Chapter 5 — Spring Falling On Red Dress

My fingertips touched the edge of the paper but I didn't speak. Tong Bach Xuyen saw me, his eyes stopped. "From the beginning, if I was dressed like that, nothing would have happened." I sat on the back seat, without wrapping my arms around his waist. The bike left the alley, the cold wind hit my face. I clasped the piece of paper in my scarf into my palm. Arriving at the military family area, Tong's mother was waiting outside the door. Seeing the handprint on my face, her eyes turned red. "Thanh Chi, does it hurt?" That late question "does it hurt" made the tip of my nose sting. But right after that, Bach Tri Duong walked out of the house, holding an enamel basin in his hand. "Thanh Chi is here yet? I've boiled the water, you go wash your face." She stood under the porch of the Tong family, familiar like half of the owner of this place. There are many people in the yard. Yesterday's excitement hasn't ended yet, today's jokes have continued. Tong Bach Xuyen parked the car, said in a low voice: "Thanh Chi, sorry to my mother and Tri Duong, this matter will be forgotten." Tong's mother quickly waved her hand. "You don't need to." Bach Tri Duong held a basin of water, his eyes were already red. "Bach Xuyen, leave it. Thanh Chi's heart is upset, I can understand." "You don't need to tell her for her." Tong Bach Xuyen turned to me. "Sorry." Someone in the crowd sighed. Sister-in-law Trieu scolded in a low voice: "This is not getting married, it's no different from judging a prisoner." I looked at the pot of hot water in Bach Tri Duong's hand. White steam rose from the surface of the water. In her previous life, she also carried a basin of water like that. She said she wanted to help me wash my face, but her hand tilted, the hot water burned the back of my hand. Tong Bach Xuyen said she did not mean it. Today, her fingers had silently loosened the rim of the basin. "Comrade Bach." When I spoke, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes. "Is the sprain medicine you brought last night just for Tong Bach Xuyen alone, or is it distributed by the clinic to the entire military family area?" She was stunned. "Is there any difference?" "Yes." Tong Bach Xuyen frowned. "What are you planning to do?" "If it's shared, then the other families will be distributed." There must be one in the area. If it's reserved for him, it's not appropriate for you to bring it to a man who is about to register his marriage in the middle of the night." Bach Tri Duong's face turned pale. "Thanh Chi, do you have to think I'm that bad?" The water basin in her hand suddenly tilted down. Hot water splashed straight towards my shoes. I took half a step back. Water poured onto the ground, also wetting her own pants leg. Bach Tri Duong cried out, his whole body falling into Tong Bach Xuyen's arms. Tong Bach Xuyen supported her, raised his head and looked at me with cold eyes like ice. "Tang Thanh Chi, you pushed her?" The crowd immediately stirred. "Can't see clearly." "It seems like the water basin is tilting in Comrade Bach's hand?" "Just now Ms. Tang was standing half an arm's length away from her." Bach Tri Duong was so hurt that tears continued to fall. "Bach Xuyen, don't blame Thanh Chi. She didn't mean it." Not intentional. Those four words are more cruel than direct accusations. Tong Bach Xuyen handed her over to Tong's mother, walked a few steps in front of me. "Yesterday you humiliated her, today you strike again. Tang Thanh Chi, I really saw you wrong." "Have you ever seen me clearly?" He was choked by that question for a moment. Bach Tri Duong hugged his ankle, sobbing softly. "Bach Xuyen, leave it, I'll go to the infirmary and apply some medicine." Tong Bach Xuyen turned around to help her. Tong's mother frantically called him. "Today is the engagement meal!" "You're already injured, what else are you going to eat?" He answered very quickly. So fast that there was no hesitation at all. I stood in the yard, watching him help Bach Tri Duong out. Behind, Manh Thu Binh just ran up, saw this scene and immediately rushed up to pinch my arm.

If you don't know this, do you have to ruin the marriage to be satisfied?" Father followed and entered the yard, his face dark and scary. Tong's mother wanted to explain but her father raised her hand to stop her. "Thanh Chi, kneel down to apologize to comrade Bach." The eyes of the people around each class pressed down. Manh Thu Binh kicked me hard on the knee. I staggered with my hand on the door frame. The piece of paper in the scarf slipped a bit from my sleeve. Tang's elegant handwriting Van Hoa appeared in the cold wind. On the paper was written: Don't trust Bach Tri Duong. Last night I saw her hiding something in her pocket. 6 The piece of paper was only exposed, I immediately covered it with my palm. She was still crying. "Mr. Tang, look at it, still refusing to admit it." Dad's face was colder than the wall in the yard. "Kneel down." sharp pain. But the hot puddle on the ground was still steaming. Kneeling down means admitting that I pushed her. "I didn't push her." Having finished speaking, Tong Bach Xuyen, who was supporting Bach Tri Duong, stopped at the yard gate. "Still speechless?" Bach Tri Duong leaned against him, tears forming on his eyes.