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Dad grabbed the bank book and turned to
leave just as Mom came home with a basket
of fresh cabbage.
My face darkened. I grabbed Dad’s sleeve,
stopping him in his tracks.
Perhaps it was the first time he’d seen such a
cold, hard expression on my face.
He tried to explain. “I need it urgently. Don’t
worry, I’ll put it back when I get paid.”
Mom looked at me. I continued to hold Dad’s
sleeve.
Mom reached into his pocket and snatched
the bank book.
“You’re not taking a single cent!”
Uncle Mark’s family arrived to collect their
usual share of vegetables and meat. Grandma
was about to call Dad for dinner when she
16
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saw them arguing.
“You don’t earn a penny! You have no right!
That’s my son’s money! Give it back!” she
yelled at Mom.
Mom said she’d give it back if Dad divorced
her and split their savings.
Grandma urged Dad to divorce Mom. He had
his star nephew to take care of him in his old
age, she said.
Dad hesitated. If I got into a good college, it
would bring him prestige.
And after graduation, I’d support them all
financially.
Grandma was even angrier at the mention of
my education. The big expenses were yet to
come, she said.
“Girls get married! You want to pay for her
<
college? Don’t be stupid, Mark!”
Dad wavered. But Mom was resolute.
The money in that bank book was for my
college tuition.
She knew that with Ethan’s training expenses,
Dad wouldn’t give her any more money.
That year, they finally got divorced.
Mom left the village without looking back. She
rented a tiny, cheap room near my school.
She sold breakfast in the mornings, did odd
jobs during the day, and brought me lunch
and dinner.
I focused on my studies, oblivious to
everything else.
The countdown on the blackboard went from
three digits to two, then to single digits.
I raced against time, terrified of missing a
く
single knowledge point, a single practice
problem.
When the exam results came out, I didn’t
magically get into a top university.
I was an average student. Despite my best
efforts, I only got into a decent local
university.
But Mom and I were content. We hugged
each other and cried in our tiny room.
Later, I learned Grandma had tried to visit me
at school several times, but the security
guards had turned her away.
She wanted to disrupt my studies to force
Mom and Dad to reconcile.
