Chapter 2 — Salary 9,000 Yuan, Husband Asks to Support Younger Sister to Study Abroad?

"Isn't the rent 3,500 yuan? My salary is 5,800 yuan, which is still more than 2,000 yuan."

“The rest is for family use.”

“Last week, dad said his knee hurts. I went to the pharmacy to buy a treatment patch and protective bandage, more than 900 yuan.”

“The other day mom said she wanted to eat bird's nest, I asked my friend to get a box, 700 yuan.”

“Yesterday Vu Huyen said he wanted a pair of shoes, please buy them for me, 500 yuan.”

"And today's meal. Live fish, 45 yuan per kilo. Chicken, 68 yuan. Live shrimp, 72 yuan. Plus vegetables, fruits, alcohol, total more than 500 yuan."

“Mom, my salary is 5,800 yuan, minus the rent, it's 2,300 yuan.”

“This month is only half over, I've already spent 2,200 yuan.”

“There's 100 yuan left to last until the end of the month.”

The dining room was silent. The only sound left was the buzzing sound of the range hood in the kitchen. Vuong Tu Lan's face was not pretty, but she quickly forced a smile.

"Look at you, I just asked, if not, that's fine. Let Tieu Hao think of a way."

She turned to Tran Hao.

"Son, don't you have some savings? Take it out first for your sister to manage."

Tran Hao was a bit awkward.

"Mom, my savings... I lent it to Mr. Trieu before, I'll pay it back next month."

Vuong Tu Lan patted his forehead.

“Ah right, so your father…”

Tran Quoc Cuong shook his head.

"My pension hasn't been paid yet. Once it's paid, I still have to pay for medicine. You also know how expensive my blood pressure medicine is."

Ask around, no one has money. Tran Vu Huyen's face fell.

“So what should we do…”

Her voice began to choke.

"My friends have all submitted it, I'm the only one left. The homeroom teacher has urged me several times. If we wait any longer, we'll lose our spot..."

“I promised you…”

Tran Hao was impatient and turned around a few steps.

"That's right, Van Thu, where is your credit card? The limit is 60,000 yuan, swipe it first, I will pay you next month when I receive my salary."

I looked at him. Look at the man who has slept with me for three years, look at the matter-of-fact look on his face.

“That card was swiped last month.”

"Swiped? How much?"

“52,000 yuan.”

“52,000 yuan?!” His voice immediately rose. “What are you spending so much for?!”

I bowed my head.

"Last month was my mother's birthday. He told me to buy a necklace, saying I couldn't be skimpy, I had to buy branded goods to have face."

“I went to the mall to look, the cheapest brand you mentioned was over 10,000 yuan.”

“Then you said more than 10,000 yuan is not high enough, if you buy it, you have to buy a good one.”

“Finally bought that yarn, 38,000 yuan.”

"And Dad's massage chair cushion, 3,200 yuan. Vu Huyen's cosmetic set, 2,000 yuan. The broken water heater in the house replaced with a new one, 5,800 yuan."

“Total, 52,000 yuan.”

I finished each clause. Tran Hao opened his mouth for a long time, unable to say a word. Vuong Tu Lan's face became even more ugly.

“You swiped 52,000 yuan without telling Tieu Hao?”

“I did.” I raised my head to look at her. "The night I swiped the card, I told him. He said he knew, he would pay his salary next month."

“And then what?”

"After that he received his salary, 10,000 yuan. 3,000 yuan to give to his mother for living expenses, 2,000 yuan to buy medicine for his father, 1,500 yuan to invite his colleagues to eat, 1,000 yuan to buy gas, and the remaining 1,500 yuan he said to save."

"I asked for money to pay the credit card, he said it was not urgent, there was still an interest free period, calculated next month."

"The interest-free period is over now. The bill has arrived."

“52,000 yuan, minimum payment is 13,000 yuan.”

"Mom, my salary is 5,800 yuan, minus the rent, it's 2,300 yuan. This 13,000 yuan, mom told me to pay What?"

No one said anything anymore. Even Tran Vu Huyen stopped crying and looked at me with wide eyes. In three years, she has never seen me speak in this voice. I have always been a gentle sister-in-law, willing to accept anything. Today, taking each item out and explaining it clearly, is the first time. Tran Hao's face was sometimes red and sometimes white.

“Why didn't you say it sooner?”

“I told you, you didn't listen.”

He was silent. He wants to argue. What I want to say at that time was that I didn't make it clear. What do you mean I don't claim him? But he couldn't speak. Because what I say is all true. Last month I actually mentioned credit cards. At that time he was playing games, yes for an hour and then he stopped. Vuong Tu Lan adjusted his face.

“Oh well, as a family, money matters can be negotiated slowly. Credit cards just pay the minimum first, pay in installments later.”

"And Vu Huyen's 80,000 yuan deposit is important, it affects his whole life."

She looked at me, her voice softened.

“Tieu Thu, I know you have a hard time. But this is a special situation, right? Vu Huyen had to work very hard to pass the exam, he couldn't delay."

“Think of another way, borrow some from your friends, or—”

Her eyes turned to my mother.

“Or should we ask our in-laws to take care of it first?”

My mother put down the ladle. The ladle touches the edge of the bowl, making a "ding" sound. Very light. But the whole dining room heard it clearly. She raised her head, looked at Vuong Tu Lan, looked at Tran Hao, and finally looked at me. Look for a few seconds. Then she turned to Tran Hao. The tone was calm as if talking about the weather.

“Tieu Tran, I ask you a question.”

“Your salary is 10,000 yuan a month, 120,000 yuan a year.”

“Vu Huyen's tuition is 450,000 yuan for one year, 900,000 yuan for two years.”

“Where are you going to get the rest?”

The whole room was as quiet as paper. It was so quiet that I could hear the wind outside the window. It was so quiet that I could hear Tran Hao's breathing become rapid. So quiet that the chopsticks in Vuong Tu Lan's hand fell to the ground— Tran Hao's face turned pale little by little. He opened his mouth.

“I… can borrow money, Vu Huyen can also work part-time, international students in the UK can work part-time—”

“How much do you earn a year?” my mother asked. “Working part-time is only enough for pocket money, what about tuition fees? 450,000 yuan in tuition, how many years does it take to carry and wash dishes?

Tran Hao could not answer. He had never considered this. In his mind, "raising a younger sister to study abroad" is a glorious thing. Where does the money come from? That's the "detail", you can think about it slowly. But now, that "detail" was revealed directly in front of my mother. Vuong Tu Lan's face completely sank.

“Master, what do you mean? Tieu Hao is his biological brother, isn't it the right thing to do to raise his younger sister to school? As a family, why do we need to make such clear calculations?”

She said "one family", emphasizing each word. Then glanced at me. That look seemed to be asking: Which side are you on? My mother didn't pay attention to her, still looking at Tran Hao.

“Sir, I didn't say no to Vu Huyen to study abroad. It's a good thing that a child has the will to progress."

“I just ask, where does the money come from?”

She lifted the teacup and took a sip, slowly.

“Tieu Tran, you pay 10,000 yuan a month, 120,000 yuan a year. Even though you don't eat or drink, don't own a car, don't give money to your parents, don't socialize, don't pay electricity and water management fees, don't pay credit cards—"

Every time she said something, Tran Hao's face turned whiter part.

“—bring all 120,000 yuan to Vu Huyen, still missing 330,000 yuan.”

“This 330,000 yuan, how do you solve it?”

"Borrow money? Borrow 330,000 yuan divided into 10 years. Have you calculated how much to pay each month?"

“Add your own expenses, household expenses, and Van Thu's expenses, how much do you have to earn a month?”

Her eyes turned to Vuong Tu Lan.

“Master, are you two planning to spend this 330,000 yuan?”