Chapter 14 — I'm Busy All My Life, And You're Lonely

"Dad, I know you're busy, I know you're working hard, you have to earn money to support this house. But aren't you tired? Mom has to go to work, take care of the children, and take care of the housework. Besides giving money, what else do you give?"

Luc Kien Quan could not answer. What did you give? Once for frustration, for absence, for indifference.

"Last year, Mom had surgery," Luc Tu Ngang said, "I was doing an internship in Shenzhen and couldn't come back in time. I called dad and told him to come home to be with mom. He said he was in Sanya, the project was important, he couldn't leave. I said, dad, it was breast cancer surgery, it was cancer! Dad said, the technology is good now, it's okay."

Luc Tu Ngang's eye sockets were red.

"Dad, do you know how I felt when I heard that sentence on the other end of the line? I just see, you don't care about mom at all, nor do you care about me, you only care about yourself."

“Tu Ngang!” Luc's mother couldn't listen anymore, "Are you talking to dad like that?"

“Grandma, don't interfere so quickly.” Luc Tu Ngang is rarely tough, "I have been suppressing these words for so many years, today I must say them."

He looked at Luc Kien Quan.

"Dad, Mom shared a bedroom with you for eighteen years. Why do you think? Because you snore loudly? Because you sleep late? No. It's because Mom's heart is cold, cold, and she doesn't want to be crowded into the same bed with Dad anymore."

"Dad always says he's busy with work, so busy that he can't take care of the family, can't take care of the children, can't take care of his wife. But dad has never thought, mom also works, is also busy, but she has never thrown away this house."

“Dad says he makes money for the whole family, but money can't buy you companionship, it can't buy you care, and it can't buy you love.”

Luc Tu Ngang finished speaking and let out a long breath. It was as if all the thoughts suppressed in my chest had been released. The hospital room was eerily silent. Luc's mother's face turned pale, she wanted to open her mouth but didn't know what to say. Co Tinh held Luc Tu Ngang's hand tightly, giving him courage. Luc Kien Quan lay on the hospital bed, only feeling his chest tightening and aching. It's not pain due to illness, but sadness. It turns out that in his son's eyes, he is that kind of father. It turns out that in his wife's eyes, he is that kind of husband.

“Tu Ngang,” Luc Kien Quan spoke with difficulty, his voice trembling, “I'm sorry.”

Luc Tu Ngang shook his head.

"Dad, you don't need to apologize to me. The person you need to apologize to is mom."

“I understand.” Luc Kien Quan closed his eyes, "Dad understands everything."

At nine o'clock in the evening, Luc Tu Ngang took Co Tinh back to the motel. In the hospital room, only Luc Kien Quan and Luc's mother remained. Luc's mother sat next to the bed, silent for a long time.

"Tieu Quan," she finally spoke, "Don't take what Tu Ngang said to heart. Children are still young and don't understand things."

Luc Kien Quan did not respond.

“Over the past few years, you have been extremely busy, but isn't it all because of this house?” Luc's mother continued, "Tong Tuyet... just has too many thoughts. As a woman, who can't bear to be resentful? Just be patient and it will pass."

“Mom,” Luc Kien Quan opened his eyes, “If it were you, would you be able to endure it for eighteen years?”

Luc's mother was stunned.

“Mom, just tell the truth.” Luc Kien Quan looked at her, "If it were mom, back then when I had surgery, my dad ran away to play. When I had a miscarriage, dad wasn't there, when I needed him." My dad is always away from home, can you bear it?"

Luc's mother opened her mouth, speechless.

“Mom can't stand it either.” Luc Kien Quan said for her, "Even mother can't stand it, why do you force Tong Tuyet to endure it?"

Luc's mother's face changed.

“Tieu Quan, what do you mean by that? Are you blaming mom?”

“I'm blaming myself.”

Luc Kien Quan's voice was choked, he spoke word by word.