Chapter 6 — Wedding Day Without Bride

Khuong Van said: "I want to see the painting box." Hua Tri Ha stepped forward:

"Miss Khuong, the box is already sealed. You can't see it, so why do you have to torture everyone?"

Khuong Van said: "I didn't see it, but I recognized my mother's keychain." Hua Tri Ha sighed softly:

“I still don't believe Tinh Lan.”

Pho Thinh Lan's voice lowered:

“Van Van, stop messing around.”

Khuong Van picked up the stick and tapped it on the floor:

“Open the box.”

The people around stopped walking. Do Minh Vien was also present. Hearing this, he immediately said: "The exhibition work has been registered and cannot be opened arbitrarily. If Miss Khuong does not understand the rules, do not come here to disrupt." Khuong Van turned to him:

“Give me the registration form.”

Do Minh Vien laughed out loud:

“Are you sure you can see it?”

Khuong Van said nothing. Lao Chau hesitated for a moment, then put the registration form in her hand. Khuong Van used her fingertips to stroke the paper. Of course she couldn't touch the printed word. But she could see it. On the registration form, it is clearly written: Exhibition sender: Pho Thinh Lan. Exhibition promoter: Hua Tri Ha. Owner: Khuong Van. Note: Voluntary loan. There is also a misprinted fingerprint underneath. Pho Thinh Lan saw her staring at the piece of paper and her heart ached. Khuong Van suddenly spoke:

“This fingerprint is not mine.”

Hua Tri Ha's face changed. Do Minh Vien said:

"Nonsense! Your eyes can't see, how can you know?"

Khuong Van returned the paper to Mr. Chau:

“My right index finger was burned three years ago, and my fingerprints are broken. This fingerprint is not.”

Lao Chau quickly bent down to look. Pho Thinh Lan's face completely changed. Hua Tri Ha's eyes immediately turned red:

"Miss Khuong, do you suspect that we faked your fingerprints? Tinh Lan was busy going back and forth for your wedding, how could you hurt him like that?"

The people surrounding them began to whisper:

“This is too unsightly.”

“The bride is too detailed, it's just a picture.”

Aunt Trieu scolded: "It's just a picture? Is it okay to dig up your ancestors' graves and say 'that's it'?" Pho Thinh Lan suppressed his voice:

“Van Van, go home.”

Khuong Van did not move:

“Open the box.”

Pho Thinh Lan stared at her:

“Are you determined to force me today?”

Khuong Van replied: "You forced me." Hua Tri Ha suddenly hugged her stomach, her face turned pale:

"Thin Lan, I'm in so much pain."

Deputy Thinh Lan immediately supported her:

“Lao Chau, take Khuong Van home.”

Lao Chau looked extremely awkward. Khuong Van stood still in place, listening to Pho Thinh Lan say to Hua Tri Ha: "I'll take you to rest first." Hua Tri Ha leaned on his shoulder. When passing by Khuong Van, she whispered in a voice only two people could hear:

“Your painting, your wedding, your man, everything will be mine.”

Khuong Van looked back. Hua Tri Ha smiled innocently. Khuong Van raised her hand and took off her sunglasses. Hua Tri Ha's smile stiffened. Khuong Van quickly put her glasses back on:

“Hua Tri Ha, don't touch that painting.”

Hua Tri Ha's heart thudded, beating erratically. Khuong Van turned and walked away, her walking stick tapping the ground, beat by beat, so steady that she didn't look like a blind person at all. * Five days before the wedding, Pho Thinh Lan took Khuong Van to the Pho family's house for dinner. The Pho family's long table was filled with relatives. As soon as Khuong Van entered the door, Pho's mother pulled her to her side, her tone was so calm that it made people shiver:

"Van Van is here, sit down quickly. Today we are all family members, there are a few words to clarify by the way."

Pho Thinh Lan was next to her and whispered: "Don't be nervous." Khuong Van sat down. Hua Tri Ha sat on the other side of Pho's mother, her lower abdomen was not yet clearly visible, but was surrounded by Pho's relatives asking about all sorts of things.