Chapter 3 — Divorced and Reborn: My New Beginning

I continued slicing the chitterlings, the knife in my hand never faltering.

"What rules?"

He reached out, snatched a piece, and shoved it directly into his mouth.

"Anyone setting up a stall on this street has to pay protection money."

The people nearby didn't dare to breathe, let alone speak. I raised my knife and slammed it down onto the chopping block. The sound cracked like a whip, echoing through the street. Third Horse’s hand jerked instinctively. I looked him dead in the eye.

"You ate three pieces of chitterlings and one slice of liver, totaling sixty cents. Pay up first."

He offered a vulgar, leering grin. "This woman has some nerve. Do you even know who I am?"

I replied coldly, "I know. You’re a man who eats without paying."

A few people in the crowd couldn't help but chuckle. Third Horse’s face went pale with rage. He reached out, intent on flipping over my entire stall, but I was faster. I grabbed a ladle of boiling braising liquid and splashed it right beside his feet, a cloud of thick steam rising instantly. He jumped back, terrified, spewing curses. I stared him down, enunciating every word.

"If you dare to flip this stall, I dare to call the police. There are plenty of witnesses here today. You’re stealing goods, destroying property, and harassing a woman. Do you think a few days sitting in a holding cell would be enough for you?"

Third Horse froze. Usually, he only picked on those who were timid or looking for a quiet life. He had never encountered someone like me, who could rattle off his crimes as if reciting a grocery list. I pressed the advantage. "If you don't believe me, feel free to try it right now."

Having lost face, he pointed a shaking finger at me. "You just wait!"

"Pay the money," I demanded.

Furious, he snatched a one-dollar bill from his pocket and threw it onto the chopping block. I counted out forty cents in change and pushed it toward him. "Next time, remember to wait in line."

Finally, laughter erupted from the crowd. After Third Horse stomped away, Mrs. Phung hurried over to me. "You silly girl, why did you have to provoke him?"

I wiped the chopping block clean with a rag. "If I back down once, he’ll spend the rest of my life trampling all over me."

Mrs. Phung sighed. "That may be true, but he has someone powerful backing him."

"Who?" I asked.

She leaned in and lowered her voice. "His brother-in-law works at the Bureau of Industry and Commerce."

My heart sank. As I feared, by the afternoon, officials from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce had arrived. The man leading them was named Tien Huu Tai. He had a protruding belly, and his eyes swept over me from head to toe with a predatory gaze.

"Unlicensed business, suspicious origin of goods. Confiscate everything."

I calmly placed my business application and health certificate on the table. "My license is right here. The meat has invoices from the food factory, and the spices have invoices from the supply store. May I ask what exactly is suspicious?"

Tien Huu Tai’s face stiffened. He hadn't expected me to be so prepared. From the very first day I set up my stall, I knew someone would eventually come to stir up trouble. That was why I had kept every single receipt and document. Tien Huu Tai flipped through the papers for a long time, unable to find a single flaw. Finally, he gave a cold laugh.

"Someone reported you for selling spoiled meat. You’re coming with us."

Little Duong Duong turned deathly pale with fear, clutching the hem of my shirt and refusing to let go. I crouched down and took her small hands in mine. "Mommy is just going to clear up a misunderstanding. I’ll be back soon. Stay here with Mrs. Phung."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back. "Mommy, don't leave me."

It felt as if a knife had pierced my heart. I whispered, "I will never leave you."

Tien Huu Tai grew impatient. "Enough of this nonsense!"

I stood up. "I’ll go. But you are not to confiscate my goods. If you want to seal the stall, you have to write a formal report first."

He glared at me, and I stared right back. Finally, he spat out a curse and began writing the seal order. I followed them to the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. I knew I couldn't afford to be weak. If I yielded even once, the life that Duong Duong and I had worked so hard to build would come crashing down.

At the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, Tien Huu Tai intentionally ignored me for two full hours. He sat there sipping tea and reading the newspaper, pointedly pretending I didn't exist. I didn't rush him. I simply waited.