Chapter 5 — I'm Busy All My Life, And You're Lonely

The patient and family members in the two adjacent beds all looked over. Luc Kien Quan felt a bit embarrassed.

“Mom, keep it quiet.”

“Mom, why do you have to whisper?” Luc's mother stood up, "Is what you said not true? I'm in the hospital, he only asked for three days off, who does he think is a stranger?"

Tong Tuyet did not move. She sat in a chair, her back straight.

“Mom, I can ask for leave, it's only for these three days.”

"Senior class, more than sixty kids, about to take the test, I'm not there, who teaches?" Tong Tuyet said, "The principal's approval for three days is already very kind to you."

"Favor? What favor? The school wouldn't be able to open classes without you?" Luc's mother's shrill voice echoed in the hospital room, "Tell me, do you really not want to take care of Quan?"

As soon as this question was asked, the hospital room suddenly fell silent. Even the old man in the next bed held his breath. Tong Tuyet looked at Luc's mother. Looked for a long time. Then the corner of her mouth curled up slightly. That smile was so pale that it was almost unrecognizable.

“Mom, you're right.”

She stood up, picked up her bag.

“I really don't want to take care of him.”

After speaking, she turned and walked out. The bowl of soup in Luc Kien Quan's hand almost fell to the ground.

“Tong Tuyet!”

He shouted. Tong Tuyet stopped at the door, but did not turn around.

“Remember to drink all the soup, I will bring rice tomorrow morning.”

Then she pulled the door open and walked out. The sound of footsteps gradually disappeared at the end of the hallway. The hospital room was strangely silent. Luc's mother was so angry that she was shaking, her finger pointing to the door.

"Did you hear that? Did you hear what he said? He said he didn't want to take care of you! He said it with his own mouth!"

Luc Kien Quan bowed his head and looked at the bowl of soup in his hand. The stewed ribs are tender, the corn is golden, and the soup is clear. This is the taste he has been drinking for the past eighteen years.

“Mom,” his voice was a bit dry, “Stop talking.”

"Why can't you say anything? With a daughter-in-law like that, are you still defending her?" Luc's mother sat down on the chair, her chest heaving, "I told you a long time ago, his mind is not on this house! Sleeping separately for eighteen years, is there any husband and wife who live like that? Now that you're sick, he's too lazy to even pretend!"

The middle-aged man in the bed next to him coughed lightly. His wife tugged at his sleeve, muttering something very softly. Luc Kien Quan placed the bowl of soup on the bedside table.

“Mom, I want to sleep for a while.”

Luc's mother intended to give a few more words of advice, but seeing her son's pale face, she swallowed what she was about to say.

“Go to sleep, mommy is here to look after you.”

Only the hallway light shines through the frosted glass on the door. Luc Kien Quan opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. Those words of Tong Tuyet kept repeating in his head.

“I really don't want to take care of him.”

She spoke extremely calmly, even somewhat indifferently. It's like saying it's a bit cold today. Luc Kien Quan remembers eighteen years ago, when they first registered their marriage. Tong Tuyet is completely different from what she is now. If he comes home late from overtime, she will go to the kitchen to cook him a bowl of hot noodles. He had a fever, she would stay up all night to take his temperature and clean his body. For his birthday, she will prepare a small gift and cake in advance. At what step did you change? Since switching to sleeping in separate rooms? Or even earlier? Luc Kien Quan no longer remembers clearly. I only remember, Tong Tuyet of those years This month, it's becoming increasingly quiet. It was as quiet as a stagnant puddle of water, no matter how big a stone was thrown into it, there would be no ripples. The next morning at seven o'clock, Tong Tuyet arrived. Bring a bag of breakfast items. Soy milk, vegetarian dumplings, pickled radish. She took each dish out in turn, laid it out, and brought it to Luc Kien Quan's hands.

“Eat some.”

Luc Kien Quan took it, but his eyes fell on her face.