Chapter 7 — Three Houses for My Cousin, I Took My Mother Abroad to Live a Worthy Life

Attached is a photo of my grandmother lying in a hospital bed. Comment section below. The eldest aunt's friends continued to follow along.

"What's up?"

“Who are you talking about?”

“Young people nowadays are really unreasonable.”

“What a pitiful old person.”

Auntie Ba texted in the group:

"Dao Dao, your eldest aunt is referring to you. Let's see what you think."

I looked at the screen. Want to play with public opinion? I can play along. But not now. I put down the phone. Go to the kitchen to warm up a glass of milk for mom.

“I have to return home next week.”

Mom raised her head to look at me.

“Back for what?”

“Tackling a few things.”

I gave her a glass of milk.

“It's time for the curtain call.”

Early September. I landed at Xiaoshan airport, Hangzhou. Luc Dien stood waiting at the exit.

“I finally decided to go back.”

“Not going back.”

I pulled my suitcase out.

“It's coming to end everything.”

He drove me to downtown Hangzhou. On the road. He gave me a file.

“Everything you need is in here.”

Inside are each section of documents neatly arranged. Receipt for transferring money for surgery to grandmother. History of transferring 5,000 yuan per month for four years. Copy of Trieu Bang's lawsuit file. Screenshot of the eldest aunt's post on social networks. Along with all the evidence I've been silently keeping all these years. I turned each page. The corners of the lips curled slightly. I won't explain anymore. I'm just going to tell the truth. First page. A copy of the invoice for my grandmother's two previous heart surgeries. Payer: Tham Dao. Amount: 42,000 yuan and 58,000 yuan. Second page. It's the bank statement from the past four years where I transferred money to my grandmother. 5,000 yuan per month. Forty-eight consecutive months. A total of 240,000 yuan. Third page. Is a copy of Trieu Bang's civil loan contract. The interest rate far exceeds the legal limit. A typical high-interest loan. Fourth page. It's the bank deposit records of my eldest aunt and uncle. When I saw the fourth page, I stopped.

“There's 1,200,000 yuan in your aunt's account?”

"That's right."

Luc Dien replied.

“That's the money my uncle received from an illegal commission on a project last year.”

"Since then, I still don't dare to spend it."

“So that means she doesn't have money to help Trieu Bang.”

"Not."

“She just doesn't want to use her money.”

“But I want to use your money.”

I closed the file.

“How are things arranged?”

“Grandma has been discharged from the hospital.”

“Currently at my aunt's house.”

“Today is just the weekend.”

“Chu Man and Trieu Bang were also present.”

“Mr. Hai's house just arrived.”

“The whole extended family is there.”

“Is that a coincidence?”

Luc Dien pushed up his glasses.

“I asked someone to tell my eldest aunt that you have returned home.”

“I want to meet in person to discuss helping.”

I glanced at him.

“You are worse than I thought.”

“I just set up the stage.”

“The one who wants to end the play is me.”

The car stopped below the eldest aunt's apartment complex. It's a very old building. Each piece of ceramic tile on the outer wall has peeled off. Two hallway light bulbs were also broken. But right in front of the elevator was parked an Audi A6. My uncle's car. I went up to the third floor. Stand in front of the door for a moment. Inside, there were bustling voices and laughter. I rang the doorbell. The door opened. The eldest aunt stood at the door. On the face filled with smiles.

"Dao Dao! You're finally here!"

"Come in quickly! Come in quickly!"

Enthusiastic to the point of turning into a different person. I walked in. The living room was filled with people. Grandma sat on the main sofa. Compared to the last time we met, he has become thinner. The face is yellow and lifeless. Chu Man sat next to him. Head bowed low. Red eyes. Trieu Bang sat in the corner. The whole person was like a tree branch knocked down by frost. The eldest uncle is pouring tea at the coffee table. Seeing me coming, he immediately stood up to say hello. Uncle Hai and Aunt Hai were also present. Everyone looked at me. Each person has a look. People expect. Guilty person. Investigator. Grandma raised her head.

"Grandmother."

I sat down opposite her. The eldest aunt brought a glass of water.

"Dao Dao, the journey has been hard, hasn't it? Drink a sip of water."

I take it. Place on the tea table. Didn't drink at all.

“The post on my friend circle, can it be deleted?”

The whole room immediately fell silent. The smile on the eldest aunt's face stiffened.

“What... what post?”

“As a person, you cannot forget your roots.”

"Once the wings are hard, we won't accept relatives anymore."