Chapter 4 — From now on, mountains and rivers do not match each other

I gave him a cup of warm water.

“Thank you.” He didn't accept, burying his head between his knees, "If Nguyet Nguyet has any fate, I..."

“It'll be okay.” I sat down next to him, "My sister's will to survive is very strong."

The surgery lasted four hours. When the doctor came out and said "surgery was successful", Lam Da immediately knelt to the ground. I helped him up, only to realize that this young man was surprisingly thin, with bruises on his elbows and knees.

“How old are you?” I asked.

“Sixteen.”

“Are you still in school?”

He shook his head: "Work for hire." I was silent for a moment: "Wait until your sister wakes up, take her to Nhan Hoa Duong for a follow-up examination. After recovery treatment, I can help." Lam Da suddenly raised his head to look at me, his eyes were bloodshot and scary.

“Why are you helping us?”

“Because,” I thought, “Your father once said that people who work in medicine must have compassion.”

—

While Lam Nguyet was in the hospital, Lam Da ran back and forth between the hospital and her part-time job every day. I also visited a few times, each time bringing some food. The girl was very obedient. When she woke up, she didn't cry loudly, she just held her brother's hand tightly. One time when I came, Lam Da was feeding his sister porridge, his movements were clumsy but extremely gentle.

“Ms. Vu Vi.” Lam Nguyet saw me and smiled sweetly.

“How are you feeling today?”

“My head doesn't hurt anymore.” The girl whispered, "My brother said, you saved me."

I patted her head: "It's because you're very brave." When Lam Da saw me out of the hospital room, he suddenly said: "Hospital fees... I will pay you back."

“No rush.”

“Hurry.” He stubbornly said, "I don't owe anyone any favors."

I thought: "So let's do this, wait for my sister to be discharged from the hospital, I'll go to Nhan Hoa Duong to help. Pick up medicine, clean up, whatever, consider it as a job to clear the debt." Lam Da's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Yes, food is included, and accommodation is..." I paused, "My old house has a spare room, if you don't mind."

The teenager pursed his lips tightly, and after a long time, he bowed deeply.

“Thank you.”

The day Lam Nguyet was discharged from the hospital, I picked up the two brothers and took them to Thanh Thach alley. The empty room in the West room was cleaned and new blankets and mattresses were replaced. Lam Da stood at the door, a bit confused.

“Come in,” I smiled, “This is your home from now on.”

He walked in, looked around, his eyes gradually turning red.

"I... I'll go cook." He turned around and crawled into the kitchen.

That meal was very simple, eggs stir-fried with tomatoes, tofu stir-fried with green vegetables, and seaweed soup. But three people gathered around the table, hot smoke rising. Lam Nguyet chirpily told interesting stories at the hospital, Lam Da quietly picked up food for her sister. Outside the window the darkness gradually falls, inside the house the light is warm. I suddenly felt like this was like a family.

—

Lam Da became an apprentice at Nhan Hoa Duong very quickly. He knows few words, but has a natural sensitivity to medicinal herbs, and has never made a mistake in preparing medicine. Teacher Tan also likes him very much. In his free time, he also teaches him to recognize letters and practice writing. One day after closing the shop, Lam Da stayed behind to clean up. I was arranging medical records when I suddenly heard him standing in front of the medicine cabinet mumbling to memorization: "Duong Quy, warm in nature, sweet and spicy taste, tortoise meridians, liver, heart, spleen..."

“Want to study medicine?” I asked.

His hand stopped: "Can I... study?"

“Why not?” I folded the medical record again, "My father accepts disciples, regardless of background, just looking at character. You are honest, hard-working, and enlightened - very suitable."

Lam Da's eyes lit up, then dropped again: "But I haven't finished high school yet..."

“I taught you.” I gave him a book 《Thang Dau Ca Quyet》 (Song of Oriental Medicine Recipes), “Starting from the basics.”

Since then, every night after dinner, the lights in the West house are always on until very late.