Chapter 5 — A Dao Didn't Return

Each sentence was like a slap to the couple's faces. Mom remembers when at the construction site, in front of many people, she said Tham Tri Dao's mind was not quick and she could only get more than four hundred points in the exam. Dad also remembered when Tham Tri Dao asked them for ninety-eight yuan to buy books, he said she was swindling money. Turns out she wasn't lying. It's just that they never seriously listened to her. The homeroom teacher said again: "Maybe she didn't run away from home but went to school to enroll." "A little girl went to school on her own, has the family prepared tuition and living expenses for her?" Mother's throat seemed to be blocked, unable to speak for a long time. In the end, dad was the one who received the phone call. "Miss, which school did he go to? Can you give us the address?" The homeroom teacher was silent for a moment. "She's an adult." "If she doesn't want to contact you, I can't decide for her." After the phone was disconnected, the living room became quiet again. As soon as Tham Tri walked out of the room, he was stunned when he heard six hundred and eighty points. "Did you test so high?" Tham Di Ninh also stood at the door, his face a bit unsightly. This semester's final exam, he didn't even make it into the top two hundred. Tham Tri's so-called qualifying round is just a school-level competition. But for many years now, everyone they meet has complimented them on their excellence. The person who actually scored six hundred and eighty points on the exam couldn't even get a copy of the Admissions Plan for ninety-eight yuan. Mom lowered her head to look at the little person on the photo, tears suddenly falling. It wasn't until this moment that they finally admitted it. Among the three children, the one who understands the most and has the most future is always Tham Tri Dao, the child they locked outside the door. 7I have been going to school for more than a week. On the day of admission, besides other new students, there were parents accompanying them. There were people helping carry luggage, there were people lining up to receive blankets and mattresses, and there were also parents standing in the dormitory, constantly instructing their children to eat and drink on time. It was just me dragging an old suitcase, going back and forth following the signs. After half of the eight hundred yuan tuition fee was spent, the remaining amount was completely insufficient to pay tuition. I stood in front of the tuition counter for a long time. It wasn't until the people behind me started urging me that I asked in a low voice: "Teacher, can I pay my tuition a little late?" The teacher looked at the admission notice in my hand. "Aren't your parents coming with you?" I shook my head. "They don't know I'm here." At first I thought she would continue to ask. But she didn't say anything, just took me to the special support area. The school allowed me to defer tuition and also helped me apply for emergency grants and a work-study position. The academic advisor heard that I didn't bring any household items and even found a few new bedding sets donated by others. When giving me the things, her voice was very normal: "If you're missing anything, just say so, don't try to endure it." I was stunned for a few seconds before reaching out to receive it. From childhood to adulthood, the words my parents most often told me were: "Other people don't matter, you're the only one who's busy." "Don't pretend to be pitiful." "Don't cause more trouble for the family." So, even if I really lack something, I'm used to not saying it. The dormitory room has a total of four people. My roommates knew I came to school alone but didn't ask why. They just helped me make the bed, took me to the cafeteria, then took me to get acquainted with important places in the school. In the evening, they opened snacks and invited me to eat with them. I looked at the packaging and saw crushed peanuts inside. I unconsciously shook my head. "I'm not hungry." My roommate Lam Ha was surprised. "Don't you like to eat this?" I hesitated for a moment and then still said: "I'm allergic to peanuts." When I said this,

I was prepared to be suspected. But Lam Ha just immediately closed the bag of food. "Then don't eat it." She looked at the others again. "When you buy food, remember to look at the ingredients, don't accidentally put it on his table." Another roommate nodded, stuffing the peanut candy he just took out back into the cupboard. "Then let's buy some of this later." No one frowned. No one said I was a picky eater. No one forced me to eat to prove whether I was truly allergic or not. I sat on the chair, suddenly not knowing what to say. It turns out that just by saying one sentence, others will believe it. It turns out that not liking to eat and not being able to eat are two things that can be distinguished. The next morning, Lam Ha came to the restaurant to buy breakfast, and specifically asked me if there were peanuts in the soy milk. She handed the cup to me. “Don't worry, pure soy milk.” When I received it, my fingertips suddenly trembled a little. Warm soy milk flows down the throat, without the familiar peanut smell, and there is no need to prepare allergy medication. After drinking half of it, I excused myself to go to the bathroom. The moment the door closed, tears immediately fell. I covered my mouth, not daring to cry out loud. These past few days, I sat on the train alone, went through school admission procedures alone, moved luggage alone, all without crying.