Chapter 3 — After the Cracks, I Become Myself

The first thing On Nhuoc Van did after settling in Loc Khe was to go to the only pottery factory in town. The factory owner's family name is Tham. An artist over fifty years old, has been involved in terracotta pottery for thirty years. The day Wen Nhuoc Van arrived. Mr. Tham was sitting sharpening ceramics, his head not even raised.

"Come to learn pottery?"

"Not."

Wen Nhuoc Van placed the few works he brought on the table.

"I want to rent your kiln."

At this moment, Mr. Tham raised his head. He picked up a cup of tea, turned it over and looked at it for a long time.

"Formal education?"

"Yes. I graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts."

"The workmanship is fine."

Mr. Tham put down the cup.

"You can use the furnace as you like, I won't charge you any rent."

"But there is one condition."

"What conditions?"

"Help me bake a batch of goods every week. A few tea shops in town order them."

On Nhuoc Van immediately agreed. During the day she makes her own works in the workshop. In the evening, he helped Mr. Tham guard the kiln. What she makes is no longer the sophisticated commercial jewelry she used to make. But returning to ceramics in the most original sense. Each time both hands dug deep into the soft wet clay. She felt like she was touching something very basic again. Feelings that have been eroded by life in the big city. Returning little by little. People in town also know her. Grocery seller Ngo would call out every time she saw her passing by:

"Tieu On, today's tofu is very new."

Every few days, Mrs. Phuong brings over some vegetables she grew herself. She said she was too skinny. Dau Bao also gets used to the new environment. Every day I lie in the sun in the yard. Chasing butterflies. Sometimes I even jump to the top of the wall to admire the view. Days in Loc Khe. Wen Nhuoc Van no longer thought about Pho Hanh Chi. Or rather... She tried to force herself not to think about him. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night. She will still be stunned for a moment. There should have been someone next to him. But the remaining half of the bed was just empty. At the foot of the bed, only Dau Bao was curled up sleeping soundly. She turned over. Then continue to sleep. Three months later. Wen Nhuoc Van first set up a stall in Lukhe's craft market. She makes a series of ceramic jewelry. Earrings. Pendant. Each dish is completely hand-shaped and glazed by hand. No two products are identical. There are not many customers at the market. But that day a photographer from the city stopped by. He took a set of photos of her booth and posted them on social networks. The caption is just one sentence:

"Accidentally met an amazing artist in a small Southern town. Each piece is as beautiful as a flower blooming from the ground."

That set of photos spread much farther than Wen Nhuoc Van imagined. One week later. The editor of an independent design magazine found the photographer. Then through him, he contacted Wen Nhuoc Van.

"Miss On, we want to do a special topic on you."

Wen Nhuoc Van hesitated for a long time. She wasn't sure if she was ready to appear in front of everyone again. But in the end... She still agreed. Not because I want to be famous. But by looking at the works I have created over the past three months. She felt... They deserved to be seen. She can hide. But the works That shouldn't be. One month after the magazine's release. Wen Ruowan received an email. The sender is the organizer of a famous domestic design competition.

"Dear Ms. Wen Nhuoc Van. We respectfully invite you to participate in the 10th Thanh Phong Creative Design Competition..."

On Nhuoc Van looked at that email. Finger hovering over the computer mouse for a long time. Participating in this contest... Means she must deliver her best work. That means she will step back into the previous world. It also means... It's very possible that she will meet again the people she tried to avoid. She pressed the register button. Then turn off the computer. Squat under the cassia tree, reaching out to stroke Dau Bao's head.

"Then I still have to keep moving forward."

She said to the cat. Dau Bao just yawned. Wen Nhuoc Van spent three months preparing his work for the competition. It is a ceramic jewelry collection with the theme "Return". The rustic grain of the soil. The enamel color is as gentle as jade. Traces of each hand molding. Each piece of jewelry carries the breath of the small town of Loc Khe. Date of submission of entries. On Nhuoc Van stood in front of the post office, her heart beating so fast that she could hear it herself. Not because of fear of losing. Scared if you win. She will be forced to return to that world. Two months later. The results are announced. When receiving the notice, Wen Nhuoc Van was helping Mr. Tham transfer a batch of tea cups that had just come out of the oven. She glanced at the phone. Put down the cup in your hand. Then sat blankly in front of the kiln door for five minutes. Mr. Tham poked his head out from inside.

"Mr. Tham..."

"Maybe I have to go to the city for a trip."

Mr. Tham gave her a small bowl that had just come out of the oven.

"Bring it along. There's something to drink along the way."

On Nhuoc Van burst out laughing. She took the bowl. The award ceremony was held in Shanghai. Wen Ruowan arrived in the afternoon. Carry out attendance procedures. Change clothes. Make up. She wore a very simple white dress. The hair is tied neatly at the back. On her ears are ceramic earrings made by her own hands. The hall is very large. Almost famous people in the design world were present. Wen Nhuoc Van sat in his seat. Quietly flip through the program in your hand. Try to make yourself look calm. Until... The stage lights turned on. She walked up to the podium to receive the award. Standing under the bright lights, looking down at the crowded auditorium. Then she saw him. Third row of seats. Location close to the walkway.