Chapter 4 — Cracks Under Light

"You're so angry that you kick out someone who knows how to fix things, and let someone who doesn't know how to fix them move their hands? You guys are really brave." Chu's mother's face changed from blue to white. I sat in the car. Before the car left, Tham Nhuoc Ninh still stood in place, his hand squeezing the heat bag until it was deformed. Uncle Phuong scolded while driving: "How have you been hanging out with these people for so many years?" I looked out the window: "When I was a baby my eyes weren't good." "Is it cured now?" "Still being cured." Uncle Phuong laughed twice and then lowered his voice: "Last night someone came to ask if the cloud vase was in your hand." I turned my head: "Who?" "Someone from Chu Thi." I was silent for a few seconds. Uncle Phuong said: "That vase was left by your grandmother. Don't let others look at it." I replied once. The phone lights up. That was the message Chu Nghien Tu sent: "My mother was so angry that you cried. Tonight at the exhibition, you better not cause trouble for Nhuoc Ninh anymore." I deleted the message. Uncle Phuong looked at me through the rearview mirror: "No answer?" "No." "No regrets?" I looked at the glass door of the exhibition center in the distance. "He is no longer worthy of letting you waste your fingers." On the evening of the exhibition, famous people in Nam Thanh all came. Chu Thi is one of the sponsors. Chu Nghien Tu wore a dark gray vest standing in the middle of the crowd, next to him was still Tham Nhuoc Ninh. She changed into a white dress, and on her chest was a restoration consultant card issued by the organizers. I stood behind the stage checking the fixed price of a blue glazed porcelain vase. A middle-aged woman named Luong is the person in charge of this exhibition. Today her attitude towards me was much more polite, but she still didn't give me the card. "Miss Lam, don't take it to heart. Ms. Nhuoc Ninh's side was told by General Director Chu in advance, the list has been printed a long time ago." Uncle Phuong rolled his eyes: "The skin on her face is also really thickly printed." Ms. Luong smiled wryly: "Teacher Phuong, don't make things difficult for me." I said: "The card is not important, as long as nothing happens to the vase." Ms. Luong breathed. exclaimed: "It's still Ms. Lam who understands." Uncle Phuong looked at her: "Understanding doesn't mean letting you step on it." Applause rang out in the front hall. The host introduced Tham Nhuoc Ninh as a "promising young star in the world of antique restoration", and also said that she stayed up all night to stabilize the crack on the blue-glazed porcelain vase, protecting the most important exhibit tonight. Uncle Phuong put the teacup firmly on the table. "Fart." I picked up the cloth bag: "Let's go see." The light in the front hall was very bright. The blue enamel vase is placed in the middle. Tham Nhuoc Ninh stood beside the stage, smiled and said: "Actually, I just tried my best. The situation last night was very urgent, luckily Nghien Tu was always by my side, giving me a lot of support." Chu Nghien Tu stood under the stage, with a look of pride in his eyes that I was very familiar with. That look he never gave me. Someone asked: "Miss Tham, at such a young age, was able to fix this crack. I wonder which master she studied under?" Tham Nhuoc Ninh paused and then smiled: "My teacher is teacher Hua Kien Thanh. Last night, teacher Phuong was also there to guide me." As soon as Uncle Phuong interrupted, when he heard this sentence, his face immediately darkened. I held him back: "Don't make trouble now, the vase is still on the stage." Tham Nhuoc Ninh's eyes crossed the crowd and when he saw me, his smile deepened. Chu Nghien Tu also saw me and immediately frowned. He came to block my path: "What are you doing?" I said: "Look at the vase." "Do you have to expose Nhuoc Ninh in front of everyone?" "She is standing on my stage." Chu Nghien Tu lowered his voice: "Lam Van, last night you only helped clean up the equipment. The restoration plan was really up to Nhuoc Ninh.

"I looked at him: "Did you see it with your own eyes?" He paused: "Nhuoc Ninh will not lie." I nodded: "Then I will lie?" "Your current appearance makes me feel strange." "Then don't recognize me." Tham Nhuoc Ninh stepped off the stage, surrounded by several rich housewives. Chu's mother was also present, smiling even happier than receiving the award herself: "Our family Nhuoc Ninh really has money." like some people, who only know how to talk about the past." Someone asked: "Who are some people?" Chu's mother saw me and deliberately sighed: "The daughter of an old neighbor, grew up with Nghien Tu in my house since childhood. He's not a bad person, he just has a bit of a heavy heart." I don't know when my mother entered the hall, but just heard that sentence. She still held the coat in her hand and brought it to me, standing outside the crowd, her face scary white. I walked over: "Mom, why did you come?" She looked at Chu's mother: "In the past, she held my hand and said that Van Van was half of her daughter. Turns out she was talking about her like that when she went out." Chu's mother didn't expect my mother to come, her expression stiffened: "I didn't mean that." Tham Nhuoc Ninh immediately stepped forward: "Auntie, you only love Nghien Tu. Ms. Lam's emotions have not been stable recently, everyone can understand." My mother looked at her: "What do you understand?"