Chapter 11 — The Secret Pension

"Who told you that it is not necessarily mandatory to use them?"

Han Duc Hai was struck speechless, and Ma Xao Van immediately changed her tune.

"Doctor, we are only afraid that our family will be left saddled with endless debts."

"We are relatives with kind intentions trying to help out, yet we are the ones being scolded instead."

I placed the bank transaction history, the accident documents provided by Cao Kien Dan, and the printed pages from the social insurance agency neatly onto the nurses' station counter.

"All of your so-called kind intentions are right here."

"14,850 yuan every month, continuously taken for twelve years."

"My mother's surgery cost 80,000, yet you forced my father to sign over the title of our house."

"When the transfer failed, you actually wanted to take my mother away and even requested to stop her medication."

The corridor instantly erupted into a commotion. A patient's family member could no longer hold back and cursed out loud.

"These are no relatives at all; this is squeezing someone right at their most fatal and vulnerable spot."

Han Viet's expression turned unsightly. Suddenly, he lunged forward, attempting to snatch the papers away. Duong Vy had already anticipated this and pulled the document folder tightly against her chest. Security guards immediately stepped forward to block Han Viet's path.

"If you dare to make another move, we will call the police."

With bloodshot eyes, Han Viet roared, "This is our family business!" I raised a hand and pointed straight toward the hospital room.

"My mother is lying right in there."

"The moment you touch her, this ceases to be a mere family business."

At that exact moment, a man in a tailored suit walked briskly over from the elevators. Taking in the chaotic scene before him, his brows furrowed deeply. Han Duc Hai looked as though he had just grasped at a straw of hope.

"You have come at just the right time."

"Tell them that these documents cannot simply be handed out at will."

The man in the suit looked at me, then shifted his gaze to the application for stopping the medication and the transfer request. In a very low voice, he spoke.

"Mr. Han, you never mentioned anything to me about a hospital transfer or stopping medication."

Han Duc Hai's expression stiffened.

"That is not important."

The man in the suit took half a step backward.

"This is exceptionally important."

"My mandate only covers the management of family financial affairs as you described, and it certainly does not include making such arrangements for a patient who has just undergone surgery."

Ma Xao Van panicked.

"What do you mean by that?"

The man in the suit zipped up his briefcase.

"My representation ends right here."

With those words, he turned around and walked away. Han Duc Hai's face fell visibly, losing all its color right before our eyes. My father suddenly spoke up.

"Duc Hai."

"Answer me honestly."

"Who was the one who drew up that joint confirmation document?"

Han Duc Hai remained silent. My father continued pressing on.

"On the day your sister-in-law was hospitalized, did you come to her room?"

Ma Xao Van's expression changed abruptly. I immediately fixed my gaze upon her.

"Auntie, you went there too?"

Ma Xao Van gritted her teeth.

"We went to visit our sister-in-law, is there any problem with that?"

My father stared intently at Han Duc Hai.

"That day, you said you came to deliver food."

"I went to pay the hospital fees, and by the time I returned, you had already left."

"Afterwards, you told me the procedures were almost done and advised me not to ask any further questions."

Angrily, Han Duc Hai retorted, "What is the use of bringing up all these old matters now?" My father's eyes turned red.

"It is of great use."

"In the past, I was filled with fear, which is why I allowed you people to step all over my family time and time again."

"But I am no longer afraid."

He retrieved a newly reissued bank card from his pocket and held it up right in front of Han Duc Hai.

"Every single coin in this card, I will claw back."

Han Duc Hai suddenly laughed. That laugh was even colder than before.

"Claw them back?"

"Brother, you are getting old, do not think things are so simple."

"Over the course of twelve years, the money has long since been spent."

"If you want it back, go ahead and sue."

"Before you win any lawsuit, you will have to bear all the expenses for your wife's medication, hospitalization, and recovery entirely by yourself."

I spoke up, "We will bear them."

"Rather than letting you hold life-saving money only to raise your ungrateful son, we would much rather pay off our debts ourselves."

Han Viet suddenly sneered coldly.

"Do you think you can afford to bear it?"

"Your unsecured loans have already maxed out their limits, and you have already borrowed from all your friends."

"The hospital charges expenses every single day."

"Even if there are more than two hundred thousand left in that card, how long can it possibly sustain you?"

I looked straight at him.

"At the very least, it is still much thicker than the skin on your family's faces."

Han Viet was choked into silence, his face turning pale green. At that exact moment, my phone rang. It was the person in charge of the social insurance hall. After I answered, the very first sentence he uttered made a chill run straight down my spine.

"Miss Han, Phuong Ve Dong has just submitted a supplementary statement."

"He claimed that the change of the account back then was confirmed in person with your father present."

I tightened my grip on the phone.

"Are there any photographic records from the scene?"

"That is precisely where the problem lies."

The person in charge lowered his voice to a whisper.

"The image files are missing, but a new line of text has just appeared in the system notes."

"The timestamp on the note is from this afternoon."