Chapter 6 — The Anti-Cancer Kitchen

Volunteers only give instructions, do not work for them, do not deliver meals, and do not look after patients. My mother watched every single thing. Take it even more seriously than headmaster Dinh. On the first test run, my grandmother and father both went. My mother wore a hat and mask, and her apron was clean and neat. My father was in charge of standing next to me and reminding everyone to register. Someone laughed as soon as they entered the door. “Sister Hua, this time it's good, you're still the main cook.” My mother immediately corrected: "It's not me who cooks." “Everyone cooks for themselves.” “I teach.” The other person was stunned for a moment and smiled awkwardly. “They're all the same, they're all the same.” My mother said: “It's not the same.” She picked up a spoon and taught everyone how to cook rice water after surgery. “The fire must not be big.” “It's not always better to cook it thicker, you have to check your doctor's orders.” “Patients have difficulty swallowing. Pay attention to temperature and consistency.” "Don't listen to folk songs and then supplement them haphazardly." The family below listened very seriously. There are also people who want to circumvent the law. A woman puts vegetables on the table. "Sister Hua, I'm going to the hospital room to visit my grandfather for a bit. Please help me cook the pot." My mother pointed to the rules on the wall. “Family members are not allowed to leave the operating table.” The other sister laughed. “Just ten minutes.” My mother didn't laugh. “Ten minutes after the pot burned, who is responsible?” The other woman's face turned red and she had to stay. Someone secretly asked: "Aunt Hua, I'll give you the money. Can you help me cook some more in the morning?" My father was next to me and said frankly: "Don't take personal matters." My mother added a sentence: "If you want to do it, make an appointment at the kitchen table." “If you don't know how to do it, I'll teach you.” “But whose family eats, that family brings it themselves.” When this sentence was said, many people's faces looked a bit unnatural. They were used to it before. One sentence "Mrs. Hua help me". A sentence "Uncle Co is handy". Is being able to put your troubles in someone else's hands. Now it's not possible anymore. The pot is still there. The fire is still there. But each person must stand in front of his pot. Diep Gia Ninh also came. She helped Tham Boi Tran sit in the corner. This time, she did not advertise, did not pull groups, and did not sell meal packages. She held a notebook and wrote down every sentence my mother said. After my mother finished modeling the rice water, she came over and asked in a low voice: "Auntie Hua, can you say the ratio of rice and water again?" My mother took a look at her. "Okay." She spoke in great detail. But don't do it for her. Diep Gia Ninh clumsily washed the rice, turned on the stove, and adjusted the heat to low. When white steam rose from the pot, Tham Boi Tran sat next to him, always staring. Half an hour later, Diep Gia Ninh scooped out a small bowl of rice water. First get field staff registered. Then ask the nurse to confirm that you can drink. Finally, spoon by spoon fed to Tham Boi Tran. Tham Boi Tran took two sips and smiled. “Somewhat similar.” Diep Gia Ninh's tears immediately fell into the bowl. She raised her head to look at my mother. “Aunt Hua, thank you.” My mother nodded. “Thank yourself.” “This is what I cooked.” Diep Gia Ninh was stunned. Then I cried even harder. I stood next to him, in my heart I disagreed. I don't hate that much anymore. There are few punishments that won't make her lose her reputation. It's about letting her redo something that she once took for granted. She just realized that a bowl of rice water doesn't have to be pressed to get it. Inside there is time, fire, patience. There is also responsibility that belongs to family members. The shared kitchen gradually stabilized. My mother goes twice a week. Arrive on time, leave on time. Someone wanted to talk more about family matters, so she listened for a while. But once the other person opened his mouth to ask her to do it for him, she immediately said: "Go register." Someone wanted to donate money to her, she pointed to the QR code of the public account. “Quyen is there.” Someone said: "You weren't like that before." My mother laughed. “I have never suffered a loss before.” “My memory is better now.” The small shop in the alley behind the hospital was later leased to a photocopy shop. Signboard has been renewed. My father brought home the wooden sign "One Currency Warm Kitchen" and hung it on the wall next to the balcony. Not outstanding. But every day I get to bask in the sun. Winter comes very early. Corn leaves in front of the hospital door fell all over the ground. My parents and I went through the entire lesson in the kitchen

In general, while passing by the back alley, my mother stopped for a moment. The owner of the photocopy shop is packing out the paper boxes. The shop was lit with cold white light. No more rice scent. I asked: “Mom, remember before?” She did not answer immediately. A long time later, she said: "Remember." “At that time, the fatigue was real and the excitement was also real.” "Some people finished drinking porridge and their eyes lit up a bit. Mom was also happy." I said: “So you regret closing the door?” She shook her head. “It's not my mother who plays.” “Someone broke that pot.” She looked at that shop. “What I regret is that I evaluated myself too highly before.” "If you feel like the patient is having difficulty, it's okay if you help a little more." "The family is tired, it's okay if we pay a little more attention." “If we don't have enough money, it's okay if we make up a little more.” “But An Nhien, once people get used to it being okay with what you say, they will really feel that you are insignificant.”