Chapter 17 — Private House in a Joint Family

She planted flowers and grass on the balcony, bought a bookshelf and a lazy chair to place in the corner of the living room. On weekends, we are no longer busy with our own work, but go to the supermarket together to buy food, try new dishes in the kitchen, or hug each other on a lazy chair to watch an old movie. Vuong Tinh's parents came by from time to time, always bringing a variety of things - sometimes vegetables they grew themselves, sometimes hot pots of chicken stew. They never arrived empty-handed, nor did they linger long. Put down the things, gave a few instructions, then smiled and left, saying he didn't want to disturb the couple's life. Every time I see their backs leaving, I feel warm inside. It turns out, the care between relatives... can be like that: unconditional, requiring no response. The days passed quietly, and suddenly the first month after the wedding had come. At the beginning of that month, I was checking my bank account statement, preparing to plan my spending for the next month. Suddenly, I saw a money transfer. Not much — two thousand yuan. The transferee is Ly Loi. Accompanying notes: “Part 1”. I was stunned and showed the phone to Vuong Tinh who was watering the flowers. She glanced, then smiled.
“It looks like he's really grown up.”
"YES." My heart is full of emotions.
I will not respond to the message, nor will I refund the money. I understand — it's his dignity, it's also his atonement. I took a screenshot of the transaction, then deleted it. I don't want this money to become a part of our new life, nor do I want Vuong Tinh to feel that my original family... is still affecting us in a different way. Vuong Tinh saw through my thoughts. She walked over and hugged me from behind.
“Husband, you did the right thing.”
"The past, let it truly end. What we need to do now... is live our lives well."
I nodded and took her hand. Outside the window, the sunlight is beautiful, the flowers on the balcony are blooming brilliantly. I know, my new life... is just really starting now.
17
Fall turns to winter, the city welcomes its first snowfall. My life with Vuong Tinh is still as peaceful and sweet as before. My work is progressing smoothly, my year-end evaluation is excellent, and my bonus is more than every year. The class that Vuong Tinh was in charge of achieved first place in the entire grade in the final exam, and she was honored as an excellent teacher. We used the bonus money to buy a new big TV for our family, and planned to take both parents on a trip to Hainan this Tet. Everything is developing in a good direction. I have almost forgotten all the unhappy things in the past. Ly Loi still regularly transfers money to me every month, not much, but never interrupts. There was no contact between us, like two strangers... but the most familiar. I thought our life would always be peaceful like that — until I received a call from my father. That day I was in a meeting at the company, my phone was on silent mode but kept vibrating continuously. I glanced — it was my father calling. He rarely took the initiative to call me. My heart tightened slightly, feeling like something was wrong. I asked the leader for permission to go out, went to the end of the hallway, and called back. After ringing for a while, he picked up the phone.
“Hello, Dad.”
“Tieu Vu…” His voice was hoarse and panicked, "Your mother... your mother is hospitalized..."
I felt like my heart was falling to the bottom of an abyss.
“What happened?”
"This morning she suddenly felt dizzy and fell down, unable to speak clearly... Took her to the hospital, the doctor said... it was an acute brain hemorrhage, in emergency..."
I leaned against the wall, my hands and feet were cold.
“Which hospital?”
“City center hospital, emergency room.”
“I'll be right there.”
I called Vuong Tinh and briefly explained the situation. She was very calm and just said:
“Don't panic, I'll leave now, we'll go together.”
I drove to pick her up, then we both rushed to the hospital. The car was very quiet, no one said a word. But I feel that she still holds me tightly. Arriving at the hospital, at the door of the emergency room, I saw my father. He sat huddled in the corner of the wall, his hair disheveled, his eyes red, looking like he had aged ten years overnight. Seeing us, he stood up, his lips trembling, he wanted to say something but couldn't utter a word.
“Dad, how is it?” I asked.
“Still… still in emergency treatment inside.”
At that moment, a figure dressed in worker clothes ran from the hallway. It's Ly Loi. He was sweating profusely, and there was still dust on his face — he had definitely just come from the construction site.
"Dad! How's mom?" He ran to his father and quickly asked.
Seeing me, he stopped, then bowed his head and softly called out:
“You.”
I nodded. This is the first time in more than half a year that we have met again. The three of us just stood in front of the emergency room, waiting silently. That feeling was very strange. We are clearly blood relatives, yet it is as if we are separated by an invisible wall. Two hours later, the emergency room door opened. The doctor stepped out and took off his mask.
“The patient is temporarily out of danger.”
All three of us breathed a sigh of relief.
"But..." The doctor looked at us, "The situation is still not optimistic. The patient is paralyzed on the right side of his body, his language function is also damaged, and needs to be hospitalized for long-term treatment and rehabilitation."
“Doctor… so… what is the estimated cost?” My father asked cautiously.
“For now, prepare about 100,000 yuan (100,000 yuan), recovery later will be a long process and will cost a lot.”
Ten thousand. My father's face turned pale immediately. I know, to you, that number is a fortune. Ly Loi's parents' meager old age pension had long since been spent. Ly Loi also looked tense. He clenched his fists, bowed his head, and didn't say a word. I walked to the payment counter and pulled out my bank card.
“Hello, bed fee number 15, I pay.”
18
I have paid an advance payment of 100,000 yuan for hospital fees. Dad and Ly Loi stood behind me, watching me enter the password and sign my name, the whole process without saying a word. After completing the procedure, my mother was pushed out of the emergency room and transferred to the regular hospital room. She closed her eyes, wore an oxygen mask, her face was gray, and she looked as weak as a piece of paper. The nurse told me a few things, and my father nodded repeatedly. Ly Loi quietly went to get hot water and buy essential items. Vuong Tinh is always by my side. She helped me arrange the hospital bed, then went to the nurse's station to ask specifically about the rehabilitation plan. Everything was in order, dad called me out to the hallway.
“Tieu Vu,” he took out a bank card from his pocket and stuffed it into my hand. “This money… I will definitely pay you back later.”