Chapter 10 — I Posted My Wife's Photo, and This Happened

“So what if you can't do it?”

"If you can't do it, you'll continue to be beaten tomorrow."

He "puffed" a laugh. Then because my face hurt, I sniffed again.

“Stop laughing, your face is swollen.”

I walked to the door and opened it. Outside everyone is there. My mother sat cross-legged on the chair, with the words "Let's see how you clean up the aftermath" clearly written on her face. My father fell asleep, his head kept nodding up and down. Tran Giai Nghi was still holding the phone, the lens pointed straight at the door of the conversation room. Tieu Vuong still held the pen tightly, waiting for the final conclusion. Quy Trach Vien sat in the corner, one hand resting on his chin, his eyes complicated. I said: "It's a draw, let's go home." My mother stood up and brushed off her dress.

“Being beaten into submission?”

She was asking Co Bac Than. Co Bac Than nodded repeatedly.

“I'm satisfied.”

My mother snorted coldly.

"Then go home and cook. Today, make braised pork and celebrate my daughter's birthday."

Co Bac Than nodded continuously.

“Yes yes yes, I cook, I make three dishes.”

“Five dishes.”

"…Yes."

My father was patted awake by my mother.

“Let's go home, old man.”

My father sleepily stood up and slowly followed. When passing by Co Bac Than, he secretly stuffed something into his hand. Co Bac Than lowered his head to look. A piece of paper. On it write a QR code of the WeChat chat group. Group name: "Alliance to support Lam family victims". Members: Two people. Lam Quoc Cuong. Quy Zeyuan. Co Bac Than looked at the piece of paper, his lips trembled a few times. He raised his eyes to look at my father's back. My father did not turn back. Just when he walked out the door, his right hand was clasped behind his back, giving him a thumbs up. The meaning of that symbol is clear — Welcome to the group. He trembled and pulled out his phone and scanned the code. A message immediately jumped out in the group. Sent by Quy Trach Vien.

“Welcome newcomer.”

Accompanied by a candle icon. Then came a text message from my father: "Just endure it a little and it will pass." Accompanied by an applause icon. Co Bac Than stared at the screen for a long time. Then he typed a line:

“I hope the seniors will take more care.”

Send it. Quy Trach Vien responded immediately with a voice message. Two seconds. He pressed open. Inside was Quy Trach Vien's voice, very soft, very sincere:

“Brother, take care.”

Co Bac Than quietly put his phone in his pocket. Wipe blood stains on nose. Trailing behind me, I walked out. When I stepped out of the police station gate, the night wind rushed in, cool and cold. I walked in front, he followed behind. Suddenly he called me.

“Wife.”

“Huh?”

"Happy birthday."

I paused for a moment. But don't turn back.

"Stop being so dramatic. Go home and cook dinner."

"Obey orders. Whoosh — my face hurts."

“Deserve it.”

“That's right, that's right, it's worth it, it's worth it.”

He waddled forward two steps, walking shoulder to shoulder with me. The corner of my eye glanced at the swollen half of his face. The corner of the mouth slightly raised. Just a little. Retracts very quickly. Behind, the police station's lights are brightly lit. Tieu Vuong finally finished writing the sentencing note on the last page of the record book:

“Family dispute, went through mediation, both sides made peace.”

He hesitated a bit, then wrote another small line in the space next to it.

“I recommend that litigant Co Bac Than quickly learn how to use the grouping feature on WeChat.”

One more line.

"In addition, we recommend that the person concerned, Lam Thu Thu, pay attention to the strength of his hands when hitting people."

He looked back, feeling not quite right. Immediately cross out the last line. Stop it. There are some things that cannot be recorded in the minutes. RUN OUT OF