Chapter 4 — Thien Kim Half Wonton

The remaining blood on his face immediately disappeared. Uncle Luu turned around with a wrench, saw that the atmosphere was not right, and loudly scolded:

"Are you the driver's assistant? Your friend smashed someone's counter like this, and you're still standing here pretending to be a good person?"

Luc Dinh Nghien did not object. He took out a wad of money from his wallet. I grabbed it and stuffed it directly into the manhole next to it. Each red bill was swept away by dirty water. Uncle Liu impatiently patted his thigh.

“Little girl, money doesn't offend you at all!”

I continued to repair the car. Luc Dinh Nghien stood for a long time.

"Duong Duong, come back to me. I found a nurse who worked at the sanatorium that year. In her hand, she has a record of you being forced to use drugs."

The hammer in my hand stopped. He immediately said:

“I didn't lie to you.”

I asked:

“What are the conditions?”

He was silent. I laughed.

"See? You guys help me, always with conditions."

Luc Dinh Nghien said:

“You just need to come to Van Tinh's wedding and explain what happened three years ago.”

“Make it clear?”

“Tell everyone that I didn't mean to harm her that year.”

The hammer in my hand almost fell on my foot. I raised my head to look at him.

“Not on purpose?”

"Luc Dinh Nghien, you investigated for three years, and the result of the investigation is that I did not intentionally harm her?"

He quickly explained:

"I know you probably didn't push her, but the evidence is still not enough. Now the most important thing is for you to return to Giang Thanh first, so that the Tham family acknowledges that you are still alive."

I threw the wrench into the toolbox.

“What you want is not my purity.”

“You just want me to come back alive and add a merciful ending to To Van Tinh's wedding.”

I was right. So he was silent again. The sound of high heels echoed at the beginning of the alley. To Van Tinh held an umbrella and walked in, followed by two assistants behind. She looked at my ruined stall, her eyes filled with pity.

“Tri Duong, I heard something happened to your stall so I specially came to visit.”

Uncle Luu immediately made a "poof" sound.

“The cat cried for the mouse.”

To Van Tinh was not angry and took out an envelope.

"There's a hundred thousand yuan in here, I'll compensate you for your loss."

I asked:

“Who hits?”

She said softly:

“I don't know.”

"If you don't know, you still pay for it?"

“I just feel sorry for you.”

I wiped my hands and took the envelope. Luc Dinh Nghien's eyes looked at me slightly relaxed. The next second, I tore the envelope and threw all the money on To Van Tinh.

"If you feel sad, kneel down and pick it up for me."

Her expression finally changed. Luc Dinh Nghien frowned.

“Duong Duong.”

I looked at him.

"So what? It's okay for her to smash my counter, but not for me to throw money at her?"

To Van Tinh's tears immediately fell.

"Dinh Nghien, don't blame her. I shouldn't have come."

Uncle Luu angrily rolled up his sleeves.

"Girl, who are you crying for? You sent someone to smash this stall, right?"

The assistant behind To Van Tinh pointed at Uncle Luu.

“Try saying another dirty word.”

I picked up the vegetable knife from the ground and slashed hard at the cutting board.

“Cop” sound.

The assistant immediately shut up. To Van Tinh looked at the knife and took half a step back. I said:

“Tell Tham Hoai Xuyen, I will attend the funeral marry."

To Van Tinh raised his eyes. I pulled the knife off the cutting board. There was still a piece of onion stuck on the blade.

“Tell him to invite the director of the sanatorium to come.”

“I want to see if the person who signed the certificate that I was insane that year still recognizes me now.”

One day before the wedding, Tham Hoai Xuyen ordered someone to bring a suit. Black color, good fit, not cheap price. I don't wear it. I put on my old coat and sat on Luc Dinh Nghien's car. Seeing me carrying a cooler, he asked:

“What's inside?”

“wonton.”

“There is food at the wedding.”

“I'm afraid I won't be full.”

He grabbed the steering wheel and tried to speak several times, but finally just asked:

“Are you really not afraid?”

I said:

“Scared.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“I'm afraid you'll give me medicine again.”

The car was silent. He stopped the car on the side of the road, took an unopened bottle of water from the back seat, screwed the cap on, took a sip himself, and gave it to me.

“Not this time.”

I don't accept it. He put the water bottle back.

“The bottle of water that year was not because I quit smoking.”

I burst out laughing.

“So the medicine grows legs on its own?”

“It was given to me by Tham Hoai Xuyen.” He looked straight ahead. “He said I was sick. If you don't take me back, I will harm Van Tinh and will also destroy myself."

I asked:

“Therefore I believe.”

“At that time I thought, at least he won't harm his own sister.”

I looked out the window. The old alleys of Nam Thanh are getting farther and farther away, the high-rise buildings of Giang Thanh are gradually approaching. I said:

“He really wouldn't harm his own sister.”

Luc Dinh Nghien turned his head to look over. I won't say more. The wedding was held at the Tham family's old house. Three years ago, my father's shrine was also located here. Now the white mourning flag has been replaced by red silk. The place where the coffin used to be was filled with white roses, which To Van Tinh loved the most. Tham Hoai Xuyen stood outside the door to welcome guests. Seeing me, he frowned again.

“Why don't you wear a tuxedo?”

I held up the cooler.

“I came to give you a gift.”

Chu Nghien Le walked out from inside. The flower pinned on the groom's chest was neatly arranged, and his whole body was also neat without a wrinkle. Seeing me, the first thing he said was:

“Don't cause trouble.”

I brought the cooler over.

“Congratulations on your wedding.”

He did not accept. To Van Tinh carried her dress and walked over, smiling very gently.

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

I said:

“I'm very happy too.”

She looked at the cooler.

“What is this?”

“wonton.”

The surrounding guests began to laugh.

“Why don't you give wontons at a wedding?”

“Is she really selling this outside?”

“The Tham family's dignity is gone.”

Tham Hoai Xuyen tried to suppress his anger.

“Bring that thing down.”

I opened the lid. Heat rises. Each wonton floats in the broth, the skin is thin, the filling is plump. I scooped a bowl and gave it to To Van Tinh.

“Eat.”

Her face was unsightly.

“Tri Duong, I'm wearing a wedding dress today, it's not very convenient.”

I said:

“Three years ago, on my father's first worship day, she said she wanted to eat wontons that I personally wrapped. I stood in the kitchen packing for you for four hours.”