Chapter 13 — Du An's Store

“No more hanging now.” His throat moved. “Du An, I didn't come to ask for a reunion.” “That's good.” This sentence made the last bit of dignity on his face impossible to maintain. He said in a low voice: "I just want to see if you really live better after leaving me." A Tran couldn't help but interrupt. “See clearly?” Chu Nghien Bach is not angry. He looked at the new sign, looked at the smiling staff sharing the cake, and finally looked at me. “See clearly.” He turned around and left. This time, he didn't turn back. In November, the second aunt took her son to the store to pay. Previously, her son used a free distribution truck to transport goods, but according to the detailed table, he had to compensate thirteen thousand. The second girl put the money on the table, smiling. "Du An, your second aunt used to talk harshly, don't take it to heart." I gave her the receipt. “Just call me Tran Du An.” Her smile stiffened. “They are all relatives, calling them by their full names is too strange.” “The books are clear, but they are already unfamiliar.” Her son pulled and pulled her. “Mom, let's go.” The second girl was not willing. "Now that my store is big, in the future I'll take care of my cousin a little when I have something to do." I looked at her son. “If you want to apply, follow the normal process.” The second girl was immediately unhappy. “What procedures do family members still go through?” I put the receipt in the drawer. “So I don't use family members.” Her face turned red, then white, and finally she took her bag and left. A Tran came out from behind. “One more person.” “How many houses are there?” "My uncle's family has three payments, and my uncle's family has one account. My uncle is fair and moved early." I nodded. This book settlement lasted nearly a month. Some people paid very quickly, some cheated, some scolded me for not accepting relatives. But no matter how they scolded me, the money was still returned to my account in installments. In early December, Tan Hoa's divorce was decided. She kept most of the bride price and also got her jewelry back. She texted me. “Miss Tran, I found a job, working as an assistant manager at a clothing store.” I replied: “Do it well.” She sent a photo. In the photo, she stands in front of the store, smiling a bit awkwardly. I looked for a while, turned off the phone. Not everyone will get better. But leaving the mud is better than rotting together. That night, Mr. Ho brought a bag of sweet potatoes. She sat on a small chair in front of the store, watching the delivery staff. “Miss Tran, will you still get married in the future?” A Tran next to her perked up her ears. I laugh. “See fate.” Uncle Ho nodded. "So that's right. The store is yours, and the dates are also yours. Anyone who comes can only add embellishments, not destroy the walls." I broke open the hot sweet potato, the sweet scent rising. This sentence is much more realistic than the Zhou family's seven years of peace and harmony. Before Tet, my father-in-law came to see me again. This time he did not bring his mother-in-law along, nor did he act like a superior. He stood outside the store, carrying a bag of tangerines in his hand. “Du An, no, Mrs. Tran.” I asked Tieu Manh to move a chair. “Sit down.” He sat very rigidly. "Your mother, Chu Nghien Bach's mother, told me to come and ask if Tet could leave us some Tet goods. Buy at original price." “The store operates normally, anyone can buy.” He nodded. “That's good.” He rubbed his hands and didn't leave for a long time. I asked: “What else?” He raised his head and looked at me, his eyes very cloudy. “We were wrong before.” I didn't reply. He continued: "Poor people are afraid of poverty. When they have a little something, they always want to hold on to their family name. If you give too much, otherwise we forget that you are giving." It was not easy for these words to come out of his mouth. But just because it's not easy doesn't mean it can be compensated for. I said: “It's good to know.” He smiled bitterly. "Nghien Bach now delivers goods to people. Every day he leaves early and comes home late, just like before." I looked at the New Year gift box on the shelf. “Very good, rely on yourself to earn a living without losing face.” Father-in-law nodded. "Right." Before leaving, he put down his bag of tangerines. "It's not an offering, it's just fruit from the tree in the countryside. If you don't want it, throw it away." I don't throw it away. But c

don't eat either. I told Tieu Manh to share it with the staff. Old debts between people cannot be wiped away with a bag of tangerines. One day before New Year's Eve, Chu Nghien Bach sent me his last text message. "Happy New Year. What I owed you in the past, I will slowly repay." I don't answer. Right at zero hour, among the staff of four stores, lucky money envelopes flew across the screen. A Tran got the biggest robbery and shouted that she would have to open a fifth store next year. Old Pham sent a voice message, saying that the new driver of the fleet had already made arrangements. I stood on the balcony of the old house in Nam Citadel, watching the fireworks in the distance light up one by one. Seven years ago, I pulled the Chu family out of the mud, thinking it was home. Seven years later, I personally led myself away from that dinner table. I didn't lose my house. I just finally put the house sign back up under my name. After early spring, the fifth store location was chosen in Nam Kieu.