Chapter 3 — Thirty Million And One Man's Worth

"How did you know? Did you investigate my husband?"

"Public information. Three companies under your husband's name are all on the system. Even information about enforcement can be looked up."

“So Mr. Thai,” I looked straight at him, “what you need now is not 500,000 new investment, but to fill the hole of 1,200,000 first.”

Thai Quoc Cuong's face turned from white to red. President Trinh put down the tea cup.

"Mr. Thai, you said you have no external debt?"

“President Trinh, this… is a family matter, she said nonsense—”

“The public system has full data.” I say one more sentence.

General Trinh stood up.

"Thank you for your hospitality today. I will reconsider the matter of cooperation."

He left. Chu Minh Le slammed the glass on the table.

"Chu Minh Vien! Take care of my wife!"

Chu Minh Vien slowly stood up.

“Sister, what she said is the truth.”

"What's the truth? What right does an unemployed person like her have to investigate my husband?"

I also stood up.

"Sister, I have no right to investigate your husband. But your husband has the right to open his mouth and demand 500,000 from my husband, then I also have the right to know whether that money was thrown into the water or not."

Chu Minh Le pointed at me, his hands shaking.

"Okay, very good. Chu Minh Vien, just go ahead and pamper her. Wait, from now on in this house, you won't have any peace of mind."

She pulled Thai Quoc Cuong away. The mother-in-law sat on the chair, her face very unsightly.

“Hieu Hieu, you did that... it's too disrespectful.”

"Mom, you can't eat your face. Minh Vien's hard-earned money cannot be poured into a bottomless pit."

Her lips moved, but in the end she said nothing more. On the way home, the car was quiet. Five minutes later, Chu Minh Vien spoke.

“Since when did you look up?”

"Last week."

“Why investigate?”

"Because every time your sister says business is good. I want to see how good it is."

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

"I also suspected it before. But it's my sister, I can't investigate."

“So I'll help you look it up.”

He tilted his head and looked at me.

“Understanding.”

“Thank you.”

I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes. Nothing. Anyway... this is the "atmosphere" I bought with thirty million. You just don't know yet. After that battle, there was peace for three days. On the fourth day, the mother-in-law arrived. Don't call. But standing directly in front of the house. When she opened the door, she was carrying a bag of fruit, with a prepared "gentle" smile on her face.

“Mom, why did you come?”

“Let's see you two.”

She walked in, sat down on the sofa, and rolled her eyes.

"The house is still the same. Minh Vien's salary is only the same, I quit my job, so I have to save even more."

I poured water for her. She took the glass, but did not drink.

“Hieu Hieu, what happened the other day at the restaurant—”

"I don't care if what you say is right or wrong. But you make your sister and brother-in-law lose face in front of outsiders, that's not right."

“Mom, I'm just telling the truth.”

"The truth cannot be told in front of outsiders. After President Trinh left, Quoc Cuong and my sister had a big argument. These past few days my sister has not been able to eat well and sleep well."

“So what does that have to do with you?”

The mother-in-law put the glass of water down firmly.

"If it's related, why not? You're the sister-in-law, you have to know how to give in. Your sister has a bad temper, but she's not a bad person."

I sat opposite her.

“Mom, Mr. Thai owes the supplier 1,200,000, do you know about this?”

Her eyes wavered slightly.

“Who doesn't have anything to do with business? in debt."

"So do you know, two years ago, Minh Vien lent Mr. Thai 80,000, but still hasn't paid it back?"

She was silent.

“There are also 50,000 from last year. Then 20,000 of the previous one. Total 150,000. Mom, have they paid a penny of this money yet?”

She stood up.

“You really calculated it clearly.”

“It's not my idea. It's Minh Vien's bank statement."

“Chu Hieu Hieu, what do you want to say?”

“I want to say, Minh Vien's monthly salary is 8,500, rent is 4,500. I have no income. We can no longer afford to continue pouring money into that bottomless pit.”

She picked up the fruit bag... then put it down again.

“Do you talk to your mother-in-law like that?”

“Mom, I'm not being disrespectful. But today you came, is it because of you, or is it because of your daughter?

The "gentle" expression on her face disappeared completely.

“Chu Xiaoxiao, don't be too harsh. I don't make any money, and I still arrogantly point fingers at home. If you were my daughter, I would—”

“But you are not my daughter.”

I stood up.

“I am the daughter-in-law. My son said 'I raised you'. He returned her deposit, blocked all objections, and never missed a penny for household expenses. If you love your son, don't force him to stand between the two sides like that anymore."

She was stunned. Stand still for ten seconds. Then turned around and left. The door closes. I plopped down on the sofa. Hands tremble. Not out of fear. I have thirty million. I can absolutely use one sentence to shut everyone up. But I don't want to use money to silence others. I want to see... when they think I'm empty-handed, how they will treat Chu Minh Vien. The next day, Chu Minh Vien's phone rang all night long. I pretended to sleep. He stood on the balcony listening to the phone, his voice was very low, but a few words still reached my ears.

“I know…”

“I told you, I will handle it…”

“Mom, don't cry anymore…”

At one o'clock in the morning, he returned to bed. I turned around.

“What did your mother say?”

You know I haven't slept yet.

“Saying you hurt her.”

“I hurt her.” I repeat.

“So has she ever hurt you?”

He was silent.

“150,000, have you ever asked for it back?”

“Your sister makes fun of your wife online, has your mother ever told her?”

"You pay the deposit, has your mother ever defended you?"

“But I just said a few sentences of the truth, and she immediately called and cried all night. Minh Vien, do you think this is fair?

In the darkness, his breathing grew heavier. A long time later.

“Not fair.”

I leaned over and looked at his figure.

“So what are you going to do?”

“I don't know.”

“I don't know.”

“But I won't let you suffer.”

I don't say anymore. He reached out and pulled me into his arms. The smell of laundry detergent was faint on him. It's cheap. Every time the supermarket has a discount, he buys three bottles. I buried my face in his chest. Thirty million. I have thirty million. But right now... I feel like you're worth more than those thirty million. The storm came faster than I thought.