Chapter 3 — Six Pairs of Slippers in Front of My Door

Co Tinh's reunion party was held at Hong Hy restaurant right in the city center. When I arrived, the private room was full of people. My mother-in-law - La Phuong Lien - was wearing a red brocade shirt, holding a glass of wine and talking and laughing with the Thieu family. As soon as she saw me, the smile on her face stiffened for a moment. But very quickly, he tried to pretend to be welcoming.

"Nien Niem is here. Come on, let's have a cup of tea together. Yesterday's small misunderstanding, let's explain it clearly in front of everyone today."

Small misunderstanding. I almost laughed out loud. Co Tinh sat at the main table, her hair in an elaborate bun, and a jade bracelet on her wrist. I recognize that bracelet. It's something my mother left behind. The inside still has a tiny crack - I accidentally dropped it when I was a kid. I stared at the bracelet. Co Tinh instinctively hid her hand under the table. My mother-in-law immediately stood up to block my view.

"Nien Niem, don't make such an unsightly face. Tinh Tinh just got married, as your sister-in-law you have to be more generous."

Thieu Bang's mother also casually continued:

"Sister-in-law, you've heard everything about our house clearly. You're still young, it's not convenient to live anywhere. The two kids are newlyweds and need to settle down first. You give up the house first, from now on we'll all be one family."

I pulled out a chair and sat down.

“What do you hear clearly?”

She stopped.

"Your mother-in-law already told you. The house in Thanh Dong was originally the Co family's house and was preparing to be the wedding house for her son. It's been a few years since I got married, and now my brother-in-law is getting married. It's only reasonable to take it out and rotate it around a bit."

I nodded.

“La Phuong Lien, what else do you say?”

The mother-in-law's face immediately became unsightly.

“If you call your elders by their names like that, is it still polite?”

I ignore her.

“How much money did you receive from the Thieu family?”

As soon as this sentence ended, the whole room immediately fell silent. Father Thieu Bang frowned.

"What is called accepting money? We give money to guarantee the wedding house, three hundred and eighty thousand yuan. The in-laws told the young couple to stay for three years first, then we will discuss the transfer of names."

Three hundred and eighty thousand. The choking feeling in my heart finally found the cause. Secure a copy of the three-year agreement. No wonder they brought the whole family in. How dare my mother-in-law change the lock. This is not a place to stay. She sold half of my house. Mother-in-law started to panic.

"In-law, why are you telling him those things? The family will arrange the money themselves!"

I took out my phone and opened the real estate registration page. Then place each set of printed documents on the table. First sheet, photocopy of home ownership certificate. Owner: Hua Niem. The second sheet, home purchase payment documents. The payment date was two years before I registered my marriage with Co Hoai An. The third sheet, notarized paper dividing my parents' estate. The fourth sheet, photo taken from the doorbell camera. Co Hoai An used the key to open the door. La Phuong Lien led six people dragging suitcases into the house. The fifth sheet... is the "Agreement for relatives to stay with you". I spread it out in the middle of the table.

"The signature on this paper is not mine. This morning I reported to the police and submitted a request for handwriting assessment."

Thieu Bang's mother's face immediately turned pale.

“Mother of the family, what is this?”

The mother-in-law still tried to keep her mouth shut.

"It's a lie! It's just regret!"

I raised my hand to open a recording. It's the sound from last night's doorbell camera video. Co Hoai An's voice sounded calm course:

"Just rest assured. She's very soft-hearted, she'll stop making a fuss for a few days."

No one in the room said anything anymore. I looked at the Thieu family.

"Everyone gave La Phuong Lien three hundred and eighty thousand to buy the right to my house. But she has no right to receive that money."

“If anyone wants to ask for money, find her.”

“As for people coming into my house and damaging my property…”

“I will calculate it separately.”

Thieu Bang slammed on the table.

"La Phuong Lien! Are you kidding us?"

Mother-in-law took a step back.

"I'm not fooling anyone! That house belongs to my son! He's the man in the house, if she marries in, the house naturally belongs to the Co family!"

I laughed. These are the true words in her heart. The private room door was knocked loudly. Two policemen entered. I made an appointment. One person looked around the scene and asked directly:

"Is La Phuong Lien here? Regarding the case of Ms. Hua Niem reporting that someone forged a signature, illegally occupied a house and suspected fraud, please follow us to assist in the investigation."

The mother-in-law's face immediately turned pale. Co Tinh shouted:

"Sister-in-law! Are you crazy? Today is my reunion party!"

I stood up, picked up the black trash bag and placed it next to my feet on the table. The mouth of the bag just opened. Six pairs of slippers immediately crashed onto the tile floor of the private room. Pink pair. Gray pair. Pair of fabric soles. Each pair was covered in dust on my floor. I looked at La Phuong Lien and said each word clearly:

“Six pairs of slippers, I gave them back to you.”

“Next, six people…”

“No one wants to take another step into my house.”

“Who dares to step in…”

“I sent that person to the station.”

After the party, my face melted in, extremely unsightly. Thieu family members surrounded her mother-in-law demanding money. Co Tinh cried so much that her makeup was smeared. Thieu Bang stood outside the door and scolded her.

"Do you Co family use your family to cheat you into a wedding? Three hundred and eighty thousand, not a penny is missing!"

Co Tinh cried and ran to pull him, but was thrown away forcefully. The jade bracelet in her hand hit the back of the chair, making a crisp "click" sound. My heart also broke in one beat. That's what my mother left behind. I walked over and held her hand.

“Take off the ring.”

Co Tinh glared at me with red eyes.

“This is what my mother gave me as a dowry!”

I squeezed her wrist hard.

“This is what my biological mother left for me.”

She struggled. I don't let go. The two policemen also turned to look. Co Tinh was finally afraid. She gritted her teeth and took off the bracelet, throwing it hard into my palm.

“Who wants this torn bracelet!”

I looked at the small crack inside the ring. I put the bracelet in my pocket. That night, I took the building manager, the locksmith and two policemen back home. As soon as the door opened, the rancid smell hit me straight in the face. The kitchen sink is filled with unwashed dishes. The trash can is overflowing. On the balcony, Thieu Bang's younger brother's underwear was also dried. My master bedroom was ransacked as if it had been burglarized. The bed sheet was covered in red glitter and wine stains. My mother's photo was face down under the nightstand. The photo frame has a crack. I squatted down to pick it up. His fingertips touched broken glass and bled. I looked at that drop of blood. My heart suddenly felt strangely calm. Before, I always thought…