Chapter 6 — Private House in a Joint Family

"What right? Have you considered your mother's feelings?"
I looked at it and suddenly felt funny.
“Ly Loi, have you ever thought about my feelings?”
“What?”
“I ask, have you ever thought about my feelings?”
It was stunned.
"I saved for five years to buy that house. Just one word from you and I wanted to borrow it. Have you ever thought about how I feel?"
"I didn't ask for it, I just borrowed it."
“Borrow it?”
I took a step forward, it took a step back.
"You borrowed my house to cheat on your girlfriend, then what? Where are you planning to stay when you get married?"
“We will think of a way ourselves.”
"What do you think? Stay at my house next?"
“I… I didn't mean that…”
“So what does that mean?”
It cannot answer.
"Ly Loi, I tell you, that house is mine. Whoever I want to live in is my right. If I don't want it, no one can. It has nothing to do with you."
“But you are my younger brother!”
"I know."
“Then why don't you help me?”
“Because I don't want to.”
It looked at me, eyes red.
“You've changed, you weren't like that before.”
"I haven't changed. You've just never seen me clearly before."
I brushed it off and entered the building. It shouted from behind:
“You will regret it!”
I don't turn around. Go upstairs, enter the house, lock the door. I leaned against the door and took several deep breaths. The phone rang again, it was my uncle.
"Tieu Vu, your aunt called me to tell me what happened at home."
“Nothing, just a little conflict.”
“What kind of conflict is causing your mother to sit and wait in the company all day, do you know?”
“I know.”
“So why don't I see you?”
“I don't want to see you.”
"What's wrong with you? It's your mother."
“I know.”
"Tieu Vu, I know you're a sensible person, but this time you're really wrong. It's not easy for your mother to raise you like this, how can you treat me like that?"
I went out to the balcony and opened the window.
“Dude, do you know why mom came to find me?”
“Isn't it because of the red book and Tieu Loi?”
"Yes, she thinks your family should let Ly Loi live. She keeps your red book. If you don't agree, she makes a fuss."
"So what? Tieu Loi is my younger brother, how about I help him a little?"
“I don't want to help.”
"Why?"
“Because I don't owe it.”
The other side was silent for a few seconds.
“Tieu Vu, what do you mean by that?”
“That's the literal meaning: I don't owe it, nor do I owe it to anyone.”
"Why do you say that? Your parents raised you and yet you say you don't owe anything?"
“Do you know how much money I gave my family?”
"That's what you should do. Whose children don't give money to their parents?"
"What about Ly Loi? Has he ever given it?"
My uncle said nothing.
"It's been two years since he graduated, and he's never given a dime. I graduated in my first year and gave him three thousand every month, continuously for three years."
“It's not the same, it's low salary.”
“I used to have a low salary, but I still paid it.”
“Tieu Vu, you can't calculate that way.”
"Why not? Why should I do everything, but he doesn't have to do anything?"
My voice started to rise.
"Why does my family have to let him use it? Why did my mother take my red book and I can't take it back?"
“Because you are one family.”
"As a family, there are no boundaries? As a family, you can take whatever you want from me?"
“Tieu Vu, please calm down.”
“You are very calm, never calmer than now.”
I hung up. Throw the phone on the sofa, go to the kitchen, pour a glass of cold water, and drink it in one gulp clean. Pour another glass, sip by sip. The night scene outside the window was quiet, the lights of the city were still bright, not changing because of anyone's emotions. I suddenly remembered something from a long time ago. When I was in third grade, the school organized a field trip and had to pay 50 yuan. I went home and told my mother, she said she had no money and wouldn't let me go. I was very disappointed, but said nothing. The next day, I saw her buy Ly Loi a remote control car for more than 100 yuan. That's a reward because it got 80 points on the exam. As for me, I got 95 points that period, my mother said:
“You were supposed to be like that.”
I remember very clearly, that night I stood on the balcony for a long time. Didn't cry, just stood there, looking up at the sky. At that time I thought: when I grow up, I must have my own money, my own house, my own life. No need to look at anyone's face, no need to endure any injustice. Now I have done it. I put the cup in the sink and returned to the bedroom. Lying in bed, looking up at the ceiling. The phone rang again, this time it was an unknown number. I picked up the phone.
“Hello.”
“Ly Vu, this is the second aunt.”
I closed my eyes.
“Second aunt.”
"My mother and I both heard about it, what exactly happened?"
“Nothing, just a little disagreement.”
"What's causing this disagreement? Your mother cried all day today and didn't eat anything."
“It's Mom's choice.”
“Why are you so cold?”
I opened my eyes.
“Are you cold?”
"What is it if you're not cold? Your mother sat waiting for you all day at the company, and you didn't bother to see her once. What's not cold?"
“Second aunt, do you know what my mother came to see me for?”
“Isn't it because of Tieu Loi?”
"Yes, mom thinks you must let Ly Loi borrow the house. You don't agree, so mom makes a big deal out of it."
"So what? Tieu Loi is my younger brother, how about I help him a little?"
I laugh.
“Second aunt, if I ask you to borrow 100,000 yuan now, will you give it to me?”
“What?”
“I asked, if I asked you to borrow 100,000 now, would you give it to me?”
“Auntie… you don't have that much money.”
“What if there is?”