Chapter 7 — There Are Wounds That Only Truth Can Heal

"This..."

"Is it related to your mother?"

He paused.

"I'm asking you."

I still maintained my composure.

"My mother..."

"Do you know someone named Tran Thuc Phan?"

Ha Kien Minh slowly stood up. A very complicated expression appeared on his face. Just like being wronged. It's like I'm trying to suppress something.

"Van Ninh."

"What you said today..."

"It's too much."

"I'm just asking a question."

"That's no longer a question."

His voice suddenly rose. Right at that moment. Niem Niem in the bedroom turned slightly. He immediately lowered the volume.

"You're doubting my whole family."

"My mother came here specially to visit you today."

"Absolutely good intentions."

"And yet I keep having to mention those things."

"Do you find that interesting?"

I didn't reply. Just turn around. Pick up the dryer again. Ha Kien Minh stood still for a few seconds. Then turned around and went straight to the bedroom. The door closed behind him. I looked at myself in the mirror. Slowly dry each strand of hair. Married eight years. This is the first time... I wonder. After all... How much do I understand this man? Three days later. The cousin called again.

"Looked it up."

"Tran Thuc Phan."

"Local household registration."

"Born in 1965."

"In 2010, household registration was deleted."

Just three years after the household registration incident occurred. I immediately asked:

"Do you have any relative information?"

"There is a daughter."

"Name is Tran Nhuoc Mai."

"Born in 1988."

"In 2008, household registration was also deleted."

I tightened my grip on the phone. Tran Nhuoc Mai. That name... I once saw it in a letter left by Tran Dich's grandmother. Tran Dich's mother... Her name is Tran Nhuoc Mai. Tran Nhuoc Mai's mother... is Tran Thuc Phan. And Tran Thuc Phan... It was the person who found Doan Kim Ba to be his household registration that year. In other words... Tran Thuc Phan is Tran Dich's grandmother. Not grandma like in the letter. Tran Dich's grandmother... is Trieu Boi Dao. He's from your father's side of the family. Why was Tran Thuc Phan the person looking for Doan Kim Ba that year? But not Trieu Boi Dao? I sat quietly. Chain everything in turn. Tran Dich's father. Tran Quoc Binh. Had an accident and died. Tran Nhuoc Mai. After giving birth, he passed away. Grandmother Tran Thuc Phan. Because I wanted to save my grandchild... Went to find Doan Kim Ba. Use my identity to register household registration. Three years later. Tran Thuc Phan also passed away. Tran Dich was raised by his grandmother Trieu Boi Dao. Trieu Boi Dao only knows... My nephew has household registration. But we don't necessarily know the whole truth. In the letter she left behind... Only mentioned a "kind person". That proves... She was completely unaware that the identity was fake. It is also unknown how Tran Thuc Phan did the procedure. Everything returns to the starting point. Tran Thuc Phan... How do you know my name? How do I know all my household registration information? I'm just a twelfth grade female student. In the dormitory. Normal family. Nothing outstanding. There's no reason... For a strange middle-aged woman to deliberately investigate my information. She knew someone who lived very close to me. Sitting in the pharmacy for a long time. Finally I called Lam Tinh.

"You help me investigate."

"Around 2007."

"Is there a woman named Tran Nhuoc Mai or Tran Thuc Phan..."

"Ever go back and forth to my neighborhood."

Lam Tinh replied immediately:

"Let me ask mom."

"Grandma lived on this street for more than thirty years."

"She knows almost everyone."

Twenty minutes later. The phone rang. Lam Tinh's voice was full of hesitation.

"Van Ninh."

"My mother said..."

"It seems you are a little impressed with the name Tran Nhuoc Mai."

"Back around 2006..."

"That woman once came to this street looking for someone."

"Your mother-in-law."

The pen in my hand stopped.

"Looking for my mother-in-law?"

"My mother said..."

"That woman has been to your mother-in-law's house two or three times."

"All at dusk."

"Every time I go in, it doesn't take long for me to come back out."

"There was a time..."

"When I left the door, I was standing outside crying."

"My mother didn't pay attention back then."

"Later..."

"I won't see her again."

The other end of the line fell silent. A moment later. Lam Tinh lowered his voice.

"Van Ninh."

"Your mother-in-law..."

"I know that woman."

I replied softly.

"So what happened that year..."

"About fixing your household registration..."

"It wasn't Tran Thuc Phan's idea."

I said slowly.

"Someone pointed it out to her."

"Use my name."

"It's the most suitable."

This is the chapter that tormented me the most from the beginning of the story. Because at this point... I've almost seen the whole picture. From many years ago. I know that such a "nail" exists in my civil status records. That person... Quietly waited for eighteen years. Wait for the right time. Then pushed Tran Dich to appear in front of me. Tran Dich is innocent. His grandmother, Tran Thuc Phan... Perhaps she was just a mother who had been pushed to the edge. Wanting to find a way for my grandchild to live. Then accidentally being taken advantage of by others. Led to use a name... Which she didn't know. Later, it will become a weapon that stabs back into other people's lives. The person behind it all pulled the strings... From the beginning... There was a purpose. And that person... Is related to my mother-in-law. At this point... I understand. The person behind the choice to bring this matter to light at the right time... It's because now is the most beneficial opportunity for them. What do they really want? My three pharmacy chains? My current life? Is there another greater purpose? I sit in the office. Once again, spread all the evidence before you. DNA assessment copy. Copy of signature in civil status records. The handwriting is completely mismatched.