Chapter 4 — Old Love Like Flying Clouds

Sure enough, a few strong men were scared by me and backed away hesitantly, not daring to move forward. "The young master just needs to rest. Who dares to say that he won't survive? You guys are here cursing your nephew and robbing the family's property. Aren't you afraid that people will laugh at you?" “If you dare to act, I will report you to the officials and punish you for oppressing the berries and scheming to usurp the property!” Our shopkeeper also did not ignore it. "Chief, this house is the chief's property, it has nothing to do with the uncles. Please don't let anyone deceive you and drag you into trouble." The shopkeeper knew clearly from end to end, the house was not collected, the deposit was cheated, he immediately turned sour, got angry and demanded that they return it. The uncles looked at each other, argued, and no longer had the energy to worry about coming here. As soon as they left, Mrs. Du breathed a sigh of relief and was still frightened: "Bach Lo, if it weren't for you today, we really don't know how we would have managed..." I felt a bit embarrassed: "I just offended and offended the elders..." "If you offend, you offend." She originally didn't want to interact with those people, those people often bullied her widow, it was just that she had a weak personality, and Du Huu Nien was a reader and not used to arguing. “Bach Lo, you are truly the blessing of my family!” Sister A raised her small face, her eyes bright: "Sister A is so awesome!" He also pulled Du Huu Nien's sleeve: "Brother, is what you said right?" Du Huu Nien leaned against the door, smiled, and gently added: "Yes, yes, my sister Bach Lo is the most powerful." I was stunned in place, my face getting a little hot. Actually... I'm not that powerful. Mrs. Du pulled sister A into the kitchen to cook rice. My hand was still shaking, clutching the stick. Du Huu Nien didn't know when he was standing next to me, gently picked up the stick, and said softly: "Don't be afraid, sister, it's okay." “When I get better, I will protect you.” Not only knowing how to thank, but also knowing how to coax people, both are eighteen years old, why is he so much cuter than Ta Van Khoat? I smiled and helped him back to bed: "Then get well soon, I'll reward you with candy." 8 Du Huu Nien's wound recovered very quickly, and in just half a month he was able to get out of bed and walk. Early this morning, as usual, I got up early to chop firewood and carry water. I saw that the firewood had been chopped and the water jar was full. Du Huu Nien is holding rice bran to feed the chicks. I quickly stepped forward: "Let me do this, your injury hasn't completely healed yet." He took back the bucket of water: "The doctor said, you have to exercise properly to recover quickly." "In the past, I did all these things, sister A, don't fight with me." I stood awkwardly, not knowing where to put my hands and feet. The first time someone offered me a job. Lady Yu sat in the hallway spinning yarn, seeing our appearance, she just pursed her lips and smiled softly. “If Sister A is free, why don't you teach Sister A to read and write?” He suddenly suggested. I choked on my words, my fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of my shirt. He suddenly realized: "You... are illiterate?" I bowed my head in shame. I knew a little bit, but not much, and when I was sold, I couldn't even read the contract. For ten years in Ta Palace, Ta Van Khoat read books in the library and never taught me a word. When I used a stick to draw randomly on the ground following the manuscript he threw away, he could only laugh: "Dong Thi imitates Tay Thi." I don't understand, it's probably not a good word. Truong Thuan once spoke for me: "Madam is so smart, why don't young master teach her to read?" Tham Tu Cat spoke reason clearly: "A woman's lack of talent is virtue. Even if she doesn't know the words, she already manages the east and west. If she knows the words, won't she climb to my head?" But that flower girl knew how to read, he kept praising her, her eyes filled with wonder: "Miss Thanh Thanh's appearance is perfect, Tieu Khai's brushstrokes are amazing, it's really rare." Ta Van Khoat has made up his mind, he accepts the reason, no one can argue with it. Du Huu Nien sighed softly, his eyes gentle: "So... Sister A, do you want to learn?" I raised my head, my eyes shining: "I really want it!" Tidy up the dinner table, carefully spread the paper, and add water to grind ink. His sleeves smelled faintly of medicinal herbs. I looked at his back and suddenly realized that he seemed taller than Ta Van Khoat. “Can you write down your name first?” I nodded, my hand holding the pen was placed. He dipped in ink and wrote each stroke very slowly. Bach, Lo. I study differently, each stroke is like a scribble, the last stroke is still a black streak. Dilapidated and extremely ugly. “Very good,” he smiled gently, “the writing is even more beautiful than Sister A when she first learned.” I looked at that gentle, profiled face, feeling a surge of emotion. Ta Van Khoat causes trouble all day long, but the people in front of him are gentle and polite. People and people, why are they so different? Suddenly it was already dark, Du Huu Nien carefully put back his pen and ink, boldly demanding a reward: "Auntie, no reward?" I reached out and patted his head, put down the malt candy, and laughed: "Yes, yes, yes." 9 Du Huu Nien's situation has clearly changed for the better. The day of the national exam is coming, and he wants to go back to the library to study. Thus, it is no longer possible to teach us how to read and write every day. "Later, when I get home at night, I'll teach you how to write... Sister, can you give me a reward?" Indeed, he is still a child who has not yet grown up. I put down the needle and thread, raised my head and smiled and asked: "What do you want as a reward?" His request was very simple, he just wanted me to bring food to the library. Originally, without him saying anything, I intended to do the same. Mrs. Du has weak arms and legs, sister A is still young, it is four miles from home to the library, if you want to eat hot rice and hot soup, I can only bring it to you. "Okay." I nodded in agreement. Du Huu Nien immediately grinned like a child receiving candy. From then on, I cooked meals during the day and taught sister A to embroider flowers and patch shoes to cook malt candy. When dusk fell, Du Huu Nien returned from the library in the late afternoon light, lighting an oil lamp at night, stroke by stroke teaching us to recognize words. Quietly speaking, I already know how to read quite a bit, even 《Thien Tu Van》《Bach Gia Tinh》 I can hesitantly read.