Chapter 11 — National Lazy Mother

Hua Van Van stood outside the door, her eyes red.

"Tri Ha, if you said those words when you were excited, you can explain. Everyone will give you a chance."

I looked at her:

“Do you expect me to explain that much?”

She spoke softly:

“I don't want Mien Mien to get hurt.”

Mien Mien was led by Chu Thanh Hoa. As soon as she saw me, she immediately ran over.

“Mom, they say you took advantage of me.”

I squat:

“What do you think?”

Mien Mien held my hand:

“Mom, if you take advantage of me, can you give me some money?”

The staff in the room couldn't help but laugh. I also laugh:

“Share five yuan with your children.”

Mien Mien dissatisfied:

"You're so famous but you only have five yuan?"

“That's ten yuan.”

“Latch.”

Director Ha looked at us with a complicated expression. Hua Van Van stood at the door, her smile stiff again. Before long, the original recording next to the water tank was extracted. Director Ha publicly announced it. Inside, you can clearly hear Hua Van Van's voice:

"You should publicly say that you trust me, and let Tieu Lam's story stop here. I can give you the ad for mother and baby products next month."

Then there's my voice.

"Hua Van Van, are you using the ghost in my daughter's heart in exchange for an advertisement?"

The recording continues. Hua Van Van says:

"Human beings must know when they've had enough and then stop."

I said:

“I have many shortcomings, the biggest one is not knowing when enough is enough and then stopping.”

The part where I supposedly admitted to taking advantage of girls was actually transplanted from somewhere else. Director Ha's face turned pale.

“Miss Hua, do you have any explanation?”

Hua Van Van's face turned pale.

“I didn't release it.”

I nodded:

“I know.”

She suddenly looked at me. I said:

“I won't roll it myself, I'll just tell someone else to roll it.”

Trieu Mai rushed in:

“Don't slander Van Van!”

Director Ha directly said:

"Ms. Trieu, the performance team just investigated before the media account posted the recording, they contacted Assistant Vuong next to you."

Trieu Mai's face lost all the blood. Hua Van Van took a step back.

“Auntie, is that you?”

Trieu Mai was stunned:

“I'm helping you!”

Hua Van Van's tears fell:

“But if you do that, you will kill me.”

I watched them bite each other, feeling quite good. Mien Mien pulled me:

“Mom, when will I give you my ten yuan?”

I took ten yuan out of my bag and gave it to her. The girl solemnly put it away:

“This is the first time I rely on beauty to make money.”

Co Thoi Nghien stood outside the door laughing until he had to hold on to the wall. Live commentary is completely reversed. Hua Van Van and Trieu Mai were scolded on hot searches. The performance team temporarily stopped filming Hua Van Van and her daughter for one day. But the next day, Luc Tieu Da came knocking on my door again. The boy was holding his small backpack, his eyes were red and swollen.

"Aunt Tham, mom won't let me go out. But I want to ask, can Mien Mien play with me?"

I looked into the room. Mien Mien was counting her ten-yuan bill.

“Mien Mien?”

The girl raised her head:

“Okay, but he can't touch your money.”

Luc Tieu Da nodded seriously:

“I don't touch.”

Two children sitting in the playground doing puzzles. Luc Tieu Da was very quiet. Mien Mien asked:

“Is your mother crying yet?”

The boy nodded.

“Have you comforted me yet?”

The boy shook his head. Mien Mien was surprised:

“You have improved.”

Luc Tieu Da lowered his voice:

“Miss Telling mom to cry is her business, not your assignment."

I was sitting next to peeling beans, and when I heard this sentence, I immediately raised my head to look. Luc Minh Chau has arrived. She stood outside the yard gate, clearly having heard. She walked in and patted Luc Tieu Da's head.

“Very correct.”

Luc Tieu Da hugged her:

“Auntie, I don't want to film anymore.”

The camera in the yard immediately changed direction. Hua Van Van rushed out from the room.

"Tieu Da, don't talk nonsense."

Luc Tieu Da hid behind Luc Minh Chau.

“Mom, I'm tired.”

Hua Van Van's face turned pale:

“I promised my mother that I would complete the program with her.”

Luc Tieu Da lowered his voice:

“But I'm not happy.”

Hua Van Van cried.

“I do everything for you!”

Luc Minh Chau stood in front of her.

"Van Van, don't use this sentence to pressure the boy anymore."

Hua Van Van's voice trembled:

“Sister Minh Chau, do you even want to force me? How difficult is it for me to raise a child alone, do you all know?

Luc Minh Chau said:

“Tieu Da is not a ladder for you to climb.”

As soon as this sentence came out, Hua Van Van almost couldn't stand. Trieu Mai wanted to scold her again, but was forced to stand still by Luc Minh Chau's gaze. Luc Minh Chau declared in front of the camera:

“Luc Tieu Da temporarily stopped recording. The Luc family will reevaluate whether the boy is suitable to continue appearing in front of the camera or not."

Hua Van Van collapsed.

“Where do you base your decision for me? I'm the boy's mother!”

Luc Minh Chau said:

“Because you are his mother, hearing him talk is even more tiring.”

Luc Tieu Da cried but did not go to comfort Hua Van Van. Mien Mien took out a piece of paper and gave it to the boy.

“Just cry. After crying, I'll take you to see ants moving house."

Luc Tieu Da received the paper:

“Thank you.”

Hua Van Van looked at the boy, as if for the first time discovering that her son could leave her and be comforted by someone else. This hurt her more than any curse. After Hua Van Van and her mother temporarily stopped filming, the program became even better. Without her crying, the children are much more comfortable. Director Ha arranged for everyone to go to the primary school in the village to do volunteer activities. The task is to cook a lunch for the students, then teach them a hobby class. Chu Thanh Hoa teaches expressive reading, Co Thoi Nghien teaches acting. I was assigned to the kitchen. Director Ha asked:

“Can Miss Tham do it?”

I looked at a room full of potatoes, cabbage and two large bags of rice.

“Okay, don't let children in the kitchen.”

Mien Mien dissatisfied:

“Mom, I know how to pick vegetables.”

“I go to school.”

“You can pick vegetables and study at the same time.”

“No, child labor is illegal.”

The girl pouted and was pulled away by Boi Boi. The kitchen assistant saw my slender arms and legs and was clearly uneasy.

“Do you celebrities know how to cook rice in a big pot? This is not like cooking a little at home.”

I tie my apron:

“Just look. If there's anything wrong, scold me."

She was immediately satisfied:

“Okay, you're very good at scolding people.”

I cut the potatoes, adjusted the pieces evenly, turned on the stove, and stir-fried the sauce. The movements were so fast that even the camera couldn't keep up. The kitchen assistant turned from doubt to silence, and finally couldn't help but ask:

“Have you done this before?”

I said:

"The house is crowded, I've practiced."

She looked at the pot of braised potato rice:

“This skill is not practiced I can't get out in ten years."

I laugh:

“Please stop praising me, otherwise the director will give me more work.”

At noon, the children lined up to receive meals. Braised rice with potatoes served with cabbage and tofu soup, very simple but the whole group of children ate it so thoroughly that the bottom of the bowl was shiny. Mien Mien carried the bowl and ran over:

“Mom, can I have another spoonful of elderberry?”

I said:

“Line up.”

The girl obediently returned to the end of the line.