Chapter 1 — The whole family shares my money

When I helped my mother transfer money, a group message suddenly appeared on her phone. The group's name is "Release Story". There are four people in the group. Parents, brother and sister-in-law. Without me. The latest message is from my sister-in-law: "The plan has been finalized. Tell her to sign it this weekend, don't let her see the content." I didn't open the group right away. First, I transferred money to help my mother finish the transaction. Then flip through the chat history in the group. The file pinned at the top is: "Plan for distributing clearance compensation money". My name is on the last line. Amount: 0. 2.87 million yuan. My house, the loan I paid for five years. They divided into four parts. And I get zero. I returned the phone to my mother. “The transfer is complete.” She smiled and took it. “My daughter is so good.” 1. I did not question her on the spot. When I returned the phone to my mother, my fingers didn't even shake. I just said: "I'll go home first", then went downstairs and sat in the car. Then I opened my phone. Recently, while my mother went to the bathroom, I took a photo of the entire chat history in the group. Forty-seven photos in total. Starts from the date the group was created. The founder of the group is my sister-in-law, Hua Man. Time of group formation: five weeks ago. The first message was sent by her sister-in-law: "Mom, Dad, To Loi said Tinh's house is about to be demolished, we have to discuss it first." Mom replied: "Yes, last time he said the compensation was about to be paid." Dad replied: "I can't let him take all this money alone." The brother replied: "Definitely not possible. Divide by head." I scrolled down to see each message one by one. Five weeks. They discussed for five weeks. From "divided according to each person", to "divided according to the level of contribution", then again to "it is not appropriate for him to take it alone". The plan has been revised four times. First version: four people divided equally, each person more than 710,000 yuan. The second version: parents receive more shares, because they "have the merit of raising me". Third version: the older brother gets a larger share, because "the pressure to pay the home loan is huge." The fourth and final version: Parents took 1.2 million yuan. The brother and sister-in-law took 1.67 million yuan. I get 0. No. The sister-in-law said the reason in the group: "She is not married and has no children, so what does she need so much money for?" Mother only answered with one word: "Yes." Dad sent a very long text message. I read every word carefully. "A girl's money is like water thrown away. If you don't take a little more now, once she gets married, you won't be able to have it anymore. This money originally belongs to the whole family. When she bought the house, we also agreed to let her buy it." When I bought a house, he agreed with me. That's right. He said: “It's up to you.” Then hang up the phone. That day, I stood in front of the brokerage company for twenty minutes, calling home because I wanted my parents to give me advice. Mother said: "Why does a daughter buy a house? Buying it will only benefit her future husband's family in the end." Dad said: "It's up to you. Anyway, don't ask your parents for money." I never asked them for a penny. The down payment is 320,000 yuan. I saved 240,000 yuan and borrowed 80,000 yuan from my colleagues. Sign the contract alone. Pay the loan alone every month. Carrying it alone for five years. During those five years, I received 12,000 yuan in salary every month. The installment payment is 4,200 yuan. Give your mother 3,000 yuan. The remaining amount is used to pay rent, food and transportation. There were two years when I didn't turn on the heat in the winter. Not because I want to save money on electricity. But because I don't have enough money to turn it on. But the 3,000 yuan per month has never been interrupted. Mom once said: "Your brother still has to raise a small child, the pressure is great. Please help him a little." I helped. When my brother got married, I spent 120,000 yuan. Mother had surgery, 80,000 yuan. Dad in hospital, 60,000 yuan. There are many other small items. But those numbers are not what hurts me the most today. What hurt me the most was the last sentence in my dad's text message. I scrolled down to the bottom of the photo. Dad said: "After finalizing the plan, quickly tell him to sign. He's very soft-hearted, it's okay to cry to him a few words." Mother replied: “Let me.” Behind is the last message from my sister-in-law: "The plan has been finalized. Weekend

Tell him to sign, don't let him see the content." I sit in the car. Looking up at the building where my mother just smiled and said to me: "My daughter is so good." Five weeks ago. They have started planning with me. And today I came here to help my mother pay the electricity bill. I exited the photos folder and opened the last page of the chat history. There's still one message I haven't read yet. It's the message my dad sent me last night. “That's right, by the way, have him sign the paper mentioned last time. Do two things at once.” What paper? What is “the paper mentioned last time”? No one in the group asked again, everyone seemed to know what it was. Only the sister-in-law replied with one word: "Okay." 2. The next day. My mother called me: "Daughter, come home for dinner on Saturday. Mom stewed the ribs for me." The voice is so sweet it's sickening. The last time she was so sweet was when she wanted me to spend money on organizing my brother's wedding. “Yes.” Saturday, I came home. There are six dishes on the table. Braised ribs, sweet and sour fish, steamed eggs, stir-fried shrimp, mixed cucumbers and egg tomato soup. Mom wore an apron and smiled enthusiastically. Dad sat in the main seat and poured me a glass of orange juice. His brother called out: "You." Sister-in-law Hua Man held her three-year-old nephew and nodded at me. A scene of joy and harmony. A family. I ate half a bowl of rice. No one mentioned the release. No one mentioned "signing" either. I didn't mention it either. After dinner, mother brought out watermelon. I said: “Mom, let me check the electricity bill app for you. It seems like the last time the payment was completed but the money hasn't come in yet." “Okay, okay. The phone is on the tea table.” I picked up her phone. I know the unlock password because I set it up for you last time. I opened the electricity bill app and confirmed the amount had been recorded. Then conveniently switch to background applications. Banking applications are still open. Last time I helped her register, I logged in but didn't log out. I clicked. Transaction history. The first transaction that caught my eye: Three days ago. Transfer 3,000 yuan. Recipient: To Loi. Content: Loi's house installment payment. I continued scrolling down. Last month. 3,000 yuan. To Loi. Loi's house installment payment. Last month too. 3,000 yuan. To Loi. Loi's house installment payment. Every month. One account at a time. All on the same day. That was the day I transferred 3,000 yuan to my mother. She received 3,000 yuan and transferred it all to her brother the same day. The content of the transfer is "Loi's house installment payment". Not “a little help”. Not "used in times of emergency". It's "Loi's house installment payment". Also called by nickname. A fixed amount. Long lasting. I continued scrolling down. See last year. The other year. Three years ago. All are the same. 3,000 yuan. To Loi. Loi's house installment payment. I looked at the other money transfers again. There were also some additional transfers mixed in between: Last July: 8,000 yuan. To Loi. Error's car insurance money. Last December: 5,000 yuan. To Loi. Reserve money for Tet. January this year: 10,000 yuan. To Loi. Pay tuition for Tieu Vien. Tieu Vien is my nephew. The money I gave my mother, she did not use a penny for "the family". All were given to my brother. There are also other accounts. I calculated the total amount transferred in the last five years. Not just 360,000 yuan. Plus large non-regular transfers. At least 420,000 yuan. Five years. It's only been five years. The transaction history of the previous five years could not be searched. But if calculated according to the same level, in ten years it would be at least more than 500,000 yuan. I exited the banking app. Hands don't shake at all. I close background applications for mom. Put the phone down. “Mom, the electricity bill is already paid.” "Alright." She is washing dishes in the kitchen. My brother is watching TV in the living room. Sister-in-law is drying clothes on the balcony. Dad was dozing off in the recliner. This is the family that I use 3,000 yuan a month to feed. Now, they are preparing to divide my 2.87 million yuan. Give me zero. I stood up. “Mom, I'll go home first.” “Back so quickly? Stay one night..." "I'm busy next week, I have to go home and prepare." “So this weekend…” “Mom.” "YES?" "Female

What paper are you talking about? Her smile stopped. “What paper?” “In everyone's group there was talk. Said that by the way, I asked you to sign one more paper." She was stunned for two seconds. Then the smile returned. “Ah, it's nothing. It's just that the old house has a procedure..." "What procedure?" “Let's talk about it later, no rush…” “Okay. No rush.” I don't ask anymore. Turn around and leave. But I remember her two-second hesitation. It's not that she doesn't know what "that paper" is. It's that she doesn't know how to lie. 3. The next day after returning from my mother's house. I sat in my rented house, sorting through all forty-seven screenshots. Sort by time. Sort by spokesperson. View each message one by one. The more you look, the clearer it becomes. This "plan" is not a spontaneous idea. It was a family project that lasted five weeks. The sister-in-law is in charge of planning. The older brother is in charge of the art. Dad is in charge of making the final decision. Mother was in charge of implementation: "He's very soft-hearted, it's okay to cry to him a few times." Clear assignment. Coordinate well. The only person who is blindsided is the person who puts in the money. I was thinking when the phone rang. This is a phone number that is rarely contacted. Second uncle. “Love?” “Second uncle, what's going on?” His voice was a bit shy. “The thing is… the 50,000 yuan I asked you to lend me before…” I was stunned. “What 50,000 yuan?” "It's... my brother said I needed money to repair the house, and it was urgent, so I asked him to help me borrow it." “When did you ask me to borrow money?” The other end of the line was silent for three seconds. “My brother said I told him to borrow it… Don't you know?” “I don't know. I have never repaired a house. I haven't bought enough furniture yet." The second uncle was silent again. “So this amount…” “Second uncle, do you have a transfer history?” "Have. I'll pass it on to your brother." “This money has nothing to do with you. Please look for him.” "…Okay." The call ended. I sat in my seat, my heart beating faster. Then I called her. “Miss, has my brother ever borrowed money from you?” "Yes. 50,000 yuan. He said I needed it urgently..." "I didn't ask him to borrow it." "…Really?" "Real. You should also find him and ask for money.” I called you again. The dialogue is identical. Still 50,000 yuan. It's still the same sentence: "My brother said I need it urgently." 150,000 yuan. Three relatives. All loans are in my name. I had no idea. I never agreed. But all three people assumed I was the borrower. Think I owe them. I put down the phone. Do three things. First, open the personal credit history lookup application. Checked twice a year for free. I haven't used it yet this year. I sent a request to look up. Second, find all bank card statements, confirm that I have never transferred any money to second uncle, aunt and uncle.