Chapter 1 — Pregnancy in a Locked Village

Seventh month pregnant, three years married, this is the first time my husband has taken me home to celebrate Tet. The New Year's Eve meal had just ended when a woman wearing a red cotton shirt suddenly walked in carrying a basin of water to wash her feet. Not only did Bui Xuyen not avoid it, but on the contrary, he naturally took off his shoes and socks and stuck his feet into the basin. Seeing my shock, he enjoyed that woman's service and calmly introduced:

"Let's get acquainted, this is Thuy Phan, my wife got married in the countryside."

My mind felt like a broken hole, the phone in my hand fell to the ground with a "clack". The next second, Bui Xuyen frowned again, clearly showing impatience:

“On the first day of Tet, who are you showing off that funeral face to?”

"Thuy Phan is not educated and has a traditional personality. Staying in the countryside to take care of her elderly and bedridden parents is beautiful to me."

“She is highly educated, suitable for living in the city with me to discuss ideals and build a career.”

He ignored my face as white as a piece of paper and calmly asked:

"Clear assignment, no one interferes with anyone. I think this is very reasonable, what do you think?"

…

“Why didn't you tell me until now?”

Bui Xuyen pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it:

“Before, I was afraid you would run away.”

“Now you forgive me, this is the bond between our blood.”

"You are a smart person, for the child's sake, I believe you will be reasonable."

In the darkness, his face became distorted and unfamiliar. The woman named Thuy Phan then stood up, holding a basin of water to wash her feet, with a flattering smile on her face:

“Your sister must be tired too, right?

Come here, let me wash it for you. Her hands are very strong, service is very comfortable, Mr. Bui Xuyen's parents all praise her." Having said that, she was about to bring the black basin of water that Bui Xuyen had just finished washing in front of me. A strong foul smell rushed straight into my nose. I finally couldn't bear it anymore and vomited loudly.

“Go away!”

I pushed the pot away. Dirty water spilled all over the floor, splashing all over Thuy Phan's red cotton shirt. She was stunned, looking frantically at Bui Xuyen.

“Bui Xuyen, I want to go home.”

I turned around to pick up the phone on the ground. I have to call the police, I have to leave this hellish place. A foot was faster than mine, stepping on the phone. Bui Xuyen looked at me from above, pondering with the tip of his toes:

“The signal is very weak here.”

He bent down to pick up the phone and conveniently put it in his pocket.

“Moreover, the people in this village are very stubborn.

If you make a fuss now, and Thuy Phan feels embarrassed and thinks like her, then you are the one who harms people. He leaned close to my ear, his voice as gentle as a lover's whisper:

“One xk/ evil two lives, your piano dream, your reputation, it will all go up in smoke.”

He's threatening me.

“Thuy Phan, clean the floor.”

Bui Xuyen calmly ordered.

“Tonight is New Year's Eve, don't let your parents hear the noise.”

After speaking, he took me by the shoulders and forcibly took me into the inner room:

“Be good, go to sleep.”

The next room heard the sound of Thuy Phan turning over her paralyzed parents-in-law, accompanied by her soft, suppressed cough. Bui Xuyen next to him slept very soundly, sometimes even making contented snoring sounds. I touched it The belly is protruding, the nails are digging deep into the chest. I can't cause trouble. In this isolated village, I am an outsider. Bui Xuyen is right, people here are very stubborn. If I marry hard and hard, the ones who will suffer will be me and my unborn child. I have to endure. Early the next morning, people in the village heard that the Bui family's talented son had brought home a beautiful city wife, everyone wanted to come and see. Bui Xuyen pushed me out: "Hello, adults." He pointed at unfamiliar faces and told me to call each of them young man and uncle. I didn't move. The smile on Bui Xuyen's face faded.

“Tieu Man, don't let adults laugh at you.”

People around started pointing:

“City people are really arrogant,”

"It's still better than Thuy Phan, everyone she meets will laugh out loud",

"This wife of Bui Xuyen is really just for looking at and has no use for anything."

Bui Xuyen sighed, his face full of helplessness:

“Second uncle, she is pregnant, her body is heavy so she doesn't understand things yet, please don't take it personally.”

Saying this, he pressed my shoulders down, wanting me to kneel and worship his second uncle:

“This is the rule, when a new bride enters the door, she must kowtow to the elders.”

At that moment, I saw Thuy Phan standing in the corner of the yard, her eyes clearly showing gloating. Bui Xuyen's arm is very strong, and it hurts. Now is not the time to turn around. I took a deep breath and respectfully bowed to my second uncle.

“Husband, you're right.

Having someone take care of my parents for me is a good thing. I should thank you, and I should also thank Thuy Phan." Bui Xuyen was stunned for a moment, then his face filled with joy and satisfaction:

"That's right, I know you're an understanding person."

Looking at his smug smile, I bit my lip so hard that my cheeks bled. I had to hold back, make him let down his guard to take me back to the city.

2

After two days of pretending to be submissive, Bui Xuyen's vigilance towards me has decreased a bit. But he still refused to return the phone to me. This afternoon, Bui Xuyen sat on the edge of the brick bed peeling apples. The fruit peeler in his hand rotated very skillfully, the silver light from da/o's blade dancing on his fingertips.

“To Man, call your parents.”

He took out my phone and gave it to me.

“Turn on speaker. What to say, how to say it, don't you need me to teach you?”

He took his life and patted my face. I tremblingly took the phone and dialed the number I knew by heart.

“Tut… tut…”

"Man Man? Why are you calling now? Why did the phone keep turning off yesterday?"

My nose stung and tears threatened to flow. But I had to endure. Bui Xuyen's nose was pressed against my waist. I tried to keep my voice gentle and cheerful:

“Mom, the signal was so weak yesterday.

I'm in Mr. Bui Xuyen's hometown, it's very good here, the air is fresh, everyone treats me extremely well. Mr. Bui Xuyen was afraid that I would be tired so he didn't let me do anything, just stay in the room to take care of my baby." I said while looking at Bui Xuyen. Hearing that, he nodded with satisfaction. My mother on the other end of the line breathed a sigh of relief:

"That's good, that's good, this boy Bui Xuyen is trustworthy, parents can also rest assured."

The palm of my hand holding the phone was sweaty. This is the only chance. I remember that. When I was 8 years old, I was aunt Luu The old maid cooked a bowl of apple-pink porridge. She put snails in there, made me faint, and then destroyed my brain. I was stuck in the gang's bunker for three days. Those three days were the deepest nightmare of my childhood. After being rescued, I suffered severe psychological trauma. Even just smelling the scent of jujube porridge makes my whole body twitch and vomit non-stop. Only me and my parents know about this. I looked at the phone, suddenly changed my tone, looking a bit cheeky:

“Mom, even though the food here is delicious, I've suddenly been craving something for the past two days.

I want to drink jujube porridge cooked by Aunt Luu."

“I really want to drink it, even dream about it.”

“When you come home, I must tell Aunt Liu to cook a big pot for you, you want to drink it!”

The other end of the line was as silent as death. Dad, Mom, please understand! At that moment, Bui Xuyen suddenly intervened. He wanted to show his thoughtfulness, so he spoke loudly into the phone:

"Mom, don't worry! If Man Man wants to drink, I'll go learn how to cook right away!"

"There are the most delicious red apples here, as much as you want! Let her drink to her heart's content!"

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds. Immediately after that was my father's voice, but I knew my parents understood.

"Okay, Bui Xuyen, I'm so grateful."

“Dad, go prepare it now, I'll definitely let Man Man... drink it first.”

"You two can rest assured in the countryside, just say anything if you need something."

The call ended. My whole body seemed to have been drained of all strength, and I fell limply onto the heated bed.

"What's the coloring? Isn't it just red apple porridge?"

"Thuy Phan! Pour Man Man a bowl of water!"

Thuy Phan walked in carrying a bowl of water.

“Drink, filtered water is best for you.”

I took a look at that bowl of water.

“What? Are you calling it dirty?”

Bui Xuyen squeezed my chin.

“This is blessed water in the countryside, others want to drink it but can't.”

“Drinking this bowl of water is also a blessing for the baby in the womb.”

"If you don't drink, you look down on Thuy Phan and look down on my parents."

He raised the bowl of water, intending to pour it straight into my mouth. Thuy Phan stood next to her and clapped her hands happily: "Drink! Drink and give birth to a fat boy!" For the baby, for waiting for dad to come save me.

“I drink it myself.”