Chapter 12 — Breakfast Changes Destiny

I went into the room and took Ngoc Xuan Lau's receipt, the factory's receipt for ordering date cakes, and placed it on the table: "The factory ordered the goods, the factory manager nodded, the money is clear. Ngoc Xuan Lau's work is not related to the factory. Deputy director Ha wants to check, please state clearly which item to check first." He clearly didn't expect me to bring these things up. Chu Kien Thanh quickly spoke up: "She is a woman, she doesn't understand the rules. Her family also does not support her exposing her face like that." Treasurer Do's voice came from outside the gate: "Who says you don't understand the rules?" She led Mr. Tan in, carrying a box of cakes in her hand. "Miss Lam just signed a receipt with Ngoc Xuan Lau, we're here to hand over the copy. If your factory feels that the employees' families can't rely on their skills to make money, then today I'll go ask the Ward Committee what regulations prohibit women from working." Vice President Ha's face changed: "Chief Treasurer Do, why are you here?" Shopkeeper Do looked at him: "I didn't come, how could I know that someone wanted to turn Ms. Lam's skills into those of the Chu family?" Old Qin added another answer: "Last time Comrade Chu couldn't even distinguish between pies and cakes." The people gathered around to watch burst into laughter. Vice Principal Ha quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Misunderstanding, just going to find out the situation." I looked at Chu Kien Thanh: "Do you still want to find out more?" Chu Kien Thanh couldn't save face: "Xuan Duong, there are outsiders here, do you have to make a fuss about housework?" Treasurer Do said: "Collecting the wife's hard-earned money into the family's, bringing outside women to rob other people's jobs, is that also called housework?" Neighbors in the yard gathered more and more. Aunt Truong's voice boomed: "Xuan Duong seems to have a witness this time. Normally, she does the most work at home and gets scolded the most." Vuong Que Lan angrily scolded her aunt: "You talk too much!" Vice President Ha wiped the sweat from his forehead: "If it was a misunderstanding, I will go back and explain to the factory." He ran away as quickly as if there was fire burning behind him. Chu Kien Thanh stood frozen in place, his face extremely unsightly. Before leaving, Treasurer Do said to me: "Miss Lam, if you want to go out to work, behind Ngoc Xuan Lau garden there is an empty kitchen, you can use it at any time." This statement is like a key, falling in the middle of the yard. Vuong Que Lan immediately shouted: "Don't go! Who will take care of the old people and children in the house?" I looked at her: "Everyone's mother is worried, everyone's child is also worried. I go to work, the sky can't fall." Chu Kien Thanh shouted: "If you dare take one step out, this house will fall apart." I picked up the bronze mold, the lines rubbing against my palm. "Chu Kien Thanh, this house has been in ruins for a long time. It's just that before I knelt alone on the ground to pick it up, and the people standing there criticized me for picking it up too slowly."Chu Kien Thanh thought I was just being harsh. Early the next morning, I packed two changes of clothes, the bronze mold, receipt and money into a cloth bag, and took Minh Nguyet to Ngoc Xuan Lau. Chu Vien chased out the door: "Mom, are you really not cooking breakfast anymore?" "In the pot there is rice, next to the stove there is firewood." Chu Tieu Tue cried and asked: "Who combs my hair?" I looked at his messy pigtail: "Your grandmother knows how to scold people, she probably also knows how to comb her hair." Vuong Que Lan rushed out from the house: "If you dare leave, I will kill you!" I turned around: "Before you die, remember to tell Kien Thanh to pay for the coffin." She sat down on the doorstep, unable to cry anymore. Minh Nguyet followed me, carrying her school bag on her back, her steps were timid

turn to relief. The yard behind Ngoc Xuan Lau is clean, the kitchen counter is high, and the cutting board is wide. Treasurer Do gave me the key: "This kitchen is for you to use. You can make things for Ngoc Xuan Lau. In your free time, you can also take your own orders. The rent is temporarily deducted from the books, so you don't suffer any loss." I said: "Okay, it's decided." Minh Nguyet touched the cutting board, her eyes sparkling: "Mom, this place is much larger than at home." "After school, just come here to do your homework." I opened the window: "After finishing, mom taught me how to mold." At noon, Chu Kien Thanh came. He stood in front of the yard gate, his face gloomy: "Lin Xuan Duong, have you made enough trouble? Mother is crying at home, children have no food to eat, neighbors are laughing." I let a batch of scones that had just come out of the oven cool down: "If they're hungry, they know how to cook. If they can't cook, then go buy them. I'm the real father, not a decoration." "Do you have to force me to bow my head to be able to bear it?" "I didn't come to bow my head." I looked at him: "You came to force me to turn around and continue bowing." Being hurt by what he said, he became so embarrassed that he became angry: "Minh Nguyet, follow dad home!" Minh Nguyet grabbed the pen tightly, stood up and sat down again: "I'll do my homework here after school. Dad, please go home." Chu Kien Thanh couldn't believe it: "Dad takes care of food and clothes for you, do you also learn from your mother to argue with me?"