Chapter 5 — Twice Do Thanh Hoa

“This money… do we accept it?” I didn't raise my eyes. The pen in his hand was still quickly calculating on the scratch paper, his voice resolute: "Accept." The youngest aunt clearly breathed a sigh of relief, a glint of joy flashed in her eyes. It seemed like she thought that I would finally give in, and that there would be hope of breaking the ice between blood relatives. But right after that, I finished writing the last recipe, stopped writing and turned to look at my aunt: "Youngest aunt, please help me make a notebook." “Every amount of money they transfer, whether it's a thousand or two thousand, is recorded.” The youngest aunt was stunned: "What's the point of recording it?" “Consider it a loan.” I looked into my aunt's eyes and calmly said: "After I graduate from college, start working and receive a salary, I will transfer all the money back to their account, not a penny missing." "Once we pay it off, you and they will have absolutely no debt to each other." The room fell silent. A long time later, I heard my youngest aunt inhale a cold breath. Aunt didn't say anything, just quietly turned around. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw as she quickly left the room, she secretly raised the back of her hand to wipe her eyes vigorously. Time sped up crazily in that tight, stuffy atmosphere. Winter has passed, the intense heat waves of June once again covered the entire city. The countdown line on the blackboard was finally wiped clean. The afternoon before the university entrance exam, according to school regulations, we had to go and preview the exam room. The youngest aunt specially asked for half a day off to go with me. The test site is located at the city's Third High School. The road in front of the school gate was scorched by the hot sunlight, even the air was slightly distorted. The surrounding area was filled with anxious and excited candidates and parents, with noisy and bustling voices. I put on my schoolbag, bowed my head to check the transparent bag of school supplies in my hand, and followed my youngest aunt forward. But when I was about to reach the opposite side of the road, my steps suddenly stopped. “What's wrong, Ha Ha?” The youngest aunt noticed my strangeness and turned her head to look in my direction. Under the completely unprotected sunlight at the intersection ahead, the crowd seemed to be separated into a gap. Two figures completely out of place with the surrounding scenery were standing motionless, turning towards me. 7 They are my parents. My father was holding a torn piece of cardboard that he picked up from somewhere. On it were written crookedly four large words in black felt-tip pen: "Ha Ha, try your best." Mother stood next to him, not even an umbrella could cover him. Her normal face, which always tried to appear strong, was now exposed to the sun until it turned red. Seeing me stop, her whole body shook violently. She unconsciously took a half step forward, as if she wanted to call my name. I looked at them expressionlessly. “Ha Ha…” The youngest aunt standing next to me gently pulled my sleeve, her voice carrying a bit of resentment. I didn't hesitate at all. I directly ignored their extremely humble appearance, pulled my youngest aunt and turned and walked straight towards the exam hall gate, without stopping for even a second. Not angry, not resentful, not even interested in ridicule. The next day, the university exam officially began. During the two days of the exam, every time I entered and left the exam room, I was like a machine operating correctly. There are no other thoughts in my mind other than the exam question. Until the final English bell rang. I calmly closed the pen cap, submitted my assignment, then followed the stream of people out of the gate of Third High School. Outside the school gate there is a police wire. There were as many people as the sea, all of them were parents waiting impatiently. Just looking once, I saw two people across the street. Unexpectedly, they were still there. For two days, the cardboard in my father's hand was absorbed by sweat until it became soft and deformed. My mother became so emaciated that she almost lost her human form. His back, which was always straight, completely collapsed, and his eyes were bloodshot from being awake. Seeing me coming out, my mother pushed the crowd to run despite everything. “Ha Ha!” "The exam is over... Mom, let's take you out to eat delicious food. Can we go home?" My father also hurriedly followed behind, rubbing his hands awkwardly: "Ha Ha, you

n very tired, right? Last night, your mother didn't sleep all night, so she stewed ribs for you..." I stood in place, neither backing away nor avoiding. Right in front of them, I calmly unzipped my school bag. I neatly placed the exam papers and the equipment bag inside, zipped it up, and adjusted the strap of the bag on my shoulder. Then, I raised my head, my eyes glanced at their faces. "Don't come again in the future." Mom's hand that was reaching out in mid-air immediately stiffened. Her whole body staggered violently. I didn't care about them anymore, turned around and walked towards my youngest aunt who had been waiting for a long time. Behind me suddenly came the sound of my mother screaming until she completely collapsed. That cry made everyone around turn their heads to look. But I didn't look back once, just followed my youngest aunt into the crowd, never turning around. Until the evening of half a month later, when the score lookup portal was officially opened. The youngest aunt's living room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.