Chapter 2 — The Snowy Night Leaving the Co's House

Just as I reached the top of the stairs, I heard Lam Nguyet ask in a low voice: "Yen Tu, does Tri Ha hate me?" Co Yen Tu said: "No need to worry about her." He paused for a moment and then added: "She can't leave the Co family." My steps stopped for a moment. Then continue going up. Unfortunate. This time you guessed wrong. 3Mr. Co came to talk to me three days ago. That day, Co Yen Tu took Lam Nguyet out to eat hot pot. He has a cleanliness problem and normally doesn't even want to stand in front of a roadside shop. But Lam Nguyet said he wanted to eat, so he left. Still taking photos. In the photo, he sat next to a red hot pot with chili oil, his eyebrows frowned but he did not leave. Lam Nguyet sat opposite, smiling extremely happily. When I saw that post, I was squatting in the laundry room to brush his shoes. His shoes cannot be machine washed, so a soft bristle brush must be used to brush little by little along the grain. My fingers were soaked in water until they turned white. The phone screen lights up and then goes dark again. At that moment, I suddenly felt like a joke. In the evening, Mr. Co told the housekeeper to call me to the study room. He sat by the window, his knees covered with a blanket. In recent years, his health has not been good, but he has always treated me very well. As soon as I arrived at Co's house, he would tell the kitchen to leave sweet soup for me. If I ranked first in the exam, he would tell the driver to take me to buy books. He knew I liked the South, so he secretly contacted the lecturer at Nam Thanh University to help me. I am always very grateful to him. So when he pushed the bank card and home ownership certificate in front of me, I didn't immediately accept it. Old man Co said: "Tri Ha, you are a smart child, I won't beat around the bush." I stood still without moving. He sighed. "Yen Tu has been spoiled by us. He can't distinguish between dependence and love, nor can he distinguish between habits and possession." I lowered my head to look at the card. "Grandpa, do you want me to go away?" "Not to send me away." His voice was very slow. "But to give you back your freedom." My throat was tight. Mr. Co said: "The procedures in Nam Thanh, I have already had someone complete it. The house is in your name, the money is also yours. You go there, if you want to study then study, if you want to take the graduate exam, then take the graduate exam, no need to look at the faces of anyone in the Co family anymore." I was silent for a long time. Finally asked: "What are the conditions?" Mr. Co looked at me. "After you leave, don't look back." I thought I was going to cry. But I don't cry. I just suddenly remembered a lot of small things. I remember when I was twelve years old, I had a fever. Co Yen Tu called me sick and dirty, and stood outside the door and told me to take medicine myself. Remembering my fifteenth birthday, he gave me a cleaning instruction booklet, saying it would make it easier for me to organize his things in the future. I remember when I was seventeen years old, I received an interview invitation from Nam Thanh University. Without even looking, he said, "Why are you going so far away? Haven't you always wanted to be in the same city as me?" At that time, I was really moved. I thought maybe he couldn't bear to let me go. Now I understand. It's not like he can't bear to leave me. You're just used to me. I picked up the bank card, smiled and said: "Thank you, grandpa." A trace of pain flashed in Mr. Co's eyes. "Tri Ha, I don't owe the Co family." I also smiled. "I know." But in fact, in my heart I understood very clearly. In recent years, the food, clothes and everything I use have been provided by the Co family. I owe the Co family. But I don't owe Co Yen Tu. When she walked out of the study room, Co Yen Tu had just returned home. He carries the smell of hot pot on him. It was the smell he couldn't stand before. Seeing me coming out of the study room, he frowned. "What did grandpa tell you?" I hid my card

into his sleeve. "Ask about my university." Co Yen Tu's face softened a bit. "Just in time, I also have something to tell you." He took off his jacket and conveniently handed it to me. I take it. He said: "I'm about to enroll in a university in the city, don't come to Nam Thanh anymore." I didn't say anything. He thought I was so happy that I was dumbfounded, my voice carried a bit of relief as if he was giving me grace. "Your achievements are enough, it's not difficult to stay here. Until then, you will continue to live in the Co family, going to school will be convenient." I hugged his jacket, smelling the strong smell of hot pot on it. Suddenly I really want to laugh. Because of Lam Nguyet, he can endure things he didn't even want to touch before. But he still thinks that if he says just one sentence, I will give up my hard-won future. I said: "Let's see." Co Yen Tu was not happy. "Let's see what that means?" I raised my head to look at him. "It means I want to decide for myself." He looked like he had just heard something extremely wild. "Hua Tri Ha, you weren't like that before." That's right. Previously I would have said “Okay”. Will say "I hear you all". Will immediately close his mouth when he frowns. But one person cannot be a rag forever. Wipes that are used for a long time will tear. I give you back your jacket.