Chapter 1 — A Nhuoc's New Parents

Down the long hallway, my father took the beautiful military lantern from my hand and gave it to Nguyen Bao who was standing next to me, crying endlessly.

“But father said, as long as you memorize the book, this lamp will be your reward.”

I said in a low voice. Parents sighed:

"My younger brother Nguyen Bao doesn't have a father to buy a lamp for him, how pitiful it is. Just take it as if you love your younger brother, let him borrow it for a night."

He stuffed a wrinkled rabbit-shaped paper lantern into my hand.

“I'll see my father later, just say you like this rabbit-shaped paper lamp, do you hear me clearly?”

Nieu Concubine squatted down and gently adjusted my collar for me:

"A Nhuoc is so obedient, not like our Nguyen Bao. Without a father to teach her, that's why she's so stubborn."

My father's eyes looked at me with a hint of warning. I held the paper lantern tightly in my hand and said nothing. Turning around, I immediately went to find my beloved father and asked him to give me a new father.

01

The ancestor's banquet often falls on the Thuong Nguyen Tet. Each junior must bring the flower lantern he is most proud of to show his father. Nguyen Bao carried our brightly lit lantern and ran to the front. The patriarch stroked his beard and smiled, praising Nguyen Bao's exquisite lamp. I carried a torn paper lamp and slowly walked in. As soon as Patriarch saw me, the smile on his face immediately disappeared.

"Ah Nhuoc, what's with my lamp? Who gave me this tattered thing?"

The father's voice is very loud. I didn't speak, just looked at the military lantern in Nguyen Bao's hand. The Patriarch looked doubtful and asked:

“What is it all about?”

My father took a step forward and spoke first:

“Father, it was A Nhuoc who said the rabbit was cute, and insisted on choosing that old lamp.”

"That marching lantern was given to Nguyen Bao on his own initiative. This child has a kind heart and knows how to love the weak."

Lieu Concubine stood next to her, using a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes.

"Thanks to A Nhuoc giving in to Nguyen Bao, Nguyen Bao has been without a father since he was young, so he rarely gets to celebrate a happy holiday."

My father bowed his head and looked at me, his tone not allowing refusal:

“Ah Nhuoc, quickly wish your ancestors a happy birthday.”

I don't want this torn lantern. It didn't even have a candle, the paper had a hole in it, and the wind blew and it flattened it. I threw the torn lamp directly to the ground, raised my head and said loudly:

“Father, you lied.”

The lobby immediately became quiet. My father's face suddenly stiffened, he reached out to pull me.

“A Nhuoc, don't be so confused.”

I avoided his hand, ran to my father's knee, pointed at the military lantern in Nguyen Bao's hand.

"That was the reward my father promised me after memorizing Thien Tu Van for three days. But just now my father forcibly took it from me and gave it to Nguyen Bao."

I recounted the entire incident just now. Patriarch slammed the table hard, causing the tea cup to jingle.

“You bastard!”

Nguyen Bao was so scared that he hid behind Concubine Lieu. Concubine Lieu "thumped" and knelt down, tears falling.

“The old lady clearly commented, Tu brother only suffered because he loved Nguyen Bao, this child.”

The father did not pay attention to her, pointed at his father's nose and scolded:

"Your biological daughter doesn't love you, you take her things as a favor, and even incite her to lie to her elders. Have you read all your holy books into the dog's stomach?"

Face father blushed.

"Father, A Nhuoc has everything, but Nguyen Bao is suffering and has no one to rely on. I just want to teach him to know how to be more tolerant and tolerant."

“He's only seven years old.”

The patriarch shouted angrily.

“Forcing him to endure pain and suffering, is that still called tolerance?”

The patriarch ordered the butler to take back the marching lantern from Nguyen Bao's hand and put it back in my hand.

“Take this woman and that child out, don't be an eyesore here.”

“Tham Minh Tu, you come from the street and kneel for two hours, reflect carefully.”

The father looked at his father in disbelief, then looked at his mother who was always silent next to him. The mother's eyes were so cold that there was no trace of warmth. Parents were taken away. After the banquet ended, my mother held my hand and returned to the hospital.

“A Nhuoc, are you scared?”

My mother asked me. I shook my head.

“I don't like lying, nor do I like giving my things to others.”

My mother patted my head.

"You're right. If it's yours then it's yours, you don't need to give up an inch."

He sent his mother next to him to inventory the warehouse and reclaim all the things he had previously lent to Concubine Lieu. Concubine Lieu is the widow of a fellow student of her father. When that fellow was demoted, he was killed by bandits. Aunt Lieu brought Nguyen Bao to rely on her father. Initially, after her father and mother discussed, she gave her silver to rent a house outside. Her mother was also kind enough to let her go to the store to work as a cashier. But Concubine Lieu felt it was too difficult. She refused to do things on her own, always crying in front of her father, complaining about how miserable she was. As time passed, his father's relationship with her and Nguyen Bao was almost universal. He pretended not to see the dissatisfaction of his father and mother. With her father's tacit permission, Concubine Lieu entered and left the palace as if entering her own home.