Chapter 13 — After taking the university entrance exam, I transferred my household registration to my adoptive mother's house

I went to the yard gate, stood behind the slightly open iron gate, looking at Lam Kien Quoc. He's gotten thinner. It's only been three or four days but my cheeks are sunken and my eye circles are dark blue. Shirts are no longer neatly tucked in, and the belt is loose. His lips moved a few times.

“I came here… to tell you—”

He stopped. The fingers continuously rubbed the back of the hand, the joints made a cracking sound.

“Over the years... it's true that dad hasn't done well.”

I waited for him to continue.

“That year when I brought you home, I thought…”

“In the big city, conditions are better, schools are better, your future will also be better.”

“I didn't expect…”

His voice became smaller and smaller.

“I didn't expect it to turn out like this.”

I leaned against the door frame.

“Dad, do you know what I was most afraid of during my three years of high school?”

He shook his head.

“I'm most afraid of Tet.”

He was stunned.

“Every Tet, the whole family of three sits together to watch TV, bite melon seeds, and win lucky money.”

"And I'm sitting next to you, I can't interrupt a word."

“Dad gave me two thousand lucky money.”

“Give my brother two thousand.”

“Give me five hundred.”

“That five hundred still has to be paid back.”

“Dad, do you know how much lucky money Trieu's mother gave me?”

“It's also five hundred.”

“One month she sells tofu and earns three thousand.”

Lam Kien Quoc closed his eyes.

“Dad, there's no need to apologize.”

“I no longer hate you anymore.”

“Hating others is tiring.”

“Not worth it.”

“I just took back what belonged to me.”

“My household registration.”

“Your name.”

“And your mother.”

“Those things were originally mine.”

“You guys took it away.”

“Now I can take it back.”

“That's all.”

Lam Kien Quoc stood there for a long time. The sunlight covered his body, drawing a long shadow on the ground. Finally, he nodded. Turn around and walk towards the car. Walked a few steps... Stopped again. He didn't turn back.

“If you lack money in the future... tell dad.”

I don't answer. He waited a few seconds, then continued walking. The sound of the car engine gradually disappeared from the small street. I closed the yard gate. Trieu's mother stood at the door of the house, still holding a bunch of vegetables she had just washed. She asked me:

“What did he say?”

"Tell him in the future if he's short on money, find him."

Trieu's mother laughed softly.

“What are you missing?”

“There is no shortage.”

“I know.”

“Go, wash your hands and eat.”

I entered the house. There are three dishes on the table: Stir-fried eggs with dried radish, stir-fried tomatoes with eggs and a bowl of flower egg seaweed soup. I looked around and asked:

“Mom, do you only know how to cook dishes with eggs today?”

Mother Trieu picked up her chopsticks and tapped me on the head.

“Are you critical?”

“If you don't like it, go out and buy it yourself!”

“No criticism, no criticism.”

“If you don't like it, eat it.”

On the dining table there is an extra pair of chopsticks. Lately, Trieu's mother always has an extra pair like that.

"I'm used to it. In case I bring you home later."

I looked at the empty chopsticks.

“From now on, those chopsticks…”

“Change it to yours.”

Trieu's mother's movements of picking up food stopped.

"Before, when I wasn't at home, I had to sit alone and watch TV when I ate."

“You won't need it anymore.”

She said nothing. It's just difficult to pick up a piece of tomato and put it in my bowl. Hands trembling terribly.

“Eat your rice.”

I bowed my head and ate. In the bowl, she piled it into a small mountain. 【Chapter 10】 In mid-July, the admission notice arrived. Beijing University. Department of Computer Science and Technology. Valedictorian of the natural division in the whole province, first wish of phase one. Do is not surprising. The notice was delivered by the post office. The delivery man drove the tram to the door of 28 Bac Quan Street, holding a large red envelope.

"Is that Trieu Que Lan's family? Here is Lam Chu's admission notice."

At that time, Trieu's mother was drying radishes in the yard. She wiped her hands on her apron and took the envelope, her fingers squeezing the edge of the envelope twice.

“Where is the signature?”

The delivery person pointed to the paper. Trieu's mother picked up the pen and signed. The writing is crooked. She only completed the third grade of elementary school. But each stroke of the pen is very strong. After signing, she picked up the envelope and looked at it three times. Take a look at the front. Take a look at the back. Then flip it back to the front and look again. Then he raised his head and shouted into the house:

"Come out here! Quick!"

I walked out of the room. She stuffed the envelope into my hand, urging me to open it. The admission notice is crimson, laminated with gold, and stands out. Above is written:

"Classmate Lam Chu, after approval, I was accepted into the school's Computer Science and Technology major."