Chapter 1 — Do I Give Myself a Home?

When my biological parents found me, I was working in an electronics factory. As soon as he saw me, my brother blurted out: "How can this dark, short, ugly girl be my sister?" The younger sister standing next to her added fuel to the fire: "You're just a lowly worker in the factory, do you even have a boyfriend who dyes his hair blonde?" My biological parents' faces were no better to look at. They glanced at each other, then picked up their bags and prepared to leave. I stood there, blankly looking at their backs - my biological parents... came like the wind, then quickly left as if they had never appeared. 1 The group leader called me out, telling me that someone was coming to look for me. At that time I was so stressed that my heart was pounding. I'm so scared... Afraid that my parents will come and take me home to exchange the bride price. Or want to snatch my salary card to supplement family expenses. I was just about to refuse when the team leader said: those are my biological parents. They dress neatly and don't look like bad people. I nodded slightly, a glimmer of hope arose in my heart, then walked to the office. In the office, in addition to a few employees, there was also a middle-aged couple who were very well taken care of and looked noble. Next to them there was also a man and a woman, about my age. Probably… my brother and sister. I knocked on the door and entered. Before I could say a word, my brother looked at me with eyes full of disgust, then turned to complain to his parents: "Mom and dad, how can this black, short, ugly little girl be my sister!" He added another sentence, his voice clearly disdainful: "Look, Mom and Dad, she doesn't look like a girl at all." I was stunned, standing still, not knowing how to answer. Next to me, a white-skinned girl, wearing a pretty dress, softly said in a coy voice: "Honey, don't say that... Anyway, she already has to work as a factory worker." She deliberately lowered her voice, but loud enough for everyone to hear: "I'm afraid I haven't even finished middle school yet." I turned to look at her and seriously replied: "I have finished high school." She glanced at me with disdain, then stepped closer, glanced down at the worker uniform on my body, then covered her nose with her hand, her face full of disgust: "Sister, what is that smell on you... what is that smell?" I frowned, a bit annoyed and replied: "The smell of paint. I just worked in the machine control area." After listening, she not only did not regain her attitude, but also burst out laughing, her smile full of sarcasm: "Wow, I'm quite proud. It seems like the life of a worker suits you very well." Then she suddenly tilted her head and lowered her voice as if deliberately sarcastic: "Sister, you don't have a boyfriend who dyes his hair blonde anymore, do you?" I was stunned, standing rooted to the spot, completely unsure of how to respond. Next to me, a girl with smooth white skin, wearing a cute dress, spoke softly, her voice was gentle but could not hide the sarcasm: "Honey, don't say that... After all, she already has to work as a factory worker." She deliberately lowered her voice, but each word still fell clearly: "I'm afraid... I haven't even finished middle school yet." I turned to look at her and seriously replied: "I have finished high school." She snorted softly, her eyes filled with contempt, stepped closer, looked at me from head to toe, stopping at the uniform. worker on me, then wrinkled his nose, raised his hand to cover his nose as if haunted by an unpleasant smell: "Sister, what kind of smell is on you... what is that smell?" I frowned a bit, a bit annoyed, and answered directly: "The smell of paint. I just worked in the machine control area." As soon as she finished speaking, the corner of her lips curled up, a soft laugh rang out, adding even more sarcasm: "Wow, you're so proud. It seems you've adapted to worker life very well." She raised her eyebrows, pretending to be curious but her tone was full of sarcasm: "This lady... does she even have a boyfriend with blonde hair?" “Listen to what that uncle said, I often go out with a boy.” After she finished speaking, she immediately turned around and stood next to her parents, wrapping her arms around her mother's arm, looking intentionally intimate, as if showing off the differences between us. My eyes slowly moved to my biological parents' faces. They… looked a bit awkward, but then just for a moment, I clearly saw in their eyes — disgust. My mother stood up first, picked up the bag next to her, her tone was superficial and distant: "You're already an adult." “We have no obligation to raise children anymore.” As she spoke, she looked at me from top to bottom, her eyes glanced over the paint-smelling uniform, the corners of her lips slightly raised, and coldly continued: "You and Vi Vi are very different. Since childhood, she has studied piano and ballet, her ten fingertips have never touched cold water, and she is elegant and polite when attending parties." "As for me... I'm afraid I've never even seen a piano before. Taking it out would only be a shame." She stopped, sighed softly, her voice sounded compassionate but cold to the bone: "In the end, it is the parents who are at fault with their children, but fate... cannot be forced." “I… am not destined to be rich.” "Don't contact us anymore, we only have one daughter - Vi Vi." After my mother finished speaking, my father continued, his voice cold: "Okay, don't waste any more time." “We can't bring home a little factory worker.” I stood there stunned, looking at my biological parents who were turning around and walking away, my mind was blank, not knowing how to react. My brother let out a contemptuous laugh, grabbed his sister's hand and pulled her out. As he passed me, he deliberately shook my shoulder, his cold voice full of warning: "People like you should not dream about the things of the Lo family. Those things do not belong to you." “Don't ever interfere in our lives, do you hear me?” The younger sister turned her head, made an ugly face at me, her voice was sweet but full of sarcasm: "Sister, remember to work hard in the factory~" "Try to find a lover who dyes his hair blonde as soon as possible and marry him." She giggled and let out one last sentence, her voice full of sarcasm: "Sister... you can only go this far." 2 The office door closed, also ending my last illusion about my biological family. Remembering how happy I was when I found out I was not the biological child of the Lam family. At that time, I thought... maybe I was kidnapped as a child. Maybe my biological parents are still looking for me. As long as I try, as long as I make an effort, one day, I will be welcomed home. However, reality is harsh and cruel.{Read in full at Van Ha's love page} My biological parents... came like the wind, then left like never before appear. I clenched my hands, trying to swallow all the bitterness, turned to ask the team leader next to me: "Sister, I just went down to the office for probably less than ten minutes, will my work hours be deducted?" The team leader sighed, his eyes filled with sympathy: "No, go back to work." I nodded slightly, turned around and went back to the workshop. Entering the chain, I put on gloves, quietly stood in my old position, and continued to repeat familiar operations. Everything just now... was like a short dream. When my shift ended, I took off my paint-smelling uniform and changed into my own clothes, as if I wanted to get rid of everything that had happened today. My boyfriend, Co Son Thach, was standing downstairs, waiting for me to go to the station with him to catch the bus back to the dormitory for dinner. He heard what had just happened to me, so he bowed his head and comforted me: "Let's go have a barbecue tonight." “There's a new grilled skewer restaurant at the back of the street, each skewer is only one yuan, so you can eat as much as you want.” I nodded slightly, then suddenly stood on tiptoe, comparing my height with him. You are also... short like me. In high school, he was my previous desk mate. At that time, I often did not have food to eat. He always brought me food and gave me half of the living expenses for me to temporarily hold. Thanks to him, I was able to finish high school. After graduating, I confessed my love to him. He held my hand, led me away from home, and together we ran to a city more than a thousand miles away. The two of them worked and saved money, hoping to save enough money to go to college. I squeezed his hand, smiled softly and said, "I'm okay." “It's considered a blessing in disguise,” I said with a smile, “the team leader said he'll let me work more shifts from now on.” "This time, there is overtime on Saturdays and Sundays, so you can also go. Even the evening overtime hours are listed, so you can work two more hours a day. Is that a good thing?" I raised my head, my eyes sparkling: "This month I will definitely work more hours than you!" He smiled softly, reached out and gently stroked my hair: "Awesome." I proudly patted my chest and proudly replied: "Of course it's awesome!" Then I clenched my fist and smiled brightly: "Later... you'll be even better than that."