Chapter 4 — They Locked Me Outside the Door, I Locked Their Lives

On the phone, the sound became more and more chaotic. The sound of heavy footsteps and the sound of furniture being carried away.

"What are you doing! Put down my pot! I just bought it!" Truong Lan screamed loudly.

"Please stay away. We have to remove this cabinet." A worker spoke rudely.

"Tong Nghi! Are you dead? Let people bully your mother like that!"

Tong Nghi gasped.

"Don't touch it! I'm calling my wife! There's definitely a misunderstanding!"

I pressed to receive the call and turned off the speakerphone on Ms. Vuong's side.

"On Nhien! What exactly did you do!" Tong Nghi roared.

"Are you crazy? That's our house! You sold it, where are we?"

"That's my house. Wherever you are, take care of yourself."

"You can't be that cruel! My mother is old, you let her wander on the streets!"

“Ten days ago, when she left me standing in the hallway, didn't you feel hopeless?”

“Those were just angry words!”

“And I'm a legal transaction.”

"Get the money back! Buy the house back! Immediately!" Tong Nghi ordered.

"The money is in my account. The house is in someone else's name. What right do you have to give me orders?"

There was a ringing sound on the other end of the phone line.

"Wicked woman! Comet! You swallow money, you won't die well!" Truong Lan screamed into the phone.

"Mom, use your strength to pack things up. Mr. Truong has a bad temper, things will be ruined if thrown down."

"You get out of here! I'll beat you to death!"

“You only have one hour left.”

I hung up. Handily block this number. I switched back to the call with Ms. Vuong.

“Miss On, are you still listening?” she asked.

"Listen clearly. How's the progress?"

"Mr. Truong called five or six strong people over, carrying their things to the hallway. The old lady lay on the ground and threw a tantrum, no one noticed. Mr. Tong stood around spinning on the spot."

"Don't let a fight happen. Tell the management team to stand there and supervise."

"Don't worry, Mr. Truong is reasonable, he doesn't move his hands or feet, he just cleans things up."

The sound of clothes being pulled out of the closet. The sound of pots and pans being stuffed into cardboard boxes.

"My gold chain! You guys stole my gold chain!" Truong Lan started screaming again.

"Don't slander me. We filmed the whole thing. There's a gold necklace hanging around your son's neck." The worker responded.

Half an hour later.

"Done. Clean up." Mr. Truong's voice rang out.

“Change the lock.”

The sound of the drill roared.

"You can't change the locks! This is my house!" Truong Lan banged on the door outside.

The sound through the door became heavy and muffled.

"Miss On, it's all done. The whole family is holding a pile of things and sitting in the hallway. Management is chasing them downstairs."

"It's been hard for you. I'll transfer the remaining fee immediately."

"That's polite, Ms. Wen. Happy cooperation."

The call ended. I started the car. Drive out of the apartment complex. In the rearview mirror, the building gradually receded. I lowered the window. Cold wind rushed in. I took a deep breath. The air is very clear. No more melon seed shell smell. No more musty smell. There is also no longer the suffocating smell of calculation and commitment. Nine o'clock in the evening. I sat on the sofa in the hotel suite. In front of me is a cup of black coffee. The laptop screen lit up, displaying the email lawyer Ly had just sent. The name of the attached file is "Divorce Agreement". I opened it and reviewed each clause. Feces property division: no common property. The southern side left empty-handed. Debt: everyone bears it themselves. Neat and decisive. Phone vibrates. I glanced over.

"On Nhien, I know you're still angry. I don't blame you for what happened today. It was my mother who didn't do it right, I told her. We're temporarily renting a small motel outside, the conditions are very bad, my mother coughs all the time. Please calm down, we'll meet tomorrow to talk properly. Once the house is gone, we can buy it back, but our feelings can't just fade away. It's not safe for you to stay out alone, go home."

I looked at the screen. After reading, do not reply. Five minutes later, the phone rang. Still the same number.

“On Nhien, you finally answered the phone.” Tong Nghi's voice was tired, mixed with a bit of ingratiation.

“See the deal yet?” I asked.

“What deal?”

"I sent it to your email. Divorce petition."

“Are you serious?” Tong Nghi panicked, "On Nhien, don't overdo it! Your house is sold, you have the money, what else do you want!"

"I don't agree! I won't sign even if I die!"

“It's not up to you to decide.” I took a sip of coffee, "If you don't sign, I'll sue."

"Why would you sue? I didn't commit adultery, I didn't commit violence, the court won't grant a divorce!"

"If you live separately for a full year, the court will decide. I have time to wait. But do you have it?"

I stopped for a moment.

"My salary is 8,000 yuan a month. Except for food and living expenses, how can I rent a house? Can I support my mother?"

“I…” Tong Nghi choked on his words.

"Before, you lived comfortably because you lived in my house and spent my money. Now, you have nothing left."

There was a sound of heavy breathing on the other end of the line.

“On Nhien, you count me!”

“I just took back what was mine.”

“You unscrupulous thing!” Truong Lan's voice suddenly intervened.

It was obvious she was snatching the phone.

"Tong Nghi! Turn on the speakerphone! I have to scold this bitch to death!"

There was a clicking sound on the phone.

"On Nhien, I'm telling you! You want a divorce, there's no way! You've wasted so many years of my son's youth, you have to compensate! The money from the sale of the house must be divided between us in half! Otherwise I'll drag you to your company and cause trouble! Go to court and sue you!"

“Just go.” My voice was very calm, "You come once, I'll call the police once. I have a company camera, with recording. Disturbing peace, at least fifteen days detention. If you like to be treated there, I won't stop you."

“Don't you dare threaten me!”

“I only speak the truth.”

"Tong Nghi! Look at the kind of wife you married! She wants to force your mother to death!" Truong Lan started to cry.

“On Nhien…” Tong Nghi interjected.

“Shut up.” I interrupted.

"Tomorrow at ten o'clock in the morning, in front of the gate of the civil service office. If you sign, everyone goes their own way. If you don't sign, we'll meet at the courthouse."

“I won't go!” Tong Nghi screamed.

"If you don't go, tomorrow your mother will sleep on the street. How many days can you pay that motel fee?"

I hung up. Blocked number again. The light from the laptop screen shines on my face. I clicked forward and sent the divorce agreement to Tong Nghi's email. Then fold the device back. Take a cup of coffee and drink it in one gulp. The bitter taste spreads throughout the mouth. But after swallowing it—only sanity remained. They think that getting angry can solve everything. They thought that by using morality as a constraint, they could force me to give in. They don't understand the law. Neither understand the rules. Even more so, I don't understand how determined a woman will be when she has completely given up hope.