Chapter 8 — Breakfast Changes Destiny

This humility only lasted two days. On the third day, rumors spread in the factory that I borrowed my husband's connections to take on personal work outside the home, taking money from the factory without paying it to my family. The person who spread the news was Trieu Le Hong. She was fined by the restaurant, held a grudge in her heart, colluded with Ly Thu Lien, her mouth turned into a sharp knife. At noon, I went to the restaurant and several female workers were gathering in front of the door. Trieu Le Hong crossed her arms over her chest: "Hey, Miss Lam is here. Now she not only knows how to cook, but also knows how to do business." I hung up my apron: "Have you cleaned the rice water bucket yet?" Her face darkened: "Stop beating around the bush. The factory ordered the cake to show respect to Chu Kien Thanh, you're good, you keep all the money in your pocket. A woman like you will sooner or later kill her husband." Someone next to him chimed in: "Comrade Chu is a good person, having to deal with a wife like this, how pitiful." I pulled out a receipt written by the factory manager himself: "The factory ordered date cakes from Lam Xuan Duong, and paid in full. Look closely, it's my name." Trieu Le Hong grabbed it and looked at it, still speaking strongly: "That's also to show respect to your husband." Ms. Tuong walked in from outside the door: "I don't like to hear this. I tasted the cake first, and the factory manager also liked her skills. At that time, Chu Kien Thanh wanted to get in, but he couldn't get in. Have you forgotten?" The female workers immediately burst into laughter. Trieu Le Hong blushed: "The Director's wife, are you defending her?" Ms. Tuong looked at her: "I defend people, not people. If you have such skills, I will also defend you." I took back the receipt: "Trieu Le Hong, if you spread news that I embezzled money from the factory again, I will report it to the security room. The meat theft incident just went smoothly, you probably don't want to be called in there for tea again, right?" Her face was pale, her lips moved for half a day but could not utter a single scolding. At this time, Ly Thu Lien walked in carrying a lunch box. As if she didn't hear what she just said, she softly said: "Sister-in-law, Mr. Chu told me to leave a message for you. Auntie doesn't feel well today, so she told me to go home early from work." I looked at her: "Mr. Chu?" The restaurant suddenly became silent. As if Ly Thu Lien had just reacted, he immediately changed his tone: "Comrade Chu." I laughed: "Are you familiar with the name?" She blushed: "Sister-in-law, don't think too much." I added firewood to the stove: "I don't think much, but my eyes are not blind. From now on, if anything happens, just tell Chu Kien Thanh to open his mouth and say it himself. Don't take the risk of running errands for someone else's husband. If you run a lot, the soles of your shoes won't be clean." Tieu Ton next to him couldn't help but laugh, almost dropping the food slicing knife to the ground. Ly Thu Lien bit her lip and left. In the afternoon, when I returned home, as soon as I entered the yard, I saw Vuong Que Lan lying on the ground, surrounded by Chu Kien Thanh, Ly Thu Lien and two children. Chu Kien Thanh shouted at me: "Do you still know how to find your way home! Mom fell down, are you satisfied?" I looked at Vuong Que Lan lying on the ground, her clothes were clean, her hair was neat, and next to her was the stool she often sat on. "How do you fall?" Ly Thu Lien argued: "Uncle wanted to drink water, there was no one to help her, so she stood up on her own, so she fell. Sister-in-law, even if you're angry at Mr. Chu, you can't vent your anger on the elderly." I looked at Chu Kien Thanh: "Aren't you going to work today?" His face darkened: "I asked for leave." "I was at home, she wanted to drink water, why didn't anyone help?" Chu Kien Thanh paused. Ly Thu Lien quickly said: "Mr. Chu went to buy medicine." I asked: "Where to buy medicine?" Chu Kien Thanh's hands were empty. Vuong Que Lan lay groaning on the ground: "I'm about to die of pain and yet you still interrogate me like a criminal. Kien

Thanh, take mom to the hospital, make her pay!" I squatted down to look at her leg: "Which leg hurts?" She pointed to her left leg: "This leg." I reached out and touched her right leg, and she immediately cried out. Aunt Truong was standing at the yard gate, laughing. Chu Kien Thanh's face became even more unsightly: "Mom, what leg hurts?" Vuong Que Lan was so embarrassed that he became angry: "It hurts both!" I stood up: “Then go to the hospital. Who pays the medical examination fee, does Kien Thanh pay, or does Thu Lien pay? I still haven't been paid today.” Vuong Que Lan immediately stopped moaning: "Go to the hospital, why don't you lie down and rest for a while and you'll be fine." Ly Thu Lien couldn't save face: "Sister-in-law, how can you use money to measure the health of the elderly?" I looked at her: "So you pay?" She tightened her grip on the lunch box: "I'm raising my child alone, I'm stuck with money." "It's okay if my mouth isn't stuck." Aunt Truong laughed out loud. Chu Kien Thanh shouted softly: "Enough!" I looked at him: “Not enough. Chu Kien Thanh, you guys set up a scene for her to lie in the yard waiting for me to return, do you want to make me admit my mistake, or do you want to make me withdraw money? If mother falls, the person who is her biological son like him today must stay by her side. Tonight, whether she drinks water or goes to the toilet, you have to take care of everything." Vuong Que Lan immediately sat up: "You don't need to make arrangements." I watched her quickly get up and brush her shirt. The faces of the neighbors in the yard all changed.