Chapter 16 — Thirty Years Later, We Brought Mom Home

Thirty years too late. I used to think that when I heard this sentence, my heart would be relieved. But no. I just calmly replied:

"I heard it."

There was a ray of hope in his eyes. I continued:

"But that doesn't mean I accept it."

The light in his eyes immediately went out. I placed the rehabilitation plan on the table.

"From tomorrow, you will move to the nursing center arranged by us."

"Tri Chau will be in charge of the treatment."

"Tri Dao will handle all legal matters."

"And I will pay all the costs."

His lips trembled.

"...I..."

"...Are you coming to visit dad?"

He bowed his head. He looked like an old man who had done something wrong. I turned around to leave. Behind him, he suddenly spoke:

"...My mother..."

"...I'll blame dad."

I stopped walking. Then turned to look at him.

"A long time ago..."

"My mother no longer has to worry about you."

He was stunned. I said slowly:

"The important thing now is..."

"We three sisters will never let you have a chance to hurt us again."

Half a year later. The final audit results were also announced. Many property transfer transactions in the names of Tham Ngoc Nhu and Tham Gia Thu were investigated and clarified. Van Giang Cong Quan apartment was returned to my name. The six shops were returned to the three of us. The disputed shares at the old factory land have also been returned. Due to illegal use of collateral and many violations in accounting books, Tham Gia Thu's company was sued by the bank to recover debt. He came to see me once. The location is in front of the old house gate. He lost a lot of weight. The suit is wrinkled. Dark eye circles.

"My mother is sick."

I looked at him.

"Take her to the hospital."

He gritted his teeth.

"She doesn't have any more money."

I calmly replied:

"She still has a reasonable living allowance."

"It's clearly stated in the agreement."

Tham Gia Thu's face was hot.

"Do you have to be so cruel?"

I looked at the forty-two year old man in front of me. In my eyes... He still looks exactly like the twelve year old boy from before. Steal other people's things. Then it is automatically assumed that... People are not allowed to take it back. I said slowly:

"Tham Gia Thu."

"Your mother may favor you."

"I also have the right to favor my younger brother and sister."

He stopped. I continued:

"When I was sixteen years old, when I took my two younger siblings away from this place..."

"We don't have money."

"No home."

"There's no one to protect me either."

His lips moved slightly.

"That's because you guys left on your own."

I laughed.

"We left on our own."

"And also survive on your own."

I took out a piece of paper from my bag.

"This is a list of medical and retirement benefits that Tham Ngoc Nhu can apply for."

"If you really want to take care of her..."

"Just follow the instructions."

He received the paper. His eyes became extremely complicated.

"Do you no longer hate my mother?"

"Doesn't affect the resolution of everything."

He bowed his head and looked at the paper. After a long time, he said softly:

"When I was a child..."

"I always thought..."

"Everything was originally mine."

I didn't speak up. He continued:

"My mother always said the same thing."

I looked at the gate of the old house.

"Now you know the truth."

He squeezed Tighten the paper. Then turned around and left. No sorry. That doesn't matter anymore. The old house was restored for three months. I asked someone to take down all of Tham Ngoc Nhu's paintings. Based on old photos, restore mother's room little by little. The white magnolia tree was also replanted next to the window frame. The west house was renovated into a family record storage room. The letters, video tapes and all the documents my mother left behind... are all carefully backed up. The main room no longer held frivolous, ostentatious parties. Tri Dao proposed to reserve part of the old house as a legal support center for women. Specializes in helping people whose family property rights have been violated. Tri Chau also proposed to retain a room as a place for rehabilitation consultation for the elderly in the area. I agree. Official opening day. Uncle Luc Trieu Minh sat in the yard. Red eyes.

"If the lady knew..."

"She will certainly be very happy."

Aunt Phuong brought tea. Smiling and nodding.

"Finally... the big lady has returned home."

I looked at my aunt.

"Not going back home."

I raised my head to look at the window of the western building.

"This is..."

"Take back the house that belongs to you."

Hua Hoanh Vien moved to live at the nursing center. Tri Chau visits him once a week. Tri Dao also stops by sometimes. It's convenient to bring along a few files that need your signature. Only comes once a month. He recovered very slowly. Can speak short sentences. There was one time. He asked me:

"...Van Giang..."

"...Are you there?"

He was stunned.

"Then I'll take it back..."

I looked at him.

"That's what my mother left me."

"It doesn't mean..."

"I must live there."

I looked out the window.

"What I want..."

"That it will never be stolen by someone else again."

He was silent for a long time. Finally said softly:

"Very like mother."

This time, I didn't respond. After that, I renovated the apartment in Van Giang Cong Quan into a short-term temporary residence. The first people to move in... were two women leaving their marriage with their children. On the day they received the house, they held their child and stood silently in front of the window overlooking the river. No one said a word. I put the keys in their hands.

"This place is not your forever home."

"But at least..."

"You guys can stop here for a moment to breathe."

A woman burst into tears. I suddenly remembered the sentence my mother wrote in a letter that year. Someone who truly loves you will never force you to grow up with nothing. Thirty years ago... Mom didn't have time to keep my three sisters and I. Thirty years later... The house my mother left behind... Can keep other people. Later, Tham Ngoc Nhu once sent me a letter. The letter is very short. She said she was old. Sleepless nights... She often dreams of my mother. Dreaming of the day she took down her mother's photo from the wall. In the dream... Behind the photo frame there was only a thick layer of dust left. She regretted it. Finished reading the letter. I put it in my file bag. Tri Dao asked me:

"Are you answering?"

Tri Chau asked again:

"Are you going to burn it?"

I shook my head.

"Neither."

It is also a type of evidence. Not evidence before the law. It's proof that... A person can live to the point of turning his life into a debt book How confusing. That winter. The vineyards in Melbourne received rain again. I returned to take care of the expansion of the nursing home. Tri Chau still travels back and forth between Hai Thanh and Melbourne. I established a cooperative clinic specializing in cardiovascular rehabilitation. Tri Dao completed domestic practice procedures. Then cooperate with local lawyers, specializing in handling marriage, family and inheritance cases. The three of us sat down to eat a meal together. There is no Hua Hoanh Vien. There is no Tham Ngoc Nhu. There are only three sisters. Tri Dao raised his glass.

"Dear sister of sixteen years old."

Tri Chau also raised his glass.

"Three suitcases that year."

I smiled.

"Respect ourselves."

The three glasses gently touched each other. A clear sound rang out. Suddenly... I remembered that morning at the airport thirty years ago. Tri Dao laid her head on my lap and slept very soundly. Tri Chau hugged her old school bag tightly in her arms. And I sat in front of the boarding gate. Quietly watching each plane take off outside the glass window. I don't know what lies ahead. I just know... I'm not allowed to turn back. And now... I understand. In human life... There are closed doors... Not to punish anyone. It's to give you the opportunity to step out and continue living. There are debts... Sooner or later they have to be paid. Don't stay stuck in the past. It's about taking back the tomorrow that belongs to you. Thirty years ago... I took my younger brother and sister away from the Hua family. Thirty years later... We three sisters returned. Not to beg anyone to acknowledge me. It's to tell everyone that... We were never abandoned children. We... Are adults who have stepped out of the darkness on our own.