Chapter 12 — After taking the university entrance exam, I transferred my household registration to my adoptive mother's house

Trieu's mother was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

“What's the point of being polite?”

“Come on, eat melon.”

In the yard there is a red apple tree. The year I first arrived home, Trieu's mother planted it herself. Now the tree is very tall, its canopy covers nearly half of the yard. Every time the summer wind blows, the leaves of the trees rustle and vibrate. I nibbled on a piece of watermelon, listening to the sound of apple leaves. Trieu's mother sat on a small chair next to her, holding a fan in her hand and waving it with each beat.

“Which school do you plan to apply to in the future?”

“Peking University.”

"Beijing? Is it far?"

"It's a bit far. It's about five hours by speedboat."

Trieu's mother thought for a moment then nodded.

“So if you miss dumplings in the future, remember to call mom.”

“Mom took the train and brought it to me.”

“That's five hours.”

“What about five hours?” She waved her fan twice more. "That year, my mother went to the city to pick me up, but I still took the bus for seven hours, but it didn't seem that far."

I was silent. She fanned a few more times, then suddenly remembered something:

“Ah yes.”

“Cold dumplings are no longer delicious.”

“I have to buy a bigger thermos.”

"The one from before was a bit small. Tomorrow I'll go buy a new one."

“Big enough.”

Trieu's mother turned her head to look at me. I also looked at her.

“That's enough.”

“Everything is enough.”

She looked at me for a few seconds, then suddenly turned away.

“This kid… is eating watermelon, why is he suddenly saying those things…”

She held the fan and gently hit me. Just bring cool breeze. The wave of public opinion continued to ferment for a week. Qian Lihua and Lam Kien Guo tried everything they could think of to save the situation. Day one: silent cold treatment. Don't speak up. No response. Want to wait for the temperature of public opinion to cool down on its own. Not only did the temperature not decrease, but it was also interpreted by netizens as "tacit admission", so they were scolded even more fiercely. Day two: please delete the post. Lam Kien Quoc contacted all the relationships he could find, wanting the platform to take down the video. Provincial radio reporter Tran Kha has too strong media support, the interview is officially licensed public content, the platform directly refuses to delete it. Not only that, because the news that "someone wants to remove the cards" was leaked, a new hot search was added: #The biological parents of the valedictorian of the entire province suspected of hiring a relationship to remove the cards# That evening, Lam Kien Quoc's phone was dead. Even the head of his agency called himself. The content of the call is unknown. But according to neighbor Aunt Ton, after hanging up the phone, Lam Kien Quoc sat in the study for an hour. His back was completely bent. Day three: play love cards. Tien Le Hoa told my sister, Lam Duyet, to call me. Hearing her voice, I knew she was crying.

“Chu Chu… Mom's blood pressure increased to 188 today, can you call back…”

“Have you taken it to the hospital yet?”

"I'm gone. The doctor said he was so angry."

“Then don't be angry anymore.”

"Can't you be a little softer? Do you know how my parents are living these past few days? Everyone at the office is pointing fingers and gossiping, and my mother doesn't even dare to come out—"

“Lin Duyet.”

I interrupted her.

“Three years ago, I won first prize in the provincial math competition.”

“The day I went to receive the reward, I went alone.”

“When you came back, do you know what your mother said?”

The other side was silent.

“As soon as I walked in the door, she just said:”

“‘Oh, I got it huh? Put the certificate of merit on the table, I'll call your sister first, she won third prize in the drawing competition.'"

“First prize at the provincial level and third prize.”

“Her reaction was identical.”

“I said it wrong.”

“She cares more about my third prize.”

Lam Duyet's breathing changed clearly.

“I don't blame you.”

"Since I was a child, I've been treated like this. I'm used to it. I take everything for granted."

“But my life was not born to be the foundation for your whole family.”

“Don't call again.”

I hung up. Day four: Lam Kien Quoc arrived himself. He drove alone to Nghi Thanh district. Arrived at the door of number 28 Bac Quan street... But did not enter. He stood outside the yard gate, looking at the red apple tree and the clothesline in the yard. Trieu's mother saw him through the window. Her expression changed slightly, she walked over and asked me in a low voice:

“That person out there… is your father?”

“Mom, come out and say a few words, okay?”

“Mom, don't come out.”