Chapter 10 — I'm in charge of my own life

"Thi Nhat, what I'm giving up today is not 120,000 yuan. It's the right to allow everyone to make decisions for me in the future. This time they said poor Van Tinh wants my scholarship. Next time she needs a computer, living expenses, and graduate school exam preparation materials? Are they going to say again, are there still many opportunities for you in the future?"

The bridge of my nose is stinging. Mom didn't hug me like usual. She picked up the agreement paper and tore it in half. Then it tore twice more. Shredded pieces of paper fell into the trash can.

"We don't have enough money, so we borrow money. The shop can't open, so we change to another place. I don't owe anyone anything."

There was a knocking sound outside the door. Dad walked in holding the phone.

"Director Tham of the enterprise called. Said that tomorrow the school would hold a public press conference to explain the scholarship fund. Thoi Nhat was asked to personally participate."

I took the phone. Mr. Tham's voice was still calm as always.

"The school hopes to resolve the current controversy through a public explanation. To Van Tinh will present her family situation, and Bui Huc Ngon will also be present. You have the right to refuse."

“No.” I looked at the debris in the trash. “I will participate.”

The other end of the line stopped for a moment: "Do you have any request?"

“Livestream the entire process. Do not cut and paste. All issues about scholarships and grants must be clearly stated on the spot.”

Mr. Tham agreed very quickly: "Okay." After hanging up, Bui Huc Ngon sent a text message: 【Tomorrow if you keep making a fuss, we will never really be able to go back to the way we were.】 I stared at that text. Delete the messages pinned at the top for more than ten years between me and him. Then texted back: 【I went there, just to NEVER go back to the way things were again.】 07:00 the next morning. The school's large hall was filled with people. Three cameras were placed in front, the number of livestream viewers was constantly increasing. Originally, the principal planned to livestream within the school, but under my insistence, it finally changed to a public livestream. Mr. Tham Tri Vien sat in the business representative's chair. In front of him are three documents: Scholarship agreement, Donation confirmation, and To Van Tinh's application for hardship allowance. My parents and I sit on the left. Bui Huc Ngon, To Van Tinh and aunt Tan (Bui Huc Ngon's mother) sit on the right. Uncle Bui had an emergency so he didn't come. From the moment I walked in, Bui Huc Ngon never looked at me once. But Aunt Tan nodded to greet me. The bottom of her eyes carried a tired look. From the moment she entered the door, she did not say a single word to Bui Huc Ngon, clearly she knew a lot of things. Exactly 9 o'clock. The principal announced the start of the press conference. To Van Tinh was the first person to step onto the podium. She wore a faded uniform, her hair tied in a simple ponytail. In his hand he held an application to waive admission.

“I'm sorry.” As soon as she spoke, tears fell. "These past few days, because of my problems, the school, Thoi Nhat's friends, and all the teachers who care about us have had to endure a lot of trouble. My family's situation is really not good, I really can't pay the private school tuition. But that doesn't mean I have the right to get a scholarship from others. So I decided to give up enrolling.”

She took a deep breath: "Please stop blaming Thoi Nhat." There was a sigh from below. The stream of comments on the livestream flowed quickly: 【This girl is so understanding.】 【People have already volunteered to drop out of school, what else does that valedictorian want?】 【200,000 for Chu Thoi Nhat is weaving brocade and embroidering flowers, for To Van Tinh it is the only way.】 【Sometimes it's cold to talk about principles too much.】