Chapter 15 — I'm Busy All My Life, And You're Lonely

"Mom, when I was young, I took everything you told me for granted. Men had to work outside the house, women stayed at home to take care of the children and take care of the housework, that was heaven and earth. Every day you whispered to me, Tong Tuyet was a teacher, had winter and summer vacations, had a payroll, had a salary, and was able to stay home and take care of the children, and marrying the children was a blessing. I heard too much, and immediately felt that it was nothing if he suffered a little resentment."

He stopped, his chest aching every time.

“But looking back now, I didn't want to get married, I just found a free nanny, the kind that works all my life without getting paid.”

Luc's mother was choked by this sentence and couldn't hide her embarrassment.

“This guy, how can you say that to your mother?”

“I'm talking about myself.” Luc Kien Quan closed his eyes, "Mom, when you were young, you endured a lot of hardships, I know. My grandfather passed away early, and you alone raised your aunt and uncle. In your womb, you were convinced that your daughter-in-law should also know how to take care of yourself like you. But times are different, I am also different. I can't continue to use your standards to impose on Tong Tuyet."

“What about your standards?” Luc's mother's voice rose high, "If it weren't for my support, would you have finished college? Would you be where you are today? The suffering I've gone through, why do you speak so lightly?"

“So I'm very grateful, mom.” Luc Kien Quan said, "But you cannot use the suffering that mother has experienced as a standard to demand from others. That is not bravery, that is selfish."

Luc's mother was silenced by him, her lips trembled twice, it took her a long time to squeeze out a sentence.

"You're so sick that you're so confused. Why does everything get caught up in you? Living peacefully is because Tong Tuyet doesn't know his own identity."

Luc Kien Quan did not bother to argue anymore. I know, if I say more, things will become even more confusing. There was a gentle knock on the hospital room door. Tong Tuyet pushed the door in, carrying a thermos bag in her hand and a small medicine bag.

“Is everyone sleeping yet?” She glanced at the wall clock, it was almost ten o'clock, "Mom, it's late, you should rest."

Luc's mother snorted.

"What's wrong with this old body staying up all night? There's someone much younger than me, yet he still looks half-dead."

This sentence is clearly aimed directly at Tong Tuyet. Tong Tuyet pretended not to hear and placed a pair of thermos cages on the bedside table.

"I stewed some pumpkin and millet porridge. The doctor said that after surgery you can eat some light foods. If you feel uncomfortable, just leave it there."

She opened the lid, and the gentle aroma of millet rice mixed with the sweetness of pumpkin spread throughout the room. Luc Kien Quan smelled it and naturally felt a little hungry.

“Give me some.” he said.

Tong Tuyet scooped up a small bowl, blew a few times with the spoon, and gave it to him. Luc Kien Quan held the bowl and took one spoonful at a time. Warmth rose from the stomach, and the coldness in the chest also eased a little.

"Mom," Tong Tuyet turned her head to look at Luc's mother, "Tu Ngang will keep watch here tonight. Mom, go back to sleep and come back tomorrow morning. The doctor said that the patient and family members need to get enough rest."

“My business doesn't need you to interfere.” Luc's mother stubbornly responded, "I can sleep here, the bed at home is very hard, it hurts my back."

“The folding chair next to the hospital bed is even stiffer.” Tong Tuyet said, "Mom is old, she can't stand up straight after sitting all night and the next morning where."

“I don't need you to teach me about life.” Luc's mother pouted.

Tong Tuyet didn't say much more and turned to advise Luc Kien Quan.

“If you have anything to do at night, ring the bell, don't try to force it. I'll come tomorrow morning at seven thirty."

She finished packing up the cages and prepared to leave. Luc Kien Quan suddenly called her back.

“Tong Tuyet.”

Tong Tuyet stopped walking and turned around.

“Thank you.” Luc Kien Quan said.

Tong Tuyet froze.

“Thank you for what?”