Chapter 2 — Mother's Boundaries

“Who does she take care of?” He frowned. “She is my mother.” I said: “She takes care of you?” “She is basking in the sun in the countryside.” “My mother has not taken care of you for a day.” “The person in this house who cooks, washes clothes and takes care of the children is my mother.” “If you are heartbroken, then hurt the person in front of you first.” Luc Minh Vien's throat was blocked. My mother came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "Minh Vien, Thanh Hoa just gave birth, her emotions are quick-tempered, don't argue with her." Luc Minh Vien seemed to have found the stairs. "Mom, look at her..." My mother interrupted him. "But what she said is not wrong." Luc Minh Vien's face completely changed. My mother's voice was not loud. "I came here because I love my daughter." "I didn't come here to be your family's nanny." "Your mother's health is not good, I understand." "But if you don't come, don't bother looking at the phone." Luc Minh Vien opened his mouth. Not even a word can be said. That night, he slept in the living room. At two o'clock in the middle of the night, An An woke up crying. My mother got up to make powdered milk. I leaned against the head of the bed, looking at her back. Her shoulders are not broad, but they have supported my most difficult days. I suddenly opened my mouth. "Mom, let me book the full month party." She turned her head. "I'm still in confinement, don't worry." I said: "Don't bother." "I only invite people who should be invited." My mother heard what I meant. She did not advise. Just asking one question. "Have you thought about it?" I nodded. "Think about it carefully." The next morning, I booked a hotel. Ten goals. Menu finalized, deposit paid. The hotel manager asked for the guest list. I write one by one, my mother's relatives, friends, colleagues. By the end of the writing, the list had just ten goals. There are no members of the Luc family. Neither does one person. The hotel manager confirmed. "Miss Tham, don't the groom's relatives leave a table?" I took the pen and crossed out the last column. "No leave." She was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded. "Yes." I put the contract away. At this time the phone rang. It was a voice message from Ma Phuong Lan. "Remember to notify mom in advance of the month-long party." "Mom, you have to see when the day is right for you to come home." After listening, I laughed. No reply. Didn't you say your body was not okay? Then don't travel so hard anymore.03On An An's full month, the weather is very nice. The banquet hall on the second floor of the hotel has ten tables. On the signing table at the door, there is a small photo of An An. In the photo, the baby's eyes are closed, her mouth is slightly open. My mother stood next to me, looked at me and smiled again. "What a good girl." I wore a loose, light-colored dress with my hair tied up. He still hasn't fully recovered, but his face has improved a lot during the month of confinement. Relatives from my mother's side arrived early. Auntie brought a golden lock. He gave lucky money. The cousins surrounded the stroller and their eyes lit up. "Thanh Hoa, your daughter is so beautiful." "Just like you." I smiled and said, "Thank you." At first, Luc Minh Vien stood at the door and looked quite happy. He held An An to take pictures, and everyone he met said, "This is my daughter." I looked at his appearance and did not expose it. Being a good father in front of others is not difficult. The difficulty is when the child cries in the middle of the night, will you stand up or not? The difficulty is when my incision hurts, can you pour me a glass of water? The difficulty is when your mother catches you wrong, whether you can say a fair sentence or not. You cannot do these things. At half past eleven, the guests sat down one by one. Luc Minh Vien picked up the signature book and flipped through two pages, his eyebrows furrowed. He walked up to me and asked in a low voice. "Why haven't my mother or they come yet?" I was pouring tea for my aunt. "Who?" He looked at me. "My mother, my father, Giai Giai and the others." I put down the teapot. "Not coming." Luc Minh Vien lowered his voice. "I know you haven't come yet, why haven't you come yet?" I said: "Because you didn't invite me." His face immediately changed. "What did you say?" The aunt next to her stopped her chopsticks. My mother also looked over. I don't avoid it. "I didn't invite you." "So they won't come." Luc

Minh Vien stared at me, as if he didn't understand. "An An's full-month party, you didn't invite my family?" I said: "This is An An's full-month party." "The people who came here are all people who genuinely care for her and remember her during this month." Luc Minh Vien's voice was low. "Don't make trouble here." I looked at him. "Are you making trouble?" He looked around. There were people around paying attention here. His face became even more unsightly. "Thanh Hoa, what's going on? Come home and talk." I smiled. "You know you need to keep your face when you go out." Luc Minh Vien's hand tightened. "Your mother's health is not good, she didn't mean to come." I nodded. "I know." "So I sympathize with her." "It's a long way, my waist hurts, my body is not okay." "On a bustling occasion like this month's party, don't bother her." anymore." She couldn't help but said in a low voice. "This sentence is not wrong." Luc Minh Vien's face turned blue and white. He lowered his voice. "You intentionally made me lose face." I said: "I thought too much." "I just didn't invite her." "It's like she didn't come to the hospital to take care of you." He gritted his teeth. "Is this the same?" I raised my eyes. "Not the same?"