Chapter 18 — Three Hundred Twenty Eight Yuan Card

Duong Kien Hoa took three days to make a decision. During those three days, he did not contact anyone. Even Qian Liping didn't know what he was thinking. During that time, Duong Thien Tuong came once. Not looking for his mother. It's about finding me. He stood in the hallway of my apartment building, his hands in his pockets, looking extremely unnatural.

"What is up?"

“The things my father did…”

“Some things I know, some things I don't know.”

“And about that bank card…”

“I only heard about it later.”

“I want to say sorry to you.”

"That day at the dinner table, the harsh words I said... were not appropriate at all."

I looked at him. Duong Thien Tuong is twenty-three years old. It's different from the way he used to look like he just tilted his head and scrolled through short videos.

“You don't need to apologize for your father.”

“It's his problem, let him solve it himself.”

"I know."

“I'm sorry… on my own behalf.”

He stood there for a moment. Then turned around and went downstairs. Take two steps and stop.

“You passed the Thanh Hoa exam really well.”

“A hundred times better than me.”

Having finished speaking, he left. On the evening of the third day, Duong Kien Hoa called.

“Saturday noon, Fu Man Lau.”

“I've called everyone.”

“I have finished writing the debt paper.”

“500,000 yuan principal plus interest…”

“A total of 820,000 yuan.”

“Pay in three years.”

“As for apologizing…”

He stopped for a few seconds.

“I will come.”

The phone hung up. I looked at my mother.

“He agreed?”

“Do you believe it?”

“Believe it or not…”

“On Saturday, you'll know by looking at his expression.”

“Are you stressed, Mom?”

Mom put the phone on the table.

“If your father knew this day would come…”

“He will be very happy.”

Mom's voice is very soft. After speaking, he went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. The sound of rushing water. In the quiet night, that sound echoed far away. Saturday noon. Jin Xiu Room of Fu Man Lau. Third time. It's still the same room. But the atmosphere this time is completely different. Everyone was present. More than thirty people. Grandma sits in the top position. The youngest boy sat on her left. Chu Minh Vien sits on the right. Duong Kien Hoa wears a white shirt. No more gold chains. No more floral shirts. Hair is also cut short. The whole person became thinner. Tien Le Binh sat next to him, not saying a word, with a bare face without makeup. Duong Thien Tuong also came. Sitting next to my mother. My mother and I sat in the middle of the table. This time there are no longer two places next to the door. It was intentionally arranged by the youngest son. No one ordered. There is only hot tea on the table. Grandma was the first to speak.

“Call everyone here today…”

“It's because Kien Hoa has something to say.”

"Everyone, please listen and then go."

All eyes turned to Duong Kien Hoa. He stood up. The chair pulled over the tile floor making a heavy rubbing sound.

"Everybody."

“The matter of Chi Vien's money…”

“Same thing with the bank card…”

“I will make it clear today.”

He stopped.

"The first."

“That year Chi Vien gave me 500,000 yuan.”

“That money is an investment.”

“Not a loan.”

“The contract is real.”

“The signature is mine.”

“This money…”

“I still haven't paid.”

He bowed his head. The whole room was silent.

“That bank card.”

His voice became lower and lower.

“It's not because the banking system failed.”

“But I only sent 328 yuan.”

“That day at the dinner table…”

“I said for everyone it is 3,280,000 yuan.”

“I said it myself.”

“It has nothing to do with the bank.”

The air in the room felt like someone had drained it of a layer. The fourth aunt opened her lips and then remained silent. The second aunt bowed her head and wiped her tears. The youngest boy sat still without moving, his hands resting on his knees. Duong Kien Hoa turned around. Face me. I reflexively stepped back a bit. He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse.

“The big boy is sorry for you.”

“328 yuan faked into 3,280,000 yuan.”

“In front of everyone, a layer of fake glamor is created.”

“Makes me think I have a very scary big uncle.”

“But actually…”

“Your eldest uncle swallowed your father's 500,000 yuan.”

“Eight years have never returned a penny.”

He bent down. No need to bow and apologize. Which is even lower than bowing.

"It's not worthy of being a big boy."

When he stood up straight, the bridge of his nose was covered in sweat. The entire private room was silent. I looked at him. More than thirty people were looking at me. I said nothing. Mom sat next to me, her hands on the table, not moving. Silence for about ten seconds. Mom stood up. Mom took out a piece of paper from her pocket. It's a debt paper. Duong Kien Hoa had already written it in advance. Mom put the paper on the table and used a glass of water to press it down.

“820,000 yuan.”

“Pay in three years.”

“Pay once every half a year.”

“Today everyone is here to testify.”

Mom looked around the dining table.

“This…”

“Stop here.”

Then mother sat down. Grandma nodded slightly.

“Everyone heard it clearly.”

Duong Kien Hoa took out a pen from his pocket. Sign and date the additional date on the debit note. The youngest boy showed a photocopy of his ID card.

“I am a witness.”

Chu Minh Vien also signed. The debt note was folded by my mother and carefully stored in an old leather bag.

“Let's order.”

Grandma spoke up. The first dish is brought up. There was finally some sound in the room.