Chapter 23 — I Bring My Grandparents to Celebrate Tet

After returning home, she tightly closed the door. Sitting in the bedroom all afternoon.

The "good daughter" she is always proud of...

The person who once married "a rich husband" and once showed off her appearance in front of relatives with Trieu Uyen Tinh... Now it has become a topic of discussion among neighbors. In this whole life, the thing Trieu My Phan fears most is people's mouths. But now… The thing she feared the most had finally happened. Trieu Hao hasn't changed much. Play games every day. Occasionally I go out to buy a bowl of instant noodles. But one day, he proactively texted me. First time.

"My mother and my sister did those things, I didn't participate. I'm just useless, can't manage anything. But I still want to say one thing... you're very good."

I looked at that message for a few seconds. Then he answered with exactly one word: The third person who changed... On the second weekend after the inheritance notarization was completed, he drove himself to Hangzhou. Don't take Trieu My Phan with you. Also don't lead anyone. He said he wanted to see my studio. I took him to the ninth floor. He stood at the door, looking at each project photo hanging on the wall. Old factory renovated. Community library. Residential activity center. When he looked at the photo of the old factory project, he stopped for a long time.

“This old brick wall…”

“Aren't you going to smash it?”

“Those are bricks from the fifties left over from the factory.”

He looked at the photo a moment longer.

“Your mother used to like old things like this.”

“The yard wall of our old house was also built of the same old bricks.”

“She wouldn't let me paint it white.”

“It's soulful to say it like that.”

I looked at him. He stood in the middle of my studio, wearing an old jacket, his hair much whiter than the last time we met.

“Dad, can I sit down and play for a while?”

“Dad still has to go home in the afternoon.”

He stood at the door a moment longer. Look again at all the photos on the wall.

“Your mother once said…”

“You have natural talent.”

I was stunned.

“Mom, did you say that?”

“When I was in elementary school, I drew a picture of a house and stuck it on the refrigerator.”

“My mother looked and said…”

'This child will definitely study architecture in the future.'

I smiled softly.

“I don't remember anymore.”

“I don't remember.”

“But she remembers.”

After saying that, he turned and left. At the elevator door, he turned his head to look at me once.

“Tieu Niem.”

“This year Thanh Minh…”

“Dad come with me.”

I leaned against the door frame. The elevator door closed. I stood there for a long time. It wasn't until I heard the elevator go down to the first floor that I turned around. I went to the window. Saw him coming out from under the building, walking towards the parking lot. His gait is very similar to his grandfather's. Footsteps are not big. The knee also seems to no longer be flexible. But each step is very solid. He got in the car. Start the machine. The car slowly left the parking lot. I returned to my desk. On the screen is the final design of the Hang Duyet Hotel Shanghai branch. I save the file. Turn off the computer. Then stand up and walk to the front of the display wall. Look at the photo of the old factory project. Old brick wall. Tiles from the fifties.

“Mom doesn't allow me to paint it white.”

“It's soulful to say it like that.”

I raised my hand and gently touched the photo frame.

“Mom, you saw that, right?”

Early April. Tiet Thanh Minh. I drove to Cam Ho town. My father also came. He came earlier than me, standing alone at the cemetery gate. Seeing my car stop, he went to open the door for me. In my hand is a bunch of white daisies. The other hand carries a bag of groceries. Inside are some cakes my mother liked to eat when she was alive. I bought it from Hangzhou. He took a look at the other bag.

“Peach pie?”

“There's also pecan pie.”

“My mother likes pecan pie the most.”

The two of us, one in front and one behind, walked along the rocky road up the mountain. The drizzle fell on the foliage, making a soft rustling sound. My mother's grave is located in the middle of the mountainside. A gray stone stele. Engraved text:

“Co Tu Chi's grave.”

Next to it is the year of birth and death. In front of the tombstone there is a small stone pedestal. On it was placed an old flower vase. It was the last time my grandmother came to leave. The flowers have withered a long time ago. Only dry branches remain. I took the old bouquet of flowers. Replace with new white buttons. Then lay out the cake. Pour another cup of white wine. Then stood silently in front of the tombstone. My father stood next to me. He said nothing. Just standing like that. Rain and dust fell on his hair. There are more gray hairs than black hair. After a long time... He spoke.

“I came to visit you.”

His voice was very quiet.

“After you left…”

“I've never been here.”

“It's not that I don't want to come.”

“Don't dare.”

He stopped for a moment.

“Tieu Niem has grown up.”

“There is a future.”

“She opened her own company.”

“Do design.”

“I once said he had a natural talent.”

“You're right.”

He was silent again.

“The house I left behind…”

“I almost lost it.”

“It was Tieu Niem who got it back.”

“Don't blame me…”

“I was just confused for a while.”

Having finished speaking, he bowed his head and stood still for a long time. Then squat down. Pour a cup of white wine on the ground in front of the tombstone. The wine seeped into the mud. Soon it disappeared. I stood next to it. Rain fell on my face. Can't tell which is rain water... Which is tears. By the time we got down the mountain, the rain had stopped. My father walked in front. Walking a little slower than when going up the mountain. Coming to the car, he turned to look at me.

“Tieu Niem.”

“Thank you for bringing Dad here.”

“No need to thank me.”

“Dad will come himself.”