Chapter 1 — Three-Year Savings Book and Fraudulent Marriage

THE GREEDY MOTHER-IN-LAW WANTED TO SWALLOW MY ALL 1,500,000 RMB (ABOUT 5.4 BILLION) OF MY DOWRY MONEY, WHEN IT WAS FINDING OUT AT THE BANK THAT IT WAS A 3-YEAR TERM DEPOSIT, SHE GOES CRAZY ON THE PLACE

“Sorry, this term deposit has not reached its maturity date yet so it cannot be withdrawn at this time.”

The teller's voice was not loud, but I stood more than three meters away and still heard it clearly. Chu Thuy's hand was still placed on the transaction counter, his whole body was as stiff as a stone statue. Trieu Phuong squeezed in next to him, her neck stretched out, her expression full of disbelief.

"No way! The savings book clearly states 1,500,000 yuan, why can't I withdraw it?"

The bank employee checked the system again and then raised his head.

"This is a three-year term deposit in the form of a full-term deposit. The deposit date is March 15 this year, it must be withdrawn until March 15, 2027."

Trieu Phuong's face immediately changed.

"Three years? Who sent the three-year term?"

Staff looks at the screen.

"The person in charge of the account is Lam Tri Y. The owner directly made the deposit procedure."

Trieu Phuong immediately turned his head to look at me. I was standing next to the row of waiting chairs in the bank lobby, still holding a cup of hot water that I had just poured from the self-service area.

"Lam Tri Y! Come here for me!"

I didn't move. Slowly take a sip of water. Chu Thuy also turned around, his eyes fixed on me.

“Tri Y, come here for a moment.”

His voice was still trying to stay calm. After all, this is a bank. I slowly walked forward.

“Is something wrong?”

Trieu Phuong pointed to the transaction counter.

“Did you deposit your dowry money for a term of three years?”

“When did you send it?”

“Before registering marriage.”

Trieu Phuong's lips moved for a long time but could not utter a single sentence. Chu Thuy lowered his voice:

“Tri Y, why didn't you discuss it with me before sending money?”

I looked at him.

“The dowry money your parents gave you, why do you have to discuss it with me?”

His throat moved slightly. Trieu Phuong pulled his son's sleeve.

"Tell him to withdraw it. It's okay to withdraw it before maturity. If you lose a little interest, you'll lose it."

Hearing that, the teller added:

“If you want to withdraw before the maturity date, it must be done by the account owner and requires identification and password.”

Trieu Phuong looked at me again.

“I withdraw.”

“No withdrawal.”

I threw the paper cup into the trash.

"1,500,000 yuan deposited for a three-year term, the interest is at least more than one hundred thousand yuan. Why do I have to withdraw before maturity?"

Trieu Phuong's face turned pale. Chu Thuy reached out to grab my arm. I took a step back, just barely avoiding it.

“Tri Y, go home and talk.”

“Okay, let's go home and talk.”

I turned around and walked out of the bank. Behind him, Trieu Phuong's voice was heard, gritting his teeth and cursing:

"I told you! This girl is not sincere at all! Before getting married, she hid the money!"

The June sunlight gently falls on me. I stood in front of the bank for a while. Married seven days. This is the first time I feel like I did something right. Three months ago, the night my parents transferred me 1,500,000 yuan in dowry money, my mother said something to me.

"Tri Y, you must keep this money yourself. Don't give it to anyone."

At that time, I thought my mother was too worried. Now I understand. Mom is much more alert than me. All the way home, Chu Thuy did not say a word. Trieu Phuong sitting in the passenger seat was also silent. But that's it not peace. It's the calm before the storm. As soon as he parked his car in the basement of the apartment complex, Trieu Phuong opened his mouth first.

“Chu Thuy, look what kind of wife you are marrying!”

Chu Thuy turned off the car engine and turned to look at me.

“Mom, go home and talk.”

Three people, one in front and one in the back, entered the elevator. As soon as she entered the house, Trieu Phuong didn't even change her shoes and sat down on the sofa.

“Lam Tri Y, I ask you, what do you mean by depositing that money for a three-year period?”

I changed my slippers and went to sit opposite her.

"What do you mean? Is there any need to send money?"

Trieu Phuong slammed his hand on the tea table.

“You're deliberately wary of our house, right?”

"Auntie, 1,500,000 yuan is the dowry money my parents gave me. How I send it is up to me."

Trieu Phuong slapped his thigh hard.

"I've married into the Chu family! That money belongs to the Chu family!"

“Legally, that is called personal property that existed before marriage.”

Trieu Phuong immediately choked. She turned to look at Chu Thuy.

“What should I say?”

Chu Thuy was still standing at the mysterious gate, his hands in his pockets.

"Tri Y, my mother only thinks about our small family. Wouldn't it be better to send that money without a term? What if there's an urgent matter at home?"

“What's urgent?”

Chu Thuy's eyes wavered slightly.

"Buy a house to pay off debt, renovate the house, and then the children will go to school..."

"I bought this building before marriage. I pay 6,000 yuan each month in installments. My salary is 18,000 yuan. I have enough money to pay. Before, I told my parents to take care of the house renovation. As for the children, it's still a long way off."

I calmly listed each story one by one. Chu Thuy's face gradually became unsightly. Trieu Phuong jumped up directly from the chair.

"This woman! You've only been married for seven days and you're already making plans with your mother-in-law?"

“It's not like I want to calculate.”

“From the seventh day after the marriage registration, you guys wanted to take my money.”

The living room was silent for two seconds. Trieu Phuong trembled and pointed at me.

"Okay... very good! You're good! You're brave! Chu Thuy, take care of yourself! I can't live in this house anymore!"

After speaking, she sat down on the sofa and took out her phone to make a call.

"Old Chu! Come here quickly! Your daughter-in-law is about to turn upside down!"

I stood up, went straight to the bedroom and closed the door. Leaning back against the door, I heard Trieu Phuong's voice outside getting louder and louder, as if I was the one suffering injustice. The phone vibrates. It's a message from mom.

“Tri Y, absolutely don't be soft-hearted about money.”

I answered with one word. Actually, if my mother doesn't remind me, I won't give in either. Because while at the bank, I noticed a detail. When Chu Thuy told the staff to check the balance, his fingers were shaking. A person with a monthly salary of 18,000 yuan, why is he so impatient over 1,500,000 yuan? At night, Chu Thuy entered the bedroom. I was lying in bed reading a book, not raising my head. He sat down on the edge of the bed and was silent for a moment.

"Tri Y, what happened today was that my mother was wrong. I apologize on her behalf."

I turned to another page.

“But that money…”

I put the book down.

“Chu Thuy, are you short of money?”

He stopped.

"Do not have."

“Then why do you insist on taking my dowry money?”

"I'm not determined to get it. I just feel that before sending the three-year term, you should tell me one thing language."

“I sent it in March. At that time, we hadn't even registered our marriage yet."

“But the wedding date has already been set.”

“Setting a wedding date doesn't mean my money becomes your money.”

Chu Thuy's lower jaw immediately tightened.

“You saying that is like saying I married you just for money.”

I don't answer. He stood up and went to the window.

“Okay. This story stops here. You keep the money, I don't care anymore."

His voice was very calm. But I saw the hand clutching the curtains, knuckles white. That night, the two of them lay with their backs facing each other. He breathed very softly. Obviously not sleeping. I don't sleep either. I only thought of one thing in my mind. Before getting married, Chu Thuy never mentioned money. If you go on a date, split the bill in half. Gifts are not expensive but very thoughtful. Never complained about being poor in front of me.