Chapter 3 — Three Thousand Yuan Every Month, In Return The Whole Family Is Ruined

Chu Minh crept closer.
“Mom… should I tell Tieu Tinh the truth?”
“This month… our family really doesn't have much money.”
Vuong Lan slammed on the tea table.
“Speak the truth!”
"What should I say to mom? Say you two only earn a little money each month?"
"You say your mother is useless, you can't even pay for your daughter to go out?"
“What face is there left!”
She vented all her anger on Chu Minh. He was scolded so much that he didn't dare open his mouth. I sat at the dining table, slowly drinking water. Like an outsider. Vuong Lan's eyes finally turned to me.
“Tham Duyet, do you still have your own money?”
The voice was full of doubt. I put down the cup and looked straight at her.
“Mom, did you forget?”
“My salary card… is at mom's place.”
“Every time money comes in, mom gets a text message.”
“Where else do you have money?”
I said very calmly, extremely innocent. Vuong Lan choked. The card is in her hand. The message was also on her phone. There are no loopholes to refute.
“So… how much is your credit card limit?”
She still hasn't given up.
"Pay the advance, pay it back next month when you get salary."
I laughed.
“Are you joking?”
“My credit card last month to buy a refrigerator for our house... has already been maxed out.”
"The bill hasn't been paid yet, where will I get the money for my brother-in-law to go out?"
I speak the truth. That refrigerator was originally something I bought before getting married, but Chu Minh damaged it. Vuong Lan blamed me for not using it carefully. In the end, I was forced to pay my own money to buy a new one. This clause... I remember it very well. This time, Vuong Lan was completely helpless. She looked at Chu Minh, then looked at me. His eyes were full of disappointment and anger. As if we were two useless people. Finally, she picked up her phone and opened the banking app. I saw her hands shaking slightly. Click on transfer, enter Chu Tinh's account number. At the step of entering the amount... She stopped for a long time. Then he still gritted his teeth and entered 5,000,00 yuan. Transfer successful. The money in the house immediately went from over 6,000.00 yuan... Only 1,000.00 yuan remained. Vuong Lan threw the phone hard on the sofa.
“No one can eat meat this month!”
"Vegetables and beans are alive! Let's all enjoy the wind!"
She stood up and returned to her room. The door slammed shut. Chu Minh looked at me, wanting to say something. But I don't give it a chance. I picked up my bag.
“I'm going out for a bit.”
“Where are you going?”
"The company has something to do, I'll come back to work overtime."
I don't turn around. What overtime? I go to eat seafood. I want them and their mother... Sitting in that house, munching on green vegetables. But taste it clearly... The feeling of not having money, how bitter it is. Vuong Lan said he could do it. From that day on, meals at home plummeted. Breakfast is porridge so thin that you can see the shadow, served with a tiny plate of pickles. At lunch, Chu Minh and I dealt with ourselves at the company. And dinner... becomes the most uncomfortable time of the day. There is always only one plate of stir-fried vegetables and one plate of mixed tofu. Sometimes when Vuong Lan is happy, she will add a dish of fried tomatoes with eggs. But the eggs were pitifully few, just like decorations for the tomatoes. Even though I regret not daring to give more. The dish is dry, without any shine. Chu Minh endured it for two days and then began to be unable to bear it.
“Mom, how about… can we improve the meal a bit?”
He looked at the plate of wilted vegetables and frowned.
“I can't be full after eating like this.”
Vuong Lan's chopsticks hit the table hard.
"Improve? How to improve?"
“This month I still have 1,000,00 yuan, I have to pay electricity and water, buy rice and noodles, and you still want to eat meat?”
“Why don't you know that!”
Her eyes were filled with disappointment as she looked at her son.
"If you don't like to eat, don't eat! Go out and eat!"
Chu Minh blushed. How to eat out? His salary card is in Vuong Lan's hand. At this moment, he had less than 50 yuan in cash. He could only bow his head and continue to eat each dry mouthful of rice. I looked at that scene... my heart did not waver. I eat very little. Because I'm not hungry at all. On the way off work, I ate out. Spicy noodles, grilled food, fried chicken, burgers. Whatever I want to eat, I eat it. After eating, you can conveniently buy more cakes or fruit. When I get home, I carry big bags and small bags.
"Tham Duyet! What are you buying again?"
When Vuong Lan saw it, he immediately became alert.
“Ah, company afternoon tea, there's leftovers so I'll take it home for late night.”
I said lightly.
"How good is your company? Afternoon tea every day?"
She clearly didn't believe it.
"Yes." I nodded, "Lately performance has been poor, boss wants to motivate employees."
"If you don't believe me, come to my company and see tomorrow."
I was so calm that she couldn't refute. You can only watch me carry delicious things back to my room. I know Chu Minh is standing outside the door. He definitely smelled the delicious scent of cake coming from the crack in the door. Definitely swallowing saliva. But I didn't dare knock on the door. Because he knows… Even if I knock, I will not divide. Even saying a few words was enough to make his pride hurt again. Day after day. The atmosphere in the house became more and more stuffy. Vuong Lan became erratic. Just a small thing can make her explode. After taking a long shower, she stood outside the door and shouted.
"Don't you know how to save water? Water doesn't cost money!"
At night when she turned on the reading light, she rushed in and turned it off.
“Not sleeping in the middle of the night, wasting electricity!”
She even unplugged the living room wifi. It is said that each month you can save several tens of yuan in electricity bills. Chu Minh completely collapsed. He's the type of person who can't stand not playing games. Losing my life, like losing half my life. Finally, he exploded. Mother and daughter argued loudly.
"Mom! If you manage your money, you'll manage your money. Why do you forbid me from using the internet?"
"Do you still want this house? You only play games all day! If you have that money, why don't you save it to buy meat?"
"What if I use my own money? It's my salary!"
"Your salary has already been given to me! Now it's the whole family's money! I said yes!"
The sound of arguing echoed throughout the living room. I put on headphones and lay down to watch movies in my room. Outside sounds are just vague background noise. About half an hour later. I heard Chu Minh banging on the door and leaving. Then came the sound of Vuong Lan crying loudly.
"What karma have I created? Raising an ungrateful son!"
"Because of this house, how miserable I am, does anyone understand?"
I took off my headphones and walked out. Vuong Lan sat on the floor, tears streaming from her eyes and nose. I gave her a piece of paper. She didn't even look at it and tossed it away.
“Don't pretend in front of me!”
I'm not angry, I just retract my hand.
“Mom, stop being angry.”
"Chu Minh is still young, he doesn't understand his mother's suffering."
"But don't worry mom, the money in the house is all under your control, we have to listen to you."
“Mom said if you don't use the internet then don't use it.”
“Mom told us to eat raw vegetables to get through the day, so we also listened.”
“Anyway… Mom is the one who owns this house.”
The words I heard were comforting. But every word is a mirror. Looking straight into the reality she created herself. Vuong Lan's crying stopped. She raised her head. Bloodshot eyes looked at me. I smiled and looked back. Dispiteous. No sympathy. There is only cold calmness... Of someone standing outside, watching a play.