Chapter 7 — Pregnancy in a Locked Village

It was Thuy Phan who poisoned her to death by putting rat poison in her food. Just because that woman wanted to live separately from Bui Xuyen, blocking Thuy Phan's way of sucking blood. The police even dug under the pig pen in the Bui family's old house. Discovered two sets of white remains. Those were women who had been sold to Bui's house before. Because they wanted to escape, they were beaten to death. Three months later, the court announced the verdict. Thuy Phan, for intentional murder and poisoning to kill, many crimes combined. Sentenced to death, executed immediately. Bui's parents, for child trafficking, fraud, criminal cover-up and abuse. Sentenced to life imprisonment. Those two old men will torment each other in prison until they die. Bui Xuyen for attempted murder, property embezzlement and double marriage. Originally had to receive a deferred death sentence. But because there are circumstances of achievement. Finally, he was sentenced to life in prison and stripped of his political rights for life. This punishment is more suitable for him than death. Let him live, in endless regret, watching his whole life turn into a joke. Most of the dirty money has been recovered. The villa and luxury car Thuy Phan bought with that money were all auctioned off. My father asked me how I wanted to handle this money.

“Give it all away.”

“Donate to the charity organization ‘Bring Me Home’.”

Ironic. That money should have belonged to Bui Xuyen. If that year he chooses to return home. Perhaps life is completely different. But unfortunately, life has no ifs. My body gradually recovered. But I still can't hear the three words "red apple porridge". Just hearing it made my stomach immediately contract violently. The psychiatrist said I needed to face my fears. I thought for a long time. Decided to go to prison, ending everything one last time. I named my child To Sinh. The meaning is to rise from the dead. In the household registration book, there are only me and my child. Bui Xuyen's name has been completely erased. Right before the day I was about to go visit prison. The prison sent a message. Bui Xuyen asked someone to send me a letter. Just a few lines. 『Man Man, sorry. Actually, twenty years ago, I met you. The aunt Liu who brought me red apple porridge was the mistress of my human trafficking adoptive father. For three days you were locked in the basement, I stood outside watching.』 I read it and my whole body felt cold. Eight years old. That dark basement. Eyes looking down from the small window above. It turns out... it's him. I sat in the visiting room again. Bui Xuyen was so thin that he was deformed. Seeing me, he pulled the corners of his mouth and gave a distorted smile.

“Did you receive the letter?”

I stared at him.

“So you knew everything that year?”

Bui Xuyen nodded. The voice is hoarse and rough.

“I know.”

“I followed my adoptive father into the city to pick up the maid named Liu.”

“I saw you wearing a princess dress, sitting in the big house playing the piano.”

"And you're wearing a torn cotton shirt you found, your hands are full of cracks from the cold."

“I'm jealous of you.”

“I want to drag you down, drag you into the mud like me.”

He stopped for a moment.

“When I asked for help in the basement.”

“Actually I heard it.”

“Please give me a bowl of water.”

“I brought water.”

“But at the last second, you dumped it on the ground.”

“I want to see you cry, see you beg, just like I used to see myself.”

My whole body is cold. It turned out that his cruelty was deeply rooted in his bones.

“So later when we see each other me, you recognized me from the beginning?”

Bui Xuyen nodded.

“Yes.”

“I think it's God's will.”

“You are a white swan, high and mighty.”

“And you are a rat in the sewer.”

“But I married you and took you back to that village.”

“Watching you being bullied by Thuy Phan, watching you humble yourself and beg for love in front of me.”

“That feeling… is so refreshing.”

“I feel like I won.”

“Finally dragged you into my hell.”

When he said these words, a sickly twisted expression of satisfaction appeared on his face. Look at the man in front of you who is both a victim and a perpetrator. I'm no longer angry, only pity.

“Bui Xuyen, you have never won.”

“Do you think dragging me to hell will free you?”

“No.”

“You're just proving that you'll forever be a rotting rat in the mud.”

I took out a thermos. Slowly open the lid. The sweet aroma of red apple porridge spreads. Bui Xuyen was stunned.

“I…”

Right in front of him, I picked up a bowl of porridge. My hands were still shaking slightly, but I didn't stop. One sip at a time, one sip at a time. Stomach churns and wants to vomit. But I forced myself to swallow, until I had drunk every last drop. I showed him the empty bowl.

“Do you see?”

“I walked out.”

“Whether it's the basement at the age of eight, or the Bui family village at the age of thirty.”

“I all came out alive.”

“And you.”

“Forever trapped in that cellar.”

“Forever trapped in my own jealousy and inferiority.”

After speaking, I stood up, turned around and left. Behind him, Bui Xuyen's cries were heard. But I didn't turn back. That night, Bui Xuyen committed suicide. He sharpened his toothbrush and pierced his neck artery. On the wall, he wrote two words in blood: 『To Man』 One year later. I re-entered the music academy and continued to study piano. I wrote my story into a book. Inspiring countless women who have been abused and mentally manipulated. Graduation performance day. The stage lights turned on, I wore a white dress, sitting in front of the piano. The melody “Rebirth” flows from my fingertips. Under the stands, her parents held To Sinh who was babbling and learning to speak. Look at me proudly. To Sinh waved his small hands and laughed. At that moment, I felt like I saw myself at eight years old. The little girl finally opened the cellar door. Step into the light. 『End』