We Belong Together

Chapter 14

Viet left Hanh's house in great disappointment, visiting her house twice and returning twice without finding any new information. She didn't come home, so where did she go? Viet gave Hanh's mother a gift package, explaining to her that this was a short business trip, he was very busy so he couldn't stay with her, he had to go back to Hanoi right away, there were many things waiting. The mother thanked him, saying that although she was very sad that Hanh could not go home with him to visit her, she would not blame her, yes, Viet's work was busy. But she wanted him to help her deliver Hanh a rather large bottle of philanthropy. Hanh is very fond of red rice paper, and she is afraid that she will not feel good about Hanoi red rice cake without this typical Hai Phong spice.

Desperately pressing the accelerator, Viet pushed the steering wheel to bring the car towards Lac Long bridge to leave the city. Above, God showed sympathy for Viet with a gray face full of dark clouds and pouring rain from the moment he entered Hanh's door until now, when his car was driving along the road. Hai Phong port to return to Hanoi. Like a habit that can't be broken, Viet reached for the CD rig and the space was filled with Chopin tunes with Horowitz's performance. The car drove slowly to Hai Duong, leaving behind splashing water as it drove through the wet highway.

It had begun to stop raining, the sky still had a scowling, gray face, but the sun had reappeared as dark red as a large honey cake hovering overhead. Viet looked across the highway, from a high school gate, at the girls who had just returned from school. The laughter, laughter and laughter rang out non-stop as they cycled under the thin but dangling phoenix trees full of long, wet fruits. Everyone is charming with white long skirts blowing in the wind, and thick sweaters to wear. Suddenly Viet's gaze turned to the right and stopped at the bottle of holly that he was still left on the front seat. And Vietnam itself does not know why? He hit the steering wheel hard, the Lexus lurched up and then turned around, running towards the coastal city.

Viet ignored the very famous "dermatology cake" shop located next to Hai Phong's dermatology hospital but, "has been badly commercialized" as Hanh once said. He stopped the car in front of a street vendor on the side of a short street opposite the train station, the street was very short but spacious and clean. Carrying street vendors that Hanh once described to him as "still retaining the best taste of Hai Phong red rice paper". With some difficulty, he saw the young woman, the owner of a street vendor surrounded by schoolboys and girls in school uniforms, who were collapsing enjoying this popular but particularly popular dish. Viet closed the car door, sat next to the pot of broth that was emitting thin smoke but exuding a seductive aroma. The owner looked up, wiped the sweat that was pouring out of her forehead even in the middle of winter, and smiled politely at Viet. He asked for a bowl of red rice paper filled with zest and celery, like the first time Hanh ordered him when they both came back from Viet Tiep hospital, when he went to take her home to visit her sick mother.

"It's a very spicy condiment, made mainly from chili peppers. It's prepared the way the Chinese people have in abundance in this city more than 20 years ago. This condiment isn't as sweet as chili sauce. bottled but much more spicy and fragrant. Its name is also a Chinese name, a name Hai Phong people are used to and can only use in this place." Viet remembers that Hanh burst into laughter and explained it to him when, at the first spoonful, he grimaced with bitterness. The red rice paper in this country has a very special taste, different from the cake that he used to eat in Hanoi.

"I didn't know you were still a culinary expert." Viet bent his knees, rested his chin on it, staring intently at the bowl of cakes that were all red-brown. - Do I need to re-read the user manual carefully before using it? - First, you have to bite a stalk of celery, a crunchy c***k will wake up your hunger. - Hanh said passionately - Then you turn the bowl of cake, but don't overdo it to avoid breaking the crab bricks. You can add more zest if you find it boring. Let's eat cake with crab bricks and drink water too. Its broth has a lot of seafood flavors, and he knows well how seafood is good for health.

- No, you don't know.

- Don't make fun of me, director. I'm in Hai Phong.

- So what?

- Don't you know? Hai Phong's daughter is famous for being sour and sharp.

- And smart, shrewd, good, too? Did you say it was wrong?

- I rarely argue with my boss, - Hanh winked - so I had to agree with him.

- So I'm just a girl three-fifths of Hai Phong.

- The girl three out of five Hai Phong? - Hanh laughs and laughs - what criteria do you rely on?

- That's it, Hai Phong's daughter, smart, sharp, talented, sour, fierce. I only got three heads.

- Don't let me go on a paper plane, - Hanh laughs and shakes his body - I know I'm not smart or talented? Not even sharper, that must be a saying about Thuy, right? I just wish I could be a part like her. But anyway, thank you for the compliment.

- Nothing, I'm just telling the truth. Each has its own strong side. Wisdom is something that cannot be shared or dreamed of, right?

- Yes - Hanh's voice naturally dropped - if I could do that, I would have shared all my intelligence with my brother. Do you know what I dreamed of in the past? I just wish that my mother would be less miserable, and my brother would have a normal life.

The owner of the restaurant interrupted Viet's train of thought by placing in front of him a bowl of cake filled with humour, many intentions and vegetables. He thanked her for her wonderful cooking, and for the delicious food he was about to enjoy. Then, as if to complete her surprise, he asked her to make him another bowl, just like his. She stays by her side, this time he will eat both bowls, because his friend is far away, and cannot enjoy this wonderful dish, so he will eat for her.

Thai Viet drove the car back to Hanh's house, he told Hanh's mother that he forgot to give her Hanh's Tet bonus. She thanked him in great surprise, Hanh did not really need to send her more money, especially when just a few hours ago, she asked a friend to bring her a huge amount of money. Never before had she seen such a large amount of money, so large that she had to ask the girl again and again if it was really certain that Hanh had sent it to her. Let's see, the girl with a tall figure, sharp face and crooked teeth is very pretty, but because she was so confused that she neglected to ask what the guy said? Looks like it's the hospital's year-end bonus, isn't it? Then what is the bonus that Viet gave her? Does the hospital give bonuses to employees twice a year?

Tall figure, sharp face and crooked teeth? Viet wondered, could it be Thuy?

Phan took him for a walk around the town, the town changed so much, it was as if it had been a few centuries since he returned to this land, not just after five years. The town is much nicer, richer and more modern, but Phan still regrets something very vague that he cannot explain. Phan stopped by a grocery store on the street because his eyes were drawn to the red, blue, and red candy shells sold in the glass case. Bao shinned over to the candy jar, his tiny, plump arm swinging and his cute little mouth chirping:

- Uncle, Bao knows how to eat Bim Bim already.

- Then you buy it for Bao - Phan laughs at the cute mischievous look of the boy - What cake does Bao want?

- Mom said the candy faucet is bad.

- Of course, Bao is not bad, Bao is very good. - Phan burst out laughing, pinched his cheek, then called out to the woman who was hiding behind the cupboard - Sister, give me some Bim Bim packets.

- Wow, Mr. Phan - The woman raised her face, then happily exclaimed. - When are you coming back? Come over to my house to play, when will you come back? It's been a while since I've seen you, hasn't it?

- Huh? Thach Thao, is that your shop?

- Yes, after we got married, we separated and lived separately. My husband bought this photo of this land, I opened a small grocery store, making a living through that day. Please come in here. Let me call my brother Hung. If he knows you're coming, he'll be very happy.

- You ... - The boy saw that he was forgotten, so he immediately spoke up, grabbed Phan's arm and shocked it, afraid that Phan would forget the main purpose of visiting this store, Phan laughed:

- You have to serve this young customer first, VIP customer.

- Yes! - Thao happily took a few packets of Bim Bim and gave it to Bao, gave him a hug when he wrapped his arms around him and said "thank you", then went inside the house - You wait for a while, my husband will come back soon it's now.

Phan looked around the newly built fourth-level house, still smelling of lime mortar. Although the house is small, it is very neat and cozy. Hung is a high school classmate with Phan, and Thao is a few grades below him, in the same class as Thach Thao, his girlfriend. When the two got married, Phan received an invitation, but he was too busy to return. When Phan returned, he also wanted to go to his friend's place to play, but he calculated it for tomorrow, unexpected meeting at this moment. The sound of a motorbike exploding from outside interrupted Phan's train of thought. Haven't entered the house yet, but Hung's voice has resounded loudly:

- See who comes to play? The Dragon came to Tom's house today.

- You are too proud of yourself. Now, Shrimp is precious, very expensive, export seafood, but what is the value of Dragon?

- He's still as smug as ever.

Hung laughed and patted Phan on the shoulder, making Bao squeal because he thought people were hitting him. Phan quickly picked him up, patted him, comforted him, then turned to look at his friend while Hung patted the boy's head.

- Is it the lieutenant? How fast do you thrive? Just graduated from school for three or four years?

- Oh, "the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king". What did he notice? Star? How long is this round? No matter what, you have to stay for a meal, have a few drinks with me, and then go anywhere.

- Don't worry, I'll go home, okay, Mr. An? Let me re-enter my passport.

- That's a good idea, your uncle is the director of the district hospital, why worry about nothing? But, to be honest, it's a bit of a waste for him to come here, in this "Monkey ho Coc" place, there is no land for him to "do martial arts and sell high".

- Looks like I'm not welcome here? - Phan laughs - That's funny, I came back to have some work and then left, how can I quit my job out there?

- See, I knew right away, you guys are only in a lucrative place, but what do you do in this land of "Dogs eat stones, chickens eat gravel"? Well, have a few cups of tea with me. I'll eat here this afternoon. My brother and I talked to each other. Punish you for the crime of marrying me not to return.

- I'm sorry, - Phan apologised - I was too busy to come back.

- Wow! I'm kidding you, I understand - Hung waved his hand, then called out to the store - Honey, sell us a bottle of wine cheap, if you have anything to aim, put it here. Anything that is homegrown, but Mr. Phan here eats all kinds of delicious foods forever. Feed him a little country food to give him a strange taste.

- You are very sarcastic, but I have a date tonight. It's a pity, going to have a few drinks with my brother Vu. Already have an appointment. See you later? Promise.

- Bored of you, but okay, next time, what's the lack of time? But now you can't go anywhere, just stay here and talk to me until it's time for the appointment. What friends are as bad as you?

- Yes! I would like to serve you - Phan humorous.

The sky at sunset was gray with a watery color of clouds. Phan watched as pairs of pigeons hastily returned to their artificial nest that looked like a single-column house on stilts. Although gray clouds have covered the sky, the sun still tries to show its weak power with a gray-pink cloud at the end of the horizon. Where the sky seemed to be pierced by a sharp peak rising from the high mountains surrounding the town. When Phan left Hung's house, it was almost time for the appointment, no matter what he said, Hung still tried to force him to have a few drinks before allowing him to leave the house. He promised Hung that in a few days he would come back here to take the blame, and even defeat Hung on a tray of wine. The guy happily accepted by bursting out laughing when he heard Phan's challenge, "don't dream about it".

When Phan sent Bao to an acquaintance's house and drove to the dog meat bar located next to the market, it was too late for the appointment, Vu had been waiting for him ever since. Seeing him, Vu smiling brightly, quickly got up and went to the door to meet him. Vu looks so different from the past, he is fat, his figure is short and his beard is neatly trimmed, making him look very mature. Vu patted Phan's shoulder.

- You look the same, too thin, how are you eating?

- When am I not like that? How are you two? How are your guests and aunts and uncles? Last time Mr. Phong got married, I also received news but couldn't return - Phan said apologetically - I was going to go over there this morning, but I had some unexpected business so I couldn't visit.

- On the wedding day, everyone is looking forward to you. Everyone is still normal, customer are a bit weak these days, knowing that Uncle will come back must be very happy. Come on, come in and have a few drinks. It's been a long time since we've seen each other. Uncle is going to separate, he is busy with work, at least Hanoi. Well, my brother and I met each other on the street a few years later, we got into a fight, we broke our heads before we recognized each other.

- Yes! Are you still with the Red Cross? He looks like he's showing off a lot, this pose is a real mandarin pose.

- What do you keep teasing me for? He moved to work at the district Agricultural Materials Company. You study Agriculture! In the past, waiting for the payroll quota, my father applied for a temporary job there. Anyone who can be like him, after graduating from school, he will be admitted to the Institute to work. No need to run around. Honestly, I respect you very much.

- Come on, it's nothing terrible.

Phan laughed and sat down on the mat, arranged the dishes, and poured the wine into a glass. The wine is cooked with rice grown on the fields, which the people of this region call "plain rice" and brewed with yeast mixed with forest leaves with its own secrets that not everyone can know. The wine is sparkling in the glass, clear and unmistakable with the distinctive Cat's eye blue color. Phan invited Vu and then sipped a glass himself, he let out a refreshing sound, letting the wine flow slowly down his throat. It's been a long time since I've drunk this rustic but wonderful wine. The wine is a bit strong, spicy, rich but does not cause headaches for the drinker and has a very mild aroma. Vu dropped the empty glass of wine, picked up a few lemongrass bulbs, carefully peeled the outer skin and put it on the tray. He mused:

Life isn't too hard, is it?

- Usually, brother, there is nothing worth calling hard.

- YES! Come on, if it's too hard, come here. He said he got a leg in the district hospital. Honestly, if you're as good as you, why worry about not getting a job? If you'd come back, maybe they wouldn't have rolled out the red carpet to welcome you. Well, he also found a girl, people worry about him, but men are alone, it's very hard.

- Yes - Phan almost laughed, Vu has the kind of concern for him like an older sister - I have to strive to be like you. The job is stable, and she pursues it a lot. Best you...

- You're kidding me! But what do you do? How many months will you get married? You touched me so much, I can't drink it.

- I have something to tell you. Phan's voice suddenly dropped.

- Is it so important that you can't talk on the phone?

- Very important.

Vu put the wine glass on the tray, he looked directly into Phan's eyes, waiting. Outside, the wind has begun to pick up, the wind is very cold and wet, it will probably rain.