Chapter 13 — After the Divorce, I Stopped Paying for My Mother-in-Law's Medicine

Ms. An's momentum immediately decreased somewhat.

“Mrs. To misunderstood.”

“I'm just worried that you were deceived by someone else.”

"After all, Tham Ky store was just yesterday accused of hygiene problems."

“Even if nothing happens in the end…”

“But without fire, why is there smoke?”

Tieu Vu was so angry that he burst out laughing.

“The wind is blown by Trieu Que Lan.”

“The waves are created by you.”

“What does it have to do with our store?”

Right at that moment. The young woman standing behind Mrs. An suddenly spoke up.

“If Madam Tham really has such skill…”

“Then don't just know how to find fault with your mouth.”

I looked over at her. The assistant leaned closer and lowered his voice.

“The current person in charge of the An family.”

An Tinh crossed her arms.

“Three more days.”

“Thanh Hoa Vien's central kitchen.”

“All participating brands will have to make a breakfast dish on-site.”

“The jury will taste on condition of anonymity.”

“Lady Tham…”

“Do you dare come?”

I calmly replied:

“If you register, of course you will come.”

An Tinh smiled.

“So I'll wait and see…”

“How long can the little craft that your mother passed down last last?”

I immediately raised my head. His eyes locked on her.

“You know my mother?”

In that moment. An Tinh's eyes wavered slightly. But I still caught it.

“Just heard Mrs. To mention it.”

The atmosphere in the yard immediately became quiet. To Minh Nghi's face slowly turned cold.

“I have never mentioned Tham Lam's name in front of you.”

The smile on An Tinh's lips stiffened. Mrs. An quickly interjected.

“Maybe he heard someone else say it.”

I looked straight at An Tinh. An Tinh looked impatient.

“Who can remember?”

“There are not many people in the baking world.”

“Besides, your mother is not someone who cannot be mentioned.”

The tip of To Minh Nghi's walking stick hit the stone floor hard. The sound rang out coldly.

“The An family now…”

"Even the dead dare to trample on people?"

Ms. An's face immediately changed. Quickly pulled An Tinh's hand.

“Let's go.”

Before leaving the field. An Tinh turned her head to look at me.

“Three days later.”

“Don't be late.”

After they left. Tieu Vu lowered his voice.

“Miss Duong.”

“She mentioned Aunt Tham just now…”

“It feels very strange.”

To Minh Nghi was silent for a long time. Finally turned to the assistant.

“Go investigate.”

“See the ancient recipe book that the An family has used over the years…”

“Where did you get it from?”

I stopped.

“Ancient formula?”

To Minh Nghi looked at me.

“Your mother that year before leaving the To family.”

“Lost a notebook.”

“It records more than ten types of cakes that she herself improved.”

My hand tightened around the file. A thought suddenly appeared.

“An family's most famous flower waffles...”

“Did you start getting famous about ten years ago?”

To Minh Nghi did not answer immediately. The assistant replied on her behalf:

“That's right.”

“Exactly the second year after Mrs. Tham Lam left.”

Tieu Vu was so angry that his face turned red.

“Stealing someone else's formula.”

"And then turn around and criticize other people's girls for only having odd jobs?"

“Is the An family's facial skin made of steel?”

To Minh Nghi looked at me.

“Do you still think it's just a hassle now?”

I picked up the box of flower waffles. His eyes gradually became cold.

“Not anymore.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Search the trunk my mother left behind.”

To Minh Nghi nodded.

“If we find anything.”

“Don't attack for now declare.”

“Three days later…”

“Let them speak for themselves.”

The wooden chest my mother left behind is still on top of the wardrobe in the rented apartment. Since my mother passed away. I rarely open it. Inside were old aprons. Some photos have turned yellow over the years. And a notebook covered with oiled paper. Tieu Vu sat down on the floor. Carefully spread out each photo. Suddenly she picked up one. Bright eyes.

“Miss Duong.”

“You were so beautiful when you were young.”

I bowed my head and looked. In that old photo. Mother is standing under a blooming cinnamon tree. Smile gently. And next to her... there was another person. Someone made my eyes suddenly stop. In old photo. My mother stood in the middle of a row of bakers. Wearing a clean white uniform. Hand holding a plate of floral waffles just out of the oven. On her left is young To Minh Nghi. On the right is a woman with short hair. I turned the photo over. The three names were written in blue ink that had faded over the years. To Minh Nghi. Tieu Vu immediately pointed to the last name.

“An Tu Mai?”

“Is that Mrs. An?”

I nodded.

“It must be her.”

The notebook was so old that the outside cover was white. I opened the first page. What caught my eye was my mother's familiar handwriting.

"Flower waffle revamp."

"Limit the use of fragrance."

"Retains the natural scent of flowers."

I continued to turn the pages. Each recipe is clearly dated. Sugar ratio. Steaming time. Baking time. Even the cause of failure is noted in extreme detail. It's not just a recipe book. It's the passion of a person's entire life. Flip to the middle of the book. A thin sheet of paper suddenly fell down. I bent down to pick it up. It's a loan. Borrower: An Tu Mai. Borrowed a recipe notebook from Tham Lam. Refund period: three days. It was exactly a month before my mother left the To family. Tieu Vu immediately stood up. Bright eyes.

“Evidence!”

“This is the proof!”

I calmly put the paper down.

“Borrowing does not mean stealing.”

“But she didn't give it back!”

Tieu Vu was so angry that his face turned red. I didn't reply. Just keep turning the last pages. Between two old sheets of paper. There was a carefully folded envelope. Paper has become brittle over time. I opened it very slowly. It's a letter my mother left me. The familiar handwriting made my nose suddenly sting.