Chapter 8 — Red Rope Binds Fortune

“Miss Tham, you now have somewhere to go.” I touched the stamp on the paper. This looks like something that belongs to me. It's not the lock on someone else's body, nor the prayer book lying on someone else's desk. It's the path that helps us step out. Monk Tinh Tu of Thanh Dan pagoda is very old. After listening to the story of the Tham family, she was silent for a long time before saying: "Back then, I only said that the mole on your forehead looked beautiful and that the child looked blessed. Your mother came to ask about your fate, but I did not answer." "What she said was the monk's words." The monk sighed: "If a person wants to worship something in his heart, he can always find an incense burner." I sat opposite her, remembering the appearance of my mother who had prayed to God and worshiped Buddha for many years. She knelt very respectfully, adding lamp oil and never regretting the money. But what she prayed for was never peace. She prayed that Tham Lenh Nghi would be cured, his brother would pass, his father would be promoted, and the Tham family would go smoothly. I am just that light. The light is not asked if it hurts or not. Just glow. 8A month later, mother came to Thanh Dan pagoda. It was drizzling that day. I was drying books in the back yard, when Minh Trung ran over with an umbrella, saying that Mrs. Tham was waiting for me outside the mountain gate. "Her mood is not very good." Minh Trung whispered: "Do you need to see me?" I put the books in the bamboo basket: "See you." Mother stood under the porch of the mountain gate, wearing a dark robe, her whole body became thinner. In the past, she valued face the most, her sideburns were not tangled, her collar was not wrinkled. Today I have a few silver strands in my hair, and in my hand I'm holding a string of Buddha pearls. Seeing me, her eyes turned red. "Tri Dan." I stopped three steps away from her: "Mrs. Tham." Her face turned white. "Do you still resent me?" I did not answer. She took a half step forward and then stopped: "I know how many years I have been wronged. But these past few days my younger sister is very sick, and at night she always talks about dreaming about him. After the doctor looked at her, she was no better. Can I go home with her for a few days, is that okay?" Rainwater fell from the corner of the eaves, hitting the stone steps. I looked at her. "What are you doing coming back?" 10 She quickly said: "You don't need me to do anything. You just need to light the lamp in his room for a few days and stay by his side. Since he was little, he has relied on you to comfort him. Now that you're leaving, his heart is empty and unbearable." I bowed my head and laughed. Mother was stunned: "What are you laughing at?" "I thought you came today to ask if I was living well." Her lips moved slightly: "Of course I also want to ask." "Then you should ask." After a long while, she said: "Are you living well?" The words that came out of her mouth were as stiff as a hastily patched needle. "Very good." "That's good." She immediately continued: "If you live well, you should return to visit Lenh Nghi. Anyway, it is My sister, after the matter of the Marquis, she has suffered a lot. If you stay in her room for a few nights, people outside will also know that your sisters will not turn their backs, and it will be easier for her to discuss the marriage later. "I looked at the Buddha necklace in my mother's hand. Each grain was taken by her very quickly. It's not that she wasn't heartbroken. It's just that the things that make her heartbroken are still Tham Lenh Nghi's illness, Tham Lenh Nghi's reputation and Tham Lenh Nghi's future marriage. I took out the red string from my sleeve. That is the piece of wire taken down from Tieu Phuc Duong gate. Seeing it, mother's face changed: "You still carry this with you?" "Yes." A light suddenly appeared in her eyes: "I know that you still miss home in your heart. Tri Dan, as long as you return, I will not treat you the same in the future. My sister also told me, she will return all the things to you." "Return what?" "Lock, bell and old things." Mother

Hastily said: "I've put it all away. If you want it, I'll give it to you when I return to the palace." I wrapped a red string around my finger. "Mother, the lock Tham Lenh Nghi has worn, I don't need it. That bell was tied, I don't need it. The date of birth has been shaved off, I don't need it either." Mother was stunned. I continued to say: "Tieu Phuc Duong, you will not return. That sister's room, you will not enter either." "Tri Dan..." "Mrs. Tham." I interrupted her: "I am not a light." Her eyes immediately turned red. "Do you have to talk to me like that?" I looked at her. "So what should I say? Say I am blessed, give her a little? Say we are all one family, no need to calculate? Say She's in poor health, can you be patient?" An awkward look appeared on her face. The rain gets thicker and thicker. Mother suddenly said in a low voice: "At that time, I was just too scared. When I was young, Linh Nghi had a very bad fever, the doctor said he might not be able to feed me. Every time I saw him, I felt that my fate was good, I could help him. After that, helping him over and over became a habit."