Chapter 5 — I tore up the marriage letter, the father knelt for three days and three nights

I said every word very calmly, without crying, without shouting, as if I were narrating something that had nothing to do with me. But Co Truong Dien cried again. He cried without a sound, each tear falling to the ground. This helpless Patriarch, at this moment, was like a child who had done something wrong, standing in front of me, his hands and feet confused.

“I know I don't deserve your forgiveness,” his voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible, “but Chieu Ninh, that letter——”

“That letter is yours,” I said, “I recognize it.”

“It was Trieu Thi Lang who forced me to write.”

The air instantly froze. I looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"I've been secretly investigating the salt case since three years ago."

Co Truong Dien closed his eyes slightly, his voice was low, each word seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.

"This salt case involves not just one or two people, but a whole network, dozens of officials in the court sharing and being involved. They have reached this step... they have no way out anymore."

"If a person has nothing left to lose, he can do anything."

"Trieu Thi Lang is one of them, and he is my classmate. He tried to attract me many times, but I refused."

“He couldn't convince me at all.”

Co Truong Dien paused for a moment, as if he didn't want to remember that past.

"They knew the relationship between me and him, so they passed the word through him."

Co Truong Dien raised his head to look at me, in his eyes there was no longer the aura of the Master, but a rare helplessness.

“He told me…if one day he and the others fall, then the remaining trusted people will one by one kill the people I value the most.”

Co Truong Dien's voice became hoarse.

“And he said it very clearly…”

“You, will be the first.”

The air felt choked. After a long while, he continued, his voice getting lower and lower, as if he were condemning himself.

“I have no choice.”

“I can only... personally cut off relations with her.”

"I have to make him believe that she... doesn't mean anything to me anymore."

He laughed softly, but that smile was more painful than crying.

“That letter… I cried… while writing.”

"It was me who proactively sent people to find a force that specialized in hunting for good stories - 't, let them compile it, copy it into many copies, and secretly spread it throughout the pubs and teahouses."

"A story, when repeated enough times... will no longer be a rumor."

"Which will become "truth" in the eyes of the world."

"After we broke up, I sent someone to secretly protect her. She left the Tham family. My people always followed. You opened a medicinal tea shop. I sent someone to help you open up your relationship. You sold salt at affordable prices. Those salt slabs were not only Bui Van's, but also mine -"

“Shut up.” I interrupted him.

My voice is shaking, but I still try to control it.

“Co Truong Dien,” I said, “you said you sent someone to protect me, so I ask you—when I knelt on the street, where were you?”

“When I left the Tham family, it was snowing in the sky, did you know?”

“I know——”

"When I was alone in a busy store until midnight carrying my belly, I was so tired that I couldn't stand up straight. Where were your people? Was he helping me open relationships? Or was he secretly protecting me?"

My voice finally couldn't be controlled anymore, tears welled up in my eyes.

“Co Truong Dien, do you know? No, the thing I hate most in this life is not you leaving the marriage, but you making decisions for me, you think pushing me away is good for me, have you ever asked me if I was willing or not?

“Have you ever thought that I am more afraid of being abandoned than being chased?”

He completely collapsed. The Patriarch, always noble and self-reliant, knelt down right in front of me. The sound of the knee hitting the ground was very heavy, so heavy that Manh Tam Nuong next to him stuck his head out to look, then quietly retreated again.

“Chieu Ninh,” he raised his head to look at me, tears streaming down his face, “I know I was wrong, I shouldn't have made decisions for you, I shouldn't have thought that protecting you meant pushing you away. For more than half a year, there hasn't been a day that I haven't regretted it.”

"You may not forgive me, but please give me a chance to make up for it."

I bowed my head to look at him. The man I have loved since I was fourteen years old, waited for more than three years, and hated half of these years, is kneeling in front of me, as humble as a speck of dust. In our hearts, something is falling apart, and something is being rebuilt.

“Co Truong Dien,” I wiped my tears, my voice gradually calming down, “you said you want to make up for it, okay, I'll give you a chance.”

He suddenly raised his head.

“But I have one condition.”

“What conditions?”

"Bring me all the files, evidence, and testimonies during the three years of your investigation."

He was stunned: "What are you... looking at those things for?"

"You said you pushed me away to protect me. I want to see the evidence with my own eyes to prove that what you said is true." I looked at him, "If you lie to me, Co Truong Dien, you will never see me and the baby again in this life."

“What if what I say is true?”

“So…” I took a deep breath, “I will consider whether or not to forgive you.”

He knelt on the ground and suddenly laughed.