Chapter 7 — The Price of Contempt

Phuong Vien Chau did not leave immediately, standing at the door for a long time, as if she had a lot to say but didn't know how to say it. The mother-in-law went first, before going downstairs she looked back at this house, her eyes full of unwillingness. Phuong Vien San followed behind, bowed her head without saying anything, the bouquet of flowers in her hand was returned by my mother.

“The flowers are very beautiful, keep them.” My mother said softly.

Phuong Vien San received it back, his hands visibly shaking. Only Phuong Vien Chau remains in the hallway. He leaned against the wall and was silent for a long time.

“When did I know that my mother was at home… since when?”

“Always know.”

He smiled bitterly.

“Then why didn't you say anything?”

“My mother won't let me tell.”

I looked straight at him.

"You said you came to your son-in-law's house to look after your grandchildren, not to show off your wealth."

"She's afraid that if she says she has money, you'll think she has a purpose."

“So she wore 20 yuan clothes, slept in the storage room, and washed dishes with cold water for two years, without a single complaint.”

"It's not that she has no way out, it's that she doesn't want me to be embarrassed."

I stopped for a moment, my voice slowed down.

“Vien Chau, this is your first time coming to my house.”

“My mother rolled the noodles herself and talked to him in a country accent the whole time.”

“You have a warm voice, like your grandmother.”

“You said you would treat her like your own mother.”

"I believe. My mother believes too."

"So she didn't say anything, didn't argue, because she thought he was telling the truth."

Phuong Vien Chau closed her eyes. The blue vein on his temple twitched slightly. He did not object. Because you can't refute it. After a while, he asked very quietly.

“Is there still a chance?”

I answered without hesitation. He nodded. Turn around and slowly go downstairs. I closed the door. Returning to the living room, I saw my mother hugging Tieu Nien, wiping her tears. I sat down next to her.

“Mom, I'm sorry.”

My mother quickly waved her hand.

“What did you say, why do you have to apologize to mom?”

“I'm sorry.”

My voice choked.

“The past two years, I have suffered... all because of you.”

“It was you who brought me there.”

“It was you who let mommy get bullied and didn't take her away right away.”

"Mom clearly has a house and money, no need to look at anyone's face."

“It's my child that makes me suffer.”

Tears fell from my mother's eyes. She hugged me and patted my back.

“So stupid.”

“Mom volunteered.”

“I don't care where I live, what I eat, how I sleep.”

“Mom just needs to be close to you and Tieu Nien.”

I buried my face in her shoulder.

"Then we won't be apart from each other anymore."

“Yes, don't leave anymore.”

Life gradually returns to normal. I found a new job close to home. Walk ten minutes to the company. Walk five minutes to reach the center of Tieu Nien. Every morning, my mother pushes the cart to take the boy to school. Meeting her neighbors, she spoke a few words with a countryside accent.

“The weather is beautiful today.”

“Yes, let me take you out to dry in the sun.”

No one found it strange. No one asked, "Whose housekeeper is that lady with the country accent?" Because here... everyone speaks with that accent. This is her place. Say whatever you want. Tieu Nien learns very quickly. In less than a month, she knew how to call "grandmother" in a country accent.

“Grandma… eats…”

Pronunciation is still slurred, but has the correct sound of this neighborhood. Every time my mother hears it, she laughs until her eyes curl.

“Yes, here you are.”

Life is simple but steady. During the day I go to work, my mother takes care of the children. At night, the three of them ate dinner, then walked downstairs. I helped her rent out the remaining two houses. The monthly rent is nearly 10,000 yuan. Plus my salary, it's plenty. I bought my mother a new phone and taught her to use social networks. Her first post was a video of Tieu Nien calling “grandmother” in a country accent. Just write one word: “He.” Below are all old neighbors expressing their hearts. She watched it over and over again, laughing endlessly. At the same time, life on Phuong Vien Chau's side collapsed very quickly. From the day I left, no one cooked, her mother-in-law said she had a backache and refused to work, Phuong Vien San even burned instant noodles, and he only knew how to order food from outside. One month, the cost of eating out is more than 4,000 yuan, plus installment payments, management fees, electricity and water, and his salary alone is completely unbearable, because before, I paid 6,800 yuan for rent, he only paid 3,000 yuan, and I took care of almost all of his living expenses. The third day after I left, he posted a photo of the dining table full of takeout boxes, smeared with grease, along with the line "ninth meal out", someone asked "where is my sister-in-law" but he didn't answer. Not only did her mother-in-law and Phuong Vien San not contribute money, but she also spent constantly, she went to play cards, and Phuong Vien San's credit card still owed more than 40,000 yuan. She once told Han Triet that "don't worry if no one pays", meaning me, but now that I'm leaving, Han Triet also broke up very quickly. He said frankly: "You don't have a job, you spend money uncontrollably, your sister-in-law also moved out, how can you pay her?" Phuong Vien San called me and cried.

“Sister-in-law, Han Triet blocked me, can you help me pay the credit card, just this once, I promise there won't be a next time.”

I just say one sentence.