Chapter 3 — I Don't Need The House You Returned

I returned just in time. The person who can take care of the children for free has returned. Lam Man gently pulled his sleeve.

"Dinh Chau, stop it."

"You can give up the training."

"You've been preparing for so long, how can you say you've given up?"

After speaking, Ha Dinh Chau looked at me.

"Tinh Dao, you are also a mother."

"You must understand how hard it is for Lam Man to raise two children alone."

Of course I understand. Because I understand, I know even more what it means for her to be willing to leave her child for half a year. I understand more clearly that handing over the lives of two six-year-old children to someone who is not close to me is absolutely not simply a matter of cooking two more dinners.

"You agreed with her?"

"I just said that someone will take care of me at home."

"Who's in the house?"

Ha Dinh Chau did not speak. I answered for him.

"I agreed for you."

He gently rubbed between his eyebrows.

"We are husband and wife, there is no need to define everything so clearly."

"I help Lam Man find a place to live, you help take care of the children."

"So what's the problem?"

I looked at the man in front of me. Seven years ago, he put the house key in my hand, saying that all future decisions would be discussed with me. Seven years later, he changed the password, demolished my room, moved my son to another place, and then gave me two other children to take care of. Finally asked me... Is there a problem? I nodded.

"No problem."

Ha Dinh Chau's expression softened slightly.

"I think it's good that it's clear."

"I mean, we don't need to discuss these anymore."

"What do you mean?"

As soon as the two words were uttered, Lam Man immediately raised her head. Ha Dinh Chau couldn't believe his ears.

"What did you say?"

"I said, we get divorced."

"The house is yours. If you want to let anyone live, let that person live."

"My friend, help however you want."

"Her child, if you want to give it to someone to take care of, just keep looking."

"From today onwards, everything no longer has anything to do with you."

Ha Dinh Chau stared at me, his eyes gradually colder.

"Just because you redid the bakery room?"

I walked around him and went downstairs.

"It's because I think you don't have the right to say no."

His voice was heard from behind.

"Kieu Tinh Dao, your mother just got out of the hospital. You're in a bad mood. I don't agree with you."

"Words like divorce, never say them a second time."

I stopped in the middle of the stairs and turned to look at him.

"Then you better remember it well."

"Because the next time you hear it, it won't be just a sentence."

"Which will be informed by the lawyer."

I returned to the storage room. My clothes were stuffed into six cartons. The wedding dress was lying on top, the corner was wrinkled by the lid of the box. I didn't pack my clothes, just took my ID, bank card and a few changes of clothes. The old iron box my mother gave me is at the bottom. I put it in my suitcase. Aunt Dao followed in and asked in a low voice:

"Madam, where are you planning to stay tonight?"

"For now, at your house."

"What about Du An?"

My movements stopped a bit.

"I'll take the boy away."

At five o'clock in the afternoon, the school bus stopped in front of the gate. Ha Du An walked down carrying her bag. After three months of not seeing each other, the boy seemed to have grown a little taller. As soon as it saw me, it stood still After a while, his eyes immediately turned red. I reached out to my child.

"Du An, mom is home."

The boy no longer rushed into my arms like before. It just asks:

"Is grandma okay?"

"She has been discharged from the hospital."

"So are you still going?"

"Mom won't go today."

I squatted down and gently stroked my child's face.

"Pack your things and go out with mom for a few days."

The boy's eyes fell on the suitcase behind me. The anticipation on his face gradually disappeared.

"Are you planning to divorce Dad?"

I looked at Ha Dinh Chau standing in front of the door. Obviously he already told me.

"That's an adult thing."

"It doesn't affect my love for you."

Ha Du An took a step back.

"I'm not going with mom."

My hand stiffened in midair. The boy's eyes were red, but his voice was very determined.

"When grandma got sick, mom said she would come back soon."

"Mom was gone for three months."

"Just now, mom wants to go."

"Every time it's mom who leaves."

Ha Dinh Chau stepped forward and placed his hand on his son's shoulder.

"The child needs a stable life."

"If you really think about your child, don't force him."

I didn't pay attention to him, just looked at Ha Du An.

"You don't want to go with mom, right?"

The boy bit his lip and nodded. I really want to tell my child that for the past three months I have called him every day. Sometimes I was studying, sometimes Ha Dinh Chau said I was sleeping, sometimes Lam Man took all three children out to play. I also really want to tell my child that after the surgery, my grandmother kept having fever over and over again, and I didn't mean to not return. But a seven-year-old child still cannot understand those reasons. I only know that my mother has been away from me for a long time. I slowly withdrew my hand.

"I won't force you today."

Ha Dinh Chau clearly breathed a sigh of relief. I continued:

"But it doesn't mean I don't need you."

"Mom will still come and ask you later."

"Whenever you want to go, just tell me."

Ha Du An bowed his head and did not answer.