Chapter 10 — After the Cracks, I Become Myself

The heat from the noodle shop still slowly rose up. The shop owner is loudly calling the staff. On Nhuoc Van leaned back in his chair. Eye sockets suddenly sting. Not heartbroken. A knot had weighed heavily in her heart for two years. Someone also gently removed it. She still thinks. I have let go. And truly peaceful. They are two completely different things. She no longer hates. No more torment. No more insomnia. But deep inside. There is always a question. Is it because I'm not good enough... That's why he needs to find someone else? She has the answer. Not. He himself is not good enough. That was a confession from his own mouth.

"Hanh Chi."

On Nhuoc Van spoke up. The voice was softer than she thought.

"Divorce petition..."

"When will you sign?"

Pho Hanh Chi paused. Then nodded slightly.

"When do you need it?"

"I will sign then."

"After the exhibition ends."

"I will return to Loc Khe."

"Until then."

"You sent it to me."

The two were silent for a while longer. On Nhuoc Van stood up. Take money from your bag and put it on the table.

"This meal..."

"Let me pay."

"Nhuoc Van."

She stopped walking.

"The works I made..."

"It's really beautiful."

Pho Hanh Chi did not look at her. Just bow your head. Look at the table in front of you.

"You now..."

"Much more like myself than before."

On Nhuoc Van did not turn around. She walked out of the noodle shop. The morning sunlight just fell onto the small alley. On the corn stalks. The remaining raindrops from last night still sparkled in the sunlight. On Nhuoc Van took a deep breath. The thing that had always been heavy in her chest... Finally slightly loosened. Wen Nhuoc Van did not expect it. The conversation that morning. Completely changed her creative state. After returning to the factory. She stood in front of her desk. Look, the cup has not yet been soldered with gold. Suddenly... A new idea appeared in my mind. Not a cup. A whole collection. She wants to make a series with the theme...

"Destroy and Reconstruction."

Not the award-winning "Return" series.

"Return" is about the homeland.

About land. About where to return. There is a new set of works. Talking about the relationship between people and people. About broken trust. Wounds caused by misunderstandings. New things arise after people have the courage to face everything. Wen Nhuoc Van held the pen. Start sketching. Once the tip of the pen touches the paper. Her hands could no longer stop. A Kintsugi cup. The cracks are filled with different colors. Some use pure gold. Some use dark red color. Some are gray-blue. Every color. Represents a different way of healing. A pair of ceramic earrings. The two sides are completely asymmetrical. But when put together. Again forming a complete cube. A flower vase. The mouth of the vase is intentionally missing a corner. That's not a weakness. So that light can pass through. Wen Nhuoc Van painted all afternoon. The sheets of paper next to each other piled up into a thick stack. Every time I immerse myself in creativity. She couldn't think of anything else. Don't think about Pho Hanh Chi. Don't think about that marriage. Don't think about tomorrow or the future. In her world. And shapes are gradually being born under the palm of the hand. That is also the most important thing that two years in Loc Khe taught her. When don't know how to face life. Then let's start doing something. What I create. Will never deceive myself. On to the second week of the residency program. Brand manager. Come to the factory to see the progress. She is over forty. Has been an independent design brand for more than ten years. The eye for looking at the work is extremely sharp. After looking at Wen Nhuoc Van's new set of drawings. She was silent for a long time.

"This set..."

She tapped lightly on the stack of manuscripts.

"Wasn't part of our original plan."

On Nhuoc Van calmly replied.

"But I want to do it."

Ms. Lam thought for a moment.

"The theme of this exhibition is 'Rebirth'."

"And this set of works of mine..."

"It seems to go one step further."

"This is no longer reincarnation."

"Reconcile."

Wen Nhuoc Van did not deny it. Ms. Lam looked at her. Then smile.

"Good work..."

"Never was born from a plan."

Wen Nhuoc Van entered a period of intense writing. Every day she is in the factory for more than ten hours. From seven o'clock in the morning. Until eleven o'clock at night. Adjust the workpiece. Burn a second time. Then solder gold. Several new burns appeared on her hands. She didn't care at all. That feeling. The feeling of being swallowed whole by creation. Only the work remains in my head. Let your body completely follow intuition. It is the state that she has always pursued. The last time she had that feeling. It was when filming "Return" in Loc Khe. In the big city. She used to work as a commercial jewelry designer. Sitting in front of the computer screen every day. Drawing construction. What do customers want? She does it all. Her skills are still there. The soul has long since disappeared. It's Loc Khe. It's clay. She turned all those experiences into works. It's like exposing your own wound to the sun. No more pain. Only traces remain. Tenth day of the residency program. Wen Nhuoc Van received a text message from an unknown number.

"Hello Ms. Wen. I am Chu Nhien, editor of Space magazine. We know that you are writing in Hangzhou and would like to arrange an exclusive interview. I wonder if it is convenient for you?"

Space Magazine is one of the most influential design magazines in the country. Wen Nhuoc Van hesitated for two seconds. Then answer.