Chapter 5 — The House She Left Behind

Mom saw my movements. “Who sent it?” I said. “Phuong Nghien.” Her lips trembled. “She still responds to messages?” I didn't reply. La Khai, sitting behind the passenger seat, suddenly spoke. “Miss Duong, why didn't you take out the documents for renovating the old area at first?” I looked at the back of his head. “If I took it out at first, would you believe it?” La Khai was silent for a moment. "Are not." He is quite straightforward. "We do asset recovery. We have met too many people who took all kinds of things to buy time." “Fake medical records, fake divorce, fake name change, everything.” “But what happened today was due to a problem with our internal appraisal process.” I heard he was still holding back something. “Just an appraisal?” La Khai did not turn around. "I have a few words, go to the station and say it." At the police station, everyone was separated to take statements. I handed over the documents for renovating the old area, a copy of the contract and the call history with Phuong Nghien. Police officer Khuong asked very carefully. I told the story of my grandmother making a will, where the house certificate was kept, to my itinerary when I went on a business trip. I took out the train tickets, hotel check-in records, and the conference signature list. Officer Khuong took pictures of everything. he said. "You're not in the local area, and you weren't present on the day the contract was signed. This point is very important." I asked. “What crime could Tuong Thua Ze commit?” Police Khuong did not directly conclude. "In the immediate future, there are signs of falsification of documents, fraudulent taking of loans and infringement of property rights in her name." “But specifically we still have to look at the cash flow, participants and subjective purposes.” I understand your caution. The law cannot be decided by just one angry sentence from me. But at least this has been brought to light. When I left the interrogation room, I saw Ha Ngoc Mai sitting at the end of the hallway. The cloth bag was placed at her feet. She hugged her arms, her eyes bloodshot. My mother sat three meters away from her. The two sisters did not talk. This is the first time in many years. Trinh Khai Minh is being questioned in another room. The door is not closed tightly. His voice broke out. “The records were not made by me.” “I was just introducing.” “That authorization letter was given to me by Tuong Thua Ze.” “The verification phone number was also provided by him.” Police Officer Khuong asked. “And the video?” Trinh Khai Minh stopped for a few seconds. “The video was sent to me by Ha Ngoc Mai.” In the hallway, my mother suddenly raised her head. Ha Ngoc Mai also stiffened. Voices continued to echo in the room. “She said her sister agreed.” "She also said that Duong Duong is still young, afraid of trouble, and won't make a big deal out of it." My mother stood up, both legs shaking. “Eldest sister, is what he said true?” Ha Ngoc Mai's face was as white as paper. “I didn't tell him to use it to trick people.” “Thua Trach said he would only show it to the broker first.” “It says formal procedures will be added later.” My mother's tears immediately fell. “I know very well that that's not the meaning of that video.” Ha Ngoc Mai covered her face. “I was driven crazy by it.” “The company owes salaries, the supplier blocks the door, the bank also demands.” "He knelt in front of me and said that if he didn't have money, he wouldn't be able to raise his head for the rest of his life." “What else can you do?” My mother looked at her. “So you pushed me and Duong Duong into the abyss?” Ha Ngoc Mai did not object. She cried without a sound, her shoulders kept shaking. At that moment, I did not feel gloating at all. She's not the bad guy in the movie. She only gradually gave in, eventually considering other people's limits as her cards. La Khai came out from another office. In his hand he held a printed statement. His face was even more unsightly than before. Officer Khuong followed him. “Duong Duong, come here for a moment.” I go. Officer Khuong placed the statement on the table. “The 5.5 million yuan was not fully transferred to Chiang Thua Ze's account.” “The day has been divided into three transfers.” “1.8 million into his company's business account.” “Two million to a consulting company.” “There's 1.7 million left in a personal account.” I bowed my head and looked at the last line. The recipient's name appears clearly. Ha Ngoc Tran. 06 When my mother saw those two words, her whole body felt like her strength was drained from her. She leaned against the wall for a long time

he couldn't say a word. Ha Ngoc Mai reacted first. “No way.” “How could Ngoc Tran receive that amount of money?” La Khai smiled coldly. “Now everyone says it's impossible.” “But the money has indeed been transferred.” My mother desperately shook her head. "I do not have." “I have never received 1.7 million yuan.” “There's not even seventeen thousand in my bank card.” Officer Khuong told her to sit down first. “Ha Ngoc Tran, all bank cards in your name must be checked.” "If it wasn't you, we still need to investigate clearly who used the account." My mother's hands shook violently. She dumped the bag she was carrying on the table. Inside were only a salary card, a health insurance card and a few wallets containing change. “It's all here.” “I only have this salary card.” “As soon as my salary was distributed, I immediately paid electricity and water bills and bought food.” “I've never really seen that amount of money.”