Chapter 11 — They Teach Me To Grow Up By Abandoning Me

At that point, the first thing I did— Not look for a job. Instead, I sat right in front of the house waiting for my father to ride his bike home. Then talk to him "properly". At five o'clock in the afternoon, I appeared on time at the seafood square. When Manager Tran gave me the billboard, he looked at it a few more times.

“Tieu To, did you not sleep well last night?”

“For now.”

“Your eyes are as red as a rabbit.”

“Just blown by the wind.”

"Okay. It's a weekend, there's a lot of customers, come on."

He didn't ask any more questions. I carried the sign to the intersection. The lobster-headed guy had already arrived. Today he changed his head to a crab version.

“Yo, you're here again.”

“You don't look very good today, your complexion is so poor.”

"It's OK."

“Young man, keep your strength.”

I nodded and held up the board. Take a deep breath.

"XX Seafood Square! King crab promotion 198 yuan! Freshly imported seafood! Come in and get a drink!"

As soon as the first shout left my mouth, my throat was already hoarse. Yesterday I screamed for four hours, and didn't get a proper rest at night. My vocal cords were clearly protesting. But there is no other way. This scream is worth 80 yuan. Plus 10 yuan commission per table. I have to scream.

“King crab special offer 198 yuan!”

Continue again. Ten minutes later, I discovered that today was actually more crowded than yesterday. Tourists came in groups, quite a few stopped to look at my billboard.

"Really 198? The whole thing?"

"Really, really! The shop is on the opposite side!"

First table. Soon the second table arrived— A family of five, with two small children.

“Girl, do you have your own room?”

"Yes yes yes! Everyone go this way!"

I was holding up the sign and showing them the way when a little girl pulled her mother's sleeve:

“Mom, why is that sister standing here?”

“She is working.”

“It's so hard…”

The girl turned her head to look at me, smiled at me and then trotted after her family. I stood at the intersection, holding a sign bigger than me. The bridge of my nose suddenly stings. Yet I was sympathized with by a five or six year old girl. To Van I... I have truly lived to this point. I quickly raised my head, forcing that bitter feeling back inside. Keep shouting. Tonight the situation is quite good, a total of six guests. At the end of my shift, manager Tran counted out 140 yuan for me.

"Okay girl, today is more than yesterday. Are you still coming tomorrow?"

Leaving the seafood square, the night wind was cold. I bowed my head and counted the money in my pocket. Yesterday 120 yuan. Today 140 yuan. Plus the original 234.32 yuan. Minus 31 yuan for two days' food. Actual balance: Hard seat tickets: More than enough. There's even a little left over. I stood under the streetlight, clutching the stack of change in my hand, but I burst out laughing. A very strange feeling of satisfaction. This is the first time in my life I've made money by screaming myself hoarse. The throat burns like smoke. This money is earned by myself. Not company salary. It's not the money my parents gave me. It was me standing in the middle of the intersection, screaming every word to change it. Don't be emotional anymore. Tonight, we still have to deal with sleeping issues. Last night at the convenience store, I was almost considered homeless. I can't go back there today. I opened my phone and looked around.

“Operates 24/7.”

Internet shops need identification. Public bathrooms require identification. I looked up the overnight price— The cheapest was 88 yuan. McDonald's? The nearest 24/7 store is three kilometers away. Well, let's walk. Half an hour later, I sat at the corner of McDonald's, bought the cheapest coke and took up a phone charging socket. Tonight's plan: Sit here until morning. At least it's better than a convenience store— No one chases me away. There are quite a few people like me, slumped over the table or leaning back in a chair, closing their eyes to sleep. McDonald's refugees. Now I am also one of them. Before lying down, I glanced at my phone. My mother texted:

“How is your daughter today?”

I replied:

“Have you eaten yet?”

"That's good. Today your father pedaled ninety kilometers, tomorrow we'll reach the finish line."

"The day after tomorrow, my parents will come home in the car. They will probably come home the day after tomorrow."

In other words— Monday I got my temporary confirmation and bought my ticket home. And they didn't arrive until Monday night. Almost at the same time. So the scene when we meet will be— I lie face down on the McDonald's table, staring at the white light bulb on the ceiling. Imagine that scene. My father pedaled five hundred kilometers, his face rosy, his spirit excited, he pushed the door open and walked in:

"Daughter! Dad's home! See how powerful your dad is!"

Wandered for three days. Holding the billboard for two days. Sleep two nights in a fast food restaurant. Darker skin, thinner, hoarse voice. Will he feel guilty? He sometimes even said: