Chapter 6 — Little Grass Under The Sun

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The next morning, as soon as I entered class, the air seemed to have frozen. Everyone stopped everything at hand, countless eyes fixed on me. I understand. The Wen family is so powerful, the words he said yesterday still ring in my ears. Daughter of Nhan Nha Tu - this mark, even if peeled off, will not fall off. My face was hot, but my lower abdomen was in severe pain. Since last night, the cold had begun. I walked slowly to the last row of seats, bent down to read a book, trying to ignore the judgmental looks. Tan Tri Lam did not come all morning. Does she also feel that associating with someone like me is an insult? In the past, she treated me so well, perhaps because she didn't know my background. At break time, my stomach hurt so much that I couldn't bear it, so I mustered up the courage to stand up and go out to go to the bathroom. Having just taken two steps, the classroom fell into dead silence again. Someone nudged the person next to him with his elbow, signaling to look at me. I pretended not to see, shrunk my neck, bowed my head and slowly walked out. I had experienced eyes like this before, I should have gotten used to it, but at this moment my heart still ached like it was being stabbed by a needle. The more uncomfortable I felt, the more painful my stomach became. Suddenly, a white robe with a faint scent of gardenia, soft material, gently fell from the side onto my shoulder, immediately wrapping me. It's To Van Nguyet. She grabbed my cold wrist tightly and without a word pulled me back and walked straight. All along the way no one said a word, until she pulled her into the dormitory and slammed the door, then she frowned and grumbled in disgust:

"There's blood all over your dress, don't you know?"

“Huh?” I looked at her blankly, my lower abdomen cramping in pain. Looking back, there was indeed a shockingly large blood stain on her skirt.

There is an empty "beep" sound in my head. Bleeding already? Am I... about to die? Like the lady that time in the barn, bleeding so much, then fainting... Extreme fear choked my mind. Tears welled up without warning, my words were confused:

“Sorry, sorry…”

"To Van Nguyet, I probably won't be able to live much longer... The bag of incense you gave me, the money I spent is all recorded, from the time I entered school until now, in total, I have spent... a sum of three coins and five coins... I know the expense is huge, but the vegetables and pickles in the kitchen are too expensive, I have tried to only eat white rice and dumplings... This life probably won't be able to pay it all off, in the next life, in the next life I will definitely be a buffalo and a horse to pay you..."

To Van Nguyet was first stunned, her almond eyes opened wide, as if she didn't understand. A moment later, she laughed out loud: "You, what are you doing? Did the last moon leave a will? You idiot!" Suddenly remembering something, she frowned and assessed me: "That's not right... Lam Tieu Thao, is this your first time? Logically it shouldn't be, you're already this old."

"Your wife... never told you, is this a lunar event (monthly)? Every daughter will have it when she grows up, every month..."

After half of speaking, she suddenly fell silent, looked around, then continued to mumble:

"What kind of pig pen do you live in? Why is the window still leaking air, why is it so cold and gloomy!"

She immediately pulled out a short letter in his sleeve, he ordered the maid in the house to quickly bring a series of items: thick blankets, feather blankets, hot water bottles, thang ba tu (heating bags)...

“That's right, bring the heater too.” "Let's take some clothes from the closet that I haven't worn before and come here."

Just a moment later, the To family's two resourceful maids brought in large and small bags. They quickly and gently taught us how to use moon cloth, why there is moon trust, and what to pay attention to during these days. Then he helped me change into soft, clean cotton pajamas with a slight scent of sunlight, helping me lie down. Only at this moment did I slowly realize that my hard wooden bed had, at some point, been covered with a thick, soft mattress and a soft cotton blanket. On the edge of the bed are also placed a few girls' toys, lovely things like this, we have only heard people talk about when listening to stories. The cold, quiet room was now filled with the scent of warm, simmering food. A mother is using a small pot to make bird's nest porridge. I felt like I was stepping on cotton, everything happened so fast, so unreal. I even forgot about the stomach ache, leaving only bewilderment and confusion. At this moment, Tan Tri Lam suddenly rushed in, his outer belt was not tied neatly, his bangs were a bit messy.

"To Van Nguyet! Where did you take my player?"

Her voice was low, until she saw me lying on the bed with a pale face, did she quickly swallow her words, her eyebrows frowned tightly. To Van Nguyet stepped forward and whispered a few words in her ear. Tan Tri Lam's face darkened. She took a few steps to the bed, raised her hand to touch my cold forehead. Then he took out a short letter from his sleeve: "I asked the specialized female physician in the house to come and take a look immediately. Puberty is so late, and the amount of early blood is so much, a thorough examination must be done." Her fingertips quickly wrote on the paper, her profile was tense. Then she looked up at me, her eyes filled with sadness and worry.