Chapter 4 — Ten Years as an Outsider

The mother-in-law was the first to get angry: "What is your attitude? The house is like this, who are you showing your face to?" I bent down to change my shoes, my voice not loud: "My biggest attitude towards the Chu family right now is to go back and get my things, not directly report to the police because you guys took my property." Chu Thien immediately stood up: "Sister-in-law, are you talking too much?"

“I haven't finished speaking yet.”

I went into the bedroom to pack my things. I've lived in this room for ten years, but there's not much that really belongs to me. Some clothes, an old computer, a bag of papers, and a savings book in the dressing table drawer. When I pulled out the drawer, my heart suddenly tightened. Savings book not found. I rummaged through the drawer, then looked for my bank card and the joint card I opened after getting married. Missing two panels. I took the bag of documents and walked out, my voice immediately cold.

“Where is my savings book?”

Chu Minh Xuyen's face changed: "Which savings book?"

“The book is in the second drawer of the dressing table, don't pretend you don't know.”

He pursed his lips and said after a long time: "I... just used it for now." I stood still.

“How much to use?”

“100,000 yuan.”

“Used for what?”

His eyes avoided. Chu Thien spoke first: "Sister-in-law, my store is short of capital these days. My brother will temporarily help me turn it around. Don't worry, I will pay you back when I recover my capital." I burst out laughing on the spot.

“Your store lacks capital, what does it have to do with my money?”

“Aren't we family?” Chu Thien said very calmly, "Besides, you're going to work now, right?"

I looked at her and felt for the first time that the Chu family's facial skin was surprisingly thick.

“I work, so I have to use my money to fill your hole?”

Chu Thien's face darkened: "Is it necessary for you to do so much? My mother has been under your care for the past few years, and it's not like I've never bought you gifts or clothes." I really want to clap for her. For ten years now, every time she comes home, she brings two boxes of fruit, and when she comes back, she conveniently takes half a carton of milk from me. I've never bothered. The result in her mouth turned out to be "a lot of gift giving".

“Pay me.”

“I told you, I will pay you when I get the money back.”

“Lam Van, don't be too harsh.” The mother-in-law slapped the handrail and stood up, "It's already so difficult for Thien Thien to raise a child alone, how about you help out as a sister-in-law? You've been in the Chu family for ten years, what can you eat and drink without needing money?"

I slowly turned my head to look at her.

"Mom is right, living in the Chu family for ten years, eating and drinking is free. So today I'll be as convenient as possible."

I pulled out each bill from the file bag and placed it on the tea table.

"For this surgery and hospitalization, I advanced 123,000 yuan. Of which 86,000 yuan was the deposit, 32,000 yuan was the cost of surgical supplies, and 18,000 yuan was the cost of medication afterwards. As for last year's stroke, I advanced 37,000 yuan. Rehabilitation equipment last year was 21,000 yuan. Imported hypoglycemic drugs my mother uses every month 1,800 yuan, over three years, a total of about 74,000 yuan.”

The living room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. I continued to withdraw each note one by one.

"Also, last year my son said it was difficult for the company to raise capital. He borrowed 50,000 yuan from me and still hasn't paid it back. Last year, Chu Thien registered for an international summer camp for him, said he was short of money, and swiped my card for 16,000 yuan. Too bad, still not paid. Another 100,000 yuan you just took today.”

I raised my head and looked at each stiff face in front of me.

“If you want to say we are one family, yes. Therefore, family members should not only know how to take advantage, but not accept debt."

Chu Minh Xuyen was impatient and stepped forward to hold my hand.

“Enough, what is the meaning of talking about these things in the house?”

I looked at him and suddenly felt extremely calm.

“It makes sense. I didn't say anything before because I consider you all family members. Now that you have clearly distinguished yourself inside and out, the books must also be clear.”

The mother-in-law's face turned red with anger.

“Isn't it natural for you to take care of your mother? I marry into the Chu family. If I don't serve my parents-in-law, then who will I serve?"

I looked straight at her, every word clearly:

“I take care of mom because I want to, not because I have to. Mom turned my willingness into an obligation."

"Also, you marry Chu Minh Xuyen, you don't have to sign a marriage certificate."

As soon as that sentence ended, Chu Minh Xuyen's face immediately changed. He waved his hand and threw all the bills on the table to the ground, his voice suppressing his anger: "Lam Van, do you have to destroy this house?" I bent down to look at the scattered papers and suddenly remembered how many times over the past ten years I had bent down to clean up their messes. I picked up my mother-in-law's broken bowl. Chu Qian's child forgot his homework, I did it. Chu Minh Xuyen got drunk and vomited all over the floor. I knelt in the bathroom and wiped it clean. All the times this family was the messiest, I was bent over. But this time, I didn't bow anymore.

“It wasn't me who ruined this house.”

I raised my head to look at him.

“It's that you never considered me a part of it.”

Having finished speaking, I bent down to collect my papers and computer, pulled my suitcase and walked out. Chu Minh Xuyen chased me to the door and held my wrist tightly.

“What do you want in the end?”

I turned my head to look at him, saying those two words clearly for the first time. The two words fell, and the living room felt like a stop button had been pressed. The mother-in-law opened her mouth and did not close it for a long time. Chu Thien was the first to cry out.

“Are you crazy? Divorce just because of such a small thing?

“In your eyes, this is just a ‘small matter’.”

I looked at Chu Minh Xuyen, my voice was not loud but steady.

“I'll give you three days and clearly list the amount of money you used from me. Pay what must be paid, pay what must be counted. I will ask a lawyer to prepare a divorce petition."

In his eyes, a bit of panic finally appeared.

“Lam Van, have you really come to this? After ten years of marriage, you must take this step?

“It's not that I did it on purpose, it was you guys who pushed me here step by step.”

I pulled my hand out, and before closing the door, I looked at him one last time: "Also, don't say the words 'one family' to me in the future." A real family member wouldn't stand outside the operating room discussing how to prevent me." The door closed, my legs were so weak I almost couldn't stand. The hallway was cold and white, I leaned against the wall, my palms sweaty. Turns out saying that wasn't as difficult as I thought. It was difficult ten years before that. Three days later, Chu Minh Xuyen did not send the statement. He just texted: "Mom has been having chest discomfort these past few days, can you come home and see? Can we talk about the divorce later?" I replied: "Take her to the hospital, don't look for me." He texted again: "Why are you acting like this?" So cold?” I looked at the word "cold" for a long time, then answered: "I'm just finally no longer stupid." From then on, the Chu family truly knew what life would be like without me.