Chapter 17 — Three Hundred Twenty Eight Yuan Card

Her account is also silent. The group chat went quiet. That day at Fu Man Lau, when Duong Kien Hoa left... His legs were so soft that he couldn't stand. It was Tien Le Binh who had to help him out. He didn't greet anyone. I saw it with my own eyes. A large gold necklace fell out from inside the collar. Under the hallway light, it swayed back and forth. Strangely dazzling. His back was bent. In my entire life, it was the first time I saw Duong Kien Hoa's back bend like that.

“Big brother… won't really collapse, will he?”

Mom is standing on the balcony drying clothes.

"No."

“His car dealership is still there.”

“Customers are still there.”

“It's not like he can't survive.”

“It's a loss of face.”

“So what happens next?”

"Money matters, Mr. Chu will help me handle them."

“You don't need to worry.”

“I'm not asking about money.”

“I asked…”

"In the future, can we and our older brother... still sit at the same table to eat?"

Mom smoothed the sleeves of her shirt and pinned it on a hanger.

“That was his choice.”

“Not mine.”

Duong Kien Hoa's final struggle was even more intense than I thought. Wednesday afternoon, a taxi stopped in front of the apartment complex gate. Grandmother was brought here by Duong Kien Hoa. Not that she wanted to come. It was Duong Kien Hoa who asked her to come. Grandma stood in my living room. Today she is wearing an old black cotton shirt, her hair is white, and her back is bent a lot. Duong Kien Hoa stood behind her. Crouching at the door, not daring to enter completely. Grandma's voice was much calmer than last time.

“Last night, Kien Hoa knelt in front of her mother's bed and cried all night.”

“He begged his mother to come and talk to him…”

“Let's see if we can give it another chance.”

“It's not that I didn't give him a chance.”

“That 500,000 yuan…”

“When will he pay, when will this end?”

“It said it can't take out 500,000 yuan right now.”

“But it can write IOUs.”

“Three years to pay off.”

Mom looked at Duong Kien Hoa standing outside the door.

“Speak for yourself.”

Duong Kien Hoa slowly walked in. Completely different from the previous visit. He doesn't wear floral shirts or suits anymore. Just an old gray t-shirt. The gold necklace has also disappeared.

“500,000 yuan in principal…”

“I accept.”

“I will write a promissory note.”

“Three years to pay off.”

“And the profit?”

Duong Kien Hoa's facial muscles twitched.

“Profit…”

“You say it.”

“Calculated based on the bank's loan interest rate for the same period.”

“Eight years now.”

“How much, you can calculate yourself.”

Duong Kien Hoa's face immediately turned pale. Eight years of interest added to… 500,000 yuan will become a much larger sum.

“It's too much, Tu Van.”

“A lot or not…”

"It's clear in my heart."

“In the past eight years, how much money have you made with that 500,000 yuan…”

“I understand better than you.”

Grandma stood next to it and listened to it all. Don't say a word. Duong Kien Hoa stood in the middle of the living room. Can't advance. Going back is not enough.

“If you write a promissory note…”

“Are you sure you won't prosecute me anymore?”

“I guarantee it.”

“Clear writing on white paper and black ink.”

“This matter is over.”

“But there's one more thing…”

“You must do it.”

“Standing in front of the whole family…”

“Sorry Niem An.”

Duong Kien Hoa's body shook slightly.

“Sorry for what?”

“Tell everyone…”

“There's only 328 yuan in that bank card.”

“It's not the bank that does it wrong."

“But you sent it in yourself.”

“Tell everyone…”

“That day you deliberately used 328 yuan to pretend to be 3,280,000 yuan in front of thirty people.”

Duong Kien Hoa's face was completely distorted.

“I can't do it.”

Mom stood up.

“The day I flashed that card in front of thirty people…”

“Have you ever thought…”

“How happy was Niem An that night?”

“Have you ever thought…”

“Did she put the card under her pillow and hope to sleep all night?”

“Have you ever thought…”

“The next morning standing in front of the bank counter…”

“Seeing on the screen there are only 328 yuan…”

“Do you know where her face is?”

“You said you couldn't do it?”

“When you used 328 yuan to toy with your niece…”

“You did it very easily.”

The whole living room fell silent. Grandmother closed her eyes and placed her hands on her knees. A long time later, she opened her eyes.

“Jianhua.”

“My brother-in-law passed away eight years ago.”

“What I owe him…”

“Should have paid.”

Duong Kien Hoa bowed his head and said nothing.

“Whether you apologize or not is up to you.”

“But if you don't apologize…”

"After Tet, I won't come to your house to eat anymore."

Duong Kien Hoa immediately raised his head.

“You choose yourself.”

Grandma stood up on her hands and knees.

“Bring mom home.”