Chapter 2 — Ten Years Waiting for a Taste

02

I took a piece of pork thigh meat out of the freezer. That is the brand designated by Van Lam. She said this company's pigs have been exposed to music since childhood, so the quality of the meat is very good. I defrosted the meat and then minced it. Chop very small. Then mix minced vegetables with meat. Add a little salt. A little light soy sauce. Along with some ginger and onion juice that I made myself. Van Lam does not allow the use of MSG or seasoning powder. She said it was chemical waste. I use chopsticks to stir the filling in one direction. The cool aroma of Thai vegetables blends with the fresh taste of meat. This is the way my mother used to teach. Mom said, if you want the filling to be delicious, you have to stir it vigorously and stir it until the end. I took out a package of dumpling shells from the refrigerator. Also the designated brand. Made from organic wheat flour. I started wrapping dumplings. Each one, one by one, wrapped like small bars of gold. My mother said this shape symbolizes money entering the house. I packed very quickly. Soon, the cutting board was full of dumplings. Like rows of beautiful little white silver bars. Looking at them, I felt a feeling of satisfaction that I hadn't felt in a long time. For the past three years, everything I've cooked has been "meals". Not home cooked meals. These are dishes that are weighed and measured in grams and their nutritional content is calculated. Food for the body. Not something to nourish the soul. But these dumplings are truly a meal. I divided the dumplings into a few bags. Put it in the freezer. Only twenty left. Prepare to make dinner for yourself. I don't dare to feed the Co family. The owner will definitely be angry. She once said, anything put in your mouth must have a clear origin and ingredient list. Things that grow in the wasteland, in her eyes, are like poison. Half past five. Tieu Tiep woke up. I brought him some afternoon tea. A small piece of yogurt mousse and a few blueberries. It eats small pieces. Eyes still staring at the cartoon on TV. Six o'clock in the evening. Mr. Co returned. He is the boss of a technology company. Every day is very busy. He took off his vest and gave it to me.

"Miss Truong, it's been hard for you."

You are always very polite. But also very distant. It's like there's always an invisible layer of glass between us.

"Mr. Co has returned."

I took the coat.

"The family is having a dinner party today, and won't be home for dinner."

“Yes.”

He replied once, changing into indoor slippers.

“Where is Tieu Tiep?”

“Watching TV in the living room.”

He went to the living room and patted Tieu Tiep's head. The boy didn't turn around, his eyes were still glued to the screen. Mr. Co sighed softly. He sat down on the sofa, reaching out to rub his eyelids. Looks extremely tired. The house became quiet again. I started preparing dinner. Mr. Co's dinner includes pan-fried cod, asparagus, and baked potatoes. Accompanied by a glass of wine. This is the standard menu set out for him by Van Lam. Successful men need to stay in shape, she said. Carbs are the enemy. I put the cod in the pan. A "sizzling" sound rang out. The fragrance immediately spreads. Mr. Co sat in the dining room. He looked at me.

“Miss Truong, what are you making?”

“Your dinner.”

“It smells like more than just cod.”

My heart sank.

“It's nothing, sir.”

“I just cooked something for myself to eat.”

I don't ask anymore. I laid out the cod and asparagus plate, bring it to me. Then return to the kitchen. Use another pot to boil water. Add the remaining twenty dumplings. Dumplings roll around in boiling water. Like a school of small white fish. I picked one up to check if it was cooked or not. It's ripe. I took out all the dumplings and put them in a large bowl. Doesn't add much. Just a little vinegar and a little sesame oil. I picked up my bowl and prepared to go to the small dining room to eat. As I passed by the living room, Mr. Co called me back.

“Miss Truong.”

“What are you eating?”

He stood up. I picked up the bowl, a bit confused.

“It's... dumplings.”

“What cause?”

He walked towards me.

“It's nothing, it's just... I wrapped it casually.”

I don't dare tell the truth. He didn't ask anymore. Just staring at my bowl of dumplings. The eyes are very strange. He held out his hand.

“Let me taste one.”

I was stunned. Then give him the bowl. He took my chopsticks and picked up a dumpling. He didn't eat it right away. But bring it up to your nose and smell it first. His eyebrows frowned slightly. Then, he put the dumpling in his mouth. Chew slowly. The chopsticks in his hand suddenly stopped. Floating in mid-air. He just stood still like that. I could even hear his throat moving. A while later. He just spoke:

“Is this… Thai vegetable?”

03

I nodded.

“Yes.”

My voice is very small. I was mentally prepared to be blamed by him. Or be lectured about hygiene like Van Lam often says. But he said nothing. He just stared at the bowl of dumplings. The eye sockets gradually turned red. I have never seen Mr. Co like that. He is always calm and restrains his emotions. A tear fell from her red eyes. Falling onto the back of his hand. I was so scared that I didn't dare move. Tieu Tiep also turned his head. He looked at his father with confused eyes.

“Dad, what's wrong?”

Mr. Co did not answer. He picked up my bowl of dumplings. Turn around and walk towards the yard. The steps are a bit unsteady. I follow you. He did not enter the sophisticated sun-shaded resting area. But go to the steps leading down to the basement. That place is a cement floor. Normally only used to store a few miscellaneous items. He squatted down. Like workers who have just finished working at the construction site. There is no longer any image. He just squatted like that. Carry a large bowl. Use the chopsticks I just used. Continuously pick up dumplings and put them in your mouth. He eats very quickly. As if swallowing something extremely precious. Tears kept falling. Fall into the bowl. Mixed with dumplings. He let them flow down. Night gradually falls. The sensor lights in the yard light up. A gentle light covered his body. Drag his lonely figure for a long time. I stood not far away. Don't dare step forward. Don't dare leave either. I don't know what I should do. I just felt at that moment, Mr. Co was no longer the boss of a company. Nor is it Van Lam's husband or Tieu Tiep's father. He's just a heartbroken man. Eating a bowl of dumplings made me cry. He ate all twenty of my dumplings. Even the little vinegar and sesame oil at the bottom of the bowl were gone. He picked up the empty bowl and stood up. Go back into the living room. He gave me the bowl. Eyes still red.

“Thank you, Ms. Truong.”