Chapter 10 — They Teach Me To Grow Up By Abandoning Me

Five minutes of explanation. The two people were skeptical and then left. Before leaving, one person said:

“Girl, your condition is like this… don't stay outside anymore, go to the aid station.”

Aid station. I am twenty-six years old. Graduated 985. Last month's salary was 12,000 yuan. Now someone advised me to go to the aid station. It's true that life has ups and downs, downs and downs. The next day, Saturday. I went to the convenience store's bathroom to wash my face, dab toothpaste with my hand, and brush my teeth lightly. The person in the mirror is even worse than yesterday. The T-shirt was worn on the second day and started to smell. Oily hair. Eyes red and full of blood. Out the door, the sunlight was still as bright as before. Today, we continue to pick up billboards. But work only starts at five o'clock in the afternoon. What to do during the day? I sat on a park bench, charging my phone and surfing the internet. My father's circle of friends is updated again. Another cycling photo. Today he wore a red cycling suit.

"Second day! Eighty kilometers! The old horse is still a thousand miles away!"

Below, Mr. Trieu commented:

"Mr. Kien Quan is really great! Where is your daughter? Is she at home?"

My father replied:

“He's out training.”

Or for the two words practice. He threw me more than 1,200 km away from home, wandering around to make a living on the streets, which he called training. I've been thinking all night. Why does my father want to go cycling? Why did he go so decisively? The answer is actually very simple. I'm fired. Twenty-six years old, graduated 985, worked for three years and was cut off. In my father's eyes, that was extremely humiliating. He won't say it. But I know. Before retiring, he was a key technical employee of the factory, working for thirty years without ever being fired. In his worldview, being fired by the company is synonymous with waste. And his daughter is a trash. He didn't take me on a trip to comfort me. It's to prove one thing - Look at your dad, at the age of fifty-five he can still ride five hundred kilometers. Twenty-six years old and already collapsed? The call was at four o'clock that morning. That so-called “cycling activity”— Maybe it wasn't just a temporary spur of the moment. Maybe he wanted to go for a long time. I'm just an unworthy excuse for you to stay. As for my mother— She chose to follow my father. That choice itself says it all. In her heart, her husband is more important than her daughter. Or to be more precise— A fifty-five year old husband who can still ride five hundred kilometers is worth her company more than a laid-off daughter who only knows how to stay home and play games. I sat on a park bench, staring at my phone screen. My eye sockets are a bit stinging. But don't cry. What are you crying for? Crying, tears fell on the phone screen and I couldn't see clearly anymore. I stuffed my phone back into my pocket and looked up at the sky. Blindingly green. Survive first and then count. At noon, I spent 8 yuan to buy two mantou and a free bowl of soup. In front of the shop's door is a sign:

“Soup is refilled for free.”

I boldly asked for three more bowls. The owner's eyes gradually changed from enthusiasm to vigilance. I immediately ran away. Just after two o'clock in the afternoon, the phone suddenly rang.

“Excuse me, is this Ms. To Van?”

"This is the civil status department of the XX police station. Regarding the temporary identity certificate you registered yesterday..."

My heart immediately jumped into my throat.

“What's wrong?”

“Police side Her household registration office has already responded, successfully verifying her identity. You can come get the temporary confirmation.”

"Really?!"

“You can come during business hours from Monday to Friday.”

“Wait— today is Saturday? Are you not working today?"

“Today the staff on duty cannot handle this task, the civil status department needs to do it. Monday morning at the earliest.”

Two days left.

“Can't it be done sooner? My situation is quite urgent…”

“Sorry, this really has to be done on a work day. Monday morning, you can come directly at nine o'clock."

"…Alright. Thank."

I hung up. The good news is: Identity verification has passed. The bad news is: Still have to wait two more days. I still have to endure two more days. But at least… There is hope. On Monday, I received the temporary confirmation and immediately bought a ticket home.