Chapter 15 — Three hours before the wedding, I locked the house as a dowry

Thursday evening. Dong Khac Kiem knocked on the door of room 402. In his hand he held a rolled up tube of paper. After entering the house, he did not sit down. Just stand next to the dining table and say:

“I have been doing this job for more than thirty years.”

“Where does the pipe go…”

“My hands remember.”

He opened the paper tube. Inside is a hand drawing. On it, the original electrical wiring system and the later renovation are clearly marked. Three new locations are circled with a red pen: Independent electrical switch in the secondary bedroom. Drainage line outside the balcony. A new doorway has been added in the room. Next to each location, clearly state the date of implementation. He took another complete sheet of carbon paper. The content of the note this time is much more direct:

"The extra bedroom is kept as a temporary wedding room for Phan Khai Nam in the future."

"Added new doorway."

"Additional independent power system."

"Additional drainage on the balcony."

"The apartment owner was not present at the scene."

"Phan Nghien Chu confirmed that the family has agreed."

I looked at him.

“Do you really want to give these to me?”

Dong Khac Kiem lowered his head and looked at his hands. It took a long time to speak up.

“Yesterday my son asked a question.”

“It asked me…”

“Have you ever helped others do bad things?”

He smiled bitterly.

“I said no.”

“It asked again.”

"If you know something but don't come forward, does it count?"

“I can't answer.”

He took out his pen. Hand-write an explanation of the source of the document. Record the date. I'm not asking you to point fingers. The next morning. I bring: Hand drawings. Carbon paper notes. Minutes confirming missing documents. Complete related chat history. Place everything in front of Chuc Dong Nghieu. He finally gave in. A USB stick was pushed in front of me.

“The original scan is in here.”

I open the file. The 4G profile pages that once disappeared have finally appeared. Second page: Explanation for renovating the secondary bedroom. Third page: Interior backup plan for Khai Nam's temporary wedding room. Fourth page: Minutes confirming contact person at the scene. The confirmation signature clearly states: Phan Nghien Chu. Below is also a note:

"Follow family advice."

"Temporarily do not notify the owner in detail."

"Avoid affecting your mood before marriage."

I looked at that line for a long time. Finally understood. It's not like they planned to tell me after they got married. But they didn't intend for me to know. In the 5P payment profile. Right behind the 60,000 yuan cash receipt was an internal note.

"Not actually entering the fund."

"Temporarily suspended at the request of Ton Thu Binh."

"Will use for documents proving family capital contribution in the future."

I raised my head to look at Chuc Dong Nghieu. He looked down. Hoarse voice.

“I don't accept that 60,000 yuan.”

“I just made a false receipt.”

“Signature and fingerprints...”

“The Phan family brought it themselves.”

He was just about to write a supplementary explanation. The office door was suddenly pushed open. Ton Thu Binh rushed in.

“Congratulations Dong Nghieu!”

“You dare give those things to him?”

Behind her. It's Phan Nghien Chu. That moment. The last piece of fabric covering the truth... Has been completely pulled down. When Dong Khac Kiem wrote an explanation of the origin of the document. Writing speed His is very slow. Each line must pause for a moment. It's like I'm wondering if I have the strength to bear these words or not. I don't push it. Just go to the kitchen and pour a cup of hot water. Place it next to your hand. He doesn't drink. Just take a carpenter's pencil and apply pressure to the corner of the paper. So that the draft from the window doesn't blow it away.

“I don't understand your laws.”

“I just know…”

“That wall wasn't built like that.”

I nodded.

“That's enough.”

After he left. I spread the hand drawing on the dining table. The drawing is not good. Rough lines. The writing is also crooked. But it's much more realistic than the glossy color blueprints of the repair company. After Manh Mien took a photo and saved it for records, he burst out laughing.

“After everything is over, this table will probably have to be replaced.”

I bowed my head and looked at the table. There was still cement dust on it. There are marks from files pressing down. There were also glue marks left over from the previous day's wedding seals. I shook my head.

“Not changed yet.”

“This table…”

“Have seen the truth.”

After Dong Khac Kiem left. I used thick books on top of the hand drawing to flatten it. There is still dust on the paper. Cannot be wiped. Because wiping it back will damage the evidence. Look at those dust marks, folds and scribbles. I suddenly saw evidence that looked very human. They carry stains. Bring on the wrinkles. Bring hesitation. Bring the price to pay. But it stands up much more firmly than those clean and beautiful fake documents.