Chapter 4 — Salary 9,000 Yuan, Husband Asks to Support Younger Sister to Study Abroad?

“I can't handle it!”

“How worried?”

“I took on an extra job, drove a car at night, worked more on the weekends—”

“How much did you earn?”

“Every month add 4,000 to 5,000 yuan…”

"4,000 5,000 yuan, 60,000 yuan a year. Compared to 450,000 yuan, there's still a shortfall of 390,000 yuan. Where's the rest?"

"I borrowed it! I borrowed it! Anyway, Vu Huyen's studies must be there!"

He said it with certainty. My mother nodded.

"Okay, you borrow from me, that's your business. But there's one thing - you pay the loan yourself, don't touch a penny from Van Thu, don't think about us."

“We have neither the obligation nor the ability to fill this bottomless pit.”

She looked at me.

“Van Thu, go.”

I stood up. My legs were numb, I staggered, I had to hold on to the edge of the table. Tran Hao reached out to support me. I get out of the way.

“Van Thu…” his voice trembled. “Are you really going?”

I don't look at him.

“Dad, mom, let's go.”

“Lin Van Thu!”

Vuong Tu Lan called from behind.

“If you step out this door today, don't come back!”

I stopped for a moment. Don't turn around. Keep walking. Tran Hao rushed to pull my hand.

“Van Thu, don't go, let's talk clearly—”

I pushed his hand away.

"Tran Hao, there's nothing more to say. I've said enough these three years."

“Have you heard?”

He was stunned. I opened the door, the night wind rushed in. Step out. Parents followed behind. The door closed behind, blocking the cries, scolding, and Tran Hao's last call "Van Thu—". The streetlights lengthened the silhouettes of the three people. I go in the middle, on the left is my father, on the right is my mother. No one said anything. My father lit a cigarette and took a drag.

"Van Thu, Dad was not good tonight. He couldn't protect you."

I shook my head, not knowing what to say. My mother held my hand. Her palms were warm, with calluses from a lifetime of work.

"Don't think anymore, go home first. Go to our home."

The word "we" she said was very strong. My nose stung, I tried to blink. Can't cry. At least for now. The taxi stopped in front of the old house, my mother took the key to open the door on the third floor. The old fluorescent light lit up. The furniture is old, but clean. On the tea table, place a plate of washed tangerines. On the TV cabinet is a family photo, taken when I graduated from college, three people crowded into the frame, smiling carefree. I looked at the photo for a long time.

“Go wash your face,” my mother patted my back, “I'll cook you a bowl of noodles.”

I went to the bathroom, the person in the mirror had red, swollen eyes and a pale face. Turn on the faucet and splash cold water on your face. Very cold, but my mind is clear. Go out, the noodles have finished cooking. Water noodles, an egg, a few green vegetables. I sat down to eat. The noodles were very hot, I ate them little by little. Tears began to fall, each drop falling into the bowl. My mother sat opposite me, looking at me. Waiting until I was almost finished eating, she spoke up.

“Van Thu, have you thought carefully?”

“Consider what?”

When those two words came out of my mother's mouth, my heart still contracted strongly. I put down my chopsticks.

"No need to answer right away. I just want to know if you really want a divorce, or are you just angry."

I was silent for a long time. The second hand on the wall runs a full circle.

“I want a divorce.”

The voice was very soft, but I heard it clearly.

"These three years have been so tiring. Not physically tired, but mentally tired."

"Every day, we count the money. Calculate how much is left this month, what to pay next month, what Vu Huyen wants to buy, what his parents lack."

“Think back and forth, when not enough.”

“Do you know what makes me saddest?”

"Not because I have to spend money, not because I have to pay off debt, and not because I have to save every penny."

"But Tran Hao never thought I was at a disadvantage."

“He thinks it's natural for me to do those things. As a wife, you have to take care of his family, you have to make up for your sister, you have to shoulder everything."

“But you are also human.”

"I will also be tired, I will feel sorry for myself, I will also think, why me?"

My voice gets smaller and smaller. My mother stood up and hugged me. Crying until I choked, I felt like I was pouring out the past three years. My father stood on the balcony smoking, heard crying, his hands shook, and the cigarette butts fell to the ground. He didn't come in, but I heard him take a deep breath. When I finished crying, my mother used a hot towel to wipe my face.

“Van Thu, I asked you one more question. If Tran Hao came now, knelt down and apologized, said he was wrong, said he would change in the future, wouldn't worry about his sister anymore, and all the money would be left to me to manage... would you forgive me?

I stopped.

“There's no need to answer right away,” she said, “but you must think carefully. Divorce is not a small matter, words are spoken, the future path, you have to consider. I'm not advising you not to divorce, I'm just afraid you'll regret it."

I bowed my head and looked at the wedding ring in my hand. Plain ring. At that time, Tran Hao said he would wait until he had money to exchange for a diamond ring. It's been three years. No diamond rings. Just a bunch of bills.

“Mom, I won't regret it.”

“Even if he kneels down, I won't turn around anymore.”

“There are some things that don't just have to be admitted to being wrong. In the past three years, I put into it not only money, but also my self-esteem, my youth, and all my expectations for this marriage."

“He can't pay for those things.”

My mother looked at me for a long time.

“Okay. I've thought about it carefully, mom supports you."

“A glass is a glass, it's no big deal. You're still young, the road is long, there's no need to tie yourself to someone who doesn't value you."

She stood up, searched in the closet, and took out an iron box. A savings book, several bank cards, a wad of cash.

“This is money my mother has saved for many years, not much, 130,000 yuan. Take it, return the credit card first, keep the rest and use it."

I pushed back.

“Mom, this is your retirement money—”

“Take it.” She put the notebook directly into my hand. “I only have one daughter, if I don't give it to her, then who will? It was originally meant for a way out.”

She didn't say everything, but I understood. She has prepared this amount of money for a long time. I'm afraid that I will be resentful in my marriage, afraid that when I need money, I won't have it. Tears welled up in my eyes again. My father walked in, holding an envelope.

“Van Thu, take it.”

Inside was 20,000 yuan in cash.

“Don't criticize too much.” he said. “This is dad's personal money, your mom doesn't know.”

My mother glared at him: "I knew right away you were hiding money!" My father scratched his head and smiled gently.

“Now I have something to do.”

I clutched 20,000 yuan, my palms heated up.

“I can't afford this money—”

“If you tell me to hold it, hold it!” My father suddenly spoke seriously.

“My daughter Lam Chi Vien, I cannot let people bully me like that. What about divorce? Divorce means you can't live anymore? With my parents here, even if the sky falls, it won't be my turn to bear the burden!

The man who had been gentle all his life, when he said that, his back was straight. I rushed into his arms and cried again. This time, there is no more despair like before. Mom urged me to go to sleep.

“Newly changed bedding then, go.”

I finished showering and lay down. The blanket smells like sunshine. It's the bed I've slept in since I was little. Can't sleep. The phone vibrates. Tran Hao sent more than a dozen messages.

“Van Thu, don't be angry anymore.”

“I know what I said yesterday was wrong.”

"I'll think again about Vu Huyen's story."

“Can you not stress me out?”

“What my mother said was too harsh.”

“My mother is crying at home.”

“When will you come back?”

Final news—

“I'll come pick you up tomorrow.”

I looked at the screen for exactly one minute. Then turn off the device.