Chapter 25 — After the Fire Ends, I Return

Uncle Two next to him added fuel to the fire: "Tell her. Tell her why her father died, why Duong Ky shop was kept, and what your brother holds is most likely in her house." Grandma Tham said sternly: "That's enough!" I looked at Tham Duat: "Is he telling the truth?" Tham Duat nodded: "It's true." I took a step back. Khuong Van quickly supported me. Uncle Two still laughed: "Hua Duong, do you think marrying into the Tham family will change your life? You just transferred from the Luc family's chess board to the Tham family's chess board." Tham Duat turned around and punched Uncle Hai in the face. Uncle Hai fell to the ground. Aunt Hai shouted and rushed forward. Grandma Tham did not stop him. I looked at that scene and just felt tired. I turned on my heel and walked out. Tham Duat chased after: "Hua Duong." I stopped walking: "Don't follow me."

“It's raining outside.”

“I know how to walk.”

He stood rooted to the spot, his voice very soft: "Sorry." I didn't turn back. Khuong Van covered her umbrella and chased after her: "Duong Duong, come to my house." I shook my head: "To Duong Ky."

“It's so late…”

“I have to find something.”

Uncle Hai said, what Tham Van wants to find might be in Duong Ky. I suddenly remembered a sentence my father repeatedly told my mother before he passed away: *"The third tile in the kitchen, don't touch it."* At that time, I thought he just couldn't bear to part with the old items of the shop. Looking back now, my father has never been a sentimental person. * Duong Ky kitchen light turns on. My mother put on her coat and ran over: "Duong Duong, what's wrong?" I squatted next to the kitchen counter and touched the third brick: "Mom, before dad died, did you leave anything behind?" My mother's face changed: "Why do you suddenly ask this?"

“The list that Tham Van investigated that year may be related to dad.”

My mother held her hand against the door frame, speechless for half a day. Khuong Van was impatient: "Auntie, what do you know?" My mother stepped forward, took the back of the knife and tapped the brick with each blow. The brick loosened, revealing an iron box underneath. My mother brought out the box, her hands covered in dust.

“Your father told you, if one day someone comes to you because of the old fire, then give this to you.”

I opened the iron box. Inside were a stack of old photos, a yellowed notebook, and my childhood birth certificate. On the birth certificate, the Father's Name column is not Hua Kien Quoc. Mother's Name Column is also not Tham Tu Lan. I looked up at my mother: "Mom, what is this?" Tears fell from my mother's eyes: "Duong Duong, you are not born to me." The broth in the pot is still boiling. My mother sat on a small plastic chair, rubbing the corner of her apron.

"That year your father picked you up in the alley behind the hospital. You were wrapped in a small, very expensive blanket, next to this birth certificate, and a jade tablet."

Khuong Van carefully asked: "Where are the jade cards?" My mother pointed to the bottom compartment of the iron box. I took it out. The jade tablet is old, with the word "Van" engraved on it. Written by Tham Van. My mind buzzed: "Does this have anything to do with the Tham family?" My mother shook her head: "We don't know. Your father was going to call the police, but the next day someone came to the door, said the child was dead, and told us not to worry about money. Your father didn't think it was right, so he kept you and changed your name." I opened the notebook. The first page is my father's handwriting: *”At When Duong Duong arrived, he had a burning smell, as if he had just been rescued from a fire."* My voice was dry: "Did you also experience a fire when you were young?" My mother cried and nodded: "You were too young at that time so you don't remember. The skin on my back was already weaker than other people's. Later, to save Luc Canh Xuyen, I was burned again. The doctor said it would be very difficult to recover." Khuong Van also shed tears: "Auntie, why didn't you say something like this sooner?"