Chapter 2 — The husband's family controls the finances

By the time I leisurely returned to the front door, it was already eight o'clock in the evening. The door is ajar. From inside came Ma Tu Lien's forced laughter and Trieu Tinh's characteristic sour voice.
“Oh my, sister-in-law, has your house… been robbed?”
I pushed the door and walked in. The living room resembles an apocalyptic scene. Zhou Kai's cousin Trieu Tinh and her husband and son stood awkwardly in the only small area still relatively clean at the entrance, with an expression of horror and hatred that could not be hidden. Ma Tu Lien and Chu Kien Quan were like two children who had done something wrong, rubbing their hands awkwardly. Seeing me, Chu Khai felt like he had seen a savior, his eyes were red.
"Van Tinh! You're finally back!"
Trieu Tinh's eyes immediately looked like headlights shining towards me.
"Oh, my lord, our busy person has finally returned? Even though the house has become like this, you're still in the mood to go out and dress up beautifully, right?"
Her eyes continuously glanced at my newly done hair and my new dress. I didn't pay attention to her, went straight to the sofa, pushed aside the pile of dirty clothes to take a seat. I crossed my legs and looked at them.
“Cousin is here, why don't you sit down?”
The corner of Trieu Tinh's mouth twitched. Looking at the pile of clothes emitting an unpleasant smell, in the end she still did not dare to sit.
“Van Tinh, what do you mean?” Chu Khai lowered his voice and leaned into my ear to speak. "My cousin came from a long way to visit us, go to the kitchen and cook!"
“Cooking rice?”
I scratched my ears.
“Isn't the key in the people?”
"Stop pretending! The key is clearly in your pocket!" Chu Khai was impatient.
“Oh, that's right.”
I pretended to be awake and took out the keys from my pocket. Before their expectant eyes, I threw the key to Ma Tu Lien.
"Mom, go cook. My cousin likes the braised pork dish you make the most."
Ma Tu Lien looked like she had just received a hot potato, the set of keys stuck in her palm, making her uncomfortable.
“Mom… I'm tired today, I'm not feeling well.” She started pretending to be sick.
“That's right, that's right, your mother's high blood pressure has returned.” Chu Khai quickly chimed in.
Trieu Tinh stood next to him and smiled coldly.
"I think it's not high blood pressure, but more like a relapse of laziness. Chu Khai, you really are too, why did you marry a wife like that?"
The house is so messy, men work hard outside, and when they come home they can't even eat a hot meal, what else can they do? She began to lecture Chu Khai, her saliva flying everywhere. Chu Khai bowed his head, not daring to refute a word. I took out my phone and opened the food delivery app.
"What do you want to eat, cousin? I invite you."
“Who wants to invite me!” Trieu Tinh's voice became even more shrill. “We came to visit relatives, not to beg for food!
Van Tinh, today I speak frankly here. If you still want to live kindly with Chu Khai, immediately, right now, clean the house and cook for us! Otherwise, I will make you unable to lift your head in front of all your relatives!” That's the final warning. Also a threat. Everyone's eyes were focused on me. In Chu Khai's eyes was a plea. In Ma Tu Lien's eyes, there is a look of gloating when others encounter misfortune. She thought that this time I would definitely submit. Anyway, bad things in the house should not be left alone outsiders know. I laughed. I stood up and walked in front of Trieu Tinh.
“Cousin, are you finished?”
"That's it! What do you want?"
“I don't want anything.”
I picked up my bag.
"Everyone keep talking, I'll go out for a moment."
“Where are you going?” Chu Khai immediately pulled me back.
“Not feeling well, go to the hospital for a checkup.”
I pushed his hand away, didn't turn around and left. Leaving them looking at each other in the house that looked like a landfill. I didn't go to the hospital. I went to the five-star hotel opposite my house and rented a luxury room. While soaking in the bathtub and drinking wine, I sent Chu Khai a text message.
“I'm pregnant. The doctor said to rest, not to do heavy work, not to smell unpleasant odors. Everyone takes care of things at home."
I'm not pregnant. But this news was enough to immediately reverse the tide of the war. Chu Khai's phone immediately rang, his voice was so excited that it trembled.
"Really... really? Van Tinh, are you pregnant?!"
“Yes, just finished checking.”
“So good! So good!” He speaks incoherently. "Which hospital are you at? I'll go there immediately!"
"No need, I've already rented a room to stay. The house is too dirty and not suitable for a pregnancy."
"Okay, okay, okay! Just rest well! Don't worry about anything! Leave it to me! I'll clean up!"
Over the phone, I even heard him ordering his mother and cousin.
"Mom! Go clean the house quickly!"
"Sister! Don't sit anymore, help me take the trash out!"
Trieu Tinh seemed to be protesting something, but was rudely interrupted by Chu Khai.
"If you tell me to do it, just do it! Van Tinh has it! This is the most important thing in our family!"
I happily hung up the phone. Please play slowly. I'll take a nap first.
04
Hotel beds are very soft. A dreamless night.