Chapter 6 — Ten Years as an Outsider

Chu Thien organized a family party, invited all relatives, and even posted a bustling social media post as if intentionally showing it to someone. I didn't intend to go, but the lawyer said it was best to clearly state the money and negotiate directly to avoid problems later. So I still came. As soon as he entered the door, the crowded living room suddenly fell silent. Second Aunt smiled appeasingly: "Oh, it's good that Van Van is here. These past few days, your sister has kept reminding me, saying that without this daughter-in-law, we won't be able to go home anymore." I put my bag down and didn't answer. On the dining table were more than a dozen dishes, clearly ordered from the restaurant. On such occasions in the past, I always planned the menu two days in advance, went to the market, marinated the meat, stewed the soup, and got up early in the morning to work. Now I don't do it anymore, the Chu family can only spend money. It turns out they are not indispensable to me. It's just that in the past I preferred to use free me. My mother-in-law sat in the chair, and when she saw me, her face looked a bit awkward. But in front of relatives, she still maintained her elder appearance.

"When you arrive, sit down. I don't accept what happened before."

I almost burst out laughing. Up to this point, she still thought she was giving me the stairs. Chu Minh Xuyen sat on her right, his face tired. When he saw me sitting down, he lowered his voice: "Don't make a fuss, it's mom's birthday today." I looked at him: "Don't worry, I'm here to finish today." Halfway through the meal, the conversation somehow turned to "whether the daughter-in-law is filial or not." Second Aunt complimented: "Que Huong is truly blessed, Van Van has been taking care of her sister for ten years, a biological daughter may not be able to do that." Chu Thien immediately continued: "Of course, your sister-in-law is very nice and thoughtful. It's just that her temper has been a bit loud lately, she's probably too tired." After speaking, he deliberately smiled at me. That smile made my blood run cold. The mother-in-law drank a little wine, her face also turned red, and said casually: "He is filial, but sometimes he does not understand things. Married women should focus on their husband's house, always miss their mother's house, how can they live in peace." The adults at the table all nodded. At that moment, I suddenly realized I didn't need to save anyone's face anymore. I put down my chopsticks, took the divorce agreement and financial statement directly from my bag, and placed it on the table.

“If there are enough people today, then I will make it clear.”

The entire dining table stopped chopsticks at the same time. Chu Minh Xuyen's face immediately turned pale.

“Lam Van, what are you doing?”

“I do what I should do.”

I opened the first page, my voice not loud but loud enough for the whole table to hear clearly.

"In ten years of marriage, my mother-in-law got seriously ill three times, was hospitalized twice, had a stroke once, and the main caregiver was me. The total medical expenses paid by my personal account was 216,400 yuan. The joint account in the marriage was transferred to Chu Thien 208,000 yuan. Chu Minh Xuyen personally borrowed 50,000 yuan from me. In addition, 100,000 yuan was arbitrarily used in my personal savings book. bad.”

The whole table looked at each other. Chu Qian's face immediately changed.

"Sister-in-law, what do you mean? Today is my mother's birthday, what are you doing with these things?"

I looked at her.

"Feeling uncomfortable? So why don't you feel uncomfortable when spending my money?"

Mother-in-law banged the table and stood up.

"Lam Van, do you still have a conscience? I raised you for so many years, and you repay me like that?"

I just wanted to laugh when I heard it.

“Mom raised me?”

“You live in the Chu family, eat from the Chu family, use the Chu family, what else is there to raise your children?”

“Maybe my memory is not good very much.” I pushed another page over, "The first three years of the house loan were mainly paid by me. Money for house repairs is your child's savings before marriage. The imported medicine my mother uses, the massage chair she sits on, the extra classes her grandchild takes, are mostly children's expenses. If we talk about raising, I'm afraid you'll be the one helping the Chu family live a bit more respectably."

The whole table was silent. Auntie Hai coughed softly, trying to make peace.

"If there's anything, say it gently. No husband or wife doesn't argue."

I looked at her and smiled.