Page 9
A little while later, Hạnh looked up.
“For now, how about you warm up the kitchen?”
Minh blinked in confusion.
“The kitchen?”
She pointed at the pile of firewood.
“The restaurant will be crowded tonight.
If you want to pursue me, then get to work.”
Minh immediately rolled up his sleeves.
“Yes, ma’am!”
He grabbed an armful of firewood and rushed into the kitchen, only to slip and fall right at the doorway.
Hạnh turned her face away, her shoulders trembling as she tried not to laugh.
Minh lay on the floor, hugging the bundle of firewood against his chest.
He looked up at Hạnh.
“See?
Hạnh put her hands on her hips.
“Get up!”
Minh grinned from ear to ear, but when he pushed himself up with his hands, a sharp pain shot through his right shoulder.
He winced slightly, then immediately hid it.
Hạnh noticed.
For the first time, she stopped smiling.
Hạnh pulled a plastic chair over and placed it beside Minh.
“Sit down.”
Her voice was so soft that it almost disappeared beneath the sound of traffic outside.
Minh sat down, one hand still holding his right shoulder.
Hạnh looked at the calluses on his hands and asked, “You’ve been in pain for a long time, haven’t you?”
Minh smiled.
“It’s just a little pain.”
Hạnh shook her head.
“People like you always say it’s just a little pain.” New chapters come out on g.com first.
She sat across from him, clasping her hands together.
“You know, I used to think that as long as I worked hard, life would eventually be kind to me.”
Hạnh gave a bitter smile.
“I worked from morning until late at night.
There were days when I had a fever and still opened the restaurant.
My husband passed away and left me with a mountain of debt.
I sold everything I could, keeping only this house and this little restaurant.”
Hạnh looked toward the kitchen, where the pot of rice was bubbling softly.
“Some nights, after my child had fallen asleep, I would sit alone outside the restaurant.
I was so exhausted that I didn’t even have the strength to cry anymore.
But the next morning, I still had to open the doors.”
“When people bought food, I had to smile.
When they complained that it was too expensive, I had to apologize.”
“No one ever asked me if I was tired.”
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