seemed to hear footsteps and opened its eyes to look at me. In its eyes there was resentment, there was begging, there was also despair. I didn't change my expression as I entered the elevator. The moment the elevator door closed, I said to myself: Ly Vu, you didn't do anything wrong.
12
Ly Loi stayed in my hallway for three days. Those three days, I went to work regularly, passing by it as if I hadn't seen it. The neighbors saw it and whispered behind my back, but no one dared to ask me directly. I know what they're saying — they're just scolding me for being a cold-blooded brother, not even my own younger brother is worried. I don't care. They don't know what I've been through, they're not qualified to judge me. On the morning of the fourth day, I left the house and found it gone. Only a few newspapers remained scattered on the hallway floor. I breathed a sigh of relief, but inside I didn't feel relieved. I know — it's not over yet. Sure enough, that night, my dad called me. His voice sounded old.
"Ly Vu, your brother... was kicked by someone."
“What happened?”
"He hasn't had a place to live these past few days, he's been hanging out with a group of thugs. Last night because of a fight over territory, he got kicked and broke his leg, and is now in the hospital."
I was silent, not knowing what to say.
"My parents just came back from the hospital, the doctor said they need surgery, the cost is 20,000."
I understand.
“Not enough money?”
“Um… your mother took out all her savings, still five thousand short.”
He stopped for a moment, opening his mouth with difficulty:
“Can I…can I borrow it from Mom and Dad for a bit?”
This was the first time he used the word "borrow". It was also the first time he used such a low attitude to talk to me. Many mixed emotions arose in my heart.
“I can give my parents money.” I said, “But it's not borrowed.”
“What do you mean?”
“From this month onwards, I will send two thousand to my parents every month as retirement money. As for these five thousand times, subtract that first."
The other end of the line was silent for a long time. I heard his heavy breathing.
“Okay.” He finally spoke, his voice hoarse.
“Dad, send me the account number, I will transfer it right away.”
After hanging up, I transferred the money. Then sat on the sofa, stunned for a long time. I don't know if I did it right or wrong. Giving money, is it continuing to tolerate them? But if I don't give it, I won't be able to bear it. After all, they are still my parents. I didn't care about Ly Loi's hospitalization, nor did I ask. I just did as I said - transfer money regularly to my father every month. They are also very understanding and don't bother me anymore. The only thing left in our relationship now is the two thousand yuan connection per month. It's sad, but also very real. Another year has passed. During that year, my work went smoothly, my position was promoted to another level, becoming an official department head. I also met a very nice girl, we have the same interests, we never get tired of talking. I took her home, she loved it. She said:
“This house looks so warm.”