Chapter 18 — The day I gave birth to my two children, I gave birth to myself again

We chose an apartment with a living room facing south. Afternoon. Sunlight flooded the entire floor. The moment of looking at those streaks of sunlight. I suddenly wanted to cry. I don't try to hold back anymore. I hug my son. Cry for a long time. Giang Chanh panicked.

“What's wrong with you?”

I smiled.

"No problem."

No problem. Those tears... No longer have anything to do with Co Dinh Xuyen. It's for myself. I was also able to carry myself... And my two children... Step out of that pile of debt, lies and pain. Trieu Tu Lan even came to me twice. She stood in front of my mother's house.

“Duong Duong...”

“Let me see you two for a moment.”

My mother didn't open the door. She coldly replied:

“The day your son got married…”

“You've seen enough.”

Second time. She stopped me right in front of the new apartment complex. She looks a lot thinner. Her hair is also almost half white.

“Duong Duong.”

“Mom was wrong.”

“Dinh Xuyen lost his job.”

“To Man doesn't pay attention to it anymore.”

“I just want to look at my nephew and niece for a bit.”

I stopped. The voice remained calm.

“Want to visit my child.”

“Do as agreed.”

“But mom is a grandmother.”

“It was you who applied to take the two children away.”

Trieu Tu Lan's tears immediately fell.

“At that time…”

“Mom is confused.”

I looked straight into her eyes.

“She is very alert.”

Her cries immediately stopped. I said slowly.

“You know I was in the operating room that day.”

“She knows Co Dinh Xuyen is getting married.”

“You know To Man is pregnant.”

"I also know that they want to use two children to force me to sign."

“Trieu Tu Lan.”

“From start to finish...”

“She has never been confused.”

“She was always very alert.”

She opened her mouth. Couldn't say a word. The security guard of the apartment complex stepped forward. Politely ask me:

“Do you need our help?”

I nodded.

“Please ask her to leave.”

When leaving. Trieu Tu Lan turned around to look at the baby stroller. My daughter is awake. Holding the corner of the blanket to play. My son still sleeps very well. Never looked at her. That's good too. There is no need to know everyone who is related by blood. Blood relations... Never enough to erase the malice. Two months later. Co Dinh Xuyen was fired from the company. The notice is very brief. Violation of timekeeping regulations. Inflating work expenses. Personal behavior seriously affects corporate reputation. He once sent me an email. Sugar Sugar. Only now do I know... how much you shouldered before. I don't answer. Shortly after. He sent more. Can I meet the two kids? Just stand from afar and watch for a while. I forwarded the entire email to Tran Tran. She just texted back. Answer correctly according to the agreement. I copied an entire sentence. Please submit your request to visit your child three days in advance. Location specified by me. Co Dinh Xuyen did not send any more emails. I heard... The day To Man gave birth. Co Dinh Xuyen also went to the hospital. But To Man's father did not let him stand outside the delivery room. Trieu Tu Lan was also present. To's family immediately called the police. Someone harasses pregnant women. When Giang Chanh heard that story. The baby laughed the whole time.

“Retribution came so quickly.”

I smiled.

“Keep your voice down.”

“Don't wake the two kids up.”

Giang Chanh immediately covered his mouth. I bowed my head. Carefully cut your daughter's nails. Tiny nails. Soft as paper. I cut very slowly. My world is very small. Each division on the milk bottle. Each diaper size. It's a vaccine appointment. Is the weight at each routine examination. Those things... are much more important than how Co Dinh Xuyen will end up. The day of moving into a new house. I took a photo of my two children. The girl is on the left. The boy is on the right. Is a small wooden board. Welcome home Giang Nhat Duong and Giang Nhat Chu. My mother held the photo. Looked for a long time.

“If your father was still alive…”

“He will certainly be very happy.”

I smiled.

“I'm also very happy.”

In the new house. There is no longer anything that belongs to Co Dinh Xuyen. There is no longer the smell of To Man essential oil left behind. There is no more piece of paper from Trieu Tu Lan. Two children's room... Completely repainted. Half light blue. Half creamy white. Two small cribs placed next to each other. At the head of the bed hang two pieces of peace jade. My mother bought it. Giang Chanh gave two stuffed tigers. The baby grinned.

“Who dares to bully you two in the future…”

“I will bite that person to death.”

I laughed.

“You should worry about mixing the milk in the right ratio first.”

Giang Chanh looked at the measuring spoon.

“How many spoons?”

I sighed.

“Go wash the milk bottle.”