Chapter 13 — Reclaiming the Future

“Then look clearly, who gave you a position in this house in the first place?” Dad's hands trembled even more violently. The flame "clicked" and went out. Just as my heart relaxed a bit, there was a heavy knocking sound outside the door. Mother Ha Man, as if waiting to be rescued, immediately rushed to open the door. Outside the door were two middle-aged women and a gray-haired old woman. Dad saw them, his eyes immediately lit up. “Mom, big sister, everyone is here.” Grandma walked in with a cane, her first eyes looked at my mother. “Manh Ngoc Hoa.” “Does a woman like you really want to destroy the roots of the Ly family?” 14 As soon as Grandma walked in, the atmosphere in the room changed another level. She is old but her back is still very straight. Her eyes glanced past me, past my mother, and finally stopped on the household registration book in my father's hand. “Hoai Nhan, store your things carefully.” “Don't let people take it away and cause chaos.” I laughed coldly in my heart. It turned out that in her eyes, me going to college was considered a riot. My aunt, Ly Que Phan, followed next to me, her voice even louder than Ha Man's mother. “I told you why all this fuss.” “Can a girl with just a few points in the exam be able to turn the sky upside down?” “Nam Chi, your parents raised you this much, what do you get if you help your brother for two years?” "In your sister-in-law's womb is the Ly family's nephew. Can your education be more important than your nephew's?" Mom looked at her, her voice very calm. “Everyone arrived just in time.” “Save me the trouble of informing everyone individually.” Ly Que Phan was stunned. “What announcement?” Mom pushed the notebook over. “Inform the Ly family that from today on, don't come to my house to ask for favors anymore.” "Ly Khai's house is here, I'll take it back." “Money Ly Hoai Nhan swiped from my card, I want it back.” “The money you borrowed from me over the past few years should have been paid.” Ly Que Phan seemed to have his tail stepped on. “What nonsense are you talking about?” “Who borrowed money from you?” Mom opened another notebook. “Ly Que Phan.” “Last year my son bought a car and borrowed thirty thousand.” “Last year my house was renovated and I borrowed twenty thousand.” "My mother-in-law is in the hospital, borrowed ten thousand years." “Every time they say to pay next month.” "Next month has dragged on until now, but it hasn't come even once." Ly Que Phan's face changed. "Relatives help each other a little, do you still keep records?" Mom said. “Previously, I was willing to help because Nam Chi and Ly Khai still called me aunt.” "Now you guys are running to force my daughter to drop out of school. Of course I have to figure it out clearly." Grandma banged her stick on the ground. “Manh Ngoc Hoa, don't be too out of shape.” “Hoai Nhan is your husband.” “What about it being at your house?” "Husband and wife are one body, what else should we share with my aunt?" Mom looked at her. “Mom, you said this very well.” “Husband and wife are one body.” "So all these years, when mom told Hoai Nhan to secretly send money back home, why didn't you tell me?" Dad's face suddenly turned white. Grandma's eyes flashed. “That is filial piety.” Mom nodded. “Being filial is fine.” “But he took the rent from my shop.” “Two thousand yuan every month, for six consecutive years.” "I didn't say anything before because I didn't want Nam Chi to be awkward in the middle." “Mom is here today so I can explain it clearly.” Ly Que Phan immediately looked at his father. “Hoai Nhan, why did you let her know?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she herself stiffened. Mom laughed. “It seems that I have not wronged you.” Dad said angrily. “Manh Ngoc Hoa, do you really have to go over all the old things?” Mom stood very straight. "If you don't talk about the past, you still think I'm easy to bully." “On the day my daughter passed the university entrance exam, several families came to force her into the factory.” “If you want to count, then count until the end.” Finally, my grandmother's eyes fell on me. “Nam Chi.” “Normally, grandmother also loves her grandchildren.” “Be a little obedient.” “When can you not study in college?” "My brother is having a difficult time now, so I'll give him a step forward." I looked at her natural expression and suddenly remembered my childhood. Every Tet holiday, the lucky money envelope she gave her brother was always thick, but mine was only a wrinkled twenty-yuan bill. She patted my head and said girls should understand things and not fight with their brothers. Then I really believed it. I thought understanding things would exchange for compliments and a little love. But they only consider understanding as a reason for the next request. "Paternal grandmother." “I won't give in.” Side b

ah quiet down. “What did you say?” I say every word. "I said, I won't give in." “I don't give up on college.” “Don't give up the future.” "I didn't give up money and my mother's family worked hard to save money." “Whoever wants to live a good life should find it themselves.” Ly Que Phan was so angry that he raised his hand to point at me. Mom took a step forward, blocking me. “Put your hands down.” Ly Que Phan angrily withdrew his hand. Ha Man seemed to have caught the opportunity and immediately cried. “Grandma, have you seen it?” “Now in the house, no one cares about me or the child.” “They still want to kick me out.” Grandmother immediately felt heartbroken and stepped forward to help her. “Man Man, don't be afraid.” “Grandma is here.” “No one can kick you out.” Mother looked at them helping each other, without the slightest wavering on her face. “That's even better.” “If you love your niece-in-law so much, then take her home to raise her.” “Tomorrow I will take over the house.” Grandma's face changed. “How can a house in the countryside have room for pregnant women?” Mom said. “Then rent it.”