Chapter 4 — Unfair Marriage

“What do you want in the end?”

"I want AA. Real AA."

I took the paper, turned it over, and started writing.

“The rent is half for each person, no problem.”

“Electricity, water, management fee is half for each person, no problem.”

"Each person's food costs half, no problem."

"The money you spend on your family, you pay for it yourself. The money I spend for my family, I pay for it myself. No one interferes."

“This is the rule you set yourself three years ago, I won't change a word.”

I finished writing, signed my name, and gave him the pen. He stared at the paper, his face pale. He didn't sign. Because he realized… if he followed this rule, he couldn't take a single penny from me. For the past three years, his so-called "AA" has essentially been - wherever he can use my money, he doesn't miss it, but when it comes time to use his money, he immediately "takes care of his part". Now that I've blocked all that ambiguity... he immediately refuses.

“Qi Niem, do you have to live like this?”

“It's not like I want to live this way.”

I pointed to the board from three years ago.

“It was you who started living like this first.”

He threw down his pen, stood up, and went back into the office. I folded up the new AA agreement and placed it with the old one. Two sheets of paper, clamped in the same document bag. I gave it a name —

“Tu Tinh An's Rules.”

This rule, if he set it up... don't blame me for following it to the end. The story of Tu Tinh An not signing, very quickly had a "repercussion". On Thursday, I received a text message from the bank. Credit card locked. My secondary card - the main card is in the name of Tu Tinh An. In the first year after getting married, he said he would make a joint card to conveniently manage spending, the main card he kept, the secondary card he gave to me. General usage limit, 50,000 yuan. Normally, I buy things, pay electricity and water bills, spend every day... all swipe this card. He locked it. I called to confirm with the bank - the primary cardholder requested to lock the secondary card, which is valid. I put the phone down and sat still for a moment. He was forcing me into the water. Using the economic squeeze method, squeezing my livelihood. That night he returned, I didn't mention anything. I went to the bank myself, opened a new savings card, and changed my salary account there. On Friday, I discovered that the family's joint account - the account where each person transfers 3,000 each month to pay for the house - had a balance problem. Missing 12,000 yuan. I check the transaction history. Three days ago, Tu Tinh An withdrew. Switch to his personal account. I took a screenshot and sent it to him.

“The joint account is 12,000 short, what's going on?”

He replied with one word — “Urgent.”

“What is the urgent need?”

“My mother changed the air conditioner.”

I looked at that line for ten seconds. His mother replaced the air conditioner… taking money from the joint account. Half of the money in there is mine.

“What do you mean… your mother replaced the air conditioner, I spent 6,000?”

“Don't think like that.”

"If it doesn't count like that, how will it count? Tell me."

He sent a voice clip.

"Can you stop overdoing everything? My mother's air conditioner is broken, it's too hot to replace. I'm short of money, I'll take it from the joint account for now, I'll make it up later."

Will make up for it later. Every time it's these four words. The cost to complete and repair the house is 18,000 - will be compensated later. Money to buy a bag for my sister is 3,200 - will be compensated later. 20,000 jade bracelet — will make up for it later. Come today Now, the "later" amount he owes me... is nearly 60,000 yuan. Not even a single penny has been paid. I don't text back anymore. I opened the computer and created a new Excel file. Record every single amount of money for the past three years… he “borrowed” from the joint account and from me personally. Amount, date, purpose, paid or not. Every item, clearly. Total: 58,700 yuan. I printed out two copies of that table. A lock in the drawer. Put one copy in your document bag — will use it tomorrow. Tu Tinh An wants to play money war... okay. I play with him. But this time, I was no longer the one being led by his nose. Saturday, Saturday. Tu Tinh An's younger sister — Tu Vu — arrived. Twenty-three years old, just graduated, currently staying at home and not working.

"Good daughter" in the mouth of Vu Phuong Anh.

"Little princess" in the eyes of Tu Tinh An.

As soon as she entered the door, she kicked off her shoes right at the entrance, put on her slippers, and calmly fell down on the sofa. Seeing me coming out of the kitchen, I called out: I answered. She conveniently took the fruit from the tea table and ate it while scrolling on her phone. After a while, she raised her head and said casually:

“Sister-in-law, I heard you guys say you have a SPA card?”

My hand-wiping movement slowed down a bit. Tu Tinh An did not show up and sent his sister to be a guest speaker.

“The 20,000 yuan kind?”

"Can I have it once? I've been so stressed lately, I want to relax a bit."

I looked at her. A twenty-three year old girl, not working at home, sleeping until she wakes up every day, relying on her brother and parents to eat and spend money... Tell me that there is "great pressure".

“The card is my personal item.”

"Are you that stingy sister-in-law? I didn't force you to spend money, I only swiped once."

“You can ask your brother to buy one for you.”

Her face immediately darkened.

"As I told you, that card was originally for family members to use. I'm his sister, so I'm also considered a family member."

“It doesn't count.”

She sat up straight and threw the phone on the coffee table.

"Sister-in-law, what's wrong? My brothers treat you so well, can't this little thing help?"

"Your brother treats me well? How good is it?"

"It's good that he didn't ask me for money! How many married men now still force the bride's family to compensate? We've never taken a penny from you!"

I stopped and walked out to the living room.