Chapter 22 — Bakery After the Rain

Lawyer Trinh then arranged the books, money transfers, chat history and the recording of him admitting to paying into a set of documents. Finally, he agreed to pay part of the money in installments and publicly apologized. The day the apology statement was posted, the words were very dry. No sincerity, no regrets. He said that because his personal handling was unsatisfactory and had an impact on me, he was willing to take responsibility. After watching Tieu Vien, she was so angry that she slapped the table. "Is this still called an apology?" "Why didn't he clearly write that he was a freeloader, spreading rumors, threatening, looking for someone to destroy the store?" I turned off the phone. "Forget it." Tieu Vien was impatient. "Miss Duong, aren't you angry?" I looked at the newly made black forest cake in the refrigerator. The chocolate chips were smooth and the scent of cherry brandy emanated faintly. "I'm angry." "But I don't want to give him today anymore." She didn't understand. I gave her a piece of cake to try. "Taste it." She took a bite, her eyes lit up. "It's delicious." I smiled. "So that's enough for today." Then the shop took a break for three days to renovate. Neighbors all came to help. The flower shop owner gave two new pots of green plants and placed them by the door. The breakfast shop owner helped his father change the lock to make it more secure. Mom sat by the window, picking strawberries while telling me not to give money to others freely in the future. I said: “I know.” She glared at me. "Don't just talk about it." Dad coughed from the side. "He's already suffered a loss." "It won't be like that again." The edges of her eyes turned red again. "I'd rather he never suffered a loss." I walked over and hugged her. "Mom, from now on I'll take care of myself first." She patted my back. "That's right." Two months later, I rented the small shop next to the shop that was just empty. Not to prove it to anyone. It's because I really want to do a small baking class. Teach children to make cookies. Teaching office workers to make birthday cakes. Also teaches people like me before, always wanting to put themselves last, making themselves a piece of cake. On the first day of school, Tieu Vien stood at the door posting the timetable. She turned around and asked me: "Miss Duong, what is the name of the new classroom?" I thought for a moment. "Call it Tinh Duong." She read it again and laughed. "Will Duong also wake up?" I looked at the cake base in the oven slowly rising. "It will." "The temperature is here, it will wake up." At dusk, the first group of students left. In the shop, there was only the faint scent of ice cream and steam from the newly washed mold. I sat near the window, holding a cup of hot latte. Outside the window it was raining lightly again. The wind chimes in front of the door were blown by the wind. I don't turn around. Many people have come into my life and then left. Someone brought money. Someone has faith. Someone tried to trample me into the mud. But they couldn't take away my skills, they couldn't take away my courage to turn the lights back on, and they couldn't take away my courage to bake life into a sweet flavor little by little. The phone lit up once. It is an installment payment of Giang Nghien that has been deposited into the account. Notes are only two words. Pay. I looked at it for two seconds, then placed the phone face down on the table. Tieu Vien poked her head out from the back kitchen. "Miss Duong, will you still try the new dish tomorrow?" I took a sip of coffee. The heat from the throat fell straight into the stomach. “Try.” “Make another hazelnut caramel dish.” She replied with a smile. I stood up and went into the back kitchen. The oven heating light comes on. The red light dot is very small, but very stable. I put the butter on the scale, the number jumped little by little. Outside the window the sound of rain was thick. In the shop, the sweet scent gradually deepens. I know, from now on, no one will be able to use my love to negate my life.