Chapter 8 — A Wishful Life

He has now gotten rid of his old image of being a beggar. His demeanor as a playboy little marquis is truly well-rounded. Three days later, he took me for a walk around Truong An street. From afar, I saw a new store opening, bright flower lights hanging everywhere. When the red silk was pulled down, the three words "Trinh Ky Tuu Quan" inlaid with gold glittered, making my eyes suddenly sting. "Madam," Ta Lam Xuyen wrapped her arms around me from behind, her chin resting on my hair, "I said I would let you raise me, how can I turn back?" "In this palace there are three hundred mouths to feed, all waiting for you to give me money at the beginning of the month." In the tavern, there were already noble people welcoming me. The Crown Prince raised his cup of wine, leaned on the railing of the second floor, saw us and smiled and said: "If you want to meet the little Marquis of the Ta family, now you have to buy three jars of wine first to get in." Several princes next to him threw out a handful of rose gold, which tinkled and fell all over the counter. I was about to bow, but Ta Lam Xuyen wrapped his arms around my waist: "They are all brothers in the family. If you bow, they will still have to give you lucky money." While I was still joking around, suddenly there was the sound of jade bracelets jingling outside the door... "Lady of the Ta family brought more than a dozen maids in, everyone they met smiled and said: 'Quickly taste the Le Hoa Bach that my daughter-in-law brewed herself!'" A lady of the country held my hand and praised me: "This child looks like a prosperous husband, Mrs. Ta is truly blessed." In the elegant room, Mrs. Ta's loud laughter rang out: "Whatever the housekeeper treats, knowing how to manage the house is the most precious thing!" Looking around the hall full of distinguished guests, I suddenly remembered the sour and bitter face of the Deputy Mother from years ago. It turns out that truly noble families... don't value those vain things at all. 17 Truong An citadel in December, snow is blowing. I was leaning in the elegant pavilion on the second floor of the tavern, looking at the books, when I suddenly heard a commotion downstairs. "Get out of the way! You rotten beggar, don't get in the way!" The young man's shouting was mixed with the unclear murmuring of an old woman. I pushed the patterned window frame, the cold wind carrying snow blew into my face. On the other side of the street, a hunchbacked man was helping an old woman with messy hair who was wobbly walking step by step in the snow and ice. The man seemed to feel something and suddenly raised his head - The moment our eyes met, the heater in my hand fell with a "clang" to the ground. Deputy Minh Vien. The man who was once a spirited doctor, now wears a tattered cotton shirt, his hair is messy, and his cheeks are sunken, looking miserable. Next to him is the Deputy Mother - pathetic to the point of being out of shape, clutching the dirty package in her arms, constantly muttering something. "Master, do you need to send him away?" The shopkeeper asked softly. I shook my head: "Bring them some hot food, add a few taels of silver to wrap it up." When the hot dumpling was brought to the hands of the Deputy Mother, her cloudy eyes suddenly brightened for a moment: "Nhu Y? Is it really Nhu Y?!" Her skinny hand grabbed my fur coat, tremblingly said: "Uncle's mother was confused that year... you... you should not complain..." Snow covered her dew-stained hair, I softly replied: "The old things... are all in the past." Pho Minh Vien still bowed his head without speaking, until the sound of rushing horse hooves was heard in the distance. His whole body trembled, he quickly pulled his mother to leave. Ta Lam Xuyen jumped off his horse, his robe still covered with unmelted snow. He didn't bother to look at Pho mother and son, he walked straight towards me, helping me adjust my coat: "It's like this, what can you do if you're cold?" Pho Minh Vien quickly backed away and was about to turn around and leave when he was stopped by Ta Lam Xuyen's call: "Master Deputy." Those three words were like lightning striking his ears. "I heard that your father-in-law's case... is still under investigation at Dai Ly Tu."

review.” Ta Lam Xuyen slowly said, "Mr. Pho... take care of yourself." It turned out that after Pho Minh Vien took office as district governor of Lam An, relying on his reputation as a doctor, he also married a rich man. The deputy mother also recovered from her illness thanks to her in-laws' wealth. Who would have thought that his father-in-law, relying on a son-in-law who was a local official, colluded with salt merchants and used the palace's reputation to embezzle to no end. Pho Minh Vien initially tried to stop him a few times, but later when he saw the white silver pouring into his private warehouse, he ignored it and didn't ask. When the story was revealed, the officers and soldiers rushed into the house. The deputy mother was feeding fish in the backyard. She was so panicked that she got sick again. Even though Pho Minh Vien did not directly intervene, for neglecting his position, he was dismissed and his entire estate confiscated. In the end, lost in the streets and corners of the market, those who were once flattered and flattered, now either close the door tightly, or send someone to chase them away. In this world, there will never be anyone like Mr. Trinh that year, willing to help people when it was cold and snowy. Looking at the silhouette of mother and child gradually disappearing in the white snow, Ta Lam Xuyen suddenly pinched my cheek: "Madam is so kind, I'm afraid I'll be jealous." I pretended to push his hand away, but he pulled me into his arms. The snow outside fell thicker and thicker, flake by flake silently falling, dyeing the whole world white. But in my heart, thanks to the warmth from that embrace, I feel spring overflowing in the cold winter. (Full text complete).