Chapter 7 — Eighteen People, One Meal, One Divorce

After speaking, my mother immediately hung up, without hesitation, then pressed the power button to turn off my phone.

“Mom…” I looked at her, tears welling up again, this time not from self-pity but from a burning emotion in my chest.

“What are you crying for?” My mother wiped the corner of her eyes and put the phone back in my hand.

“The cake isn't finished wrapping yet.”

She turned back to continue wrapping the dumplings, but her hands were shaking slightly, clearly showing how many emotions had not yet subsided. I understand, she is scared, angry, but most of all, she is heartbroken because of me.

“Mom, I'm sorry…” I said, my voice choked up.

"You shouldn't have hidden it from mom, you should have told me a long time ago..."

“So stupid.” My mother turned her head to look at me, her eyes red.

“It was my mother who was at fault with me.”

"Don't keep telling your child to hold back, just say that once you get married, that's the way it should be."

“Mom was wrong.”

“From now on, don't hold back anymore.”

“If anyone dares to bully you, just go home.”

“This house always has something for you.”

I nodded vigorously, tears falling and mixing with the flour on the cutting board. My father walked into the kitchen, still holding an unlit cigarette.

“Is the cake wrapped yet?” he asked, his voice as usual.

“Almost done.” my mother replied, still a little hoarse.

He nodded, looked at me and said.

“Vu Ninh, go wash your face, eat later.”

I went to the bathroom, turned on the cold water, splashed it on my face, the cold made my mind more alert. In the mirror, I saw a face with puffy eyes, pale eyes, and messy hair. Looks quite difficult. But his eyes were brighter, brighter than at any time in the past two years. I wiped my face, walked out, and returned to the kitchen to find dumplings filled on a tray, evenly spaced like small boats. Mom was boiling water, dad was making dipping sauce, laughter on the TV was still echoing steadily. The light outside the window is brighter, passing through the red cut paper and shining on the floor in a warm array of colors. Everything looks peaceful, simple but strangely warm. Until downstairs, the sound of a car horn sounded, lasting urgently, mixed with loud calls.

"Vu Ninh! Lam Vu Ninh!"

It's Trieu Khai's voice. The rolling pin in my hand fell to the ground, made a "click" sound and rolled into the corner of the wall.

“Lam Vu Ninh!” His voice rang out from downstairs, followed by an annoyed shout.

Immediately after that, a series of chaotic sounds rushed up the stairs, the sound of car doors slamming, the sound of crowded footsteps, the sounds of children crying, and the sounds of women grumbling mixed together. Everything was like a wave coming, rising floor by floor, blocking all quiet in the small house. I stood still without moving, my fingertips were numb as if I had lost feeling. My mother turned off the stove, the pot of water just boiled, white steam rising. My father put down the bottle of vinegar, walked to the window, gently lifted the curtain and looked down. His back paused for a very clear moment, then turned back with a gloomy face.

“Here we are.” he said, his voice low.

“How many people?” my mother asked, her hand holding the shovel so tight it turned white.

“Four or five cars, more than a dozen people.” my father replied, lowering the curtain.

“Trieu Khai, his parents, and… looks like his two older sisters are coming too.”

In the hallway, heavy, heavy footsteps sounded, not just one person. Immediately after that there was a loud knocking on the door, not knocking but banging.

“BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!”

The door vibrated, making a buzzing sound.

"Lam Vu Ninh! Open the door!" Trieu Khai's voice was rough, panting from running.

“I know you're in there, open up!”

The pounding on the door became stronger and louder and a high-pitched female voice.

"Sister-in-law, please open the door. What's wrong with escaping to your mother's house during Tet?"

That's his older sister's voice, the kind of voice I've heard her use with maids, with shippers, with anyone she doesn't care about. Now, she stood in front of my house, calling me "sister-in-law" in that same voice.

"Open the door! If you don't open it, I'll really call the police!" Trieu Khai screamed.

My father walked over, put his hand on the door handle, turned his head to look at me.

“Vu Ninh, please go to your room.”

"Are not." I shook my head, walked up and stood in the middle of the living room.

“I'm standing here.”

My father didn't say more, just took a deep breath and turned the door lock. The door opened a small crack, not completely open, but enough to see outside clearly. The hallway was filled with people. Trieu Khai was at the head, his face was red, his hair was messy, his jacket was unzipped, and inside was a wrinkled sweater. Behind him is his mother, wearing a dark purple cotton shirt, scarf, and pursed lips. Next to her was her second sister, arms crossed, eyes slanted, half-smile full of scrutiny. The eldest sister was leading a child. The child yawned and looked annoyed. Behind them, there were a few people crowded on the stairs, whose faces could not be seen clearly.

"Dad." Trieu Khai lowered his voice, trying to be polite.

“I came to pick up Vu Ninh.”

“It won't come back.” my father replied, still blocking the door.

“Dad, don't do that.” Trieu Khai leaned over to intervene, his voice urgent.

"There are eighteen people in the house waiting to eat, the food hasn't been prepared yet, your parents and sisters are standing down there, what kind of arrangement is this?"

"Dad, let Vu Ninh go home. Just go back and show your face, cook a few dishes, and get through the day first."

"If there's anything else, let's talk about it after Tet, I'll make sure to apologize to her properly."

The words sounded like a plea, but the look in his eyes only showed annoyance and impatience. He just wants to solve the immediate problem, but he doesn't care about why the problem happened.

“Trieu Khai.” I spoke up, my throat dry but my voice very steady.

His eyes immediately turned towards me, flashing like he had caught a lifeline.