Chapter 27 — The Child You Never Knew

“I'll be blunt.” Trinh Nhac's attitude is not social, but more like the pace of business negotiations, "My son has a stubborn personality and doesn't get along with anyone in class. But today your son is the first person to make him respect him. I'm very curious, how do you teach him?"

"It doesn't teach anything. It's just my personality."

Trinh Nhac nodded, as if digesting this answer. "In the future, if you have time, let the two children play together more. Trinh Trinh needs a friend who can communicate on equal terms."

“Let's see what the kids think.” After saying this sentence, Khuong Niem walked away.

When she arrived at the school gate, Tieu Chau was already sitting on the back of the car waiting for her. The boy swung his legs, his hands twisting the straps of his bag.

“Mom, what did Trinh Trinh's dad say to you?”

“Tell me you want me to be friends with Trinh Trinh.”

Tieu Chau thought for a moment. "Today, Trinh Trinh admitted his mistake. He didn't say sorry, but he accepted his mistake. People like that can make friends."

“You look better than me.”

“It's natural.”

Two people riding electric motorbikes joined the traffic of Lam Giang at dusk. The river surface in the distance reflects the last bit of sunset. At eleven o'clock that night, Ha Than sent a text message. *"The deputy director told me to ask you something. Is everything going well at Genius Class? He said that if there is any difficulty from the school side, he can come forward to resolve it."* Khuong Niem replied to a message: *"No need."* Ha Than did not ask any more. But two minutes later, he sent another message: *"In addition, there is something to report to you. The female housekeeper next to the Deputy Madam, the Deputy General, has already fired her. When she was fired, the housekeeper gave more details."*

“What details?”

*"Three years ago, after Wen Tam Duyet's video was released, not only did Mrs. Fu know that the video was staged, she also took it one step further. She used her connections to push the video to several mainstream newspapers. The reason the video exploded online in just 24 hours was not only thanks to the activities of Wen Tam Duyet's team, but also the push from Mrs. Fu, which had a stronger impact."* Khuong Niem Staring at the phone screen. The sound of water dripping from the kitchen faucet in the dead of night could be heard clearly.

“Why does she have to help Wen Tam Duyet?” She typed and sent.

*”According to the housekeeper's testimony, the original words of the Deputy Lady at that time were 'Let that woman leave cleanly, leaving no trace'. She was not helping Wen Tam Duyet. She was ensuring that she would never be able to return."* Khuong Niem put the phone on the table. She stood up and walked to the window. Lam Giang Old Quarter is very quiet at night, with only the occasional sound of car horns echoing from afar. The deputy lady once told her at the tea shop *"Back then, your background, your profession, and your position in this industry were not the standards of the daughter-in-law I wanted"*. At that time, she thought it was just a common prejudice. Now it seems that it goes even further than that. The deputy lady didn't just look down on her. She also had a plan and participated step by step in expelling and destroying her. And just a month ago, this same woman sat across from her, handing her the education trust fund, her sincere attitude saying *”This child should enjoy the best education"*. Khuong Niem took a deep breath. She returned to the table, picked up her phone, and texted Ha Than: *"Does Pho Tu Nien know about this?"* *"Know. He told me to tell you.”*

“What kind of attitude does he have?”

*”Today he returned to the old house of the Pho family. Talked with the Deputy Lady for two hours. I don't know the specific content. But when he went out, he asked me to do something.”* *”Synthesize the evidence about the Deputy Lady adding fuel to the fire three years ago into a file. He said, if you want to prosecute, he won't stop you."* Khuong Niem put the phone face down on the table. She closed her eyes and sat for a long time. Investigate. How to prosecute? Sue the Vice-Madam to court? With what crime? Pushing a video to the press is legally very difficult to determine. Furthermore, the Fu-Madam is Tieu Chau's biological grandmother, what does tearing her face mean, she understands better than anyone. But if she doesn't prosecute... She opened it. If you don't investigate, the educational trust fund will forever carry a question mark. Was it really the intention of Mrs. Phu when she signed? *"Sorry. These two words are too light, but I really don't have any better words."* Khuong Niem looked at this line. She didn't answer. Locked the phone screen, went to check Tieu Chau's room door to see if it was closed, then went back to her room, turned off the light, lay down. There was no light on the ceiling. In the darkness, her eyes were dry to the point of pain. No crying. She hadn't cried for a long time because of this. But the choking feeling in her chest was still there, like a rock pressing down on her. compressed for three years, even though we now know the truth, have pulled out the culprit, and seen justice belatedly, that rock has not really been moved from the state of "not knowing it exists" to the state of "knowing what it looks like." To move it, it takes more time.