Chapter 2 — Two Teeth Under the Hoe Tree

“Get up, follow me.” This time he didn't pull me anymore. I hugged the box tightly and hobbled after him. Getting into the car, Trieu Quoc Cuong did not return to the police station. Which drove straight into a residential area. This is his house. I stood outside the door, not daring to step in. "Come in!" — Trieu Quoc Cuong snapped, his voice filled with impatience. I had to tiptoe and tiptoe inside. As soon as he entered, a beautiful woman came out of the house to greet him. Lightly curly hair, bright red lips, and a fragrant body of perfume. She is Lam Uyen - Trieu Quoc Cuong's fiancee. "Quoc Cuong, which beggar girl did you bring home?" She covered her nose with her hand and took two steps back in disgust. Trieu Quoc Cuong didn't answer, just threw me and the iron box on the sofa. "This is Tran Ho's daughter, she said the box had what I was looking for." As soon as she heard the name Tran Ho, the girl's eyes clearly avoided. It was only for a moment, but his eyes were able to glance at the iron box. Very quickly, she smiled gently and squatted down in front of me. "Come on, let me take you to the bathroom. See how dirty you are." She reached out and grabbed my hand, her nails were neatly cut and painted a glossy nude color. I wanted to refuse, but I was too dirty and afraid of dirtying this beautiful house. In the bathroom, there was mist. She helped me take off my tattered jacket. The water was moderately warm, very comfortable. I lowered my head, not daring to look in the mirror. Lam Uyen gently washed my hair, her movements were gentle like a mother's. "Are you comfortable?" — her voice rang out through the layer of steam, soft as if it was about to melt into water. I timidly nodded, not daring to move too much, for fear of knocking over the delicate bottles around me. "Nhi Nha, can I ask you something?" Lam Uyen helped me release the soap bubbles, looking like she was asking aimlessly. "When your father hid that box, did he say anything about what was inside? Or... did he mention anyone?" I was closing my eyes, and when I heard this, my heart suddenly started beating. strong. Dad once told me, besides Uncle Trieu, absolutely not to trust anyone. I wiped the water from my face and shook my head: "I don't know, dad didn't say anything." Lam Uyen's movements paused for a moment, then continued to rub my back as if nothing happened. "So where has your father gone now? Giving you such an important thing, without any further instructions?" I felt her hand rub a little harder. "Dad said he was going to buy cigarettes... and then didn't come back." — I shrunk my neck and let out a lie. Actually, when pointing out where the box was hidden, my father's hand was still shaking non-stop — I don't know if it was from fear or despair. "Is that so..." — there was a bit of regret in her voice. Her movements slowed down, her eyes glanced unconsciously towards the living room. "That box... was that box really left by your father for Uncle Trieu? Could there be any valuable treasure inside?" She smiled, lightly pinching my cheek, her tone teasing. said to the children: "If it were gold bars, you would make a fortune." I instinctively shrank back. "It's not gold." — I said firmly. The box was not heavy, and when I shook it, I didn't hear the sound of metal colliding. "So it's a letter? Or a photo?" Lam Uyen leaned closer, the scent from her body rushed straight into my nose, those beautiful eyes stared at me without leaving. Suddenly I felt cold down my spine. I remembered what my father told me before leaving. "Nhi Nha, remember! Besides the policeman named Trieu Quoc Cuong, you have to say no to anyone who asks you! Especially that box!" I bit my lip, bowed my head and stared at my toes, without saying a word. Lam Uyen saw me silent, the smile on her face suddenly stiffened. "Why don't you say anything more? You're not an outsider." — she reached out to hold my hand, her voice starting to get a little impatient. "I'm just curious, I want to see if there's something dangerous inside. What if there's a bomb in there? It exploded and killed Uncle Trieu.

What can I do?" Bomb? 4 Dad, how could he explode to harm Uncle Trieu... I remained silent, just curled up, crouching close to the corner of the bathtub. The gentleness in Lam Uyen's eyes completely disappeared, replaced by a cold, sharp look. The water temperature began to increase. Heat poured down my body, pain like fire. I was in so much pain that I had to take a cold breath, tears rolling around the corners of my eyes. Lam Uyen stopped by. close to my ear, his voice was as cold as a slithering snake: "I tell you, what uncle Trieu Quoc Cuong hates the most is that murderer - your father. If you're smart, be a little more obedient." "My dad is not a murderer! Dad is a good person!" I tried to endure the pain and stubbornly protested. "Pop!" Lam Uyen grabbed the soap and stuffed it straight into my mouth. The soap water was bitter and stinging, making me choke and cough continuously, tears and runny nose running down my face. At that moment, footsteps were heard outside the bathroom. It was Trieu Quoc Cuong coming. Lam Uyen's eyes immediately changed. She suddenly let me go and fell backwards on her own. Choang! Canh! Her hand hit a piece of broken porcelain, making a long gash and blood pouring out. “Ah——!” Trieu Quoc Cuong rushed in and saw Lam Uyen lying in a pool of blood. "Uyen Uyen!" He looked at her blood-stained arm, his eyes immediately turned red. "What happened?" Lam Uyen cried like rain, pointed at me, her voice trembling: "I... I just wanted to help Nhi Nha bathe... but she refused..." "She said I was a bad person... and said I wanted to steal her box..." Trieu Quoc Cuong immediately turned to look at me, his eyes were like da.a.o. "It's not that..." I spat out soap bubbles, crying and shaking my head. "She strangled me... the water was very hot... it hurt..." "Do you still dare to lie?!" Trieu Quoc Cuong completely did not listen to my explanation. He walked over, grabbed me and pulled me out. My first reflex was to crawl up, rush over and hug the iron box tightly. Trieu Quoc Cuong raised his hand and pointed at me, his fingers trembling: "Tran Ho is really good at teaching you!" "Such a small child, yet so cruel!" "Give me the box!" I cowered in the corner, hugging the box tightly, not saying a word. "This is evidence, I have to bring it back to the station so the technician can unlock it." I frantically shook my head, pressed my body on the box, hiding it tightly. "No way! My dad said only he can open it!” “Your dad is a murderous criminal! Do you also believe his words?!" Trieu Quoc Cuong had lost all patience, bent down, intending to forcefully take it away. I screamed hoarsely, tears and snot smeared all over my face. At that moment, the big door was pushed open. An old man with white hair, his face full of deep wrinkles as if it had been carved by a knife, walked in with a cane. It was Mr. Trieu - Trieu Quoc Cuong's father. "Dad, why are you here?" Trieu Quoc Cuong was stunned, unconsciously let go of his hand. Mr. Trieu leaned on his cane, without looking at him, his eyes fell straight on me and the iron box. When he saw my face clearly - there were some similarities with Tran Ho - the anger in the old man's eyes flared up fiercely. "Is this the son of that beast?" The old man raised the dragon-headed stick in his hand, pointing straight at me. "Who let you bring him back here?!" "Tran Ho murdered Man Man, causing our Trieu family to fall apart!" "You still dare to bring his illegitimate son home? You want to be angry with me, don't you?!" Trieu Quoc Cuong bowed his head and explained in a low voice: "Dad... she said Tran Ho had something to give me, related to Man Man..." "Nonsense!" The old man roared like thunder, his stick pounded hard on the floor. "Is there anything true about that trash gambling boy?" "Get him out! Both you and that torn box, throw it all to me! "Trieu Quoc Cuong hesitated. After all, that iron box was dug up from the same basement where Man Man disappeared in the past. I staggered to my feet. My eyes locked on them. "Dad.

I… am not a bad person!” My voice was hoarse, I shouted with all my strength. “My father did not harm Aunt Trieu Man! My dad is saving her!” Everyone was stunned. Immediately followed by even more intense curses. “Save people? Does that drug addict Tran Ho know how to save people?" "Lying without blinking, there's no way to cure it!" Mr. Trieu was so angry that he raised his stick to kick him. I backed up to the corner of the wall. From my pocket, I took out the lottery ticket that had been soaked in water and then dried. Dad once taught me. The date on the lottery ticket, plus the last digit of the winning number... That was the code. Trieu Quoc Cuong wanted to stop, but it was too late. Click. There was a sharp "click" - the sound of a latch being opened. A strong smell of preservatives immediately spread out, even covering the scent of Lam Uyen's perfume He was wearing a plain silver ring. As soon as Mr. Trieu saw the ring, his eyes widened as if he was about to fall out. "Man... Man Man..." The stick in his hand fell to the ground, making a heavy sound. It was the ring that Trieu Man was wearing when he disappeared. The ring had a tiny jasmine flower engraved on it. It was a gift that Mr. Trieu personally forged for her on her eighteenth birthday. The room immediately fell into silence Even the sound of breathing could not be heard. Trieu Quoc Cuong felt like he was struck by lightning.