Chapter 1 — You demand justice, I'll show you what justice is

Married for three years, Tran Hao's monthly salary increased from 30,000 yuan to 60,000 yuan. As for me, I still stopped at 20,000 yuan, no more, no less. He started criticizing me for earning less, eating from him, using his. Until one dinner, he formally offered to split the cost. He thought I would cry, riot, and beg him to take back what he said. I just smiled and replied with one word: "Okay." He didn't know, the house we were living in was in my name. Little did he know, his company's biggest customer... was actually behind me. Little did he know, his mother's family of five — the people he "invited to help with the housework" — would become the last straw that crushed his wallet. So calculate clearly. What you owe me... don't let go of even a penny.

“I think we should adopt a cost-sharing system.”

Tran Hao put down his chopsticks and looked at me seriously. My hand was holding a piece of sweet and sour fried ribs when it suddenly stopped in mid-air.

“What did you say?”

“Split it in half.” He repeated, his voice calm as if he were discussing the weather. "Rent, electricity and water, management fees, living expenses... half for each person."

I put down my chopsticks.

"Fair." he said. "I earn 60,000 yuan, you earn 20,000 yuan. If I let you pay for everything, the pressure is too great. Splitting it in half is fair for both of us."

It sounds funny. I looked at his clear, angular face, and countless memories flashed through my mind. When pursuing me, he once said:

“I raised you all my life.”

Now that I think about it, it's true. After farming... turn to calculating every penny. He proposed to me, once saying:

“Marry me, you don't need to worry about anything.”

After three years of marriage, he literally took care of everything. But those were the first two years. In the third year, he was promoted and his salary increased. With more money, my heart also began to change.

"Your salary is 60,000 yuan, I'm 20,000 yuan, but we still split it in half. Do you think that's fair?"

He nodded.

“You can try to earn more.”

I looked at him for exactly five seconds. Five seconds, enough for me to make a decision.

“What?” Obviously he didn't expect me to agree so quickly.

"I said okay. Divide it in half, starting today."

He paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.

“Do you think you've got it figured out?”

“Think it through.”

I stood up and started clearing the dishes.

“But when divided in half, the rules must be clear.”

“You say it.”

"All expenses, half for each person, clearly recorded. Who is responsible for personal expenses? Which side of the family is in charge? As for rent..."

“Rent is of course half for each person.” He immediately chimed in.

I smiled.

"This house... whose name is written on the red book?"

His smile stiffened for a split second. For this house, my father paid the entire deposit, and I also paid the loan for the past three years. On the papers, there is only my name.

"So... I'll pay the rent, but electricity, water, management fees, and living expenses will be divided in half, okay?" He quickly changed tactics.

I put the bowl in the dishwasher, pressed the start button.

"From tonight, the dishes will be divided into two. You do it today, I do it tomorrow."

"No problem."

He held a cup of tea, leaned back in his chair, his face full of satisfaction. He thinks he won. I returned to the bedroom, closed the door, turned on my phone, and texted my assistant a message:

“Tomorrow, temporarily suspend approval of public advertising Tran Hao company.”

The next day after work, I opened the door and saw that the living room had five people already seated. His mother, his father, his sister, his brother-in-law, and their six-year-old son. The tea table was littered with seed shells, fruit peels, and used napkins. On the sofa was spread an unfamiliar bed sheet. I stopped right at the door. His mother, Vuong Que Chi, was the first to speak.

“Tieu Vy is back? Hurry up and cook, we've been driving for six hours from the countryside, we're very hungry."

I looked at Tran Hao. He stood at the kitchen door, arms crossed over his chest, a smile on his face.

“My mother came to stay for a while. My sister is looking for a job, so come to the city to see the opportunity.”

“How long?”

“Undetermined, depends on the situation.”

I changed my slippers, walked to the dining table, and put down my bag.

“We just agreed to divide it in half yesterday, right?”

“Yes, so what?”

"My relatives, I'll take care of it myself."

The whole living room immediately fell silent. The smile on Vuong Que Chi's face slowly fell.

“What do you mean?”

“Auntie, Tran Hao and I are splitting the costs in half. Whoever's relative is in charge. So, Tran Hao will take care of the accommodation expenses for five people."

Having finished speaking, I picked up my bag, went straight to the bedroom, and conveniently closed the door. Behind him, Vuong Que Chi's voice shrilled:

“Tran Hao! What kind of attitude is that! You let him talk to me like that?”

“Mom, calm down…”

“Since entering the house, I haven't even been able to pour a glass of water! Is this how to be a bride?”

“Your wife only earns 20,000 yuan a month. She eats yours, uses yours, what are you pretending to do!”

I sat down on the edge of the bed, opened the food app, ordered a portion of salmon sashimi and a glass of milk tea. Only order one serving. Split it in half. Everyone takes care of their own part. Ten minutes later, the door was pushed open. Tran Hao stood there.

“Lam Vy, go out for a bit.”

"What is up?"

“Is it difficult to cook a meal? My mother went away to—”

“First, that's my mother, not your mother. Split in half, remember? Second, I've already ordered my food. I'll take care of the rest of the other five."

His face turned pale.

“Did you do it on purpose?”

“It's not intentional, it's a rule.” I looked straight at him. "Yesterday you proposed to split it in half, but today you want to go back on your word?"

His lips moved, but he couldn't say a word. Outside the living room, Vuong Que Chi's voice rang out again:

“Tran Hao! Does it even cook rice?!”

He took a deep breath, turned around and walked out. I heard him open his phone and start ordering food. His hands… must be shaking. When the food was delivered, Vuong Que Chi looked at the plastic bags with a face longer than a bitter melon.

“Ordering food from outside? There's a kitchen in the house but you don't use it, so why are you spending money unjustly like this?"

Tran Hao did not answer, just quietly took out each box of food. Four dishes, one soup, plus six bowls of rice. Phone turned on payment notification: 218 yuan. His sister, Tran Lam, sat on the sofa, holding my remote to change the channel, not bothering to lift her head.

“Honey, what did you order? Is there any shrimp? Lac Lac doesn't eat spicy food."

Lac Lac is that six year old child. Right now he is jumping up and down on my genuine leather sofa, holding half a bar of chocolate, crumbs scattered everywhere. The doorbell rang. I opened it and received my food. A box of salmon sashimi, exquisitely presented. I carried it into the bedroom. Passing by the living room, Vuong Que Chi stared at the food box in my hand.

“What is that?”

“Dinner of I."

“You eat alone?”

"It's divided in half, everyone gets their own portion."

As soon as she stood up, Tran Hao's father pulled her back.

“Stop talking, eat.”