Chapter 5 — The Poor and Honored Soldier

Everyone in the room was stunned. The chopsticks in Trieu Cam Thu's aunt's hand fell to the ground, making a "ding" sound. My mother's mouth opened in an O shape and couldn't close for a long time. Trieu Cam Thu didn't seem surprised at all, just slightly curled the corners of her lips, lifted the teacup and took a sip. I leaned back in the chair, rubbing my eyes.
“Uncle Trieu, you're wearing civilian clothes, don't do these things.”
“This is not color.” Trieu Chan Quoc lowered his hand and strode in front of me, "Five years ago, when you pulled me from that place, no one greeted you. Today I make up for it."
He plopped down next to me, like a veteran competing for credit, patting my shoulder: "Besides, today you kid agreed to have dinner with my daughter, I'm happy! I had to come and see!"
“…… Didn't you tell your daughter to contact me?”
“Ha.” Trieu Chan Quoc rubbed his hands.
Chu Hang Chi also sat down, more firmly than Trieu Chan Quoc, just looking at me with sincere respect. The atmosphere in the private room completely changed. My mother regained consciousness, pulled my sleeve, her voice trembling: "Xuyen Tu... what did he call you? Thu... chief?"
“Mom, I'll tell you when I get home.”
"What did you say when you got home? After all——in the army, after all, you are..."
Trieu Chan Quoc interjected, as enthusiastic as an aunt in the neighborhood: “Sister, your son is the youngest person in our area——”
“Uncle Trieu.” I took a look at him.
Trieu Chan Quoc immediately swallowed the second half of his sentence, cleared his throat: "Ah, it's confidential, it's confidential, I haven't said anything." My mother's face was written with the words "what are you guys talking about". But she vaguely felt——her son's position in the army might not be the same as she imagined. Very different. Right now. The private room door——was pushed open again. This time no one knocked on the door. Vuong Giai's head poked in, his expression both curious and disdainful.
"What's going on? There's a bunch of military vehicles parked outside, making such a big battle——"
Her voice suddenly stopped. Because she saw Trieu Chan Quoc. More precisely, she saw an exposed corner of the inside of the coat on Trieu Chan Quoc's shoulder——a golden rice flower badge. That is the mark of a general officer. Vuong Giai's expression stiffened on his face. Then she saw Trieu Chan Quoc sitting next to me, in a casual position, leaning over and talking to me like a subordinate reporting work. Two major generals. Sitting next to a young man wearing a faded cotton shirt. Respectful attitude.
“You… you…” Vuong Giai's lips began to tremble.
Her mother also poked her head in from behind, intending to say a few cool words, but when she saw this situation, her expression immediately changed. Trieu Chan Quoc frowned and looked at Trieu Cam Thu: "Who is that?" Trieu Cam Thu put down the teacup: "It's the person who just said that being a soldier is not terrible." Trieu Chan Quoc's face darkened. He didn't get angry, he just turned his head to look at Vuong Giai and her mother at the door, his eyes calm—— That calmness was ten thousand times scarier than anger. It is the calmness of a person in a high position looking deeply.
“There's nothing terrible about being a soldier?” Trieu Chan Quoc's voice was not loud, but every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
He pointed his finger at me.
“This person joined the army eight years ago, was specially promoted three years ago, five years ago, when he was only twenty-two years old, he commanded a campaign that would last a lifetime. You guys don't even know, saving about thirty-eight lives——including mine.”
“The medals he has received, if displayed, could cover this table.”
“His rank, I can't say. But I tell you——”
Trieu Chan Quoc stood up and walked step by step towards the door. Vuong Giai and her mother seemed to be nailed to the spot, not daring to move. Trieu Chan Quoc walked in front of them and looked down from above.
“All the people wearing military uniforms in this district and city who meet him——must be called chief.”
“Including me.”
The hallway was so quiet that you could hear the air conditioner buzzing. Vuong Giai's face turned from red to white, then from white to blue. Her mother was even angrier—her legs began to tremble, her lips moved several times, wanting to speak but not daring to speak.
“We… we don't know…” Her mother finally forced out a sentence, her voice as small as a mosquito.
Trieu Chan Quoc smiled coldly, did not look at them anymore, turned back to his seat. Chu Hang Chi didn't say a word from beginning to end, just indifferently glanced at the two people outside the door. Just that one look made Vuong Giai's mother's knees weak, almost kneeling. I said: "Uncle Trieu, stop it." Trieu Chan Quoc turned his head to look at me. My voice was very light: “It has nothing to do with them. If you don't know then you don't know, there's no need to make things difficult for people." Trieu Chan Quoc "hmphed" and said nothing more. Vuong Giai bit his lip, his eyes turned red, but not because of anger—but because of fear. She pulled her mother, even the middle-aged man forgot to look, turned around and ran out into the hallway. The sound of high heels tapping on the tile floor was urgent and chaotic. After running only a few steps, there was a "bang" sound—like a twisted leg and hitting something. But no one came back. The private room door slowly closed. Silence for a few seconds.