Chapter 7 — The Husband in the Household Registration Book

"Now I'm really cornered. My ID can't be used, my bank cards are frozen. I don't even have a place to stay."
He raised his head, his eyes filled with blood.
"Debt collectors... they came to my parents' house. If I didn't pay, they said they would... take one of my legs."
Speaking of this, his body began to tremble. I picked up the iced Americano in front of me and took a sip. The bitter liquid slid down his throat.
“So what?” I asked nonchalantly.
"Miss... can you restore my household registration? As long as the ID is usable, I will immediately borrow money and think of a solution. I guarantee I will never bother you again in the future!"
“Why should I help you?”
“I…” I asked him until he was speechless, he opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.
“Phuong Vien,” I put down my cup, my body leaning forward slightly, “let's make a deal.”
He suddenly raised his head, hope flashing in his eyes.
“You say it!”
"Tell me everything that happened between you and Chau Kien Dan, don't hide anything. Who proposed it, how did it happen, what benefits did he give you? I want to know all the details."
His face immediately changed and his eyes began to wander.
“I… I don't know any Chau Kien Dan…”
“Still pretending?” I smiled coldly, pushing the phone in front of him.
On the screen was a photo of his business card, with my identification number on the back.
"Do I need to remind you? I found this business card in his office. Assisted in falsifying marriage and civil status, defrauding a huge amount of money. Phuong Vien, can you guess, after he goes to prison, will he brush it all off to protect you, or drag you down to be his last cushion?"
His lips began to turn white, small drops of sweat appeared on his forehead. He knew I knew everything. His psychological defense completely collapsed as soon as he saw that photo. He was silent for three full minutes. The music in the cafe is very gentle, the people around are talking and laughing. Only the air at our table was frozen. In the end, he was like a deflated balloon, limp on the chair.
“I said.”
He started narrating.
"It's Chau Kien Dan... it's old Chau who actively sought me out."
Three years ago, because of a failed investment, Phuong Vien had a lot of debt. Among them were five hundred thousand yuan of gambling debt that Chau Kien Dan borrowed from an underground casino. Chau Kien Dan himself was also in need and completely unable to pay. It was Chau Kien Dan who proactively proposed a "solution". He told Phuong Vien that he had a daughter from his wife, often lived elsewhere, had not a close relationship with his family, had a stable job and home, and was still single.
“He said that as long as I find a way to make his stepdaughter my wife, the gambling debt of five hundred thousand yuan will be erased.”
At that time, Phuong Vien was forced to the limit by his creditors and felt this was a good idea. Chau Kien Dan provided all my personal information, and even secretly added my house key to get my household registration book.
"The marriage certificate... is a fake that Mr. Chau found someone to make. He said he was in a relationship and could enter the information into the system."
“He was also the one who took me to change my household registration,” he said As long as we become husband and wife, my debt will be a joint debt between husband and wife. Banks and debt collection companies will naturally come to you.”
“He also said that she had a weak personality and had listened to her mother since she was young. Just turn everything into a fait accompli, you won't be able to cause any trouble, and in the end you can only accept the loss."
After speaking, he bowed his head, not daring to look at me. I listened quietly. No anger, no surprise. There was just a cold feeling that penetrated deep into my bones. It turned out that in my stepfather's eyes, my life, purity, and future were only worth five hundred thousand yuan. Five hundred thousand yuan to clear his gambling debt. I was silent for a long time. It's been so long that Phuong Vien thought I wouldn't say anything more. I raised my head to look at him.
“Those words just now, say them again in front of my phone.”
I pressed the record button.
09
I brought that recording home. Not a hotel, but the home of Chau Kien Dan and my mother. When I pushed the door open, they were watching TV. A rowdy family comedy was playing on the television, creating a fantastical satire of the scene before my eyes. Seeing me, Chau Kien Dan immediately stood up, his face filled with a smile.
“Love Love is back! Have you eaten yet? I told your mother…”
“Chau Jianmin.”
I interrupted him. The voice was not loud, but the laughter in the living room immediately disappeared. I rarely call him by his name. The smile on his face stiffened. My mother also realized something was wrong and nervously stood up.
“Tinh Tinh, what's wrong with you?”
I didn't pay attention to her. I walked in front of Chau Kien Dan, step by step, as if measuring the distance of his crime.
“Under my name suddenly appeared another husband named Phuong Vien. Did you know?”