Chapter 1 — Ten Pounds of Shrimp, Breaking a Marriage Life

My son just wanted a meal of shrimp. I secretly bought it for three days in a row, a total of ten pounds... but in the end, not even one could get into the boy's mouth. On the contrary, my husband's sister's daughter ate greedily, while eating and saying harsh words, cursing my child as a reincarnated starving person who did not deserve to eat delicious food. I couldn't bear it, so I found my brother-in-law and told him why. As a result, my father-in-law scolded me for making a big deal out of the baby. My husband coldly said I was selfish. As for the mother-in-law... she put on a great performance. Tears fell like rain, she knelt to the ground, slapped herself in the face repeatedly, her voice was so choked that it sounded like I was the criminal.

"It's all my fault... tomorrow I'll go pick up scraps and cardboard to sell. If it's not enough, I'll go sell blood. I'll earn some money to buy shrimp for both of us.

Don't make a fuss anymore... don't make this house unstable, okay?" A show so smooth that... I almost believed it. Just for a pot of shrimp. But five years of my marriage... turned to ashes. My mother-in-law's "combo combo" made me so angry that I burst out laughing. Before I could open my mouth, my father-in-law grabbed the TV remote and threw it straight at me.

"Giang Duong, I'm not dead yet! It's not your turn to make trouble in this house!"

He rolled his eyes, his neck red and veins blue, as if I had just done something very immoral. Tong Anh Due jumped up from the sofa, grabbed my hand and pulled me straight to the door.

"That's enough! Have you embarrassed yourself because of a plate of shrimp? I don't know but I thought this family was so poor that they couldn't even have shrimp to eat!"

I pulled my hand away forcefully.

“You think this is just about a plate of shrimp?”

"Open your eyes and look! The shrimp I bought, but my child doesn't get to eat a single one, while your sister's daughter has the whole bowl?"

Tong Anh Due shouted angrily:

"Haven't you said enough? How long will it take for you to make a fuss over some shrimp? Go! Now go buy! Buy ten kilos, twenty kilos! If you don't eat them all, I'll deal with you!"

Normally he rarely says the word "treat" so harshly. Today the backlash is so intense that it makes me feel strange. My mother-in-law also rushed forward, holding him back, not letting me push him out.

"It's okay, Anh Due. It's just a plate of shrimp, don't argue with Giang Duong. No outsider will look in and think our family is bullying him."

Having said that, she turned to me, her eyes were red, her voice choked.

"Giang Duong, tomorrow I'm going to look for a job at the construction site, I can do anything. Whatever I earn, I'll give it all to you and me to buy shrimp.

Don't chase little Quyen and her mother away, they're suffering too..." Tong Anh Due saw his mother being so "patient" and became even angrier.

"Mom, what are you asking her to do? This Song family is not her turn to be the boss yet, and we can't let her chase Quyen and her mother away!"

Father-in-law hugged his chest, panted and cursed:

"The family is unfortunate! Marrying an ungrateful thing like you!"

In the far corner, Vuong Quyen wiped her tears and secretly smiled at me. Her daughter was holding an entire pot of shrimp, sticking her tongue out at me. Being pushed out by this whole family like a stranger, in my mind at that time... there was only one thought. I really want to go crazy. To be precise, Vuong Quyen is not really my brother-in-law. She is my husband's uncle's daughter, which means I call my mother-in-law aunt. Half a year ago, she divorced, took her daughter and blatantly moved into my house. At first, I was busy with promotions and didn't pay much attention. Until three days ago, my son told me… he wanted to eat shrimp. Shrimp in the supermarket is only a little over twenty pounds. Thinking that the adults in my family don't like to eat, I bought two kilos and that was enough. That night, my boss called me to work unexpected overtime, and when I got home it was late. Just as I was about to sleep, I heard my son sobbing in the blanket. I quickly asked what was wrong, he mumbled and said... his grandmother wouldn't let him eat shrimp.

"Grandma said... Tinh Tinh likes to eat shrimp, so tell me not to fight with her..."

My heart sank, both angry and sad. Tinh Tinh is Vuong Quyen's daughter, just in elementary school but already over 60kg, pampered to the point of being spoiled. She keeps the food extremely excessive. The food he likes, even if he doesn't eat it all, would rather let it spoil than let anyone touch it. At her house, I have no opinion. But now at my house... you still dare to bully my child? Thinking that my mother-in-law normally helps me take care of the children, I tried to hold back and bought another three pounds the next day. I think this time is definitely enough. But when I asked later that night, my son... still hadn't eaten a single one.

"Grandma said shrimp is full of hormones, boys who eat too much will... turn into girls. Only girls can eat..."

I was stunned.

“Three pounds of shrimp… did he eat it all alone?”

The boy swallowed his saliva, his eyes still hungry.

"Grandma told me to dry it and turn it into dried shrimp... so I can take it to school for snacks..."

At this point, I really couldn't stand it anymore. I shook Tong Anh Due, who was sleeping soundly, to ask why. After listening, he only saw that I was overdoing it.

"What Mom said makes sense. There are so many hormones in shrimp. What if a boy eats too much and becomes feminized?"

I tried to stay calm.

"In any case, it's okay to share three pounds of shrimp with my child? It's been two days since he mentioned it and he still hasn't eaten one."

He waved his hand angrily:

"It's very difficult for Vuong Quyen to come back to stay for a few days. You still plan to eat a little shrimp? I'll go buy more tomorrow, buy five kilos, okay?"

Having finished speaking, he turned back to sleep. I want to continue arguing. But looking at the child lying in my arms, so pitifully depressed... I could only stay silent.