Chapter 7 — Dawn After the Crack

“There's more.” Tong Dao's voice became even quieter, "I found out that before Tran Quoc Dong left Hai Thanh, there was suddenly an extra amount of money in his bank account. Fifty thousand yuan."

“Fifty thousand yuan of 1996.”

"That's right. Fifty thousand yuan at that time could buy half a house in Hai Thanh. A security guard's monthly salary at that time was only four hundred yuan."

Lam Niem So closed her eyes.

“Dao Dao, help me keep it a secret.”

"Of course. Niem So, what are you going to do?"

“Waiting for DNA results.”

Three days later, the results were out. Co Tham personally brought the test papers to her place. He stood outside the door and gave her a cardboard envelope.

“I haven't seen it yet.” He said, “See for yourself.”

Lam Niem So held the envelope, her finger stopped at the seal for three seconds. There is only one piece of paper. Report on blood relationship assessment. Test specimen 1: Lam Sung Son. Test specimen 2: Lam Niem So. Conclusion of blood relationship: Establishing grandchild relationship, 99.97% reliability. She stared at that text for a long time. Co Tham did not urge her, just stood quietly outside the door.

“I am his grandson.” she said.

“I've been looking for my family for twenty-eight years.”

Her voice was very light, as if she was talking to herself.

“Mr. Lam also searched for twenty-eight years.” Co Tham said.

Lam Niem So folded the report, stuffed it into the envelope, and pressed it tightly to her chest.

“Co Tham, don't tell him for now.”

“I have to make one thing clear first.” Her eyes turned cold, "Twenty-eight years ago, who carried me out of the hospital?"

Tran Canh Tham comes again. This time he didn't come alone, Tran's parents also came along. Three people stood outside Tong Dao's door, Tran's mother was carrying a thermos lunch box, and Tran's father was holding a bag of baby clothes. Lam Niem So opened the door and did not let them enter the house.

“What's the matter?”

Tran's mother spoke first, her voice much gentler than last time: "Niem So, Mom and Dad came to visit you. This chicken soup, try it."

“Mom, if there's anything, just say it directly.”

Tran Canh Tham walked out from behind his mother: "Nien So, I want to talk to you properly. Go home."

“Tran Canh Tham, have you finished handling Phuong Di Nhien's matter yet?”

"...It's been dealt with. It's been cut off."

“Delete WeChat yet?”

“Block the phone number yet?”

Tran Canh Tham hesitated slightly: "Not blocked yet, after all, they are colleagues..."

“So it hasn't been resolved yet.”

“Nien So, don't be so extreme…”

“Okay.” Lam Niem So leaned her back against the doorframe, "I'll ask you the second question. Is the cost-sharing deal still going on?"

“No more sharing.” Tran's mother quickly argued, "From now on, Canh Tham's household expenses will be taken care of."

“Let Canh Tham speak.” Lam Niem So looked at Tran Canh Tham.

Tran Canh Tham gritted his teeth: "No more sharing."

“Third question.” Lam Niem So turned to Tran's father, "Uncle Tran, when you were young, you worked as a security guard at Hai Thanh Hospital No. 1, right?"

Father Tran's face changed clearly. From frantic to panic.

“Hospital… Which hospital?”

“Hospital No. 1 Hai Thanh, 1996. I worked there for two years, quit at the end of February.”

“What are you asking for?” Tran Canh Tham frowned.

“Just asking casually.” Lam Niem So looked straight into Tran's father's eyes, "Uncle Tran, did you resign yourself that year?"

Father Tran's lips trembled: "It's been so long... I don't remember clearly anymore..."

"So what about the other fifty thousand yuan? Don't you remember clearly?"

Father Tran's face immediately turned gray sharp.

“What fifty thousand yuan?” Tran Canh Tham looked at his father and then at Lam Niem So, "What do you mean?"

Lam Niem So did not continue to question.

"Leave the chicken soup here. You won't be invited in anymore."

She slammed the door shut. There was silence outside for more than ten seconds, then Tran Canh Tham's voice rang out:

“Dad, what did she mean by fifty thousand yuan?”

Tran's father: "Don't ask anymore, go home and tell." The sound of footsteps fades away. Lam Niem So stood behind the door, her hand on her stomach. The baby turned over once. She took out her phone and texted Tong Dao: Tran Quoc Dong's expression told me he knew something. Tong Dao texted back: Do you need me to continue digging deeper? Niem So: Dig it. Look up the origin of those fifty thousand yuan. She sent another message to Co Tham: I have finished preparing to meet Mr. Lam. Co Tham answered immediately: Tomorrow, forty-sixth floor. That evening, Tran Canh Tham sent her a very long WeChat message. The general idea is: It doesn't make any sense for you to dig up old stories. What my father used to do when he was young has nothing to do with our relationship as husband and wife. Just take care of the pregnancy well and don't think nonsense, we are one family. Lam Niem So did not answer. She opened the iron box, placed the DNA assessment report and the silver lock next to each other. The word "Lam" is on the back of the lock, and the words "Lam Sung Son" and "Lam Niem So" are on the report. Twenty-eight years. She remembered the iron fence of the orphanage, remembered the days of eating leftover rice and soup in her adoptive family, remembered the years after the age of sixteen, working and renting a room in the slums. Remembering the time he got married, Tran Canh Tham said, "I will give you a home." Remembering the night when she wanted to divide the money fairly, the baby in her womb kicked her. All of her grievances can be ignored. But there are some things that require an answer. The next day, forty-sixth floor. Lam Sung Son sat in front of the window, the cup of tea on the table had cooled. Lam Niem So walked in and placed the DNA assessment report on the table.

“Have you seen the report yet?”

The two looked at each other for a few seconds. Lam Sung Son's eye sockets were red, but he controlled himself very well, not letting his tears fall.

“Twenty-eight years.” The old man's voice was a bit hoarse, "Your father has been looking for you for twenty-eight years."

"Lam Tri Vien, my youngest son. You are his biological daughter."

“Where is he?”

"On a business trip. I called him back." Lam Sung Son stood up, walked in front of her, cautiously stretched out his hand, as if afraid it would break if touched, and gently patted her shoulder. “This child, you have suffered.”

Lam Niem So did not cry. She is not good at crying, it is a skill she learned at the orphanage.

"Grandfather." She called out.

Lam Sung Son's body trembled.

“I want to ask you something.”

“Ask me.”

"Whoever carried me out of the hospital that year, did you investigate?"

Lam Sung Son's face immediately became gloomy.

"There was an investigation. After twenty-eight years, we still couldn't find any real evidence. The hospital's surveillance camera was intentionally damaged that year, and the security guard said he didn't see anything. We reported to the police and investigated all the staff, but in the end there was no clue."