Chapter 3 — This House, I Will Not Give Up

Then Chu Khai— It was like he was cleaning out the warehouse, little by little emptying out the money in his account. The recipient's name is different each time. But I know clearly— The final destination of that money, there is only one. His sister. A total of twenty-three thousand. That's the amount of money we plan to use to pay off the first year's loan, including hospital fees when I give birth and a deposit at the nursing home center. Not even a single penny remains. He didn't just want to take over my house. But he also wanted to let me bear the debt, support his whole family and enjoy, and then finally kick me out the door. If the house is taken over by his sister, the money will be gone— Me and the baby… how can we survive? Drink the Northwest wind? That moment, I was no longer angry. It's utter despair. It feels like someone is gnawing away little by little, suffocating to the point of not being able to breathe. Even ferocious wild animals know how to protect their young. As for Chu Khai— For my sister, even my child's milk money is calculated. I stared at the screen, my tears gradually drying. His hand was placed on his stomach, his eyes from being vague... gradually became determined. I didn't call Chu Khai. Don't go ask questions either. I understand clearly, asking will only result in more lies. Crying just makes them think I'm easy to bully. I opened the drawer, took out the house purchase contract, a copy of the red book, and my documents. One by one, I carefully put them into my bag. That night, my mother knocked on the door and walked in, holding a bowl of hot noodles in her hand.

"Nien Niem, what happened? Tell me, even if the sky falls, your parents will still be here."

I held the bowl, buried my head and ate in large gulps. Tears fell into the bowl of noodles, the taste was salty and bitter. After eating, I put down the bowl and looked up at my mother.

“Mom… for the sake of the baby in my belly, I can't hold it in anymore.”

I didn't say my plan. Because I... am also shaking. But this boundary— It must be drawn by my own hand. If they considered me redundant— Then, from now on, none of them… would be able to walk through that door anymore. During these four days, I pretended like nothing happened, peacefully nursing my pregnancy at my mother's house in Chengdu, with my phone completely silent. Chu Khai did not call to ask questions. Probably busy preparing a place for his younger brother, busy preparing for their so-called "moving-in ceremony". On the morning of the fourth day, the sky was so clear that it was blinding, the sunlight was so harsh that it was uncomfortable. The Chu family woke up at dawn. This story was later told to me by Mrs. Luu in the area, who is famous for her love of gossip, and added quite a bit. The parents-in-law returned the small, damp room in the suburbs, took their younger sister Chu Diem and her husband Hao Hao, dragging a ton of luggage and snakes together to the apartment complex of the newlywed house. They called two small trucks, the luggage was piled high as if they were running amok, but everyone had cheerful faces as if they were celebrating Tet. The whole group looked like an army that had just won a battle, holding their heads high and entering the lobby of the building. Chu Diem wore a tight dress, deliberately sticking out her belly, which was not yet clearly visible. She was carrying a brand new designer bag, the same model I once put in my shopping cart but regretted not daring to buy it. No need to guess, the money was definitely taken from my account. She pointed to the strip of green trees in the area, her tone arrogant:

“The environment is okay, it's convenient to push the children out for a walk later, it's just that the trees are too ordinary, far away The villa I once saw."

The mother-in-law stood next to her and smiled appreciatively:

"Let's stay temporarily, wait until Hao Hao earns a lot of money, then we can change to a bigger apartment."

In the elevator, only their family remained. Chu Diem has begun calculating the layout:

“Hao Hao, the children's room that To Niem set up must be demolished and converted into a dressing room. The colors are so rustic, it makes me uncomfortable to look at them. As for the fabric sofa in the living room, it's dirty and difficult to clean. Later, I threw it away and replaced it with real leather."

The father-in-law clutched the newly replaced key, his face full of pride, as if holding a family heirloom.

“Fix it, feel free to fix it! From now on, this is our home. Even though the red book is in that woman's name, we've already lived in it. After a while, does she still dare to kick us out?"

“Dad is right!” Hao Hao chuckled, his expression calm, "My brother has already told me, To Niem is easy to talk to and has a soft personality. Now that I'm still pregnant, I don't dare to make a fuss, I can only endure it."

The elevator dinged and stopped on the 16th floor. The entire Chu family packed their bags and crowded out. The sensor lights in the hallway were dim, coupled with their cheerful mood, they walked and talked and laughed, completely unaware of anything unusual. Father-in-law threw the bag on the ground, searched for the key and walked towards the door. Two or three steps away from the door, he saw two white sheets of paper stuck on the door.

“What kind of business does the management board do?” He frowned, looking annoyed, "The house has just been renovated and someone has put random stickers on the door? Or was the toll notice posted wrongly?

He was completely indifferent. In his mind, this house was "arranged" by his son, so what could happen? In his familiar perception, it was nothing more than a gas opening notice or network advertisement.

“Hao Hao, if you see these nonsense papers in the future, tear them up for dad.”

Having said that, the person stepped closer, held up the new key, intending to conveniently use the tip of the key to push away the entangled piece of paper, then insert it into the lock. He still whistled softly, his look of mastery still undiminished. But just as the tip of the key was about to touch the paper— Under the dim yellow light of the hallway, he finally saw the bold letters clearly, straight into his eyes. Those bold letters were like a slap, a "pop" sound, hitting Chu Kien Quoc straight in the face. The words "People's Court of Gongshu District, Hangzhou City" are at the top, below is a bright red seal, tightly closed. In the middle, the bold headline is even more dazzling.

“Decision to apply asset preservation measures in civil cases. Sealing, distraint, freezing of real estate at No.

Chu Kien Quoc was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head and read more carefully.

“Court? Seal?"

He muttered those two words, his voice suddenly rising.

“What do you mean? Who dares to seal our house?”

Chu Diem carried his bag and leaned his head over, the foundation on his face also turned a little pale.

“Dad, are you mistaken? Seal what? Didn't we say that this house is what your brother is preparing to be our wedding house?"

Hao Hao also jumped in, almost hitting his head on the paper, reading it while his lips trembled.

“Requester: To Niem… Requested person: Chu Khai… Request content…”