Chapter 3 — The husband's family controls the finances

The next morning, while I was still enjoying the essential oil treatment provided by the hotel, Chu Khai called. His voice sounded extremely tired, but he was deliberately trying to sound pleasing.
"Van Tinh, which hotel are you staying at? Mom stewed with evil chicken soup, I'll bring it to you."
Evil chicken soup? I can almost imagine the scene last night. Trieu Tinh's harshness, combined with the heavy bomb of the news that I was "pregnant", was enough to make them clean up the house like a landfill to the point where they at least had a place to put their feet.
“No need, the hotel has everything.”
"How can that be? Outside food has no nutrition. Mom stewed it herself, it's good for the baby."
He deliberately emphasized the word "baby". It's like reminding me, like convincing myself.
“Send me the address.” I said calmly.
Half an hour later, Chu Khai carrying a thermos appeared in front of my luxury room door. Looking at the large bathtub and the floor-to-ceiling glass door that had a panoramic view of the room, his eyes flashed with complex emotions. There is admiration, there is also dissatisfaction.
“Are you alone in a good place like this?”
“Pregnancy care.”
I said two words, blocking everything he was about to say. He opened the thermos, and the smell of greasy chicken soup immediately spread. Ma Tu Lien's skills have remained as stable for ten years. Stable at a level that is difficult to drink.
“Drink it quickly, mom has been stewing it all morning.” He gave me the spoon.
I don't accept.
“Just leave it there, I'll drink it later.”
Chu Khai's face was a bit ugly. He sat down on the sofa opposite, remained silent for a while, and finally got to the main topic.
“Van Tinh, my cousin's whole family will be home this afternoon.”
"OH."
“In the house… we have cleaned it up.”
"YES."
"Look, shouldn't you go home too? Staying outside forever isn't good for your child, and it's a waste of money."
He started using emotions to convince me. I looked at him, suddenly feeling a bit funny.
“Chu Khai, do you think the problem between us right now can be resolved by just moving the house once?”
He was stunned.
"So... what do you want? The salary card has also been given to my mother, you are also free, you don't need to do housework anymore, what's not to like?"
In his perception, I should have been extremely grateful. I shook my head.
"There's nothing dissatisfying. I feel like this is very good right now."
I picked up my phone and opened an app. Above is the linked account to pay for electricity, water, gas and our family's management fees. The red exclamation mark is reminding you that this month's bill is out.
“That's right, I almost forgot something.”
I turned the phone screen towards him.
“This month's electricity, water, gas, network and management fee bills are all in, a total of one thousand five hundred and eighty.”
“The end of the month is the last payment day, which is also tomorrow.”
"Doesn't your mother have experience managing books? Leave this matter to her."
I spoke softly like clouds and wind. Chu Khai looked over and immediately accepted.
"Oh, I thought it was something big. Just leave this small matter to my mother, I can rest assured and take care of myself."
He thinks this is his opportunity to show off. It is also an opportunity for his mother to prove her management ability. I nodded.
"Okay."
"Then I'll go home first. Drink soup and rest early."
Chu Khai felt like his burden had been lifted heavy, got up and left. He thought he had temporarily reassured me. Also took advantage of an opportunity to show off to my mother. He didn't know that he and his "experienced" mother were about to face a real final exam for which they were completely unprepared. I am the invigilator who set the test and know all the correct answers.
05
I live in a very comfortable hotel. In the afternoon, I was even in the mood to go to the gym downstairs and walk slowly on the treadmill for half an hour. At dusk, I received a phone call from Ma Tu Lien. This is the first time she has proactively contacted me since "taking over the finances". The voice on the other end of the line carried suppressed anger.
"Van Tinh, what is the customer payment code? Mom is at the counter, they asked for the customer code!"
Indeed. I immediately knew she didn't know how to use the app to pay. In her world, only bringing money in person to pay at the counter is considered safe.
"How do you know? Wasn't it all my son's doing before?" I replied.
"He doesn't know either! He said everything was linked on the phone, he forgot!"
“So you forgot too.”
I hung up the phone. One can imagine how angry and helpless Ma Tu Lien was at the transaction counter right now. About ten minutes later, Chu Khai called.
"Van Tinh, don't be angry with your mother. She's old and doesn't understand these things. Find your previous payment receipt and take a photo and send it to me. I'll look at the customer code."
"Pay bills? Our house has changed to electronic bills a long time ago, there are no paper copies."
"So what should we do? The counter is about to end business hours!"
"How do I know what to do? The manager is not me."
I hung up the phone again.