Chapter 13 — Taste of Home

Finally, Trieu Minh Vien and his mother came in. The mother-in-law stood outside the door, impatient as if she had been left out in the rain. More than ten minutes later, Trieu Minh Vien came out. The tension on his face eased a little. “The doctor said there are no major problems for now.” “Maybe she's been so tired lately.” “But you need to stay in the hospital for two days of observation.” The mother-in-law's legs were weak and she almost sat down on the chair. I helped her. She patted her chest, tears immediately falling. “It's okay, it's good.” “It's okay, it's good.” When Zhou Xiaotang was pushed out, he was still a little weak. Seeing us, her first sentence was sorry. “It's making everyone worried again.” The mother-in-law immediately turned serious. “Don't say this from now on.” "I'm in the hospital under observation, so everyone can rest assured." Chu Hieu Duong red-eyed and smiled. “Aunt Luc, you talk so much like a doctor now.” Luc Canh Hoa continued. “Recently she's been breaking the habit of secretly taking charge of everything.” “Talking will be more disciplined.” His mother-in-law glared at him but did not object. The hospital room has three beds. The spot near the window is just empty. Trieu Minh Vien was busy with hospital admission procedures. His mother went downstairs to buy necessary supplies. My mother-in-law and I stayed with Chu Hieu Duong. Chu Hieu Duong leaned against the pillow, looking at the shadow of the trees outside the window. “Actually, I was a bit scared just now.” The mother-in-law gently stroked the back of her hand. “If you're afraid, say so.” “Don't keep it to yourself.” Chu Hieu Duong nodded. “I know.” She paused for a moment and then said: “Aunt Luc, I suddenly miss my mother.” The mother-in-law's tears almost fell again. She held back. “If you remember, just remember.” “Missing your mother is nothing to be ashamed of.” Chu Hieu Duong turned towards the window, tears slowly sliding down. I stood beside her, not advising her not to cry. Having tears is not a bad thing. It's just telling people that the emptiness in their hearts has finally been seen. That night, we did not let my mother-in-law stay on duty overnight. Trieu Minh Vien and his mother stayed behind. Luc Canh Hoa brought her mother-in-law home. All the way, she didn't say anything. When she got home, she sat at the dining table in a daze. I poured her a cup of warm water. She hugged the glass of water and suddenly said: "Nam Am, did I scare you all like that before?" I was stunned. Luc Canh Hoa also looked at her. Mother-in-law bowed her head. “Mom said I'm not tired.” “Say you're not hungry.” “It's okay to talk about man tou.” “At that time, were you like today, your heart hanging in the balance?” Luc Canh Hoa was silent for a moment, walked in front of her and squatted down. "Correct." Mother-in-law's tears fell down the rim of the cup. “Mom will fix it later.” “Really fixed.” Luc Canh Hoa held her hand. “Slowly correct it.” “We will stay with you mom.” That night, I cooked three portions of porridge. A part is left to the mother-in-law. Part of it was brought to the hospital the next day for Zhou Xiaotang. Another part for Trieu Minh Vien's mother. My mother-in-law watched me close the box and said no more to bother. She just took out a small notebook and seriously wrote it down. First day of admission. Millet porridge. Steamed eggs. Chopped green vegetables. After writing, she raised her head and asked me. “Nam Am, how much salt should I add in tomorrow's porridge?” I deliberately asked: "What did Mom say?" The mother-in-law thought for a moment and then answered very seriously. “Just a little.” “But it can't be without.” I laugh. Luc Canh Hoa also laughed. But the next morning, when we were just getting ready to go to the hospital, Trieu Minh Vien called again. This time, his voice was even more tense than last night. “Mr. Luc, Hieu Duong disappeared from the hospital room.” “The nurse said she left a note.” 16 The paper is very short. There is only one sentence on it. “I'm going to get my mom's things back, I'll be right back.” After the mother-in-law finished watching, her face immediately turned pale. She held the door frame, her lips trembling. “This child is so stupid.” Luc Canh Hoa immediately took the car keys. “Where could she go?” On the other end of the line, Trieu Minh Vien was so frantic that his voice changed. “Old house.” “There is still a wooden chest left by her mother.” “Yesterday the landlord said to move the furniture in next week, maybe she was afraid the furniture would be moved out.” After listening, tears almost fell from the mother-in-law's eyes. “Chu Lan's chest?” “She always loved it very much.” I quickly helped her. “Mom, let's go there now.” Luc Canh Hoa drove very steadily, but the back of his hand holding the steering wheel was so tense that it turned white. Along the way, my mother-in-law did not

stop mumbling. “Don't fall.” “Be sure not to fall.” I held her hand and discovered that her palm was covered in sweat. When he arrived at the old building, Trieu Minh Vien was waiting outside the door. He wasn't wearing a coat, his hair was messy, and his eyes were scary red. “There's no one upstairs.” “I asked the neighbors, they said they saw her carrying a small trunk toward the alley.” The mother-in-law immediately went into the alley. Luc Canh Hoa quickly supported her. “Mom, please go slowly.” It had just rained in the alley and the ground was slippery. We searched and called Chu Hieu Duong's name. No one responded. My heart slowly sank. Just as I turned the corner, I heard a very soft sob. Mother-in-law also heard. She suddenly stopped walking. At the end of the alley there is a small porch. Chu Hieu Duong sat on the steps, holding an old wooden chest in his lap. Her face was pale and her forehead was covered in sweat. But she still bowed her head and wiped the muddy water from the chest.