Chapter 20 — Three hours before the wedding, I locked the house as a dowry

The money from the canceled wedding is always sealed in the hotel's finance department. The blue seal is still intact. Above is the signature of me and my mother. In front of everyone, the financial manager carefully peeled off the seal. Then open the book to record the lucky money. The first page is the bride's family's guest list. Second Aunt: 2,000 yuan. Manh Mien: 800 yuan. Mom's old customers: from 300 yuan to 500 yuan. Each line of text is written very neatly. Each amount of money contains a portion of gratitude that people have carefully considered to bring. When turning to the second page. The account manager suddenly frowned. In the middle of the page there is a line crossed out. La family — 20,000 yuan welcome money. Besides, there are also notes with another type of pen:

"The groom's family has accepted."

"I haven't put the money in my pocket yet."

I raised my head. The account manager immediately issued a temporary registration book. The signature is very scribbled. But two words can still be recognized: Phan Nghien Chu immediately called Phan Khai Nam. Turn on speakerphone. Phan Khai Nam pretended not to know. But when asked continuously. He got angry.

“What if I use it temporarily?”

“Originally, that was money the La family gave me!”

“It's between me and Tieu Nhue!”

“What does it have to do with you guys?”

Phan Nghien Chu's face gradually became cold.

“It's wedding money.”

“It's not your money.”

Phan Khai Nam smiled faintly on the phone.

“The wedding can't even be held.”

“What other rules and regulations are you making up?”

“Your wife also left.”

“What's the point of pretending to be a nice person?”

“I've already spent twenty thousand yuan.”

“I owe that much.”

“If we don't fill it up first, people will really come to the door.”

Phan Nghien Chu hung up the phone. The blue veins on the back of his hand stood out clearly. I don't interfere. This is the Phan family's debt. First time. It doesn't need to go through me. But it rots from the inside. I just asked the hotel to photocopy: The second page of the welcome book. Temporary payment receipt register. Also clearly note:

"The money was missing from the moment of sealing."

Congratulation money from the bride's family will be refunded or processed separately by me and my mother. There's 20,000 yuan left from the La family. If you want it back. They will directly find Phan Khai Nam. Before leaving. Mom looked at Phan Nghien Chu. The voice was very calm.

“In the past, I truly considered you as my son-in-law.”

“So when your mother asked me to sign the papers.”

“Auntie was not on guard.”

“But now that I think about it…”

“Fortunately, Wen He did not listen to us.”

Phan Nghien Chu bowed his head. The rim of the eye turns red. I didn't turn to look at him. The matter of lucky money has been clarified. As for Phan Nghien Chu... Just the last person in my bag of evidence files still waiting to be paid. The light in the finance room is very white. So white that the words on the congratulatory money book appear clearly. Mom sat next to me. Just compared the bride's family's guest list. Just noted: Refunded. Wait for refund. Call to explain. Each line of notes corresponds to a person. It's not just money. It's emotion. When recording the name of a former customer. Mom suddenly stopped writing.

“This person used to make cotton shirts for me.”

“After that, her hands became weak.”

"But I still came to the ceremony and brought congratulatory money."

I said softly:

“I will go with mom to return it.”

Sit opposite. Phan Nghien Chu heard that sentence. Head bowed further lower. Perhaps for the first time he realized. What your family messed up wasn't just a wedding party. But also the many years of love that my mother has accumulated. After recording the La family incident. The finance manager also sighed.

“I have been doing this job for many years.”

“There are a lot of weddings.”

“But this is really rare.”

I didn't reply. Just carefully keep the photocopy of the second page of the congratulatory money book in a separate file bag. Separate from other evidence. Money can be refunded. Love can be explained. But I know. There are cracks that will never be the same again. Just this time. That crack is no longer a shame that my mother and I have to hide. It's the consequences that the Phan family must face on their own. The mother called each person from the bride's family in turn to refund the congratulatory money. She did not give details.

“The wedding has been cancelled.”

“The congratulatory money will be refunded.”

“Thank you for coming that day.”

Most people don't ask further.

“The baby is fine.”

There was an old customer sighing on the phone.

“It's a good thing that your daughter has such an opinion.”

After hanging up. Mom sat quietly for a long time. Finally, he just replied softly: As light as a sigh. But this time. There is no longer any regret in it. It's recognition for my own daughter.