Chapter 4 — Ten Children?

06 That day, I didn't cry. At least don't cry at school. I picked up the badminton racket that fell from the ground and even brushed off the dust on it. After returning home, Mr. Hai Tran Thuc still placed a plate of sweet and sour fried ribs in front of me as usual. I didn't eat a single bite. He looked at me for three seconds, turned around and closed the yard gate.

“Say it.”

“Who bullied you today?”

After being questioned by everyone one after another, I finally couldn't bear it anymore and told what happened at school. In less than half an hour, all nine people he knew. The atmosphere in the yard was heavy and scary. They aggressively planned to go to school together to find the other female student and settle the matter. Seeing that a riot was about to happen, she used her cane to slowly stand in front of the large iron gate, blocking their way. She did not scold, just calmly asked:

“What is the second rule of our house?”

The nine angry men immediately stopped walking, like eggplants hit by dew. Chu Tranh gritted his teeth and replied unwillingly:

“Don't bully people who are weaker than you.”

She nodded:

"She is a little girl just over ten years old. What are you guys planning to do with a group of men in their twenties and thirties? If anyone wants to lay a hand on you, get out of the house immediately."

That morning, the nine brothers really didn't cause trouble. But when school ended at noon, Elder Chu Tranh, Brother Ba and Brother Bay still went to school. They didn't go to class, just leaned next to the grocery store outside the school gate. That day, Chu Tranh intentionally did not wear a jacket, revealing old scars from fights and tattoos on his arms. Mr. Ba was wearing a leather jacket, an unlit cigarette in his mouth, and his eyes were fierce. Mr. Bay cut his hair to a spike, staring coldly at the school gate. The students who had bullied me in gym class had just walked out. Seeing that scene, especially the arms full of tattoos and the men who didn't look like good people, they immediately turned pale with fear, their legs went weak, and they didn't dare to open their mouths. Elder Chu Tranh does not hit people, nor does he curse. He just stuffed the two boxes of hot milk he just bought into my hands, then turned his head and coldly looked at the female student who took the lead in scolding me. She was so scared that tears immediately fell. She very wisely walked over and sobbed and said:

"Trinh An, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that to you."

She was extremely scared. I'm afraid my brothers who don't look like good people won't let me go. After finishing the matter, three people took motorbikes and slowly walked home with me. The autumn sunset cast long shadows on us. When he was about to turn the corner in front of the house, Chu Tranh suddenly stopped, turned to look at me, his voice more serious than ever:

“An An, are you still upset?”

I shook my head and said in a low voice:

"Actually, she wasn't wrong. I was originally picked up."

Chu Tranh sighed, walked over and used his rough hand to rub my head, messing up my ponytail.

"What about picking it up? Our whole family was picked up."

He pointed at himself and then pointed at Mr. Ba and Mr. Bay behind him.

“But if you count, out of ten of us, you are the luckiest.”

I raised my head and looked at him confused. Chu Tranh laughed, revealing his white teeth:

“Think about it. When we arrived, this house was deserted.”

"As for me, I was just picked up and when I opened my eyes, there were nine older brothers protecting me. That's not the luckiest child in the world." Star?"

At that moment, the wind blew through the alley. I suddenly felt like I wasn't really that pitiful. ## 07 In eighth grade, I began to show a talent for learning far beyond that of normal people. That year, I participated in the Math Olympiad for high school students across the city, unsurprisingly winning first prize. The school attaches great importance to it and recommended that I participate in a more intensive and long-term training class organized by the province, so that in the future I will have the opportunity to compete for a direct admission. But when the homeroom teacher gave me a piece of paper with the tuition amount, my heart immediately sank. For a family of ordinary officials in the city, that tuition fee can be paid with just a little effort. But for our family, it is no small burden. Because two months ago, she just had coronary artery bypass surgery. The house's savings were almost exhausted. Their work also had to stop a lot to take care of her, they needed money everywhere. After returning home, I didn't say anything, folded the tuition payment paper into a small square and stuffed it down to the bottom of the drawer. I decided to give up this opportunity. Unexpectedly, during the general cleaning weekend, Elder Chu Tranh cleaned my desk and discovered a piece of paper. The next evening, a rare family meeting was held in the courtyard. The nine brothers sat around a stone table in the middle of the yard, on the table were a few bottles of cheap beer. I have no right to interfere. They discussed among themselves and came up with a clear plan. They decided to divide the money into small parts, each person taking responsibility for a part, absolutely not letting this thing fail just because of lack of money.

“My car repair shop has been busy lately. I'll take care of most of the tuition fees.”

Chu Tranh firmly placed the lighter with motor oil on the table.

“In the evening I will go to the night market to sell baked goods, working four more hours. I'll pay for the food, make sure there's meat in every meal."

Mr. Tran Thuc immediately continued.

“The class is in the provincial capital, right? I'll take care of the bus fare and travel expenses. At best this month, I'll sleep a little less and go on a few more long trips."

Mr. Ba took a big sip of beer. Mr. Bay used a cup to press down on the crumpled one hundred yuan bill:

“I'm responsible for the money for reference books and materials.”

The remaining brothers also received their portions one by one. I stood at the main door, tears falling uncontrollably. I ran over and snatched the bill from the table.

“I don't want to study anymore! The provincial capital is too far, the tuition is too expensive, it's really unnecessary!”

I said loudly. Chu Tranh stood up, snatched the paper back from my hand and smoothed it out. He looked straight into my eyes, his voice so serious that no refusal was allowed:

“An An, tell me the truth. Do you really don't want to learn or are you just afraid of wasting our money?"