Chapter 15 — I Wrote My Name In Jinghua

Tran Du An's case is much more private than mine. Not as extravagant as Zhou Qian Qian. There were also no letters that were soaked in water. There is only one confirmation of wish that looks completely legal. The signature resembles his. Fingerprints are the same as his. Tran Du An said— The day he filled out his application, he was working part-time at a restaurant in the district. The phone was borrowed by their uncle for half an hour. When he returned it, he also bought him a bowl of beef noodles.

“Boys, don't study too far.”

“Staying in the locality to take care of your grandmother is filial piety.”

After hearing this, Diep Tri Thu was so angry that he broke the pen in his hand.

"Using filial piety as a rope to tie a child..."

“You really know how to choose the softest place to squeeze.”

Chung Ninh helps find a handwriting assessment teacher. Tran Nghien contacted the local re-investigation channel. Mr. Co was very sick at this time. Can't keep running everywhere anymore. Just ask someone to bring one sentence:

“Don't let the child stand alone.”

The day we returned to the district with Tran Du An— His grandmother was sitting in front of the old house peeling beans. Her ears can no longer hear clearly. As soon as we saw it, we were struggling to go pour tea. Tran Du An squatted down in front of her.

“A matter of wishes…”

“I want to make it clear.”

The old lady was stunned.

“Didn't you say you wanted to stay?”

Tran Du An bowed his head.

"Not."

The beans in her hand fell all over the ground. Their uncle quickly ran over. As soon as he entered the door, he cursed loudly:

“Are you studying until you're stupid?”

“So far away from the province, who takes care of your grandmother?”

“I think for you…”

“You still brought outsiders to investigate me?”

Tran Du An stood up. His voice trembled to the point of choking.

“If you really think about me…”

“So why accept 80,000 yuan from someone?”

The uncle's face immediately changed. Diep Tri Thu placed the transfer photo on the table.

“Where does this money come from…”

“Tell me clearly today.”

The uncle even tried to snatch the phone. That moment— The image of my uncle standing in front of the destroyed fruit stall suddenly appeared in my mind. I stepped forward. Blocking in front of Tran Du An.

“Don't touch the evidence.”

My uncle scolded me for meddling in other people's affairs. Grandmother Tran Du An stood up on her hands and knees. Picked up a handful of beans from the table and threw them straight at him.

“My nephew took the exam…”

“It's the way it found itself!”

“Who let you sell it?”

Tran Du An regained his exam preparation status. He missed out on getting into teacher training school that year. But also didn't go back to the local college. Before leaving, he sent me a photo. He sat in the deepest corner of the district library. On the table is a thick stack of exam questions. Next to it was a bowl of cold beef noodles. He texted:

“Doctor Giang…”

“I'm still scared.”

I replied:

"If you're afraid, you can still do one more lesson."

That winter— Great-grandfather passed away. He walked very quietly. On the hospital room window sill there are still some oranges I bought the day before. The shell is still as thick as before. Many of his students came to see him off. Everyone took turns telling stories— Who did he save? Ever scolded any ordinary doctor. Used to beat the table for young people. I'm at the very end. Don't push forward to say anything. Tran Nghien gave me an envelope.

“Mr. Co left it to me.”

In the letter there was only one piece of paper.

“Kien Nguyet.”

“I'm old.”

“Doors that can be pushed open by you… there aren't many left.”

“You have to remember later.”

“The door is empty I have to wait for someone else to open it for me.”

“But generation after generation…”

“Use your shoulders to support yourself.”

“So it doesn't close again.”

I read that letter twice. Then put it in an old iron box. The box could no longer hold too many more things. Letter from dad. Mom's pen. Brother's scrap of paper. Trieu Niem's little rabbit. Mr. Co's last words of advice. Each thing is not heavy. But combined... It forced me to stand straight. After the memorial service— Tran Du An sent me a text message. In this mock exam, he reached the top ten in the entire district. I stood in the hospital hallway. Answer him two words. The nurse standing in front of the emergency room called me.

“Doctor Giang!”

“The patient is here!”

I put my phone away. Run forward. One year later— The first group of students supported by the “Three Letters Home Fund” has enrolled. In the admission list— Tran Du An's name is in the middle. He doesn't study pedagogy anymore. But changed to law. He said— I want to learn how to bring every piece of paper that has been altered by someone else... Spread it out again under the sun. After hearing this, Diep Tri Thu was extremely satisfied.

“There is potential.”

“Follow me and roll around.”

Tran Du An seriously nodded.

“Senior sister…”

“I will try.”

Chung Ninh, standing next to him, immediately interrupted the crowd.

"Don't follow her example and stay up all night."

“Her medical examination report is very bad.”

Three people stood in the middle of the hallway arguing loudly. I leaned by the window. Look at the new students downstairs dragging their suitcases through the school gate. Some people are excited. Some people are stressed. There are also people who constantly turn their heads to look for their parents. Suddenly I remembered many years ago— When I was stuffed into a van and taken to Thanh Nguyen Nursing Academy. At that time, I was also dragging an old and worn luggage bag. At that time I thought— Life has been edited by a piece of paper... Then it will never be repaired again. But now I understand. A piece of paper can be stolen. Swapped. But as long as there are still people who remember the original words. As long as there are still people willing to testify. As long as there are still people willing to bend down and pick up each broken piece— it still has a chance to be put back together intact. That evening— I returned to the duty room. Open the computer to write a speech for new students. After typing the first line— I stopped for a long time. I don't write that suffering made me. Also don't write that you're grateful for the hurt.

“If someone erases your name from the place you should be…”

“Then let's live first.”

“Then keep the evidence carefully.”

“You are more than just a score.”

“It's not just a set of documents.”

“You are a child that someone once looked forward to growing up.”

Outside the window, the moon gradually rose higher. Moonlight fell on the old iron box on the corner of the table. The phone screen suddenly lit up. Tran Du An sent a photo of the new exam notice. He even circled his full name.

“This time no one will be able to fix it.”

I looked at those three words for a long time. Suddenly I remembered the nursing admission notice I had looked at countless times in the past. The pain is still there. But it can no longer trap me. Someone locks the door— Then someone learns how to make a key. Someone turns off the light— Then someone will hold up evidence until dawn. I texted him back:

“Keep the original carefully.”

“Also take care of yourself.”

I turned the screen face down phone on the table. In the hallway, someone passed by. The hem of the white blouse swayed gently in the wind. It's like there are so many people— Step by step from darkness to light. Just like the handwriting on an old letter that hasn't been blurred by water yet— It's always there. Waiting for someone to receive it back. I put my mother's fountain pen back in my pocket. Close the laptop. Then go see the test results of the patient in the next bed.

“Move forward”—

It has never been a beautiful sentence until now. But after every time I was pushed down... I still had to rewrite my name neatly by hand. Write firmly.