Chapter 1 — Thirty Years of Robbery

I was abandoned by my biological parents. When dad picked me up, he was still a beggar. On the day I graduated with my doctorate, he quietly avoided me, not daring to come. At the doctoral graduation party, my husband, Su T. Tu Hang, raised his glass of wine, but the smile on his lips did not reach his eyes. He looked around the banquet table full of relatives and friends and smiled and said: "My family's Van Tinh, everything is good, just too heavy with old feelings. Uncle Quach is old, it's not easy to come here from the countryside. There are too many people, I'm afraid he'll be shy so I don't let him come and join the fun." He stopped for a moment, his eyes glancing over me as if he were valuing an expensive item. "Just have the heart." My hands clenched my chopsticks, my knuckles turned white. Old Quach, my father. The man who was still a beggar when he picked me up used his whole life to lift me up to the glorious podium of a doctorate. At this moment, he is quietly hiding in a certain street corner, not daring to come close to the halo that belongs to me. And my husband. Using the most polite words to nail him to the pillar of humiliation. I put down my chopsticks. The voice was not loud, but clear enough for everyone in the room to hear. "Su Tu Hang, you can look down on me. But on what basis do you feel ashamed of my father?" The meal ended in unhappiness. On the way home, the air in the car was as cold as freezing. Su T. Tu Hang held the steering wheel in one hand, the Patek Philippe watch on his wrist emitting cold light under the streetlight. "What do you mean today, Van Tinh?" "The meaning is exactly as the words say." "You made me lose face in front of so many relatives and friends like that?" "It was you who made my father lose face before my graduation ceremony." He turned the steering wheel hard. The car braked suddenly, squeaked and stopped close to the sidewalk. "Who did you do that for? Because of this family!"Su T. Tu Hang turned his head. His handsome face was full of unreasonable frustration. "Do you know who they are today? My partner, my investor, and a few customers who are about to sign a contract!" "Let them see your adoptive father? An old man who started his business by picking up scraps and scraps? How will people look at you? How will they look at a doctor like you?" "They will think that Su T. Tu Hang married a phoenix girl, and is a phoenix girl carrying a heavy load." heavy!” I looked at him. Suddenly I found the man in front of me very strange. This is the person I have loved for three years. The husband who has been married to me for two years. When pursuing me, he once said that what he admired most was my tenacity and hard work. He said, my background is not my fault. On the contrary, it proves even more how elite I am. At that time, I thought I had met the light. But now. That same light single-handedly turned my past into a dark area. "So... my father is your burden?" "I didn't mean that." His movement of removing his tie stopped. The voice also calmed down. "I just don't think it's necessary. We can give him money, buy him the best house in the countryside, hire the best caretaker. But he's not suitable to appear in our world." "Our world?" I laughed. The cold smile reached the bottom of the eyes. "What world? Is it the world that has to hide the father who raised me for thirty years?" "Van Tinh, can you be a little realistic?" "I'm very realistic, Su T. Tu Hang." I looked straight into his eyes. Every word, say it clearly. "The truth is, without him, I wouldn't be who I am today. The truth is, he is my family member, not a burden that can be driven away with money." He was silent. The air in the car froze again. A long time later. He started the car again. “Tuan

Next is his mother's birthday party. I'm ready to go. Don't cause me any more trouble like today." I'm not apologizing. I'm just giving an order. I turned my head to look out the window. The neon lights of the city quickly receded behind me, like an illusory dream. I suddenly realized. Between me and Su Tu Hang. The gap wasn't just one person, but two worlds. When I got home, I locked myself in the office. The phone screen was still on. That was the WeChat message I sent to my dad. "Dad, come here." Are you there yet?” “Have you received your graduation photo yet? Do you look good in your doctoral gown?" Half an hour ago, I sent him all the photos taken during the ceremony. But he still didn't answer. I suddenly panicked. I called him. The bell rang for a long time before someone picked up. The other end of the line was extremely noisy, mixed with the sound of the wind. "Tinh Tinh." It was Lao Quach's hoarse voice. "Dad, where are you? Why don't you reply to my WeChat? "I see, I see. Tinh Tinh, our house is the most beautiful. Even more beautiful than the stars on TV.” His voice could not hide his joy. "Then why don't you answer me?" "My hands... my hands are dirty. I was carrying things so I didn't pay attention to my phone." Hearing that clumsy, careful lie, my nose stung. "Dad is still at the station, right?" "No... not at all. Dad arrived at the hotel a long time ago. Don't worry, I'm fine.” “Which hotel are you staying at? I came to find dad." "Don't, don't!" He panicked. "Tomorrow you still have to go to work, rest well. Tu Hang has been busy all day, so spend a little more time with him. Tomorrow morning, I'll go home." The more he said that. My heart hurts even more. "Dad..." "Okay. Be good. Go to sleep quickly.” After speaking, he quickly hung up the phone. I held my phone, sitting alone in the dark. Tears silently slid down. I have graduated with a doctorate. But my father. Even the hotel he was staying in, he didn't dare tell me. I opened the chat box with Su T. Tu Hang. Type a line. "Tomorrow my dad comes home, I want to go see him off." Send it. One minute later. He replied. “I will tell the driver to pick me up. You have an important meeting tomorrow, don't forget." I stared at that text message. My heart sank little by little. He didn't even ask. Where was my father? Maybe in his heart. That wasn't important at all. Early the next morning. I didn't go to the company. I texted Su Tu Hang, saying I wasn't feeling well so I asked to leave. He only answered with one word. "Yes." I took a taxi to the train station. The waiting room was crowded with people. Just one look, I saw Lao Quach wearing the dark blue jacket I bought him last year. On his back was a faded cloth backpack, sitting quietly in a small corner.