Chapter 2 — Thien Kim Half Wonton

The next day when Luc Dinh Nghien appeared, my brother Tham Hoai Xuyen also came. He stood under the old dormitory that I rented, using two fingers to lift the plastic tarp covering the tricycle. As if he had just touched something dirty, he immediately withdrew his hand, took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped it again and again. I carried a bag of flour down from upstairs. Hearing the noise, he raised his head to look over. That look lasted a long time. It's been so long that it feels like I want to count all the suffering I've endured over the past three years. But in the end, he just frowned.

“Do you live in a place like this?”

I put the bag of flour in the trunk of the car.

“Or what? In the luxury single room in the sanatorium you booked for me?”

Tham Hoai Xuyen's face darkened.

“Tham Tri Duong, do you have to talk to me like that?”

“You are my brother.”

Brother. I haven't heard this call in three years. In the sanatorium, there was also a nurse who called him that. She brought the bowl of medicine to my mouth and said:

“Be good, your brother told you that if you don't take your medicine today, you have to be tied up.”

Tham Hoai Xuyen took a step forward, blocking the front of the car.

“Come home with me.”

“Next month Van Tinh gets married. She hopes you will be present.”

I laughed out loud.

“What does it have to do with me if she gets married?”

“She said that year is over, she doesn't blame me.”

“So she really is a good person.” I straightened the steering wheel. "Letting what my father left behind fall into her hands, causing me to be locked in a sanatorium, causing me to jump off the rooftop, yet she still doesn't blame me. Tham Hoai Xuyen, listen to it again for yourself, can you believe it yourself?"

The handkerchief in Tham Hoai Xuyen's hand was crumpled into a ball.

“That's clear evidence.”

“What evidence?”

“When Van Tinh fell down the stairs, I was the only one there.”

“She said I pushed, you immediately believed it.”

“The maid also saw it.”

“Which maid?” I looked straight at him. "Mrs. Ly then received money from the To family and moved the whole family to another place?"

Tham Hoai Xuyen paused. I know he investigated. It's just that he didn't investigate to the end. Because if the investigation goes to the end, he will have to prove that he personally pushed his own sister to hell. That upset him even more than the fact that I was actually the bad guy. The landlady upstairs poked her head out.

"Ah Hoanh, why haven't you sold it yet? Today my son said he wanted to eat your little wontons."

I replied once. Hearing someone call me A Hoanh, Tham Hoai Xuyen's face looked like someone had just slapped him.

“If you lack money, why don't you go home?”

I burst out laughing.

“Going home?”

“Going to roll out the red carpet for To Van Tinh?”

He was silent for a long time then took out a gift box from the car. Opening it, inside was a cream white evening dress.

"Next week Van Tinh is holding a thank you party before the wedding. I'll wear this."

I looked at that dress. Three years ago, the day I was taken to the sanatorium, I was wearing a cream white dress. The doctor said I have a tendency to attack others. Two nurses tore the hem of my dress and tied my hands. I raised my hand to touch the fabric. Tham Hoai Xuyen thought I was wavering.

“Tri Duong, don't cause trouble anymore. All the suffering you've endured for several years Now, I will make up for it.”

I raised my hand and closed the lid of the gift box.

“Compensate?”

“First, please take the pocket watch left by father from To Van Tinh's hand.”

Tham Hoai Xuyen frowned.

“That's what father left for the Tham family. There's nothing inappropriate about Van Tinh wearing it."

I nodded.

“Then there's nothing inappropriate about me sending you away.”

Finally he got angry.

“Tham Tri Duong, don't let your feet and your head grow.”

I rang the car bell. A shrill bell rang out down the block.

“Get out of the way.”

He doesn't avoid it. I immediately pushed the car forward, the wheel crushed his expensive leather shoes. Tham Hoai Xuyen was in so much pain that he backed away, but the driver quickly caught him. I climbed into the car and passed him. Behind him, he shouted:

“You must come next week.”

I don't turn around. The wind at the beginning of the alley was very strong, blowing the plastic tarp loudly. I know I will come. Not because of To Van Tinh. But because of that pocket watch. The thank you party was held at the most expensive hotel in Giang Thanh. When I put on a faded black jacket and pushed the door open, the receptionist outside the door thought I was a delivery person.

“Go to the next door from the back kitchen.”

I said:

"I'm looking for Tham Hoai Xuyen."

The receptionist looked at me up and down.

“Today, General Director Tham did not meet anyone who was not on duty.”

Someone next to me burst out laughing.

“Let her in.”

To Van Tinh wore a long champagne-colored dress, standing under crystal lights, like a flower cherished by everyone. On her wrist she wore a watch. The watch strap has been converted into a bracelet, surrounded by a small diamond ring. I took a look. My father never liked such shiny things. Before he passed away, his hands were shaking very badly, but he still wiped the watch clean, saying that it was the cleanest thing in the Tham family. Now it hangs on To Van Tinh's wrist, following the movement of her raising her hand and swaying rhythmically. To Van Tinh walked in front of me, her eyes shining with gentleness like water.

“Tri Duong, you can come, I'm really happy.”

I asked:

“Give me my watch back.”

Her expression did not change, her voice became softer.

“This is the relic left by my uncle to the Tham family. Mr. Hoai Xuyen said let me take care of it for him."

“What my father personally gave me, since when did it become something you take care of for him?”

There was a soft sound of chatter around.

“Is she Tham Tri Duong?”

“Didn't you say he was dead?”

“If you don't die, it's almost the same. Look at her appearance.”

Tham Hoai Xuyen walked out of the crowd, lowered his voice:

“You already wanted to cause trouble as soon as you arrived?”

I pointed at To Van Tinh's wrist.

“Give me the watch.”

To Van Tinh took a half step back, as if scared by me. Chu Nghien Le immediately blocked her. He used to be my fiance.