Chapter 7 — The Tofu Seller Who Wouldn't Wait for Him

I stood in front of the door for a while, then leaned against the door and sat down. The sunlight is very warm, making people lazy. I closed my eyes, my mind was confused, I couldn't think of anything clearly. I don't know how much time passed when the sound of footsteps stopped in front of me. I open my eyes. Do Than Chi stood in front, holding a plate in his hand, in which were a few pieces of steaming fried tofu.

“Run halfway across the street,” he brought the plate in front of me, “if you don't eat it, it will get cold.”

10

Do Than Chi really stayed. As soon as the shop opened, he carried a small chair and sat at the door, like a god guarding the door.

“You go home.”

“Not coming back.”

“The Marquis has food and drink.”

“I can't eat it.”

“So you're starving?”

He raised his head and looked at me, very logically: "If I leave you, I will starve to death." I was speechless.

“If you can only eat the tofu you made,” he pulled his chair forward a little, “you must be responsible for my life.”

I looked at him for a long time, he didn't blink. In the end we lost.

“It's up to you.”

The next day, Lady Hau arrived. I said I came to visit you, but my eyes kept turning to me. Do Than Chi was in the kitchen building a fire—her face was dirty, and when she came out to get water, she was startled.

“Than Chi, this is…”

“Start a fire.” He wiped the ashes more evenly and grinned, "Mong Vi teaches you."

Mrs. Hau looked at him, then at me, her eyes suddenly turned red. I was a bit flustered: “Madam…”

"Miss," she held my hand, her voice low, "I know we're sudden. But Than Chi... was born in the Marquis Palace, and lives more miserable than ordinary people. During these years, he couldn't eat anything, we tried everything, to no avail. You were the first person who made him actively want to eat."

Speaking of this, her eyes became even redder.

“I'm not forcing you into anything, it's just… if you could take care of it a little more, I'd really appreciate it.”

I bowed my head and said nothing. After she left, I leaned against the kitchen door, dumbfounded. Do Than Chi squatted in the yard to wash his face. After washing, he raised his head and waved at me. I turned away. I understand their thoughts. But Moc Bac Than's story makes me have a shadow over my marriage. Three years of sharing the same bed and pillow, in the end it was just the words "don't care" from him. Any feelings, any gratitude, are all fake. When he looked at me, what was he thinking in his heart? People's hearts can easily change. Today you like it, tomorrow you may hate it. If we believe, if we rely, in the end, isn't it still us who gets hurt?

“What are you thinking?”

Do Than Chi didn't know when he came closer, his face was less than a meter away from me. We take a step back.

"Nothing."

He tilted his head and looked at me, rarely smiling.

“Mong Vi,” he said, “are you scared?”

I don't answer.

11

The store's business has improved. Unbelievably good. Every day before dawn, there are people lining up, and as soon as the tofu comes out of the pan, it's all bought up. I had to set a rule: each person can only buy two pieces. All thanks to Do Than Chi. Everyone he met said: "There's only one of this tofu in the entire capital. Since I was a child, I couldn't eat anything. Only eating this can I survive." The Prince of Marquis personally "promoted", who wouldn't want to try? I became the boss, Nhi Cau and the others were also accepted by me. Waiters, delivery people, cleaners, assign roles clearly. The children wore aprons that I sewed, busy without rest, but with bright smiles on their faces. That afternoon, I was playing the abacus, thinking about opening another branch. The curtains were lifted and someone walked in. I raised my head, stunned. Moc Bac Than stood at the door, wearing a familiar gray-green shirt, and his body became thinner. He looked at me, in his eyes was an emotion I couldn't read. Nhi Cau cautiously stood in front of him.

“Objectively, eat tofu or buy tofu?”

Moc Bac Than didn't look at it, just looked at me. I bowed my head and continued to play the abacus.

“Give him a bowl of tofu.”

Nhi Cau froze, replied, went to the kitchen, brought out a bowl of braised tofu, and placed it firmly on the table. Moc Bac Than sat down, picked up chopsticks, and took a bite. He ate very slowly, as if he was enjoying the delicious flavors of a mountain. He ate a bowl of tofu for nearly half an hour. After eating, he raised his head.

“Mong Vi, I came to apologize.”

I said nothing.

“I was not good before and made her feel wronged.” His voice was very low, "I always... don't consider you a real wife."

My hand strumming the abacus stopped. Then I raised my head and looked at him.

"Moc Bac Than, you lied to me before, that's not wrong. But you have never really mistreated me in life." I smiled faintly, "I consider it a lesson."

His face changed.

“Mong Vi, I'm not…”

He stopped, took a deep breath, as if he had made a great determination.

“Before, in a small town, teaching, grinding beans, living with her, that was the life I wanted.” His eyes were a little red, "it's just that at that time I didn't see my heart clearly. Now... I understand. Mong Vi, give me one more chance, I promise I won't make the same mistake again."

I listen, don't interrupt. Waiting for him to finish speaking, I spoke up.

“Life is for two people, if you alone think it's good, it doesn't count.”

He was stunned.

“Furthermore,” I bowed my head and continued to play the abacus, “good things that are not sincere are not necessarily good.”

He was silent for a long time. For so long that I thought he was going to leave, he spoke again.

"Mong Vi, do you remember? Before, every time I came home from the library, I brought you a packet of salted plums. You like to eat that, I know."

My hand stopped on the abacus. Raise your head and look at him.

“Moc Bac Than,” I sighed, “I like to eat sweets.”

He was stunned.

“Salted plums are sour.” I watched his face turn pale, "Maybe that's a dish that someone else you like to eat."

His face was white as paper. Lips trembled, it took a long time to utter a sentence.

“Mong Vi, sorry…”

“It's over.”

I interrupted him, my voice very light.

"It's over, just let it go. You don't have to force yourself to turn back."

He stood up, his eyes red.

“Mong Vi, I…”

"Moc Bac Than," I looked at him and suddenly smiled, "maybe before I was not worthy of your serious treatment. Now that you compare me, I see that I am good. But whether I am good or not, I no longer want to let you define me."

He stood there for a long time. A very long time. Finally, he turned around and slowly left.