Chapter 6 — The Husband in the Household Registration Book

"According to regulations, cameras at important operations counters must be kept for at least three years." I looked at him calmly, "If I can't find it, I will complain to higher authorities on the grounds of irresponsible record management."
He was silenced by me, not daring to refuse any further, so he called the archives room. Waiting time is extremely long. An hour later, he returned.
"Found it. But you need an official police extraction order to see and copy it."
“No problem.”
After receiving an affirmative answer, I immediately went to the police station. Still the same young police officer. I showed him a photo of Chau Kien Dan and Phuong Vien's business cards.
"This is my stepfather, Chau Kien Dan. This is Phuong Vien's business card, behind is my identification number, written in my stepfather's handwriting."
The policeman's face immediately became serious.
“Are you sure?”
“I'm sure.”
"Okay. With this evidence, plus the harassment you reported earlier, we can officially put Chau Kien Dan as a suspect in the fraud case for investigation."
He immediately issued an official dispatch requesting to extract the camera. I also submitted another proposal.
"I suspect there was a money transaction between my stepfather and Phuong Vien. I suggest investigating the cash flow in all bank accounts in Chau Kien Dan's name over the past three years, especially transactions with Phuong Vien and companies related to him."
"Okay."
Everything is progressing step by step according to my plan. Leaving the police station, I went to the bank. It's not the bank where I applied for the loan, but the bank that opened the account to receive my salary.
“Hello, I would like to request a freeze on all ‘joint accounts’ or joint accounts that are linked to my identity but not opened by me.”
I provide identification and household registration deletion certificate. The bank director directly welcomed me.
“Miss To, please wait a moment.”
He operated on the system for a long time, his expression becoming more and more strange. He raised his head to look at me, his eyes filled with fear.
“Miss To, luckily you came in time.”
“What do you mean?”
“The system showed that last Wednesday, five days ago, a person named Phuong Vien took a copy of his marriage certificate and ID, trying to transfer the eighty thousand yuan in her salary account through the emergency channel for 'joint assets'.”
My heart suddenly sank. Eighty thousand yuan. That's the amount of money I saved for a whole year.
“Did he succeed?”
"Are not." The director shook his head, "Because the amount of money was quite large, and the marriage certificate he provided was only a copy, our risk control system blocked the transaction, requiring him to provide the original and your power of attorney. After that... nothing happened next."
I guess at that time his household registration had been erased by me, all documents were invalid, he couldn't get anything out. Just missing a little more. If I find out a few days late, if there is any mistake in the bank's risk control system. My hard-earned money was stolen by this "husband" I never met. I felt scared, my palms sweated cold smell.
"Please everyone, immediately freeze all related rights. Except for myself, no one is allowed to touch even a single coin on my card."
“Okay, we will handle it for you immediately.”
Stepping out of the bank, I stood in the sunlight but didn't feel any warmth. Chau Kien Dan, Phuong Vien. You not only want my identity but also my money. You see me as a warehouse of blood that you can use at will. Now, the door to the blood warehouse has been sealed shut with my own hands. Next, I will make you bleed yourself. My phone rang. It's some strange machine. I picked up the phone.
“Is that… Ms. To Tinh?”
The voice on the other side was weak, timid, and carried despair. It's Phuong Vien. He was no longer screaming, his voice trembled violently.
“I… I want to talk to you.”
08
I arranged to meet Phuong Vien at an outdoor cafe. Sitting a table away, I looked at him. Just a few days without seeing him, it was like he had turned into a different person. His hair was greasy, his beard was shaggy, his eyes were deep-set, and his wrinkled T-shirt gave off an unpleasant sour smell. He was no longer a scoundrel yelling in the hallway, but like a dog that had lost its owner and had been cornered. Seeing me, his eyes avoided, not daring to look straight.
“What do you drink?” I asked.
“No… no need.” He rubbed his hands together confused.
After the waiter left, he had difficulty speaking.
“Miss To, I… I was wrong.”
His voice was hoarse, carrying the sound of crying.
"I shouldn't have found someone to come to your house to cause trouble. I shouldn't... shouldn't have done those things. You're generous, please forgive me this time."
I looked at him silently, not saying anything.