Chapter 15 — I Locked the Kitchen Door, Locked That Marriage

Then he came in and sat down opposite me.

“You… are Lam So Ha?”

“Did you open ‘Summer Kitchen’?”

Chu Uyen Thanh looked at me from top to bottom.

“I really don't see it.”

I took a sip of milk tea.

“If you want to ask anything, just ask directly.”

She placed her bag on the table, clasping her hands together.

“Co Vien's mother is looking for me.”

“She wanted me to know him.”

“That doesn't concern me anymore.”

"I know."

“I just want to clarify one thing.”

“You say it.”

“When you married into the Co family…”

“She had three shops, her own house.”

“So why didn't you tell them in the first place?”

I put down the cup of milk tea.

“Because I want to know…”

“How will a man who doesn't know I have money treat me?”

“What about the results?”

“You saw it too.”

Chu Uyen Thanh was silent for a few seconds.

“What kind of person is his mother?”

“Do you really want to hear it?”

“Sounds real.”

“She made me eat leftovers from the kitchen.”

“For three days.”

“Every meal is the same.”

“What happens after knowing you have money?”

“At first she said my store was a fabrication.”

"Not believe."

“Then I believed it…”

"Then again, when I earn a little money, I think I'm terrible."

Chu Uyen Thanh rotated the coffee cup in her hand halfway.

“What about that man?”

“Every time he says…”

“‘Let me tell mom another day.’”

“Talking for three days.”

“Never said it once.”

Chu Uyen Thanh stood up.

"I got it."

“What are you going to do?”

She laughed.

“I'm not stupid.”

“A man doesn't even care if his wife gets a decent meal or not…”

“So why is it worth wasting my time?”

Having finished speaking, she took her bag and left. I sat in the milk tea shop, watching her back walk out the door. Passing by the glass of "Summer Kitchen", I never looked back once. Later, I heard from Co Vien's colleague that Chu Uyen Thanh blocked all of his communications the next day. Tien Que Lan was so angry that she broke two glasses at home.

“One after another are ungrateful!”

Co Vien said nothing. Life goes on. My life. The contract with the shopping center has been signed. The fourth branch, from choosing the premises, renovating it, recruiting people to training staff... the whole process took exactly two months. On opening day, To Tinh and I stood in front of the store. The B1 basement area of the shopping center is brightly lit and bustling with people. In the glass cabinet are bread and cakes that have just come out of the oven that day. Fragrant golden color.

“Four stores already.”

To Tinh propped her hands on the counter and smiled.

“If you hadn't gotten divorced back then…”

"I'm probably still standing in Tien Que Lan's kitchen washing dishes right now."

“Don't mention it again.”

She laughed. I also laughed. That evening after closing up shop, I tried a new recipe in the new store's kitchen. A type of matcha roll cake. I made two. One left in the store as a test sample. Put the remaining one in a thermal bag, drive for more than twenty minutes and bring it to my mother's breakfast counter.

"Eh? Girl?"

“Why are you still here at this hour?”

Ton Ngoc Mai was cleaning the counter, her hands were still covered in white flour.

“I brought the cake for mom.”

“It's a new one, mom, try it.”

She washed her hands and sat down on the small chair next to her. Break a piece of cake and put it in your mouth.

“It's delicious.”

“Is it too sweet?”

"Then keep this.”

Mom finished the whole piece of cake and wiped her mouth.

“How is your new store doing?”

“Just opened so need more time.”

“Lack of money?”

“There is no shortage.”

“Is there anyone missing?”

“There is no shortage for now.”

Mom was silent for a moment.

“Is your mother here to help?”

I looked at her.

“Mom is still busy selling breakfast.”

“What about the stall?”

“Mom can hire a temporary babysitter.”

She rubbed her hands.

“I just wanted to see what my daughter's store looked like.”

“Let's take a look…”

“Isn't that okay too?”

"Okay."

“Why not?”

“Then come tomorrow, Mom.”

“What should I wear, mom?”

“Wear anything, Mom.”

“It's okay for mom to come.”

Co Dinh put his bag on his shoulder, took two steps and then stopped.

“I really don't understand.”

“Back then… why could you endure it for so long?”

Outside the glass window, it was completely dark. The light from the streetlights fell on the glass in pale yellow patches. I looked at the sales board on the computer screen for a few seconds before speaking.

“Can't stand it.”

“That was when I thought…”

“After getting married, everyone has to hold back a bit.”

“Hold on a little longer…”

“Maybe things will get better.”

“You will understand later.”

“There are some things that the more you endure, the more people think you deserve it.”

Co Dinh stood still at the door.

“So do you ever regret it?”

“Regret what?”