Chapter 8 — Behind the Ladder is a Life of Atonement

He bent down and put the house ownership certificate into a plastic bag, wrapping it layer after layer. The next day, lawyer Ha sent me a text message. 【Luc Can Chau asked for notarization so that the money from the sale of the old house could be transferred to her, with her name listed as the beneficiary. Do you refuse?】 I looked at the screen and answered two words. 【No refusal.】 Later, I heard that Luc Can Chau suffered from acute stomach bleeding, fell alone in the rented room, and was discovered by the landlord three days later. After being rescued, he sold the old house and deposited the money into a term savings account, with my name listed as the beneficiary. He left this city, going to a remote town. During the day, he works carrying materials at the construction site, and at night sleeps in a prefabricated house. No one calls him General Manager Luc anymore. Someone recognized him and asked why he had deteriorated like this. He just bowed his head and picked up the cement bag, blue veins clearly visible on the back of his hand, and did not answer. In the corner of the prefabricated house, that bent crutch is still placed. Every month he transferred a maintenance fee to the cemetery. The note had only two words: 【Atonement】 The cemetery returned the money, and he continued to transfer. Later, the manager felt annoyed so he called and told him: "Miss Hua said no need." Luc Can Chau held the phone, sitting on the steps of the construction site, his face full of dust. He said in a low voice: "Then just do as she says." In the fifth year, Twilight won the city government's nursing home renovation project. During the signing ceremony, a reporter asked me: "Director Hua, why do you always focus on the field of senior-friendly design?" I looked at the camera and smiled. "Because I once saw the desperation of a person trapped by stairs, so I want to help more people clear their first step." Applause rang out in the stands. That afternoon, I brought my mother's favorite soft cake and a small bouquet of daisies to the cemetery. The tombstone is wiped very clean. The mother in the photo is still smiling gently. I squatted down and laid out the cake. "Mom, I bought the house with the ramp for disabled people." The wind blew through the pine trees. I continued to say: "That place has now been renovated into an activity center for the elderly in the community. The first floor has no threshold, the night light will turn on before people get out of bed, the height of the handrail is also just right." I placed my hand on the edge of the tombstone, my voice softened. "Don't worry, Mom, I live very well." The phone in my pocket vibrated. It's lawyer Ha. "Hua Le, Luc Can Chau's term savings account has matured. According to notary procedures, the money will be transferred to your name. Will you confirm receipt?" I looked at the green mountains in the distance. "Receive." Lawyer Ha paused. "Are you sure?" "Sure." I brushed a fallen leaf in front of the tombstone. "That's not forgiveness. That's what he owes one of my mother's legs, one of his child's life." "I will use this money to establish a charity fund to renovate elderly-friendly houses, specializing in helping elderly people who cannot pay renovation costs." Lawyer Ha said softly: "You have thought carefully." After hanging up the phone, I sat in front of the tombstone for a while. Don't mention Luc Can Chau anymore. Whether he lives well or not, whether he has regrets or not, can no longer affect me. When leaving the cemetery, the sunset covers the stone steps. I walked very steadily. In front of the office door, drawings of the new project have been delivered. The assistant ran over holding the documents. "Director Hua, tomorrow we have to go to the nursing home to measure again. Which building do you want to measure first?" I received the drawing, turned to the first floor plan. "Look at the slope at the entrance first, then look at the route."

guide the elderly to go to the bathroom at night." The assistant nodded. "Do night lights also follow the old rules?" I replied in one voice. "The first step must have light." The elevator door closed, the mirror reflected my face. I slightly curled the corners of my lips. In a hazy moment, I seemed to see my mother standing at the end of that wide, flat road, happily smiling at me.