Chapter 15 — The Night Before Exam Day

“We found Tham Chu's blood and a piece of rope.” I jumped up. “Where are you?” The policeman's face was very serious. “Moved away.” He hesitated. “There was this thing left on the old warehouse door.” He gave the photo to us. In the photo, on the iron door in the basement there is half an exam notice. Not mine. It belongs to Tham Chu. The exam notice was torn in half, leaving only the name and photo. Below the photo write a text. Before two o'clock in the afternoon, Manh Chi brought the copper card into the old warehouse. If not, what he's missing is not just the exam. Ms. Tan was so angry that she was shaking. "Does he dare to cut off his own son's hand?" The police officer did not answer. But everyone understands, this is not simply a threat. Eighteen years ago, Tham Truong Bach locked people in an earthen furnace. He doesn't care about blood. He only cared about whether he could escape or not. At this time, the hospital called. My aunt wants to see me. At first the police did not agree. But my aunt only said one sentence on the phone. "Tell Chi Chi, the copper card is not a key, the copper card is a list." I took the phone. "Auntie, tell me clearly." Her breathing was very weak. "The series of numbers behind the copper card, corresponding not to a cabinet, but to a person." "That year my mother investigated, among the missing people at the brick factory, there were a few people whose identities were switched." "Someone took their household registration and participated in the exam." sent, went to the factory, went to the city, received compensation." "That series of numbers is the swapped identity." I held the phone tightly. "So Tham Truong Bach wants the bronze card, because he's afraid the list will be opened." "It's not afraid." Auntie's voice was hoarse. "It's because he's also on that list." My heart pounded loudly. "Isn't he Tham Truong Bach?" The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds. "What. This guy, Tham Truong Bach, was also robbed by him." "The real Tham Truong Bach died eighteen years ago." "Who is your biological father, I don't know." "But it's absolutely not this person." My eyes darkened. That man called me his daughter, not because of blood. But because he knew that calling would torment me the most. Ms. Tan supported my shoulder. My aunt continued to say: "Chi Chi, don't let him get the bronze card." "Once the bronze card falls into his hands, he will destroy the list." "Your mother risked her life to keep it, so that those people could have a name." My throat felt like something was blocking it. "What about the remains?" She cried. "Under furnace number 7 there is a basement." "I've heard them talk about it before." "Your mother could be down there." "But I can't go exchange." "If you live and pass the exam, only then will someone be able to take her out." On the other side of the phone came the doctor's reminder. My aunt said the last sentence: "Tham Chu knows the secret door." "When he was a child, he was led there by Duong Tue." "He wasn't just kidnapped." "He was leading the way." The phone was disconnected. I stood frozen in place, my back felt cold. At this moment, the policeman guarding outside the door suddenly let out a painful noise. The light in the break room blinked twice. Even window curtains that don't have wind fly. Before I could turn around, half of the blood-stained exam notice slid in from the crack in the ground door. Written on it. Manh Chi, in the next exam, I will take the exam instead of you. 18 Half of that exam notice was lying at my feet. The blood stain on the paper has not yet completely dried. Ms. Tan rushed to pull the door open, but found that the door had been locked by someone from the outside. There was no response outside the door. The two police officers stationed outside the door just now had no word. The light in the break room flashed once again, then went out. It was clearly noon outside the window, but inside the room it was as dark as the basement. Ms. Tan immediately pulled me to the corner. "Don't lean against the door." I clutched the bag containing documents with my fingertips.

numb hands. Outside the door, there was the sound of very soft footsteps. Very slow. It was as if someone intentionally let us hear. Then, a familiar voice spoke from close to the door. "Manh Chi." It was Tham Chu. His voice was very hoarse, carrying sobs. "Open the door." "He's gone." Ms. Tan immediately covered my mouth, using her eyes to signal me not to speak. I didn't move either. Tham Chu burst out laughing outside the door. That laugh didn't sound like that of someone being kidnapped. "Now you don't believe me anymore?" I looked at the half of the exam notice on the ground. The handwriting on half of the paper is Tham Chu's. He always knows that I will be able to distinguish his words due to habit. From elementary school to high school, he copied parent signatures for me countless times. He understands very well how to make me move. The voice outside the door lowered. "Manh Chi, I admit I hate you." "But I don't want you to die." "Give me the bronze card." "I'll take you to find Lam Tri Ha." Ms. Tan said coldly: "Tham Chu, there are all police outside, you can't run." There was silence outside for two seconds. Then came Tham Chu's suppressed laughter. "Teacher, your life is really big." "If I had known in the back of the car, I should have acted a little harder."