Chapter 4 — Tuition Fees for Other People's Daughters

Some people started looking at Tong Nhiem's coat, phone, and shoes. Someone questioned whether her poverty certificate was real or fake. Someone cut the video at the south gate, saying Tham Kien Quoc treated outsiders better than his own daughter. I didn't watch it for too long. The phone was broken, it cost three hundred and eighty yuan to replace the screen. I couldn't pay, so I could only go to a second-hand store to buy a used machine. The screen edges have turned yellow and typing is slow. The flower shop owner saw that I changed my phone and immediately paid my salary in advance. "Don't say loan, consider it an advance salary." I said: "Thank you, Ms. Lam." She pushed the books in front of me: "Less thanks, more work. Today I'm going to deliver flowers at Cam Lan Hotel, customers are urging me." Cam Lan Hotel is located in the city center, normally very far from my place. That night, the hotel held a charity dinner, with luxury cars parked in front of the door. I held two large bouquets of flowers and walked in through the back door, just in time to hear someone calling: "Tong Nhiem, hurry up, Uncle Tham is looking for you." My steps stopped. The door to the banquet room was open, the lights inside were so bright it was blinding. On the stage backdrop was written: Sharing session to support students with love. Tham Kien Quoc wore an old suit and stood under the stage, wearing a red flower on his chest. Tong Nhiem took his arm and smiled gently. The host held the microphone: "Here we would like to invite the excellent sponsor, Mr. Tham Kien Quoc, to come on stage to share his story of helping students." Applause rang out. I stood in the service aisle, the bouquet in my hand so heavy that my wrists went numb. Ms. Lam urged on the phone: "Has it been delivered yet? Remember to get the receipt signed." "I'll deliver it right away." I went backstage and delivered the flowers to the staff. The other person looked at the application: "Please wait a moment, the person who signed it hasn't arrived yet." On stage, Tham Kien Quoc's voice came through the speakers. "I'm just an ordinary worker, my salary is not high. But seeing children who don't have money to go to school, I feel very uncomfortable. My daughter is also in college, I know how important education is." Someone clapped. He continued: "My daughter has had good conditions since childhood and does not understand the suffering of difficult children. A few days ago, she argued with me because I sponsored someone else. I was also very hurt. But I believe that one day she will understand." The staff saw my face and hesitated: "Are you okay?" "Where is the receipt?" "It hasn't been stamped yet." The host on stage asked: "Mr. Tham, I heard that Tong Nhiem, who you sponsored, was also present. She is very grateful to you." Tong Nhiem stepped onto the stage with tears in her eyes: "Uncle Tham gave me not only money but also the courage to continue living. If it weren't for him, I probably would have had to stop studying a long time ago." I watched the bracelet on her wrist flash under the light, so bright it was blinding. In the front row below the stage, there was a middle-aged woman wearing a dark gray suit, looking down at documents. The person next to her said something to her, she raised her head and looked backstage. I recognized her. Three years ago, when my mother was still alive, she came to my house once. That day, my mother took out the only decent tea cup in the house and called her homeroom teacher Tan. Director Tan also saw me. She stood up and walked backstage. I turned around to avoid her, but she called out: "Tham Chi?" I hugged the empty flower container tightly: "Aunt Tan." She looked at the flower shop apron on me, then looked at Tham Kien Quoc on stage, her face gradually darkened. "You work part-time here?" "I deliver flowers." "Does your dad know?" I didn't answer. On stage, applause rang out again. The host raised his voice: “To celebrate Mr. Tham's many years of selfless support for students, the organization

decided to award him the title of Compassionate Family of the Year.” Headmaster Tan's eyes stopped on my old shoes. The shoe surface was a bit peeling, so I used black thread to sew it back together. She said, “Is the stuff your mother left you still available?” I was stunned. "What is it?" Director Tan looked at me as if he had just realized something, but did not continue. The employee holding the receipt ran over: "The person from the flower shop, right?" Sign here.” After I finished signing, director Tan suddenly pulled me back: "Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, come find me in the storage room next to the old building of the City Obstetrics Hospital. Don't tell your father.” I was about to ask the reason when someone in the banquet room called her. "Director Qin, it's your turn to go on stage." She let me go and gave me a business card. "Remember, don't let Tham Kien Quoc know." I stuffed the business card into my pocket. For the first time, something heavier than anger appeared in my heart. It was like a door rang far away. The next day, I couldn't get to the storage room. At eight o'clock in the morning, the academic advisor called me, saying that the academy had to hold an unexpected explanation meeting, requiring me to be present. I walked into the meeting room, it was already full of people. There were the academy leaders, Ms. Truong, the student union representative, Tong Nhiem, Luu Tinh and even Tham Kien Quoc. On the table is a set of printed documents.