Chapter 3
Edward Quan ·
“You’ll regret what you said today.”
Zhao Ming came over to me.
“You sent Mom’s words to Xiaoxue?”
“Exactly as she said them.”
“What are you trying to do?”
I put my phone on the table.
“Remind everyone who’s asking whom for a favor.”
He stared at me for a long time, then suddenly said:
“Mom is moving back here tomorrow. You can’t stop her.”
4.
The following afternoon, he did bring his mother back.
This time, Zhao Xue and her husband, Zhou Kaichuan, came too.
Zhou Kaichuan carried two suitcases. Without so much as looking at me, he wheeled them straight to the main bedroom.
Zhao Xue wore a new outfit and carried a stack of papers.
“Let’s settle Mom’s care arrangements today.”
I sat in the living room. I had sent the children to a classmate’s home.
“Go ahead.”
My mother-in-law took the middle of the sofa, with Zhao Ming behind her.
Zhou Kaichuan laid an agreement on the coffee table.
“Mom is getting older and needs someone to care for her. We’re all family. Taking turns is the fairest arrangement.”
I leafed through it.
Zhao Ming would be responsible for her day-to-day care. His household would provide accommodation, while Zhao Xue would contribute one thousand yuan a month toward living expenses.
One thousand wouldn’t even cover her medication.
“How exactly are we taking turns?”
Zhao Xue lifted her chin.
“It’s not convenient at our place. Mom will spend three years with you, then one year with me.”
“It’s not convenient because you took her apartment.”
Her expression changed.
“Mom gave it to me willingly.”
“So now she has nowhere to live, and that entitles her to take over my home?”
My mother-in-law slapped the table.
“Take over? My own son lives here. What’s wrong with me using a few rooms?”
“I own this apartment.”
“My son lives here too.”
Zhao Ming finally spoke.
“Wanqing, the agreement is just to give Mom some security. Sign it.”
“Who drafted it?”
“I consulted someone,” Zhao Xue said. “It’s all in accordance with the law.”
“Then ask that person to come and explain it.”
She said nothing.
I took out my phone and called the estate agent.
The agent who had sold our old house had stayed in touch with Dad. He had also helped me with the paperwork when I bought this apartment.
When he answered, I put him on speaker.
“Uncle Chen, if someone buys an apartment outright before marriage, their spouse contributes nothing afterward, and only the buyer’s name is on the title, can the spouse demand to move in?”
His answer was clear.
“The property belongs to the registered owner. Anyone living there needs the owner’s consent. Being married doesn’t automatically replace that authorization.”
Zhao Xue looked distinctly uncomfortable.
I ended the call and pushed the agreement back.
“I’m not signing.”
Zhao Ming picked it up.
“Don’t embarrass the family.”
“The embarrassment is arranging someone’s retirement in another person’s apartment.”
Zhou Kaichuan finally looked up.
“Mom is getting old, and you have two empty rooms. Surely everyone can compromise.”
“Those rooms are for my children.”
“What’s wrong with the two of them sharing?”
“Have your daughter squeeze in with someone, then.”
His face stiffened.
Zhao Xue sprang up.
“Song Wanqing, watch how you speak.”
“Then take your papers and leave.”
My mother-in-law suddenly grabbed a teacup and hurled it to the floor.
It shattered on the tiles.
“I’m staying right here today. Nobody is throwing me out.”
Zhao Ming bent to support her.
“Mom, don’t get angry.”
I picked up the cardboard box I had prepared and packed her clothes into it.
“If you insist on staying, I’ll have to call the police.”
Zhao Ming seized my wrist.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Let go.”
“Call the police today, and tomorrow I’ll take the children away.”
Everyone in the room went still.
I looked at him.
“Try it.”
His grip tightened.
Zhao Xue immediately took out her phone and pointed the camera at me.
“I’ve recorded all of it. You pushing Mom around and hitting Mingming.”
“What exactly did you record?”
“You trying to throw an old woman out.”
“I never touched her.”
“Who saw that?”
I switched on the display for the security camera by the entrance.
It had captured everything: my mother-in-law smashing the cup, Zhao Ming gripping my wrist, Zhao Xue filming.
Her phone froze in midair.
I backed up the footage and emailed it to myself.
“Keep filming.”
Zhao Ming let go.
Red marks remained on my wrist.
Seeing them, his mother immediately dropped to the floor.
“She hit me! Mingming, she’s trying to drive me to my death!”
He turned to me.
“Apologize to Mom.”
“She smashed the cup. Tell her to pay for it.”
“Do you have a conscience at all?”