Chapter 13 — Three hours before the wedding, I locked the house as a dowry

Before going to the cafe, I changed into my jacket that was still covered in dust from the repair work. Not because I wanted to save face in front of Phan Nghien Chu. But because I don't want to look like I just crawled out of a pile of rubble. I put the recorder in my bag. Check the battery one more time. In the mirror. My face really doesn't look good. But his eyes were alert like never before. Because I know. Today's meeting is not to save a marriage. It's to find the missing document pages. Phan Nghien Chu pushed a bag of documents towards me.

“This is part of the document you need.”

Inside are three photocopies. The first sheet is the first page of the 4G drawing editing file. The content clearly states: The secondary bedroom has an additional door opening. The second sheet is a screenshot of the repair company's internal communication. In it, Chuc Dong Nghieu asked Phan Nghien Chu:

"Your mother said that the extra bedroom will be used by Khai Nam in the future."

"Has the landlord confirmed yet?"

Phan Nghien Chu replied:

"Family confirmed."

The third sheet is a conversation between him and Ton Thu Binh. Ton Thu Binh message:

"Just put the commitment in the repair file first."

"Waiting until before the wedding day to sign is the safest bet."

I flipped through all the documents and asked:

“Where is the original?”

“I don't.”

“Who made the capital contribution statement?”

Phan Nghien Chu was silent for a moment then replied:

“My mother found someone to fix it from an existing model.”

“Chuc Dong Nghieu cooperated in stamping.”

I looked straight at him.

“What about signatures and fingerprints?”

First time since we met again. There was real panic in Phan Nghien Chu's eyes.

“I don't know that.”

“I know about the commitment to add names.”

“I also know about letting Khai Nam move in.”

“But forging your mother's signature and fingerprints…”

“I'm not participating.”

He started to lower his voice. It is said that Ton Thu Binh has been poor for so long that he is always insecure. Saying that Phan Khai Nam is still immature. Saying that you are stuck between the two sides is also very awkward. I sat and listened. Because this is Phan Nghien Chu's most powerful weapon. A soft blade. He never says you are wrong. He just said other people are pitiful. Don't force you to back down. But put all the suffering of everyone on display in front of you. To make you feel... If I continue to take one step forward. Then you are the one who is indifferent. I looked at him. Slowly ask:

“What about my mother?”

“What about my mother?”

“Has her whole life been easy?”

“The day my father passed away, she sat alone in the hospital hallway until morning.”

"In order to collect enough money for a down payment to buy a house for me, she closed the tailor shop she had worked at for many years."

“Your mother is poor so she can target my house.”

“Your little brother is not yet an adult so he can move into my spare bedroom.”

“What about my mother?”

“Just because she's honest…”

“So you deserve to be used as fake fingerprints?”

Phan Nghien Chu could not answer. I took the engagement ring off my hand. Put it down on the table. The sound is very quiet.

“This was never just about a house.”

I looked at him. Every word.

“It's because you're standing in my house…”

“Then open the door for someone else to come in.”

Before I left. Phan Nghien Chu finally said one more thing.

“July 27.”

“My mother used to come My mother's tailor shop."

“To get the wine red cheongsam to wear at the wedding.”

I immediately called my mother. Mom thought for a moment then said:

“She did come that day.”

“When I came back, I still brought a bag of rags.”

“He said he wanted to make scented sachets.”

I tightened my grip on the phone. The tailor shop has no ink stamps. But there is red chalk used for tailoring. That fingerprint... Maybe it wasn't scored directly on the paper. Which is copied from somewhere else. When Phan Nghien Chu mentioned rag bags. There was no surprise in my heart. There was just a cold feeling that slowly subsided. Because many clues over the past few days have gradually pieced together into shape. Only the final brushstroke is missing to complete the picture. Leave the cafe. I did not return to Nam Que Ly immediately. I stood on the side of the road and called my mother. Vehicles are constantly passing in front of us. The wind blew the corn leaves to the tip of the shoe. I asked very slowly. I was afraid my mother would panic. Just afraid of missing any details. When it comes to rag bags. Mother's voice clearly changed.

“She said the extra fabric of the cheongsam was so beautiful.”

“So I want to bring it home to make scented sachets.”

“Mom even carefully folded it neatly for her.”

I closed my eyes. Mom wrapped her kindness in that bag and gave it away. And the opponent... Used it to create a fake fingerprint. That moment. I don't want to scold. Because all curses are too light. I'm just saying:

“Tomorrow we go to the tailor shop.”