Chapter 8 — My Tattooed Dad

"I'm afraid you're not the only one scaring him. I still have to study at that school for two more years. Don't scare my classmates to the point of leaving psychological scars." He was silent for a moment. "Okay." "If he dares to write to me in the future..." "He won't dare anymore." "That's good." He satisfied and continued to chop his ribs. I couldn't help but laugh. This is my father. Thirty years ago, he was a cruel man who scared everyone in the nightclub. Thirty years later, he stood in front of the school gate and became the biggest nightmare of middle school boys. 【Chapter 11】 Eighteen years old. University exam. I got into the best university in the city. The day the results came out, Pho Nghien was still extremely calm on the outside. "Yes, that's okay." But Hua Thanh secretly texted me: "General Director Pho closed his office and called all his brothers. Everyone had to listen to him read your score once." "Whoever didn't answer the phone, he called back three times." "There was a brother who said congratulations to General Director Pho. He immediately said: 'What are you congratulating? That's my daughter trying herself, it's related. What does it matter to me?’” “But after hanging up the phone, he immediately laughed.” “Laughed for twenty minutes.” “His face was also stiff.” After reading the message, I laughed so much that I lay down on the table. On the day I entered college, he insisted on taking me there. He alone carried all my luggage, a total of three suitcases. Definitely don't let me carry it. Arriving at the dormitory, he helped me move my luggage upstairs, checked the bed, windows and locked the door. He looked at my three roommates. All three were women, so he nodded. "Okay." "Be safe." "If something happens, call dad." "Eat and drink well. Don't save money. There's money on the card." "Yes. Dad, go." He nodded and turned around. After taking two steps, he turned back. "That..." "Yes?" "If you miss home..." He stopped. "Just go home." "Any time." My nose stung. But I tried to hold back. I waved at him. "I know. Go quickly, old Pho." The corners of his lips curled up and he turned to leave. Very long steps. Don't turn back. But Hua Thanh later told me that when he got in the car, he sat in the driver's seat stunned for fifteen minutes. Then asked Hua Thanh: "Is she unfamiliar?" Hua Thanh said: "General Director Pho, Tieu Duong is eighteen years old." "What about eighteen years old?" "Eighteen years old is already an adult." Pho Nghien did not say anything. A moment later, he said: "Yesterday it seemed like she was still this big." He used his hand to make an estimating gesture. Just as tall as your hand. 【Chapter 12】 Twenty-two years old. Graduated from university. I took graduate school exams. Still at the old school. Pho Nghien's hair has started to turn gray. A fifty-four year old man. The tattoo has faded, the snake has become blurred. The scars on my face are still there, but the wrinkles are more than the scars. His business has long since transformed. The nightclubs have all been transferred, and now he runs a decent culinary business. "For you." One time he drank a little wine and accidentally said something. "I'm afraid that in the future when you apply for a job, people will check your background and find out that your father opened a nightclub." "I don't care." "I care." He said. "You have to live a dignified life." Second year of graduate school. I brought a guy home. My boyfriend. We have been in love for half a year. He is a good person, has a scholarly appearance, studied computer science, and has a gentle personality. Before entering the house, I told him three things. First, don't stare at my dad's tattoos. Second, do not call him "uncle", must call him "uncle Pho". Third, no matter what my father says, don't refute it. The boyfriend was so nervous that his palms were sweating. “Your dad won't hit me, will he?” “Probably... not.” “What does that mean?” “Let's go, don't

shy."Pho Nghien sat in the living room. He wore a black shirt. He buttoned it up to the top button. Not revealing any tattoos. But his expression... How should I say it? It was like a trial was being opened. His boyfriend walked in, calling out formally: "Hello, Uncle Pho." Pho Nghien looked at him from top to bottom for three seconds. "Sit down." My boyfriend sat down. He sat close to the edge of the sofa, letting only a third of his butt touch. chair. Pho Nghien asked: "What do you do?" "I'm in graduate school, majoring in computers." "What are your plans after graduation?" "Work for an Internet company. I have received two job offers." "How's the income?" My boyfriend reported a number. Pho Nghien replied without emotion: "Yes." The hidden meaning in that "yes" word, perhaps my boyfriend had to think for the rest of his life. Is it the word "yeah, I know" or "yeah, that's all"? While eating, Pho Nghien did not say another word. But he continuously put all the dishes into my bowl. A piece of ribs. A chopstick of vegetables. A shrimp. In front of my boyfriend was empty. It wasn't that he didn't pick it up on purpose. He completely didn't notice that there was someone there. After the meal, Pho Nghien approached and lowered his voice. "Is this kid okay?"