Chapter 4 — Three Hundred Twenty Eight Yuan Card

“When your father was alive, there was one thing he liked to say the most.”

Mom looked up at the photo on the wall, her eyes stopped for a few seconds.

“Siblings also have to be clear about money.”

“Your father left too early.”

“There are some debts… that haven't been settled yet.”

“What do you owe, mother?”

Mother did not answer.

“The older boy is the type of person who lives his whole life for the eyes of others.”

"In front of outsiders, you dare to do everything in a grand way."

“But in reality, what he did and what he said… were never the same.”

“Over the years, he has indeed helped my mother and I several times.”

“It helps every time.”

“But after each time I help, my aunt will repeat it over and over again in front of all my relatives.”

“Tell me how pitiful we are.”

“Tell me how spacious their house is.”

"Tell me how virtuous the big boy is."

“Speaking of which…”

“Everyone feels that my mother and I are alive today because of their almsgiving.”

I didn't speak up. Because I remember it very clearly. Winter two years ago, the water heater in the house broke. December is cold enough to cut the skin. The water is so cold that just touching it hurts your hands. Mom called a technician to come look at it, and they said it wasn't worth repairing and had to replace it with a new one. The cheapest one costs 3,000 yuan. That month, my mother's supermarket salary was only 2,800 yuan. Except for my electricity, gas, and food bills, there's not much left. After the older boy learned about it, he transferred 2,000 yuan that day.

"Just take it first, ask someone to bring the rest later."

But the remaining 1,000 yuan... Waited a week and still didn't see it. Mom asked once, Duong Kien Hoa just said:

“Oh, I forgot, I forgot, you can move another day.”

But that "other day"... never comes. Finally, the youngest boy, Duong Kien Quan, loaned my family 1,000 yuan. It took my mother three months, each month, to pay back 100 yuan from her salary in installments. But since that incident, for half a year, at every family gathering, Tien Le Binh had to bring it up and mention it.

"Tu Van, when my water heater broke at home, luckily Mr. Kien Hoa didn't say a word and immediately gave me the money. Otherwise, in the middle of winter, how could I bear to let Niem An - a little girl - take a cold bath?"

"We're all one family, so if we help, we have to help."

"Mr. Kien Hoa is that type of person. He doesn't say anything with his mouth, but when needed, he is never stingy."

Every time she said that... The eyes my relatives looked at me and my mother were filled with something more. Pity. And also a noble and compassionate feeling. I spoke up, my throat a little tight.

“If I go to the bank tomorrow…”

“What if there isn't 3,280,000 yuan on the card?”

Mom stood up and put the cup in the kitchen sink.

"I turned around and went straight. I didn't take a penny."

“To be poor is to be truly poor.”

“But poor people also have to be poor to look good.”

The mother's back is so thin that it is thin. The faded shirt under the light clearly showed traces of having been washed countless times.

“Go to sleep.”

“I still have to get up early tomorrow.”

She returned to her room and closed the door. I sat on the old sofa in the living room and looked at my father's photo for a long time. If dad were still alive, how would he handle this? Did you accept the other 3,280,000 yuan? Are you like your mother, determined to go to the bank to check your balance? I do not know. Dad passed away eight years ago. My memories of him are increasingly fading. I just remember that he loved to carry me on his shoulders and lead me to work pellets. Every time I go to the gate, I have to shout loudly:

"Our Niem An family will definitely take the entrance exam to the best university in the country in the future!"

I passed the exam. But he doesn't know anymore. I closed my eyes, trying not to let the tears fall. Tomorrow there is another difficult match to face. The next morning, just after six o'clock, I hadn't even woken up yet and the phone rang in the living room. Mom picked up the phone. It's my grandmother's voice. The old lady surnamed Duong is seventy-six years old, her ears are no longer good, and every time she calls, it seems like she is arguing. Even though I was a wall away, I could still hear it clearly.

"Tu Van! Your eldest brother called mom last night!"

"He said I was determined to take him to the bank to check the balance or something? They gave me more than three million yuan in gifts and I'm still not satisfied? What do you mean?"

“Mom, please listen to me first.”

“Listen to what!”

"Isn't your eldest brother treating you and your mother good enough? Turn your head and you'll embarrass him in front of the whole family!"

“Mom, I don't intend to embarrass anyone.”

“Such a large amount of money, a clear check is the right thing to do.”

“There's nothing to check!”

"Is your eldest brother still using fake money to trick you? He is your biological brother!"

“Brothers must also be clear about money.”

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds. Then grandmother's voice rose again.

“Tu Van, mom tell me!”

"If you really go to the bank today and expose your eldest brother's face in front of everyone, from now on, don't expect anyone to stand up and talk for you in the future!"

"Kien Hoa has been raising his mother and children like this for many years. Look to see if there is any family where the eldest son can do that much?"

“You really don't know enough!”