Chapter 1 — Three Years of Goose Thighs

1My husband has been buying me grilled goose legs for three years. He likes to eat super spicy, and I like to eat onion sauce. Today he worked overtime, I was hungry, so I went to that store myself. I opened my mouth as usual: "A flavor of onion sauce." The boss looked at me strangely again. "Girl, we don't have onion sauce flavor where we are." I pointed to the green goose thighs on the grill. "That's the one." The boss suddenly understood and immediately waved his hand. "Oh, you mean that green one. Those are overnight thighs in our buy five get one free program. After a long time, they change color, not sold separately." As if he suddenly remembered something, he added another sentence: "That's strange, in the past there was a young couple who often came to get this. You said you bought it to feed the dog, do you also have a dog in your family?" …… The warm summer afternoon wind blew, but my whole body felt cold. It turns out that in Giang Xuyen's eyes, I'm not even as good as the Golden Retriever he adopted. Golden Retriever eats only imported dog food, but I have been eating food that has rotted overnight for three years. I even thought it was proof he loved me. Because he hates the smell of onions the most, yet he brings them to me every week through rain and wind. Now that I think about it, I was a joke. I tried to suppress my nausea and asked the boss: "That couple, is the man tall and thin, and the woman..." Before I finished speaking, the boss immediately continued. "Yes, the man is very handsome, with a faint scar on his eyebrow. Drives a black Porsche. The girl always likes to wear purple taro dresses. Every time they come, they buy five super spicy flavors, then get an extra green one, saying it's for the stray dogs in the food area. Young people. Now there really is love.” I let out a bitter laugh. The faint scar on Giang Xuyen's eyebrow is from that year when I was kidnapped by human traffickers, he left it in order to save me. Giang Xuyen and I have been married for five years. When he first started his business, I took five million of my parents' dowry money to fill the hole in his company. After the company got on track, he started to get busy and started coming home late. Three years ago, he brought me grilled goose leg for the first time. "Nien Nhien, knowing you like to eat, I purposely bought it for you. This restaurant's super spicy flavor is the best, but your stomach is not good, so I asked them to make onion sauce for you." At that time, I was so emotional that I was confused. No matter how busy work is, he still has me in his heart. He remembers my bad stomach, remembers my taste. I've been eating for three years. During those three years, I often had stomach pain and diarrhea. I always thought it was because my intestines were weak. Every time, Giang Xuyen was very nervous, poured me hot water, fed me some medicine, hugged me and said: "Seeing you upset, I'm even more upset than you." Before, I always felt like I was involving him. Now that I think about it, I was the biggest joke. When I got home, Ms. Ly was cleaning. Seeing the paper bag in my hand, she was stunned for a moment. "Boss, why did you buy it yourself? Didn't the boss say he would bring it to you when he gets home tonight?" I placed the paper bag on the dining table and opened it. The pungent smell immediately spread. I asked Ms. Ly: "Sister Ly, smell it, what is this smell?" Ms. Ly stopped to smell it. "The smell of chili is so fragrant." I nodded and asked again: "Have you ever smelled the smell of the goose leg I ate left over?" Ms. Ly's face became a bit hesitant and awkward. She has worked at my house for nearly ten years, watching me transform from a little girl who didn't understand life into a housewife who can arrange everything clearly like I can now. She muttered in a low voice: "Boss... that... is a bit fishy." I laughed. Turns out everyone found out. Only I don't know. I was stupid enough to be grateful to that person. I sat in front of the dining table, waiting quietly

wait. Start reliving every detail of the past three years. Every week, Giang Xuyen comes home very late two days, saying he has to receive guests because of a project. When I return, I always carry a faint scent of perfume. Not mine. It's not the woody smell he usually uses. I asked once, he said: "It's the smell on the customer's girlfriend, standing too close, can't avoid it." I believe. Every month I always have a few days when I suddenly have acute gastritis of unknown cause. Vomiting and diarrhea, mental decline. Giang Xuyen would ask to stay home to take care of me, bring tea and pour water, more thoughtful than anyone. He said: "Nien Nhien, your body is too weak, you have to take good care of it. Don't worry about the company anymore, I'm here." I'm touched. I even feel that because my body is not good, I need him even more. I think I married the best man in the world. Now that I think about it, it was all just pre-planned. 2 At eleven o'clock at night, there was a noise outside the mysterious gate. Giang Xuyen is back. He stood there, still like before. It's just that in the past, he was just a poor guy wearing faded clothes. And now, his tie alone is worth five figures. He changed his shoes, conveniently gave the vest to Ms. Ly, loosened his tie and walked in. "Why haven't you slept yet today?" He walked over, out of habit wanting to hug me. I stepped back to avoid it. His hand stopped in mid-air, his eyes looking at me in surprise. I pointed to the goose leg on the table, which was almost untouched. "Leave it for me." He looked at it, then smiled fondly. "Our family knows how to love people." "But I've eaten, eaten with friends outside. But today, the super spicy taste of this restaurant smells very good." "Really?" I raised my head, my eyes unblinkingly looking at him. "How perfect? Is it better than the onion sauce you've been eating for three years?" A bit of panic appeared on Giang Xuyen's face. His eyes flashed. "What is the taste of onion sauce? Nhien Nhien, what nonsense are you talking about?" "I went to that restaurant today." I looked into his eyes and said word by word: "The owner said, they have never had any flavor of onion sauce in their restaurant before. That green type is overnight thigh that cannot be sold. Others buy it to feed the dogs." I stared into his eyes. Wanting to find in it even a little bit of panic. But he doesn't. After a brief moment of surprise, his face sank, he rubbed the sugar. "On Nhien, what do you mean? You ran to question a grilled food seller, just to doubt me?" "I don't doubt you." I also smiled. "I just came to confirm, is what I ate for three years after all really dog food?" Giang Xuyen's eyebrows furrowed. He sat down on the sofa opposite me, poured himself a glass of water, took a big gulp, as if trying to suppress his emotions. "Lately I've been having a hard time with a new project. Can you please stop causing trouble? Isn't it just a goose leg? Do you need it to be torn up that big?" I really made him laugh out of anger. "Giang Xuyen, how many times have I been hospitalized because of gastritis, have you forgotten? Every time, you were by my side telling me that it was because my body was not good. Now that I think about it, were you secretly happy every time?" His hand tightened on the cup, the blue veins on the back of his hand appeared. "On Nhien, your talking is becoming more and more outrageous." He stood up, looking down at me from above. "How much I have paid for you, don't you know in your heart? Who do I risk my life on the outside every day? Now you live the life of a pampered wife, just because of a little thing you cause trouble with me, do you have a conscience?" You've been saying this for three years, I've been listening for three years. Since I returned to my family, every time I give a little

If I questioned you, you used this sentence to silence me. It's because I don't understand things, I don't know enough. Having endured until today, I don't want to endure anymore. I asked him: "That couple who often buys thighs overnight for the dogs to eat, who is the other one?" Giang Xuyen's body immediately stiffened. "Are you following me?" "Answer me." "It's Lam Nguyet." "Yes, I'm with her. But so what? I've loved you for so long, I also want to try the feeling of being taken care of by someone else!" "I just conveniently put two sugar cubes in her coffee, she can be happy for half a day. I give you the gift." bag of millions, I only care if there are any similar models.” I suddenly panicked, looking at the familiar person in front of me but feeling so strange. In the early stages of establishing the company, I helped him with operations and investments. Do your best to give him relationship resources. The company you have today, in addition to my dowry, I also helped you build half of the country. After the company was on track, I returned to my family and became his full-time wife. Then Lam Nguyet appeared. Young, beautiful, outstanding ability. Giang Xuyen indeed praised her more than once in front of me, saying that she was like me back then, his left and right arm. I always think that it is just a reward from superiors to subordinates. I looked at that familiar face and took a step back. 3 "So, saying I'm pitiful like that can cover up the fact that you're having an affair?" "That's enough. I don't want to argue with you now. Next week, when my parents come to discuss the family trust fund, I'll prepare a bit. Don't show your face at that time and let outsiders laugh." "You obediently obey and do your role as Mrs. Giang well, that's enough. If you leave me, I won't be able to stand a single moment. month.” Having finished speaking, he turned around to go upstairs. I called him back. "Giang Xuyen." He turned his head. I looked at him and said word by word: "I hear you." He was stunned for a moment, nodded and went upstairs. I sat alone in the living room, tears finally falling. I took out my phone and sent Ms. Ly a text message. "Ms. Ly, starting today, don't touch anything he brings home, leftovers, or throwaways. Take a photo, keep the sample, and give it to me." Ms. Ly quickly replied: "Boss, I understand." The next day, her mother-in-law called. "Nien Nhien, when I heard Giang Xuyen say that you were angry with him yesterday? Women have to be a little more generous. It's not easy for men to work hard outside, so you have to be more understanding." I said: "Yes." "Also, next week we will discuss the trust. Your attitude must be a little better. That document is for the good of our whole family. Don't keep thinking about your dowry." My knuckles on the phone turned white due to the force. "Yes." Mother-in-law paused for a moment, her tone became sharp. "Are you still not happy? That little bit of money of yours, if we hadn't invested it in Giang Xuyen that year, how many times would it have increased now? Don't be ignorant of the good and the bad. There will still be a lot of places to use the money in the future. We plan ahead for your own good." I almost wanted to laugh out loud. "Mom, do you know why my health is not good?" The other side was silent. A few seconds later, the mother-in-law laughed coldly. "Why, do you still want to blame our family Giang Xuyen for not taking good care of you? Can this whole Kinh Bac find someone better than my son? Your body foundation is poor, you get sick every three days. Do you still want our whole family to follow you to fast and recite Buddha's name?" I asked word by word: "Mom, do you know that he took food to feed me overnight?"