Chapter 4 — The Tofu Seller Who Wouldn't Wait for Him

Before he finished speaking, a hand reached out from behind and forcefully pushed him away. Do Than Chi didn't know when he came and stood in front of me, looking at Moc Bac Than from top to bottom.

"This person," he slowly opened his mouth, "just keep talking when talking, why are you standing so close? To drag and drag in broad daylight, it's really too rude and doesn't know how to maintain manners."

Moc Bac Than's face changed: "Who are you?"

“Me?” Do Than Chi turned his head to look at me, then turned back, grinning, "Passerby."

Moc Bac Than didn't pay attention to him, just looked at me: "Mong Vi, follow me home." I don't move. Do Than Chi also did not move. The alley suddenly became quiet. The wind blew from the entrance of the alley, carrying the fishy smell of fish and vegetable leaves from the early market. I took a deep breath and turned to Do Than Chi.

"Little prince," I said, "I already have a husband. You... don't follow me anymore."

He was stunned. That always joking expression suddenly stiffened on his face. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, then swallowed again. His eyes gradually darkened, the corner of his mouth twitched, he wanted to laugh but couldn't.

"…OH."

He only said that one word. Then he turned and walked towards the beginning of the alley. His steps were a bit unsteady, he walked a few steps, stopped, turned his back to me and stood for a while, then finally left. The back is sluggish, as if the spine has been removed. I watched his back disappear at the beginning of the alley, only then did I turn around. Moc Bac Than stood opposite, his face softened a bit, as if breathing a sigh of relief.

“Mong Vi, I know you still—”

“Moc Bac Than.”

I interrupted him, my voice very light.

“You said I was impatient, right?”

He was stunned.

"Then let me tell you," I looked at him, word by word, "I am just that impatient. So, I don't need someone as big as you anymore."

His face stiffened. First stiffness, then irritation, finally anger. His eyes stared at me, his voice cold as the December wind.

“It's my fault.”

He gritted his teeth, each word burst out.

"It's me who has pampered you too much all along."

6

Moc Bac Than said he could do it. Early the next morning, as soon as I removed the door panel, he was already sitting in the shop. I don't know when he came in, just blatantly sitting in the seat next to the window, his face dark, without saying a word. A customer walked in, saw the stranger's appearance, and quietly turned away. I treated him as if he didn't exist, wiped the table and set up the bowls and chopsticks myself. All morning, ten people came in, ten people were scared away. At noon, I finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

“What do you want to do anyway?”

He looked up at me, his voice calm: "Eat tofu." I scooped him a plate of braised tofu and placed it firmly on the table. He picked up his chopsticks, tasted a bite, frowned.

"Salty."

I endure. He tasted another bite: "Too soft." I endured again. Third piece: “Not absorbent enough.” I threw the rag on the table.

“Moc Bac Than, are you finally going?”

He put down his chopsticks, raised his head, his eyes turned red again.

“Mong Vi,” his voice lowered, carrying a barely perceptible tremble, “you have made a mess, you are angry, you should be reasonable, right?”

I was stunned.

“I should have taught you some rules.” He stood up and walked towards me, "It was because I pampered you too much before that I made you so careless. Come with me, forget the past."

We take a step back.

“On what basis do you judge me?”

He frowned: "I am your husband."

"Husband?" I laughed coldly, "Where's the marriage letter?"

His face changed. In that moment, we saw a flash of panic in his eyes. Even though I was quickly pressed down, I could see clearly.

"Mong Vi," his voice softened, "it was my negligence. I thought you were young and didn't pay attention to those things..."

“So what?”

"So..." he paused, "if you're interested, I'll add it right away. Three books and six ceremonies, nothing is missing. The marriage certificate can be done tomorrow."

I looked at his face and suddenly felt extremely tired. It's been three years, but I've never seen this person clearly.

“Moc Bac Than,” I turned away, not wanting to look at him, “go away.”

He did not move. I heard footsteps behind me, getting closer little by little. Then a hand reached out from behind and grabbed my wrist.

“Mong Vi.” His voice trembled, "listen to me..."

I pushed his hand away.

“Don't touch me.”

He staggered a step, stood steady, looked at me, his eyes red.

“Mong Vi,” his voice lowered, carrying some pleading, “besides me, who else wants you now?”

I'm stiff. The self-pity in my heart, as if someone had stabbed me, rose up violently. The eye sockets were hot, something wanted to come out. I clenched my teeth and pressed down.

"Right."

I turned around and looked straight into his eyes.

"I have no father or mother, I am alone, I am not worthy of a noble predecessor like you."

His expression changed: “I didn't mean that—”

“That's exactly what he meant.”

I took a step forward, my voice getting louder and louder.

"You want to keep your promise for the queen and not marry another woman for the rest of your life, so you shouldn't come to tease me. You teased me, refused to give me my status, and even criticized me for being hot-tempered and not understanding things—Moc Bac Than, you're cowardly, you're shameless!"

He was stunned, opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

"Even though I don't have parents anymore," my voice trembled, but every word was clear, "but when I was a child, they cherished me like a jewel and grew up. I never asked you for anything, nor did I ever think of climbing high. But what right do you have to trample me like that?"

“Mong Vi, I don't…”

“Listen to me all.”

I took a deep breath and looked straight into his eyes.

"It's not that I don't deserve you. On the contrary, it's you—a despicable person like you, that doesn't deserve me."

His face was pale. After a long while, he opened his mouth, his voice dry: "Mong Vi, it's not that I don't want to marry you. I just... I just see that you have a simple personality, don't compete with the world, I thought you didn't care about worldly rituals..." He took out an object from his chest and brought it in front of me. It's a bracelet. The quality of the jade is extremely good, it's blue all over, and the dark shop still has a gentle glow.

“Last time I came back to the capital, I just wanted to go back to the palace to get this thing.” His voice carried a pleading tone, "This is my family's heirloom, only passed down to the eldest daughter-in-law. As long as you wear it, you are the daughter-in-law recognized by the elders of the clan. It's not that I don't want to marry you, I just want to give you a surprise..."