Chapter 5 — The Mother Who Stole Her Dream

05

Seeing that message, Duong Duong's face immediately changed.

“How does she know?”

I did not answer. The school gate is crowded, anyone can see. Moreover, over the years, Dinh Mai's best job is to be by my side. In middle school, I called my grandmother, so that night she could ask how many minutes I talked. When I was in high school, my teacher complimented me that I was suitable for a professional career, but the next day she said that dancing had no future. When I went to college, even though she was not in this city, she always knew whether I received a scholarship or not, whether I bought new dancing shoes or not. Before, I thought it was just a coincidence. Now that I think about it, I just wanted to see her as a normal mother. The phone vibrated again. Dinh Mai's second message:

“Don't play dead.”

“Did you hide from your mother and go find someone from your grandmother's side?”

Duong Duong was angry and wanted to answer for me. I held her hand. Ha Minh Triet looked at the screen and frowned slightly.

“Don't answer for now.”

I locked the screen.

“She's frantic.”

Ha Minh Triet did not deny it.

“That proves she knew what she was doing.”

I raised my head.

“Uncle Ha, I want to see the books.”

He nodded.

“Okay.”

We do not continue to stand at the school gate. Ha Minh Triet took us to a coffee shop next to the school. Duong Duong sat next to me, like a cat that could jump out at any moment. Ha Minh Triet spread each document on the table one by one. Grandma's name appears on every page. Her handwriting is very round, like each needle line when she sewed a dance dress for me the other day. The authorization letter is written very clearly. Each month, living expenses are two thousand five hundred yuan. Each semester, tuition and training-related expenses will be paid separately. After Khuong Le turns eighteen, all remaining money must be transferred to her personal account. I looked at those numbers, my palms grew cold. Two thousand five hundred. Not five hundred. Not three hundred. It's not the excuse that "my family is also having difficulty" that makes me unable to even buy a meal. That's enough money for me to eat normally, buy normal medicine, and change my dancing shoes normally. Duong Duong's tears fell onto the table. She quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand.

“How could she be so cruel?”

I'm not crying. I stared at the statements. Some money was transferred to very familiar places. Center for extra learning. Sprint exam preparation class. Sports shoe store. Electronics center. There was also an amount of eighteen thousand yuan, the note said it was a birthday gift. That day I twisted my leg in the gym. I called Dinh Mai and wanted her to help me buy a box of ointment. She told me not to overdo it. She said she would endure the pain for a little while and it would go away. That day was also my younger brother's birthday. I remember very clearly. Because she sent me a picture of the whole family eating birthday cake. My location is not in the photo. Ha Minh Triet pushed another stack of documents.

“These are just the amounts that can be searched.”

“After my grandmother passed away, there were some big expenses that my mother needed to explain.”

“If she cannot explain clearly, we will initiate legal proceedings.”

Hearing the four words "legal procedures", my heart became calm again. I used to think that money matters in the family Suspension can quarrel at the dinner table. If you can't argue, then shut up. Keeping your mouth shut for a long time will make you understand. But it turns out there are some things that don't require crying and begging. You can rely on black and white paper to claim it back. The phone rang again. This time it's a call. Dinh Mai. I looked at Ha Minh Triet. He said:

“You can listen.”

“Turn on speakerphone.”

Duong Duong immediately sat up straight. I answered the phone. Dinh Mai's voice was even harsher than last night.

“Khuong Le, you're stiff now, right?”

“Have you met that guy named Ha?”

I calmly asked:

"How do you know his last name is Ha?"

The other end of the line immediately went silent. Duong Duong raised his head and looked at me. I'm also waiting. Dinh Mai quickly responded.

“Of course I know.”

“Of the grandmothers you used to know, is there anyone I haven't met yet?”

I said:

“So I also know that your grandmother left you money.”

As soon as the sentence ended, there was only the sound of breathing on the other end of the line. Heavy. Urgently. Like a pot whose lid has been blown off. A few seconds later, Dinh Mai spoke up.

“What money?”

“Don't listen to outsiders' nonsense.”

I bowed my head and looked at the statement.

“Every month two thousand five hundred.”

“Tuition is calculated separately.”

“After you turn eighteen years old, it must be transferred to you.”