Chapter 8 — A Nhuoc's New Parents

By winter, we can dance a set of short cones to look impressive. Bui Kieu Nhien was very proud, everyone she met praised me as a tiger girl general. A few days before Tet, the streets were extremely bustling. Bui Kieu Nhien held my hand, mother walked on his other side, and the three of us went to the temple festival as a family. In my hand I held the rabbit sugar painting I had just bought, and on my shoulder Bui Kieu Nhien carried the drum and small pinwheel he bought for me. Going to a stall selling lanterns, I stopped. On the stall hung a beautiful military lantern, with a painting of the Four Moons on the top, even more beautiful than the lantern taken away by his father at the beginning of the year. Bui Kieu Nhien followed my eyes, without saying a word, he took out a piece of silver.

“Boss, I'll take this lamp.”

He took off the lantern and pulled the army down, giving it to me. But we don't accept it. I looked at that lamp, remembering that night down the long hallway, my father gave it to Nguyen Bao.

“What's wrong, don't you like it?”

Bui Kieu Nhien squatted down and asked me. I shook my head.

“I don't need this.”

I pointed to a small wooden sword next to the stall.

“I want that one.”

11

Bui Kieu Nhien was stunned, then laughed loudly.

"Good, my daughter really has a future. I don't like red clothes, I like martial arts!"

He bought that small wooden sword and gave it to me. I keep my wooden sword at my side. No matter how beautiful the lantern is, it doesn't make people feel as secure as the sword held in their hands. Right now, I heard a familiar voice.

“Tu brother, buy Nguyen Bao a stick of huckleberry candy, he's been craving it for several days.”

Turning around, I saw my father and Concubine Lieu. They stood not far away in front of the dumpling stall. Concubine Lieu wore a very simple dress, not even a silver hairpin on her head. Parents struggled even more. His normally neat face now had a stubble, and his cotton shirt still had a few patches on it. He was bargaining with the owner of the dumpling stall, wanting to use two coins to buy three meat dumplings. Nguyen Bao grabbed the hem of his shirt, sniffling and crying.

“I don't eat dumplings, I want to eat lollipop candy, I want to eat roast duck.”

The father angrily threw his hand away.

"Where's the money to buy roast duck for you? It's already good to eat, so shut up."

Nieu Concubine quickly protected Nguyen Bao, tears fell again.

"Tu brother, how could you be so cruel to Nguyen Bao? He's still just a child."

“Am I cruel to it?”

The father suppressed his anger.

"Look at what he looks like now. Every day, besides asking for food and drink, he doesn't even recognize a few words. Because of your mother and children, I lost my position, lost my fortune, and now I can't even eat enough, and you still tolerate him causing chaos."

"In the beginning, it was you who said you loved our orphans and mothers."

Nieu Concubine also refused to be weak, her voice became sour.

"Now that you have fallen into disrepute, you criticize us as mothers and sons as a burden. Tham Minh Tu, what kind of man are you?"

They argued on the main street, causing people around them to look. I looked at my father's troubled and angry face. Previously, he felt that Nguyen Bao was pitiful and needed his protection, so he gave all my things to Nguyen Bao. Now, even he can't protect himself, Nguyen Bao doesn't feel like he's a good father anymore.

“What are you looking at?”

Bui Kieu Nhien followed my gaze and frowned. He covered his eyes with his hand ta.

“Don't look, your eyes are dirty.”

He picked me up and turned around.

"Let's go, I'll take you and your mother to the best restaurant in the city to eat a whole grilled goat."

I lay on Bui Kieu Nhien's large, warm back, turning my head to take a quick look. Father and Concubine Lieu were still criticizing each other. Nguyen Bao sat on the ground crying loudly. No one feels sorry for them anymore.

“New father.”

I leaned into his ear and called.

“What's wrong?”

“Will you be poor in the future?”

“Even if I have to beg, I will still ask for the first bowl of white rice for my children to eat.”

He walked steadily, his voice was very loud. I laughed, hugging his neck tightly. Full text complete.