Chapter 5 — They Locked Me Outside the Door, I Locked Their Lives

Nine fifty-five the next morning. I stood in front of the gate of the civil service office. Today the weather is very beautiful, the sun is bright yellow. I wore a beige jacket and light makeup. Then I saw them. Tong Nghi and Truong Lan. Two people stood on the steps, looking like two defeated roosters. Truong Lan wore a wrinkled cotton shirt and her hair was messy. Tong Nghi did not shave, his eyes were sunken, and he looked ten years older. When they saw me, their eyes immediately turned to resentment. I didn't care, walked straight inside.

“Stop!” Truong Lan rushed forward, raised her hand to grab my arm.

I leaned forward to avoid it.

"On Nhien! You ungrateful brat! The Song family has raised you for so many years, you repay me like this!" She screamed.

People around began to look over.

"You kicked us out and you're staying in a luxury hotel! Do you still have a conscience?"

"You sold my son's house and swallowed our family's money! Aren't you afraid of heaven!"

She sat down on the ground, patted her thighs and cried.

"Oh my god, there's no more morality! The daughter-in-law forced her mother-in-law to death! Everyone, come and see!"

Tong Nghi stood next to me, looking at me with a painful expression.

"On Nhien, do you have to go to this extent? Family matters should not be laughed at by outsiders..."

“Who is making a fuss?” I looked at him coldly. “Who is bringing family matters out?”

More and more people gathered to watch. Pointing, talking.

“Youth today are so unreasonable.”

“Look at that pitiful mother-in-law crying.”

“The daughter-in-law dresses properly but has a cruel heart.”

I listen to everything, without expression. I took out my phone. Open a recording file. Adjustable volume to maximum.

“…you should be a little softer with your mother, she is also an elder…”

“…is the lock blocked by your mother…”

“…she's just angry, give her your salary card and she'll open the door right away…”

“…if you earn more, isn't it the right thing to do to contribute more…”

The recording of the call that night clearly rang out between the gates of the civil service. All the chatter... fell silent. Everyone's eyes turned to Truong Lan who was sitting on the ground, and Tong Nghi's face was bloodless.

“So it turns out…”

“If you want to get your salary card, why should you lock your daughter-in-law outside the door?”

“This man is also too bad, he even defends his mother.”

“A house is a person's pre-marital property... oh god.”

Truong Lan's cry choked in her throat. She stared at the phone in my hand, as if she couldn't believe it. Tong Nghi's lips trembled.

“On Nhien, I…”

“I gave you a chance.” I put my phone away and looked straight at him. “Now, go inside and sign.”

"Or I can send this recording, along with the surveillance video when you guys came to my company to cause trouble, to the lawyer."

“At that point, it will no longer be a simple divorce.”

“I will sue you for extortion, sue you for disturbing the peace.”

Tong Nghi staggered. Truong Lan jumped up from the ground, intending to rush over and snatch my phone.

"You slut! You're planning on us!"

I took a step back.

"Sign. Or go to jail. Choose."

My voice is not loud. But every word— was like a nail in their ears. Tong Nghi looked at me. In his eyes there was fear, resentment, and even begging. He stood still like that for nearly a minute. as if my strength was drained,

“…mom, stop making noise.”

“Let's… go inside.”

When holding the above divorce certificate hand, it's eleven o'clock in the morning. The red book is still very new. Even... a little hot-handed. I put it in my bag. From beginning to end, I never looked at Tong Nghi and Truong Lan again. Stepping out of the civil service office, I called a car to go back to the hotel. As soon as I got in the car, my phone started vibrating continuously. A series of strange numbers. The second attack is here. I picked up the first call.

"Is that On Nhien? I'm Tong Nghi's third aunt!" A high-pitched female voice rang out.

I only met his third aunt once, at a wedding.

"What are you doing! Why did you divorce Tieu Nghi? Husband and wife quarrel at the end of the bed and make up at the end of the bed, why are you so unfaithful!"

“You kicked them out and forced them to stay in a shabby motel, do you have any conscience!”

"I tell you, the Song family is not easy to bully! You must immediately go back, remarry Tieu Nghi, and return the house to them!"

“Are you done talking yet?” I asked.

"What kind of attitude do you have? I'm your elder!"

"First, I don't have an elder like you. Second, the house is mine. Third, he and I no longer have any relationship."

I hung up and blocked the number. The phone immediately rang again.