Chapter 4 — I Was Evicted From Home In The Middle Of The Night, I Rebuilt A Home For My Children

“Nien Niem's grandmother came here today.”

“Say that Niem Niem will no longer study in the future, request a refund of tuition and cancellation of class.”

“I haven't processed it yet.”

“Still want to confirm with you first.”

“Nien Niem continues to study.”

“But Mrs. Han said…”

“Han Thanh is Niem Niem's father.”

“But I'm also her legal guardian.”

“I have not signed any withdrawal papers.”

“No one has the right to decide for me.”

Principal Liu nodded. Say nothing more. After leaving the kindergarten, I sat in the car for five minutes. To Mang did not urge.

“Even Niem Niem's kindergarten did not let her go.”

“This is not surprising.”

To Mang started the car.

“She wants to erase the sense of existence between you and me.”

“Cut off the retreat first.”

“Then force me to bow my head.”

“I have no way back anymore.”

To Mang looked at me.

“I have forty-seven recordings.”

I stayed at To Mang's house for a week. By the evening of the fifth day. Niem Niem fever. Children get fever very quickly. The afternoon is still normal and healthy. By seven o'clock in the evening, the girl's body was hot. Underarm temperature measured 39.3 degrees. To Mang is still working overtime at the company. I rummaged through the medicine cabinet in her house. Only fever reducers for adults were found. Call emergency number 120. The operator said you have to wait at least forty minutes for a car. I immediately picked up Niem Niem and rushed downstairs. Take a taxi to the nearest children's hospital. Waiting for the number to be called. The hospital lobby was filled with parents holding their children. Niem Niem's face was red with fever. The little body kept trembling. Registration fee. Emergency medical fees. Plus the tests and medications behind it. I took out a 3,000 yuan bank card. There is only 2,700 yuan left on the card. Over the past few days, more than 300 yuan has been spent on taxis, motels, and necessities. Blood test. Transfusion. When the nurse inserted the needle, Niem Niem burst into tears. I held her arm with one hand. The other hand was in his pants pocket, squeezing the bank card until it was wrinkled. After the infusion, it cost 1,200 yuan. 1,500 yuan left. One o'clock in the morning. Niem Niem's fever finally subsided. The baby leaned on my lap. Lips are still dry.

“Mom... I want to go home.”

I nodded.

“Mom took me home.”

As I held my baby and walked out, my eyes accidentally stopped on the bill. Han Thanh is nurturing another woman outside. The woman was four months pregnant. Living in a house that should belong to me. As for my daughter, she only had a fever. I had to count every penny on my bank card to get by. Five days later. To Mang helped me find a room in a boarding house near where she lived. A single room. Area twelve square meters. There is no private toilet. The shared toilet and washing area is located at the end of the hallway. Rent is 600 yuan a month. Deposit one month, pay one month in advance. I counted 1,200 yuan and gave it to the homeowner. Then sign the rental contract. There's only 300 yuan left on the card. To Mang transferred me 5,000 yuan. I don't accept.

"Just consider borrowing from me first. Wait for the lawsuit to end and then pay it back later."

Having finished speaking, To Mang transferred the money directly to my account. I looked at the payment notification on the phone screen. This time no more refusal. Niem Niem followed me and moved into that twelve square meter room. Only single bed against the wall. The baby and I sleep together. Every night, Niem Niem rolls over from the other side and crawls into my arms. The room's walls were peeling off piece by piece. The window does not close tightly. Next room is a food delivery guy. Every day, I leave the house at exactly four o'clock in the morning. The sound of footsteps echoed along the hallway, from one end to the other. In the early days, Niem Niem was still unfamiliar.

“Mom, why is this room so small?”

“Because we're going on a trip.”

“Staying in a small room is like going on an adventure.”

“So when will we go back to the big house?”

“Probably soon.”

Niem Niem believes immediately. Four-year-old children easily believe what their mothers say. The very next day, I started looking for a job. I worked at a chain milk tea shop for three days. But because I had to pick up and drop off my children, I couldn't work the evening shift, so I was laid off. After that, I applied to work as a cashier at a small supermarket. The boss said he could bring his children along. But the salary is only 2,800 yuan a month. I agreed immediately. Niem Niem sat on a small plastic chair next to the cashier counter. Obediently draw pictures. There were times when there were so many customers that I was so busy that I couldn't pay attention. She turned the page herself and continued drawing. There is an old man who often comes to buy cigarettes. One day he squatted down in front of Niem Niem.

“Granddaughter, is your mother at work?”

Niem Niem nodded seriously.

“My mother is making money.”

“To buy you new crayons.”

The old man laughed and patted the girl's head. Behind the cashier counter. My hand that was pressing the cash register suddenly stopped. Her box of forty-eight colored crayons is still left in Han Thanh's house. Niem Niem is always mentioned. I stopped by the stationery store next door. Buy her a box of twelve-color crayons. The cheapest type. When she received the pencil box, Niem Niem was so happy that her eyes lit up. She counted each tree one by one. Count all at once. Then count again. The third time he raised his head.

“Mom, there are a lot less colors.”

“Not much.”

“Look at this.”

“There's red, there's green, there's yellow, there's blue.”

“Enough for painting.”

Niem Niem thought for a moment. Then nodded. Then, she picked up the red pen. Carefully draw a heart on a piece of paper.