Chapter 6 — After taking the university entrance exam, I transferred my household registration to my adoptive mother's house

June 24, 9 a.m. Qian Lihua and Lam Kienguo's plane landed. I know that, because she sent a voice clip to the family group:

"Get off the plane! I'm about to take a taxi home! Chu Chu, please wait at home!"

Immediately after the voice clip is an additional text message:

“What time is the reporter coming?”

I replied:

"2pm. People from the city station and the provincial station will arrive at the same time."

This news is true. Last night, the provincial radio reporter called to confirm the interview time with me. Tien Le Hoa replied almost immediately:

"Okay! Clean up the living room a bit! Mom, go change your clothes and come over!"

Change clothes. Just thinking about it is funny. I can almost imagine her sitting in a taxi, frantically scrolling through her phone searching for:

“What should the mother of the university valedictorian wear to look classy?”

At 10:30 a.m., Zhao Guilan's high-speed train arrived at the station. I arrived at the station an hour early. In the middle of the crowd at the exit, I immediately saw her. Not tall, slightly chubby, wearing a dark blue floral shirt, hair tied in a neat ponytail. In one hand, she carried a large thermos. The other hand pulled the canvas bag. She continuously looked around to look for people, her neck still stretched forward. I called out: She heard it, her whole body stopped. Then his eyes turned around— Then he saw me. Her face immediately wrinkled into a frown. Laughing and crying at the same time. She ran slowly towards me, the thermos hitting her knee without even paying attention. Coming in front of me, she hugged me tightly. She was almost a head shorter than me, her cheek pressed against my chest. The thermos bottle pressed painfully against my waist.

“Higher… higher again…”

Her voice was muffled in my shirt. I reached out to take the thermos and cloth bag from her. The bottle is very heavy. Open it and see, the upper layer is chive dumplings. The lower layer is eggs stir-fried with dried radish. At the bottom, she pressed two more boxes of salted duck eggs that she personally soaked. In the cloth bag are cotton slippers she made herself. One large pair, one small pair. The big pair is the new pair. As for the small pair... They are the size of sandals I wore when I was ten years old, when I left home. She still kept it. For eight years. I carried her luggage and went out, she followed me closely, one hand holding my arm.

"On the high-speed train, I added your homeroom teacher's WeChat. The teacher is very nice, and even sent me your three-year transcript."

"Every year she ranks first. My daughter ranks first every year."

“She also said that all parent meetings are signed by children…”

Trieu's mother's voice suddenly dropped. I did not respond. She also didn't speak anymore. Leaving the train station, I called a taxi. In the car, Trieu's mother looked at the scene outside the window and suddenly spoke:

“Chu Chu, I brought you here today because I wanted to…”

“The reporter will come for an interview this afternoon.”

“I know.” She hesitated a bit. “What do you mean… your other side is there too?”

"Yes. They took a flight this morning."

The fingers placed on Trieu's mother's knee gently tightened.

"Chu Chu, don't do anything impulsive. I don't want to cause trouble for you."

I turned to look at her.

“Mom is not the one causing trouble.”

“Mom is a goddess.”

Trieu's mother turned her head to look at me. Her eyes were red, but she still tried to endure it. I know what she's thinking. She was afraid that her appearance would make me feel awkward. I'm afraid I'll be stuck between two families. During the past eight years, she has never proactively sought me out once. It's not that I don't want to. But I don't dare. Afraid of causing trouble to me. I'm afraid it will affect my studies. I'm afraid the other person will make things difficult for me. She was careful and reserved for eight years. It's my turn.

“Mom, you don't need to do anything today.”

“Just sit there.”

“If someone asks, just tell the truth.”

“The rest… let me handle it.”

When the taxi stopped downstairs, there was already a black Passat parked in the parking lot opposite. My dad's car. They're back. When Trieu's mother saw that car, her body immediately stiffened visibly. I gently held her hand. Get on the elevator. Come to the front door. The door is not locked. I pushed the door and walked in. In the mysterious gate, three pairs of shoes were placed. From my father, my mother and my sister. In the living room, Tien Le Hoa was sitting in front of the mirror reapplying her makeup. She changed her clothes. A cream-colored dress, paired with a pearl necklace, and her hair was lightly curled. My father, Lam Kien Quoc, sat on the sofa scrolling through his phone. He also changed into a new suit and shiny leather shoes. My sister sat in the corner trimming her eyebrows. My younger brother is playing games in his room. Hearing the sound of the door opening, Tien Le Hoa turned around.

“Chu Chu, I'm back—”