Chapter 3 — The Final Flip: When I No Longer Have Patience

I step closer step by step.

“Today, I will show you who is the problem in the end.”

I opened my bag and took out a stack of documents. The top sheet is a copy of the medical examination results. I placed it firmly on the stone table in the middle of the yard.

“Uncle Phuong, you know a lot. Could you please read and help everyone see what is written here?”

Uncle Phuong picked it up, put on his glasses, and slowly read each word.

“…the percentage of deformed sperm is ninety-seven percent, type A sperm is zero…”

He reads very slowly. With each word that rang out, Chu Minh's face turned a little whiter. Reading to the end, he almost couldn't stand.

“…conclusion: severe decline, azoospermia…determined to be…infertile male.”

The whole yard fell into absolute silence. Everyone's eyes seemed to shine through Chu Minh. Trieu Hong's face froze. She grabbed the results sheet and stared at the four words "infertile male".

“No… no way!”

"This is fake! You faked it!"

She went crazy and wanted to tear up the paper. My brother took a step forward, pulling her aside like a chicken. I took out the second copy and threw it on the table. Then the third version. Three results from three different hospitals, same conclusion.

“Zhao Hong, now you still think, am I — this ‘hen’ — unable to give birth?”

Trieu Hong was completely stunned. She looked at her son, her eyes filled with disbelief. As for Chu Minh, under everyone's gaze, he finally couldn't bear it anymore, his legs went weak and he sat down on the ground. At that moment, Bach Lo suddenly hugged his stomach and let out a cry.

“I… I'm pregnant!”

Bach Lo's words were like a shot of heart medicine, piercing straight into Trieu Hong's chest. In her eyes that were struggling at the edge of despair, the light of hope suddenly flared up fiercely.

"Did you hear everyone? You heard everything!"

Trieu Hong pushed my brother away, rushed towards Bach Lo like crazy, carefully picked her up, and cherished her like a rare treasure in the world.

"My daughter-in-law is pregnant! The Chu family has an heir!"

The three words "my daughter-in-law", she deliberately emphasized each word, as if wanting to nail her identity. Then she turned around and pointed straight at me, her face full of the look of a winner.

"Tu Cam! Who can you fool with your fake documents?"

"My son is healthy! Extremely healthy!"

"You're the kind of chicken who doesn't know how to lay eggs and only knows how to be jealous! You want to destroy my son, don't you?"

The situation seemed to reverse in the blink of an eye. The eyes of several relatives began to waver again. That's right, if Chu Minh is truly infertile, then where did the fetus in Bach Lo's womb come from? Chu Minh seemed to have grabbed the last life-saving straw, crawled up, hid behind his mother, staring at Bach Lo's belly, his eyes complex and unpredictable. Bach Kien Quan supported his daughter and was also stunned, not knowing how to react. Only Uncle Phuong was still frowning, looking at me, waiting for an explanation. I don't let them wait long. I didn't even bother to glance at the "golden belly" that Trieu Hong exalted as a holy decree. I just looked at Bach Lo, my voice was so light that it was almost pity.

“Bach Lo, are you sure you're pregnant?”

Bach Lo was scared by my eyes, but still tried to stiffen his neck.

"Of course! Just checked it out last week!"

"Oh? Where is the examination?" I asked again.

“At… at the medical station town!” Her eyes began to avoid.

“Is that so?” I laughed.

“Do you remember the twentieth day of last month when you went to the city obstetrics hospital for a check-up?”

Bach Lo's face turned pale.

“I don't understand what you're talking about!”

“Don't you understand?”

I opened the album on my phone and flipped out a photo. It's a close-up photo of a medical record.

“Last year, I went with my friend to the city to see a doctor and picked up a medical record book that had fallen in the hallway.”

“I called a few times, but no one answered.”

“Open it and take a look… oh, isn't it Bach Lo?”

“I was going to give it back to you, but you left too fast.”

“So, I took a photo.”

I turned my phone screen towards everyone. On the photo, Bach Lo's name, age, and identification number are clear in every detail. As for the diagnosis section, the words are as sharp as a knife.

“Polycystic ovary syndrome.”

“Clinical recommendation: actively treat, otherwise the possibility of conception is very low.”

I put away my phone and looked at Bach Lo, who was almost collapsed.

“Bach Lo, I don't understand much about medicine.”

“But this report says it's very difficult for you to get pregnant.”

“And my report says, Chu Minh is completely unable to make women pregnant.”

I stopped for a moment, my voice cold as ice.

“So can you explain it to everyone?”

“A woman has difficulty getting pregnant, and a man is infertile…”

“How in just one month can a 'medical miracle' be created?”

“The baby in your belly…whose is it?”

My words were like a heavy hammer blow, completely shattering the last illusion of Trieu Hong and her mother. Also crushed Bach Kien Quan's remaining reason.

“You slut… you have no shame!”

He trembled with anger, finally realizing that from beginning to end he was being manipulated like a puppet by his daughter. He raised his hand and slapped Bach Lo hard in the face.

“Speak! Who exactly belongs to the bastard child in your belly?

Bach Lo completely collapsed, falling to the ground, crying like hell.

“I'm not… I'm not pregnant… I lied to everyone…”

“I just want… I just want him to marry me…”

The truth comes to light. It was a complete scam. A play performed by an infertile man, a woman having trouble getting pregnant, and a mother crazy about her grandson. As for me, I was the idiot they dragged in as cannon fodder. In the yard, the sounds of gossip and the scornful eyes of relatives were like a rising tide, engulfing the Chu family and their children. Trieu Hong's face now... is no longer "unsightly". It's ashes. Uncle Phuong let out a sigh, the stick in his hand hit the ground hard.

“Sister-in-law of the Chu family, Chu Ming.”

“What you guys did… was truly unethical.”

“This village cannot accommodate such corrupt family practices!”

He turned to Bach Kien Quan.

“Old Bach, take your daughter home and educate her properly!”

Bach Kien Quan lost all face and could not say a word. He could only half drag and half drag Bach Lo, who was crying until he was suffocating, and leave in a pitiful manner. The relatives watching the excitement gradually became bored, shook their heads, and scattered away. In just a moment, the yard was as noisy as a market, now there were only a few people left. I, my brother, Chu Minh were lying on the ground, and Trieu Hong was as lost as a soul. The noise just now... was like a dream dream. I walked in front of them. Uncle Phuong's words "do it yourself well" before leaving... is the sword of empowerment.

“The audience is all gone.”

My voice is very light.

“Now… it's time for us to settle accounts.”