Chapter 11 — Taste of Home

The area recently has many old houses but few suitable ones. Some floors are too high. There is a toilet that is too slippery. Some apartments are too far from the hospital. There was a landlord who immediately shook his head when he heard that the tenant was a woman. The mother-in-law sat next to her, the more she listened, the more impatient she became. She secretly put her hand into her pocket. I immediately saw the old iron box. I held her hand. “Mom, don't move.” The mother-in-law said softly: "I'm just looking to see how much is left." Luc Canh Hoa looked over. "Mom." The mother-in-law immediately withdrew her hand, like an elementary school student whose name was called by the homeroom teacher. Trieu Minh Vien's eyes turned red and said: "Aunt Luc, you really don't take money anymore." “I came back to resolve everything.” Trieu Minh Vien's mother also said: "Sister, we didn't know before." “Now that we have arrived, we cannot leave you alone to carry the burden anymore.” The mother-in-law bowed her head and did not speak. After a while, she said softly: "I'm just afraid that Hieu Duong will be tired from moving back and forth." Chu Hieu Duong's tears immediately fell. “Aunt Luc, I'm not that weak.” Her mother-in-law looked at her, as if she remembered saying the same thing when she was young. She reached out and stroked Chu Hieu Duong's hair. “It's okay to be a little weak.” "When someone loves you, don't try to force yourself." After saying that, she herself was stunned. I looked at her, my heart softening. It turns out that people can actually, while advising others, slowly learn to let themselves go. In the afternoon, we split up to look for a house. Luc Canh Hoa contacted the management board's resident group. I asked my colleagues if there was any housing nearby. Trieu Minh Vien ran to two brokerage companies. Trieu Minh Vien's mother-in-law and mother stayed at home with Chu Hieu Duong to pack things. At dusk, Luc Canh Hoa finally received the news. Outside the back gate of our area there is a two-bedroom apartment on the first floor. Just an alley away from the Chu Hieu Duong building. The taxi ride to the hospital takes ten minutes. The homeowner is a retired teacher who lives elsewhere with her son, so the house is empty. The only problem is that the other party only leases for a full year. One month deposit, six months advance. After listening, Trieu Minh Vien's face immediately became heavy. He just returned, with nothing to spare. Trieu Minh Vien's mother gritted her teeth. “I still have some retirement money in hand.” Mother-in-law wanted to speak again. This time, she covered her own mouth. I almost burst out laughing, but also wanted to cry. Luc Canh Hoa said: "Just go see the house first." "Money matters, let's look at them and discuss them." That house was cleaner than we thought. Outside the window there is a pomegranate tree. The toilet also has handrails. It was said that the tenant was a pregnant woman, and the landlady even proactively said she could change the old sofa into a harder bed. Chu Hieu Duong stood in the living room, looking at the south-facing window, his eyes gradually brightening. Mother-in-law also likes it. She touched the kitchen table and said softly: "It's convenient to cook here." Luc Canh Hoa looked at her. "Mom, the point is that Xiao Duong finds it convenient, not that you find it convenient to secretly bring food." The mother-in-law's face turned red. Everyone in the room burst into laughter. I thought everything could be decided in the end. But right at the time of signing the rental agreement, the landlady received a phone call. After listening, her face looked a bit awkward. “Sorry everyone.” “My niece just said she also wants to rent this house.” "Her child is going to school next year and is in urgent need." The room immediately became quiet. The light in Chu Hieu Duong's eyes slowly turned off. The mother-in-law grabbed the corner of the table and suddenly asked the hostess in a low voice. “Your name is Liu, right?” The lady was stunned. “Do you know me?” Her mother-in-law looked at her for a long time. “You used to work at Hong Tinh Factory's kindergarten before, right?” The lady's eyes changed. “Are you Luc Tu Mai?” 14 When the mistress called her mother-in-law's name, her eyes immediately turned red. The two of them stood in the living room looking at each other for a long time. It's like going through the dust of decades, finally recognizing the other person. Ms. Luu held her mother-in-law's hand. “That's right, ma'am.” “She is thinner than before.” The mother-in-law smiled and wiped the corners of her eyes. “She hasn't changed much.” Ms. Liu sighed. “How can it not change?” “Old.” After the two of them mentioned a few old stories, we learned that Ms. Luu used to look after Luc Canh Hoa that year

factory kindergarten. The mother-in-law is busy at work, and the father-in-law's shifts are not fixed. There was a time when young Luc Canh Hoa spent almost every day in kindergarten until the end. Ms. Luu said that at that time, Chu Lan often came to pick up her child. She said Chu Lan is the best at comforting children and always has a few fruit candies in her pocket. Hearing Chu Lan's name, her mother-in-law's eyes turned dark. Ms. Liu was silent for a moment then looked at Chu Hieu Duong. “You are Chu Lan's daughter?” Chu Hieu Duong nodded. “Yes, it's me.” Ms. Luu walked over and looked at her face, her eyes also turned red. "Alike." “Especially like her when she was young.” Everything suddenly changed. Ms. Luu called her son. She did not avoid us. She said this house was given priority to rent to Chu Lan's daughter. As for her granddaughter, she will think differently. I don't know what the other end of the line said. Ms. Luu's voice was very gentle but firm. “Love is not just about exchanging fun and bustling moments.”