Chapter 4 — National Lazy Mother

After the video went viral, I became an evil mother. No one knew that at that time, Mien Mien was so scared because someone was filming secretly that she was speechless. I looked down at my phone because I was calling the police. The video has had all causes and consequences cut out. I raised my eyes to look at Hua Van Van. She was bowing her head to coax Luc Tieu Da, so gently that she couldn't find a single flaw. At night, after Mien Mien fell asleep, I sat in the yard and enjoyed the breeze. The director team left behind a remote camera. Chu Thanh Hoa walked over carrying a glass of water.

“That rabbit's dress is not of normal technique.”

I laugh:

“Does Thanh Hoa also understand sewing?”

“My mother used to sew cheongsam.” She sat down next to me. "When I was a child, I saw a way to process the edges of fabric, exactly like the way you sew. Not many people know this technique."

I hold a glass to drink water:

“There are many instructional videos online, I just study arbitrarily.”

Chu Thanh Hoa looked at me for a moment:

“You don't need to be wary of me.”

I don't say. She lowered her voice:

"On Hua Van Van's side, there are people in the performance team who always reveal the mission content to her in advance."

I finally looked at her. Chu Thanh Hoa says:

"Today when drawing ingredients, there was a symbol on the bottom of the box. Before she drew, the assistant touched the box."

I asked:

“Why did you tell me?”

She smiled a little tiredly:

“My daughter loves the cake you make.”

This simple reason is very convincing. I was just about to open my mouth when I heard light footsteps behind me. Hua Van Van stood at the door, wearing a coat.

“Miss Thanh Hoa, Tri Ha, what are you two talking about?”

Chu Thanh Hoa took a sip of water:

“Talking about cake.”

Hua Van Van walked over with a faint smile.

"Today, Tri Ha was really good. But there are a few words said in the livestream that you should still pay attention to, after all, it is easy for the audience to misunderstand."

I asked:

“What misunderstanding?”

She looked at me:

“Misunderstood you were aiming at me.”

I haven't answered yet, Mim Mien's voice was heard in the room.

“Mom.”

I immediately stood up and went in. Mien Mien sat on the bed, hugging a stuffed rabbit, her face pale.

“Mom, I dreamed that the bathroom door couldn't be opened.”

I held her in my arms and patted her back.

“It's okay, mom is here.”

Hua Van Van's footsteps outside the door stopped. She looked at Mien Mien, and for a moment her expression became very strange. The camera couldn't capture her face. Early the next morning, the performance team announced a new mission. Parent-child talent show. Each family prepares a performance, performed at noon in a small square in the village, voted on by villagers and livestream audiences. Hua Van Van and her mother clearly prepared in advance. Luc Tieu Da wore a small suit, Hua Van Van changed into a light blue long dress. The director asked:

“What is Van Van preparing to perform?”

Hua Van Van smiled:

“Tieu Da wants to play a song for everyone to listen to, I will sing it with you.”

Luc Tieu Da stood straight:

“I've been practicing for a long time.”

Comments directly praised to the heavens. It's my turn. The director asked:

“What performance is Tri Ha preparing?”

I looked at Mien Mien:

“What can you do?”

Mien Mien thinking:

“I know how to count ducks.”

There was a flash of disappointment in the director's eyes. Live comments immediately ridiculed.

“This is the distance.”

“Someone has a piano in their house, little girl counting ducks again.”

"Tham Tri Ha is really irresponsible, he didn't even prepare a performance."

Hua Van Van walked over, her voice gentle.

“Tri Ha, if you two are still not prepared, I can lend you a spare children's song accompaniment. Children cannot be too casual on stage, it will affect their confidence."

I laugh:

“Thank you, no need.”

She said again:

“Don't try to act strong, Mien Mien is still young.”

Mien Mien hugs the rabbit:

“Auntie, I can count up to a hundred ducks.”

Co Thoi Nghien stood next to him and smiled:

“That's also very good. My nephew counted to ten and started making up stories."

Dau Bao was not satisfied:

“Uncle, I can count to twelve.”

In the small square, villagers sat on plastic chairs. Hua Van Van and Luc Tieu Da went on stage first. The piano was transported in advance by the performance team. Luc Tieu Da plays quite well, Hua Van Van sings well. There was enthusiastic applause below. When she got off the stage, she nonchalantly glanced at me. The director gave me the microphone:

“Tri Ha, is there any pressure right now?”

I tied Mien Mien's hair into a small braid.

“It's okay.”

Mien Mien pulled my sleeve:

“Mom, I'm nervous.”

I squat down:

“If you're stressed, count slowly. It's okay to count wrongly.”

“Are you laughing?”

“Yes.”

The child was stunned. I said:

“But the person who laughs at me may not be able to count a hundred ducks.”

Mien Mien nodded seriously:

“Makes sense.”

We went on stage. There is no musical accompaniment, no stage lighting. Mien Mien hugged the rabbit and started counting ducks.

“One duck, two ducks, three ducks.”

The children under the stage also counted. When he counted to twenty-seven, Luc Tieu Da suddenly spoke from below:

“That's wrong, ducks don't count like that.”

Mien Mien stopped. Hua Van Van immediately covered Luc Tieu Da's mouth:

"Tieu Da, don't interrupt me."

But the camera recorded it. Live commentators started scolding Mien Mien.

"Even counting ducks, I stopped laughing and died laughing."

"Tham Tri Ha really lost face, taking me up there to make fun of her."

Mien Mien hugged the rabbit tightly, saying nothing. I hold the microphone:

“Tieu Da, tell me how to count?”

Luc Tieu Da stood up:

“Must sing.”

I nodded:

“So come up here and teach me.”

Hua Van Van's face changed:

“Tri Ha, children are just joking, don't take it seriously.”

I said:

“The boy who interrupted the performance is of course responsible.”

Luc Tieu Da was brought onto the stage. The boy sang two verses before forgetting the words. There are children below making noise:

“I don't know either!”

Luc Tieu Da's face turned red. Hua Van Van rushed onto the stage to hug her child:

"It's okay, Tieu Da is already very good."

I gave the microphone to Mien Mien:

“Continue.”

Mien Mien looked at me. I said:

“Count to twenty-seven.”

The baby sniffed.

“Twenty-eight ducks, twenty-nine ducks.”

The children under the stage counted along, the sound getting louder and louder. When the count reached one hundred, all the children in the square shouted:

“One hundred ducks!”

The applause was even more enthusiastic than before. An old man selling gourd candy smiled and said:

“This girl is steady, no one is afraid of interrupting.”

Mien Mien got off the stage and jumped into my arms:

“Mom, I'm done counting.”

I patted her head:

“Yes, today the duck is in your control.”