Chapter 4 — The husband's family controls the finances

The world became quiet again. I opened the phone app, monitoring the payment status in real time.
“Not yet paid.”
The red text is extremely dazzling. I guess in the end Ma Tu Lien will report his home address so the staff can look up the customer code. But what she did next was truly fatal. Nine o'clock in the evening. I was watching a movie when the light in the room "clicked" once and then turned off. The whole room was in darkness. I didn't panic. I just took out my phone and opened the app. The payment status is still “unpaid”. But below appears a small line of text.
"Service has been discontinued on your account due to unpaid fees. Electricity service has been interrupted."
I laughed. Ma Tu Lien, truly worthy of being a grandmother. Surely she looked at the total bill at the counter and then arbitrarily only paid the "water bill" that she considered most important. Meanwhile, our home's electricity, water, gas and network services are combined into one package. Must pay in full at one time. If any amount is missing, all services will be interrupted. My phone rang. It's Chu Khai. I don't listen. He refused to give up and kept calling back. I directly turned on do not disturb mode. He started sending messages.
"Van Tinh! The power is cut off at home! What's going on?"
“Haven't you paid the electricity bill yet?”
"Mom said she submitted it this afternoon! She even has the payment receipt!"
"Hurry up and think of a way! What should I do with the things in the refrigerator? Tomorrow is grandpa's birthday, the food prepared for the party is all in there!"
"Your phone's battery is about to run out. If you see it, answer quickly!"
The last message carried a desperate cry.
“The network in the house is also disconnected, my phone no longer has mobile data…”
I turned off my phone, lay in the dark, listening to the sound of heavy traffic outside the window. Zhou Kai, Ma Xiulian, Zhou Jianjun. Right now, the three of them are stuck on a modern island with no electricity, no internet, and no hot water. And tomorrow there is a solemn family gathering waiting for them. A dangerous party that Ma Xiu Lien personally promised to all her relatives that she would show off her talent. I seemed to hear the sound of her reputation crumbling.
06
Ten o'clock the next morning. I timed it right, checked out and went home. When I used the key to open the door, what greeted me was the sour smell of rotting food. In the living room, three people lazily sat on the sofa. The phones are all out of battery, the only entertainment is glaring at each other. Ma Tu Lien's hair is messy and his eyes are full of blood. Chu Khai's beard was shaggy, and as soon as he saw me, it was like seeing a ghost.
“You… you're back?”
"YES."
I placed my suitcase at the entrance and looked around in all directions. There was no electricity, the whole room was dark and gloomy. The refrigerator door was open, water from the food inside was flowing all over the floor, emitting a foul smell.
“Why did it become like this?” I know clearly and still trying to ask.
“Isn't it a good thing you did!” Ma Tu Lien immediately jumped up from the sofa and pointed at my nose.
"You deliberately didn't tell us that the bill had to be shared! You wanted to make fun of us!"
“I told you the total was one thousand five hundred and eighty, but you didn't believe it.”
"How did I know it would be so troublesome now! Water and money bills?" Isn't it natural for electricity to be turned on separately? She still tried to argue.
Chu Khai tiredly waved his hand.
“Mom, please stop saying a few words.”
He turned to me, his voice hoarse.
“Van Tinh, what should we do now? At three o'clock in the afternoon, relatives will arrive. I said today we will celebrate grandpa's birthday at our house..."
This is what Ma Tu Lien decided a month ago to show off his right to be the head of the family. Currently, it has become a knife placed on her neck.
“Call the power company.” I said.
“Called! People say today is Sunday, no one is working! If you want to restore, you have to wait until tomorrow, and you also have to pay five hundred late fines and emergency processing fees!”
Chu Khai was almost about to cry.
“Then we can only change locations and book a table at the hotel.” I offer a solution.
“How can I order now! The hotels that are quite a bit full are full! More… more…”
Chu Khai's face turned purple.
“More than what?”
“My mother has used up the limit… on your salary card.”
I was stunned. Limit sixty-eight thousand. How could she spend it all in just half a month?
“She… she booked herself and some old friends on a luxury cruise to Europe worth eighteen thousand, saying it was to celebrate her taking over the financial management.”
“She bought my father a massage chair for thirty thousand, saying his back was not good.”
“The remaining money was used to buy a bunch of useless supplements and gold jewelry.”
Chu Khai's voice became smaller and smaller. I was so angry that I burst out laughing. This is what she calls “experienced”. This is the money she wants to manage for me.
“So now not only is there no place to organize meals, but there is also no money left to invite guests?”
Chu Khai nodded desperately.
“Bang!”