Chapter 8 — Thien Kim Half Wonton

There were still guests outside and reporters had not yet left. He stood in front of the crowd, his voice not loud but loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Three years ago, Tham Tri Duong did not push To Van Tinh.”

“It was me who believed the lie and forced her to confess.”

"I was stupid, blind. I was sorry for her."

The reporter's lens immediately pointed. The Chu family's face turned pale. Tham Hoai Xuyen stood on the steps, as if all his bones had been pulled out. I put the watch in my pocket and turned around to leave. Luc Dinh Nghien followed.

“I'll take you home.”

“No need.”

Uncle Luu stuffed half a dumpling into his mouth.

"You need it. The car is free, if you don't sit, it's a waste. Ah Hoanh, our broken three-wheeled vehicle is still in Giang Thanh, we have to take it home."

I think. It makes sense. Before getting in the car, Tham Hoai Xuyen called me back.

"Tri Duong, take the things your father left behind. I will also transfer the shares of the Tham family back to your name."

I didn't ask how much. The books were opened, and Mr. Luong was also present. There are things that don't need to be hidden anymore. I said:

“No need to switch back.”

Tham Hoai Xuyen was stunned.

“What?”

Uncle Luong came next to me and spoke for me:

"That year, the old man had completed the procedure, General Director Tham didn't know."

Tham Hoai Xuyen looked at Uncle Luong. Uncle Luong said:

"The old man had long left the most important stores of the Tham family under the lady's name. Three years ago, Miss To took the watch away, thinking she had the key. But the key was actually the silver button the lady received on her sixteenth birthday."

Tham Hoai Xuyen looked at the unremarkable silver button on the sleeve of my old coat. Luc Dinh Nghien also looked over. The dumpling in Uncle Liu's mouth fell down.

“Ah Hoanh, is this button worth money?”

I bowed my head and touched it. This button has accompanied me to wash dishes, carry flour, and shelter from the rain. To Van Tinh wore the watch for three glorious years. She didn't know that the watch was just a bait that my father intentionally released. I said:

“Not worth the money.”

“You can only open the door.”

Tham Hoai Xuyen asked:

“Open which door?”

I looked towards the backyard of the old house. There is a row of old shops there that have been sealed for many years. When I was young, my father took me past there, saying that the roots of the Tham family are not in banquet halls, nor in high-rise buildings. It sits in front of the fire, nestled in a pot of delicious broth. I said:

“Open the real door of the Tham family.”

Half a month later, the old neighborhood of Giang Thanh reopened. Not a big restaurant. Nor is it a high-end club. It's a wonton restaurant. The sign has only two words: A Hoanh. After hearing the news, Tham Hoai Xuyen stood outside the door for three hours. He was wearing an expensive suit, carrying a flower basket, completely out of place among the elderly men and women lining up to buy wontons. Uncle Liu was in charge of collecting money, and he didn't look kindly on him.

“Put the flower basket on the other side, don't block the guests.”

Tham Hoai Xuyen followed suit.

“Can I come in and see her?”

Uncle Luu rolled his eyes.

“Line up.”

Tham Hoai Xuyen went to the end of the line. When it was his turn, I was bowing wrapping wontons.

“A bowl of fresh meat filling.”

I don't lift my head.

“Twelve yuan.”

He scanned the payment code. The machine rang once. I push the bowl over. He carried the bowl and sat in the farthest corner. Taking the first bite, he suddenly put down the ladle, tears falling into the bowl of soup. The lady sitting at the next table hated it and moved her bowl away.

“Boy, it's okay to cry, but don't let your tears splash into my soup.”

Tham Hoai Xuyen wiped his face. I don't look at him. Outside the door, someone walked in. Chu Nghien Le. Uncle Luu immediately placed the payment code face down.

“Don't sell to bad men today.”

Chu Nghien Le stood outside the door, holding a file of documents in his hand.

“I came to deliver the goods.”

Luc Dinh Nghien walked out of the back kitchen, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his hands covered in flour.

“Put it down and go.”

Chu Nghien Le looked at him like this, his face was complicated.

“What are you doing here?”

Luc Dinh Nghien said:

“Wash the dishes.”

Additional Notes:

"And chopping onions. The workmanship is not good, salary will be deducted."

Chu Nghien Le gave me the documents.

"There was someone from the To family who testified. That year, To Van Tinh actually bribed the maid and fixed the surveillance camera."

I turned two pages.

“You Chu family acted so quickly.”

He smiled bitterly.

“It's not the Chu family. It's me.”

I looked at him. He said:

"I'm not asking for your forgiveness. It's just this matter, I want to finish it myself."

I received the documents.

“Want to eat wontons?”

He was stunned. Uncle Luu immediately became impatient.

“Ah Hoanh!”

I said:

“Twenty yuan.”

Chu Nghien Le nodded.

“Eat.”

I scooped him the smallest bowl. He sat opposite Tham Hoai Xuyen. Two men, one cried, one wanted to cry but didn't dare. Uncle Luu looked happy.

"Knowing this, why did you do it in the first place? Those of you who have money will regret it and have to eat wontons for twelve yuan."

I corrected his words.

“He's twenty yuan.”

Uncle Luu immediately laughed louder. When the shop was about to close, a woman wearing a mask appeared. She stood outside, not entering. As soon as I looked, I recognized To Van Tinh. She has lost a lot of weight, and the scar on her forehead has not yet healed. The Chu family's marriage was annulled, the To family was investigated, and the sanatorium's case was also overturned. She is no longer the white moonlight cherished by everyone. She's just a scammer who doesn't dare take off her mask. Uncle Luu held a mop to block the door.

“It's closed.”

To Van Tinh looked at me.

“Tham Tri Duong, let's talk.”

I still wash the ladle.

“Not available.”

“Do you have to force me to die?”

I turned off the faucet.

“You also said this three years ago.”

She gritted her teeth.

“Now that you have everything, why don't you let me go?”

I walked in front of her.

“Because what you took away wasn't just an object.”

“You took away my chance to see my father one last time, took away my three years of sobriety, and took away my chance to continue living as Tham Tri Duong.”

She said:

“But you're still alive.”

I looked at her.

“That's right.”

"I'm still alive so you can't live in peace."

Finally, To Van Tinh could no longer pretend.

"Do you think you've won? Do you really think that your father's death is only related to the To family?"