Chapter 8 — Thirty Million And One Man's Worth

Because he was in the kitchen cooking that day, he didn't know exactly when I returned. That "uncertainty"... is what makes people uneasy.

“Minh Vien.”

“Do you believe me?”

I asked, looking straight at him. He was silent for two seconds. Just one word. But I see it all. No doubt. It's worry. You are not afraid that I will deceive you. He was afraid… if I really won thirty million without saying anything, what would that mean? It means I don't trust you. Or to be more precise—I don't trust your family. But that... I understand better than anyone. I walked over and sat down next to him, the distance was very close but my heart felt far away.

“I went for an interview that day.”

I say one more time.

“I know.”

He took my hand and squeezed it gently.

"No matter what, don't take Thai Quoc Cuong's words to heart, he's at the end of his tether now, he can say anything."

His voice was low, as if he was reassuring himself. But my heart beats very fast. Not because of fear of being exposed. Thai Quoc Cuong has started targeting me. And behind him... there is definitely Chu Minh Le. Three days later, things escalated. Chu Minh Le appeared directly under my house, not looking for his younger brother... but waiting for me. At ten o'clock that morning, I had just returned from the store. As I walked to the gate, I saw her standing there, leaning against a taxi, a cigarette between her lips. Compared to last time, she was noticeably thinner, but her eyes were sharper.

“Sister-in-law—no,” she extinguished her cigarette and smiled faintly, “sister-in-law, long time no see.”

The tone was both sarcastic and probing. I replied briefly.

"What's so busy these days? You go out so early every day, aren't you saying you're looking for a job?"

She took a step closer.

“Looking.”

I replied.

"I've been looking for two months but haven't found it yet? Or... don't want to find it?"

Her voice trailed off, full of meaning.

“There is no suitable one yet.”

I still keep my voice normal.

“So where do you go every day?”

She stared at me. I looked back.

“Are you following me?”

“Just call it concern.”

She smiled, but her eyes weren't smiling.

“Hieu Hieu, speak frankly.”

She lowered her voice.

"At the lottery counter in front of my area, last month someone won the first prize of 38,400,000 yuan, on the day you were fired."

She stopped, looking at my reaction. I asked again.

"I asked the counter lady, that day from two o'clock to three o'clock in the afternoon there were only three people buying tickets, an old man, a delivery staff... the third person was a woman about thirty years old, wearing a gray shirt and carrying a black backpack."

She said every word. Eyes locked on me.

“That person… is that you?”

I looked at her, expressionless.

"Is that what you think? How many people in this city wear gray shirts and black backpacks?"

“But living in this area… there's only you.”

She laughed.

“Where is the evidence?”

“I don't need proof.”

She tilted her head, her eyes cold.

“I just need to make Minh Vien suspicious.”

Her voice was light but unique. I looked at her.

"I already did, Thai Quoc Cuong looked for him the other day."

“That's just the beginning.”

She laughed.

“What do you want?”

I asked directly.

“I want 500,000.”

She spoke as if she were talking about a very small number.

“You're crazy.”

“I'm not crazy, Hieu Hieu, if you don't give it, I'll make a big deal out of it. I'll go investigate, go ask the bank, see if you have a big transaction, do you think I can't do it?”

Her voice was urgent.

“You can't do it.”

I speak slowly cobble.

"Then I'll break it. I'll go to Minh Vien company and say, his wife won thirty million and hid it from the whole family. How do you think people look at her?"

She laughed. My hand tightened. Not out of fear. It's because of anger. She is using Chu Minh Vien as a card. I spoke up, my voice calm again.

“You are in debt of 1,200,000, your husband is a discredited person, his assets are frozen, his credit card is overdue, you come to ask me for 500,000… even if I have real money, do you think I will give it?”

I say every sentence. The smile on her face disappeared.

"I once forced Minh Vien to mortgage the house for 300,000, he did not agree, I forced my mother to sell the house, she did not sell, my friends, my colleagues... will anyone lend me a loan?"

I continue.

“Shut up!”

She shouted.

"No one lent me a loan, because everyone knew that Thai Quoc Cuong was a debtor, and his wife was a debtor... no one believed it."

I speak frankly.

“Zhu Xiaoxiao!”

She rushed forward. I took a step back.

"If you move your hand, I'll call the police. With your current condition, being held for ten days, can you stand it?"

Her hand stopped in mid-air. Half of the nail peels off.

“You wait.”