Chapter 15 — Her Road Is Still Long

If Tham Quy Bach really wants to say something. That night he said it. He gave me the leftovers. Let me be on my way. It's not that he doesn't want to keep me. It's that he doesn't want to use any means to stop me. Those words of his. I thought about it over and over again for many days.

“Her road is still very long.”

Not:

“I will wait for you here.”

Nor:

“Don't forget to come back to find me.”

“Her road is still very long.”

He pushed me forward. Tiet To Van said he had feelings for me. I said no. He doesn't have feelings for me. It's about being kind to me. That night under the lotus pond, he jumped into the water to save me. He helped me investigate Bich Dao's whereabouts. That is also grace. Every month he gives medicine, books, and news to Trang Tu, which is a kindness. He drew that diagram, each station was marked clearly and meticulously, that was also a blessing. Love is too heavy. I don't dare think otherwise. I put down the tea bowl and stood up. Tiet To Van took back his belongings, placed the tea money on the table, and followed me out of the tea shop. As soon as the two of them took the cattle out, someone on the other side of the official road called her.

“Tiet lady!”

A young man riding a horse came running from afar. As soon as he got off the horse, panting, he handed over an envelope.

“Just now in town, I met a young man wearing a blue shirt.”

“He asked me to deliver this letter to a Miss Tiet who rides a low-legged horse.”

Tiet To Van received the letter. Glance at the signature section. Slightly raised eyebrows. Then give me the letter again.

“Yours.”

I accept it. There was no signature on the envelope. Write only five words:

“Ha Cam Thu is dear.”

The handwriting is elegant and neat. It's written by Tham Quy Bach. We open the letter.

“Cam Thu is enlightened:

This morning we arrived at Trang Thanh Tuyen. Mother Tong said she was gone. She gave me two boiled eggs. I said I don't like eating eggs. She said again, bring something else. Then give me four more cakes. The cake we ate. Eggs were also eaten. The cakes at her zhuangzi were baked very deliciously. Next time, remember to bring me two more. The map is drawn by hand. The accuracy is not very high. If you encounter a turn, asking a local is still more reliable than looking at a map. Several service stations are marked on the map, I heard the conditions are not bad. But don't be too trusting. Before going to bed, remember to check the bedding to see if there are fleas. That year I was at the service station in Tai Bac. Got bitten by them. Very deep impression. Just go south. To the south there are mountains. There is a medicine market. There are also osmanthus flowers that other places don't have. Miss Tiet knows where to go to pick it... Peace, don't forget." Below the letter was pressed a dried flower. Light yellow color. Just as big as the tip of a finger. The fragrance is very light. Osmanthus flower. I put the flower in the palm of my hand. Tiet To Van stopped to take a look. Let's put the letter away. Again, clip the osmanthus flower into the map. Then he raised his head and looked at the man delivering the letter.

“Where is that gentleman now?”

He pointed towards the road he had just come from.

“Riding north.”

The north is the direction of the capital. He went north. We go south.

“Are you chasing?”

Tiet To Van asked. I folded the map back up. Put it in your chest. Then turn around and get on the mule's back.

“Do not chase.”

“He already said it.”

I pull the reins.

“The meaning of the sentence is not to remember that he doesn't need me to remember him."

“He's just doing what he wants to do.”

The mule walked a few steps. I suddenly pulled back the reins.

“What diseases does Osmanthus flower cure?”

She thought for a moment then replied:

"The osmanthus flower has the effect of warming the lungs, dissolving dampness and dispelling cold."

"Used to treat wind, cold, and cough with a lot of phlegm."

She stopped for a moment. Then add one more sentence.

“It also cures pain in the heart.”

“Does it also cure pain in the heart?”

“There are records in the ancient books.”

“Using osmanthus flowers to make tea can relieve stress.”

"Specializing in treating feelings that are suppressed in the heart, want to say but cannot say them."