Chapter 20 — After the Divorce, I Stopped Paying for My Mother-in-Law's Medicine

The whole hall immediately turned to look at him. Hua Duc Hai pulled out a stack of papers. The voice was full of certainty.

“The begonia bronze mold that Tham Duong is using is originally the property of the To family.”

“She is not a descendant of the To family.”

“There is no right to use it to take the exam.”

Just finished speaking. Hua Man immediately responded.

“Everyone can see it clearly.”

“From the beginning until now, Miss Tham has always relied on Mrs. To's reputation.”

“The competition must be fair.”

“If anyone has greater support, that person wins.”

Trieu Que Lan also immediately chimed in.

"That's right!"

“It's best at clinging to other people!”

Jiang Yichuan frowned. Zhao Guilan was stunned.

“You scolded mom?”

“Because of him, you dare to scold me?”

But this time. Jiang Yichuan didn't even look at her. The host turned to To Minh Nghi.

“Is that bronze mold really the property of the To family?”

To Minh Nghi walked onto the stage with a cane.

“It was like that before.”

The corner of Hua Duc Hai's lips slightly raised. But the next second. That smile has stiffened. To Minh Nghi continued:

“Thirty years ago.”

“Tham Lam entered the To family to learn a trade.”

“The year she invented begonia cake.”

“I gave this mold to her.”

“Then when you leave.”

“She gave it back.”

"Saying that he didn't want his daughter to be involved in the past because of the past."

“Now I return it to Tham Duong.”

“It's just that the object returned to the right owner.”

Hua Duc Hai's face immediately stiffened. Hua Man still hasn't given up.

“Do you have any documents to prove it?”

To Minh Nghi looked at her. The assistant immediately opened the archive. Inside are photos taken that year. There is also To Minh Nghi's handwritten note about the donation of the mold. All evidence is complete. Below the stands. Someone said in a low voice:

“The Hua family is really strange.”

“Every time I denounce it, I get a backlash.”

Tieu Vu immediately stood up. Responded loudly:

“Because you have thick skin.”

“Good elasticity.”

The whole hall burst into laughter. Hua Duc Hai's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. The host immediately announced:

“The complaint is invalid.”

“The competition continues.”

I walked back to the processing table. I make begonias. Rice flour is sifted as fine as snow. Hawthorn jam is as red as flower petals. The copper mold gently pressed down. Each begonia flower blooms on a white ceramic plate. Go to the introduction of the work. I stand in front of the microphone. Don't cry. Not to mention suffering. Not even mentioning the years I endured. I'm just saying:

“My mother once said.”

“Skills are not for winning or losing.”

“But to feed myself.”

“Feeding the people you love.”

“She once lost a notebook.”

“Also missed a lot of opportunities to explain.”

“I made this cake today.”

“Not to ask anyone for an apology.”

“But to tell the people who took what belonged to her.”

“Reputation can be stolen.”

“Formula can be stolen.”

“But the taste...”

“No.”

“Because what is stolen can never become yours.”

The whole hall was silent. No one said a word. In the last row. Mrs. An bowed her head very low. Don't dare look at the stage. An Tinh did not appear today. Hua Duc Hai clenched his hands. As for Hua Man, she almost crumpled the hem of her dress. After the scoring section. The main judge slowly stood up.

“We would like to announce the results.”

“The champion of this year's Tan Tu Lao Hieu contest is...”

Applause rang out go up. At first it was sporadic. But very fast. Bigger and bigger. More and more enthusiastic. Tieu Vu jumped up.

“Miss Duong won!”

The lady selling wontons at the end of the hall also shouted loudly:

“Tam Ky ancient town!”

“Excellent!”

When I received my medal. Giang Diec Xuyen suddenly walked up to the stage. He looked at me. The voice is not loud. But the microphone hasn't turned off yet. The entire hall heard it.

“Shen Duong.”

The whole auditorium was silent. Trieu Que Lan was bewildered. Hua Man was also stunned. Giang Dieu Xuyen continued to speak.

“The baby thing.”

“My mother's story.”

“The story of Hua Man.”

“And all three years of that marriage.”

“I owe you.”

I looked at him. His eyes were as calm as a lake.

“What you owe me…”

“It's not like an apology can pay it off.”

Giang Diec Xuyen's shoulders sagged. Like he finally understood. There are mistakes. Cannot be repaired. I put the medal back on the tray. Then looked towards Hua Man.

“Where is the public apology you owe me?”

Hua Man instinctively backed away. Hua Duc Hai immediately held her shoulder.

“Shen Duong.”

"As humans, we should leave a way for each other."

Right at that moment. To Minh Nghi gently raised his hand. The assistant immediately passed a file to the organizers.

“Jinhua Wine House uses spoiled ingredients.”

“Illegal interference in the competition.”

“Car arrangement hinders contestants from participating.”

“All evidence has been turned over to the management agency.”

"Mr. Hua wants to keep the retreat or not..."

“You can explain it to them yourself.”

Hua Duc Hai's facial muscles twitched.

“Do we have to push things to the end?”

From the end of the stands. The wonton seller immediately shouted:

“When you sent someone to paint someone else's shop…”

“Why didn't you remember to leave a retreat?”

Right then. Manager Luu raised his phone.

“The painter has been arrested.”

“At the police station he confessed everything.”

“It was Cam Hoa's people who gave him the money to hire him.”

Hua Duc Hai suddenly turned his head. His face turned pale. Hua Man stood next to her, her legs weak. Had to hold on to the chair to stand steady. The host immediately announced:

“The Man Xuyen brand has been disqualified from participating.”

“Cam Hoa Tuu Lau is permanently removed from the list of competition partners.”

A buzz exploded throughout the hall. Right at that moment. Trieu Que Lan seemed crazy. She rushed straight in front of Hua Man. A resounding slap landed on her face. The crisp sound echoed throughout the hall.

“The vixen!”

“Fraud!”

“You harmed our entire Giang family!”

Hua Man staggered and fell to the ground. The mask fell off his face. First time. There is no one left to protect her anymore.

“You cheated my grandson!”

“Even makes my son lose his reputation!”

Trieu Que Lan cried and screamed like crazy. Hua Man hugged her face. Red handprints were clearly visible on his cheeks. But this time. She no longer looked as weak and pitiful as usual. His eyes suddenly became cold. She laughed.

“It's because you guys are stupid.”

“Jiang Yi Xuyen voluntarily believes in me.”

“What does it have to do with me?”

That sentence just came out. The microphone on stage recorded clearly. The whole hall was silent. Trieu Que Lan was stunned. Giang Dieu Xuyen closed his eyes. It was as if I finally heard what I didn't want to hear the most. A moment later. He opened his eyes. The voice was so calm it was scary.

“Report the police.”

“The baby thing.”

“It's about money silver."

“One thing at a time.”

“Investigate clearly.”

Hua Man's expression immediately changed.

“Jiang Yichuan!”

“You have no conscience!”

“Do you want to force me to death?”

Jiang Yichuan did not look at her. His eyes were cold as ice. From start to finish. No wavering. Hua Duc Hai saw that the situation was not good. Immediately turned around and wanted to leave. But just took a few steps. Two employees blocked the front.

“Sorry Mr. Hua.”

“There are some things that need your cooperation in investigating.”

His face immediately turned pale. In the back row. Mrs. An slowly stood up. There is no longer the arrogance of the past. She walked in front of me. Then handed out a yellow paper file bag. Hoarse voice.

“This is the original copy of Tham Lam's notebook from that year.”

“The An family owes her.”

“We will compensate according to the verdict.”

I received the file bag. Tieu Vu stood next to her, pouting.

“Wouldn't knowing things early help you lose face?”

Ms. An did not object. Don't get angry either. Just quietly turned around and left. His back looked like he had aged ten years. Three days later. All red paint stains in front of Tham Ky's door have been cleaned. A new wooden sign was hung up. The handwriting was written by To Minh Nghi himself. Just two words: The An family publicly apologizes. The once famous flower waffles were withdrawn from the market. Cam Hoa Tu Lau was fully investigated. Hua Duc Hai lost a huge amount of money. Also lost the reputation built up over many years. The day Hua Man hugged her child and left the Giang family's house. Trieu Que Lan sat in front of the door crying all morning. Cry until your voice is hoarse. But no one came to comfort me. Neighbors passed by. They all just glanced and left. Because everyone remembers. How did she treat me before? Giang Diec Xuyen came to find me once. In his hand he held the compensation agreement that he had never given that year. I don't accept. He stood in front of the cake counter. Silence for a long time. Finally said:

“Shen Duong.”

“I won't bother you anymore from now on.”

I'm wrapping cakes for guests. The head doesn't even lift up. Just conveniently gave a box of begonias to the girl waiting in line.

“If you want to buy cake, just line up.”

“There's something else.”

“No discussion.”

Giang Dieu Xuyen stood there for a long time. He bowed his head. Tear up the agreement with your own hands. Then throw it in the trash on the side of the road. Then turned around and left. Don't look back. It's truly the end. Spring of that year. Tham Ky became the most famous shop in the old town. Tieu Vu is in charge of the lobby. The wonton seller stops by every day to ask for some crumbs. To Minh Nghi sometimes sits next to the window. While drinking tea, he blamed me. Sometimes I criticize the cake for being too sweet. Sometimes I criticize the fire for being too old. When she criticized me, I absolutely refused to call her master. Put mom's notebook in a glass cabinet. Next to it is a bronze begonia flower mold. A guest asked:

“Boss Tham.”

“What is the best-selling item today?”

I just got a batch of begonia cakes that just came out of the oven. The sweet scent wafts through the slit of the paper box. I smiled.

“Everything is delicious.”

Then gently close the lid of the box.

“But the most valuable thing…”

“It's something no one can take away.”

There are things that are money. There are things that are famous. There are things that are love. Once lost, you can find it again. But self-esteem. And hands create their own value. Once you keep it. No one will be able to steal it. Even those who have caused you pain best.