Ngoc Nam ran off following the call of love, leaving the pub up here entirely to Uncle Trung to manage. Everyone else was worried that Thien would come over and cause trouble again, but Ngoc Nam just said, “Tell him to throw money at us and do whatever he wants.”
Regarding my family’s land, Ngoc Nam had found Hanh’s biological mother and asked someone else to buy it back. She tricked Hanh into giving up the land, essentially just to satisfy her own desires. The land was in a remote, isolated area, and transferring ownership wouldn’t be easy.
Therefore, as soon as someone inquired about buying it, she sold it immediately. Anyone would do, as long as it wasn’t my mother and me.
These past few days, Ngoc Nam would sneak in late at night when Sang was fast asleep. Sang, oblivious to everything, would cling tightly to him. His arms were already stiff, but other parts of his body were even stiffer.
Every morning, Sang would yell and scold Ngoc Nam, yet he still didn’t bother locking the door before going to sleep. Ngoc Nam promised that when Sang agreed to be his girlfriend again, he would give the land back to my mother and me. Regarding the twenty million dong debt, he still had to pay the guy who stole the car because he couldn’t find him. But once Sang was found, that amount was nothing, so he simply forgave me everything.
After that incident, I learned my lesson and even asked Nam to buy me some extra chains to secure my motorbike.
But in truth, before big storms, the sea is usually very calm…
At five o’clock in the afternoon, a car stopped right in front of the gate. From the car, a girl in a short dress with a slender figure and fair skin slowly stepped out. When she turned to face inward, I was a little surprised because her belly was so round, like it was stuffed inside a watermelon offered during Tet.
Ly said, “Hello, Mr. Ly, Mr. Phuc, it’s been a long time since we last met.”
Ly greeted them cheerfully, while I only gave a perfunctory smile.
She sat down at the table and chose her meal from the menu. Vu, who was setting up more tables and chairs, politely asked, “How are things going?”
Ly was just waiting for that opportunity to pour out her heart: “I’m so miserable, brother. I’m supposedly the daughter-in-law of the Japanese manager, but I don’t get anything out of it. My husband is away all the time. Luckily, I have my brother-in-law at home who occasionally asks about me and shows some concern.”
Hearing that tone, I knew she was already eyeing her brother-in-law.
Sister Doan brought out some drinks and asked sarcastically, “Your brother-in-law must be very handsome, right?”
Ly innocently replied, “Handsome, very handsome, sister! Oh my god, he’s as handsome as in the movies! Tall, fair-skinned, rosy lips, huge muscles…”
Sister Doan said, “Are you describing a bodybuilder? And why are you paying so much attention to him?”
Ly clicked her tongue: “No way, sister. He’s just very handsome, but not the muscular type, about… well, taller than Phuc by about a head, and he looks charming and romantic like those musicians and singers!”
Sister Doan smirked: “Okay, I know whose child this is now.”
Ly waved her hand: “That’s nonsense! You’re just teasing me!” Seeing Ly living such a luxurious and comfortable life, I noticed that Ly seemed much better off lately. Besides buying a lot of new clothes, he also bought a new phone, a watch, and a gold necklace. After thinking for a while, I remembered their conversation that day. Could it be that Thien had really been tricked by these two?
Before I could think any further, nearly a dozen cars sped towards us, revving their engines loudly. Judging by their appearance, I knew these thugs belonged to some gang.
Thien stormed in, slamming his hand on the table in front of Ly: “You’re pregnant and you’re out drinking?”
Ly showed no fear. She calmly replied: “What I do is my business. Do you even consider me your wife that you have to interfere?”
Thien sneered: “Fine, you think so! You want to drink, but if I don’t let this place open, let’s see if you can. Hey guys, smash this for me!”
Uncle Trung was still in the kitchen, so I ran in from outside and shouted, “If you want to smash it, hand over the money and smash as much as you want!”
Thien looked at me suspiciously, then gritted his teeth: “Ah, it’s this guy again, huh. Haven’t been kicked out yet? Staying here is bad luck for you, kid! Do you think I don’t have the money to smash this place? I could smash you too! Hey, you guys, smash him up for me!” No sooner had he finished speaking than a clanging sound erupted, creating an indescribable scene of chaos. Ms. Đoan, hiding behind the counter, called Nam for help, but Nam wasn’t there, so they showed no respect for anyone. When Vũ and I tried to intervene, they immediately targeted us, as if they had been waiting for this moment.
Uncle Trung ran out of the kitchen, a pan of boiling oil in his hand, and threw it at them. The thugs dodged quickly, but a few got splashed on their hands and feet, writhing and cursing incessantly.
One of them yelled, “Damn you, old man, are you looking for trouble?”
Uncle Trung pointed directly at him, “This is my business, you guys are the ones looking for trouble!”
The other guy turned to Thiên and asked, “What do we do now, boss?”
Thiên asked, “Are you afraid of him?” As soon as he finished speaking, that guy lunged at Uncle Trung, raising his fist to punch him in the face. Of course, I couldn’t just stand by and watch, so I rushed in and punched him before he could touch Uncle Trung.
Thien watched, his blood boiling, and yelled, “Damn that dog again! Beat the hell out of him!”
Right awayImmediately, the whole group rushed at me. No matter how strong I was, I couldn’t fight five or six at once.
They punched me in the face, kicked me in the back, stomped on my legs, leaving me only able to cover my head and defend myself. Sister Đoan, fearing I would be beaten to death, frantically ran out into the street shouting for help: “Help! Help!”
Seeing this, Thien sent one of his men to grab Sister Đoan and drag her back inside. She knelt on the ground, begging him to stop.
Thien ordered his henchmen to pause for a moment, then he came up to me and lectured me: “Remember to be smart, kid! Don’t meddle in things that don’t concern you! Keep beating me!”
My face was already swollen; I was sure a few more punches and kicks and I would meet my father in the afterlife. Just then, a loud voice rang out: “Stop! Anyone who throws another punch or kick, put your hands and feet down!”
After those words, the whole gang scattered from me, even Thien hurriedly ran away: “Get out of here, you damn idiots!”
Ly, hiding behind the counter, ran out crying, sobbing: “Brother An… Brother An… Thank goodness you’re here…”
It turned out to be Truong An, the eldest son of the manager Nhat. If Thien was afraid of Mr. Nhat once, then he was ten times more afraid of this eldest brother.
My eyes were so swollen I couldn’t open them anymore, I couldn’t see Truong An’s handsome appearance as Ly had described. Not long after, the ambulance siren sounded. Beside me, I could hear the sobbing of Ms. Doan, along with the reassuring voice of the man from earlier.
On the way to the hospital, he said: “I’m sorry, ma’am. I heard Mr. Nam calling and rushed over, but I was too late.”
Ms. Doan sobbed, tears falling onto me. She said, “Thank you, eldest brother! If you hadn’t arrived in time, they would have beaten the boy to death!”
He replied, “Please don’t call me that. I’m younger than Nam, just call me Truong An. Later, please apologize to everyone at the restaurant for me. Thien is incredibly unruly, but my father, feeling sorry for him, lost his mother when he was young and spoiled him a lot.”
I then drifted off to sleep without realizing it, not hearing anything more from the two of them. But from the way they spoke, I felt that Truong An didn’t resemble my younger brother at all.
When I woke up, I saw a young man who had just entered through the door. He had a bright face, a tall and handsome figure, and the closer I looked, the more attractive he seemed. But only when I looked closely did I realize, because my eyelids were still swollen.
I rubbed my eyes and felt something stuck in them; it turned out the IV needle was still in my arm.
Seeing me awake, he came over and said, “You’re awake? Here’s some porridge, eat a little to regain your strength.”
Knowing my place, I said, “Thank you, I’m too kind. But where is Ms. Đoan?”
Truong An said, “Ms. Đoan is at the shop preparing to welcome guests! You just rest, I’ll go buy anything you need.”
I smiled awkwardly, “No, I can’t do that. I’m fine, I’ll go back and help everyone.”
Truong An looked at me sternly, “Sit down! You won’t listen to gentle words, do you want to be scolded before you’ll listen?”
I was so scared I held my breath; the air in the room seemed to freeze. Truong An handed me the bowl of porridge, “Take it!”
I took it, not daring to say a word.
Truong An: “Eat!”
I scooped up the porridge and gulped it down, not daring to say anything more.
Trường An said again, “So you prefer firmness to gentleness, huh? If you had been obedient from the beginning, no one would have yelled at you.”
I started to feel a little afraid of this person, like someone with multiple personalities.
Seeing me silent for a long time, Trường An asked again, “Why are you so quiet? Are you very afraid of me?”
I mumbled, “No, not at all, sir…”
Trường An yelled, “What ‘sir’? Call me ‘brother’!”
I trembled all over: “Yes! Sir… Sir… not ‘sir’…”
Trường An continued, “I apologize to you on behalf of Thiên, and I hope you’ll forgive him. From now on, I’m the new manager of the pub, and things like this won’t happen again.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, quite sure that Uncle Trung and the others would be overjoyed to hear this.
Before I could even finish rejoicing, Truong An said, “After you recover, you won’t need to work at the pub anymore…”
I jumped up, “Oh no, please don’t! Thien beat me up so badly, and now you’re going to fire me too…”
Truong An growled, “Shut up! You’re interrupting before I’ve even finished speaking! Nam said you’re very clever, and he’s absolutely right!”
I fell silent. He continued, “You don’t need to work at the pub anymore. Come to my house and help with the housework. Gardening, cleaning, sweeping, fixing things…”
Seeing my silence, Truong An asked again, “What? Don’t want to?”
I shook my head slightly, “I can’t. Who can handle all the work at the pub?”
An clicked his tongue, “I can handle that, it’s not your problem. Are you up for it? You’ve talked too much but haven’t answered anything.”
I sat there thinking, if An became the manager, I probably wouldn’t have to worry about Thien causing trouble anymore. But I was there with Uncle Trung, Aunt Đoan, and Brother Vũ; everyone treated me like family. They would be so sad if I left.
An saw me sitting there motionless and shook me, asking, “Are you a robot about to run out of battery? Or have you been beaten up so badly that something is malfunctioning?” “He only answers once every two or three attempts?”
Of all the bosses I’ve ever worked for, none have talked as much as An. Before, I thought Sang was the quickest, but now I think if Sang met anyone, he’d probably just hide in a corner.
I was about to refuse, but An said, “I was just asking, but you don’t have the right to choose. Nam sent you to me. He said you’re someone he owes a debt of gratitude to; if you lose even a piece of flesh, I’m in big trouble. Get ready, when you’re completely recovered, come to my house and help out.”
Then An went out, and I sat on the bed wondering if this handsome, rich young master was really sane. It’s true that God doesn’t give everything to everyone; his looks are flawless, but there must be something missing in his brain.
During the days I was in the hospital, Uncle Trung and Aunt Doan took turns caring for me. I told Aunt Doan about An asking me to come back to work, and she wasn’t upset at all, instead she laughed happily: “Heavens, you’ll be fine if you go back there.” “Even a drinking establishment has its own complexities… But I think your future is bright and prosperous, making a rich family and staying healthy too.”
She kept feeling guilty about what happened that day; she couldn’t do anything when I was beaten. She started crying again, and I hugged her to comfort her: “I’m still alive. Whether you could do anything or not doesn’t matter; what matters most is whether you have the heart to do it. I know everything you’ve done for me!”
The day before I was discharged from the hospital, Uncle Trung brought in a huge box of roasted pork and placed it on the table. He said, “Eat up! You won’t be in the kitchen all the time sneaking food anymore!”
I smiled, but tears streamed down my face. If Ms. Đoan was like an older sister to me, then Uncle Trung was like my unofficial father in Saigon. Whenever I faced difficulties, he was the first to stand up and protect me.
I replied, “I won’t have you to cook for me anymore, I’ll probably stop eating altogether.”
Uncle scolded, “Damn it! You’ve been staring at guys over there so much you’ve forgotten to eat and sleep!”
I was startled, wondering when he knew I was “like that.” He added, “You’re staying with Ly over there. Be careful with her, you’re too kind, you’re too meticulous about everything, understand?”
I hugged his arm and rested my head on his shoulder, and for some reason, I felt incredibly warm. I asked curiously, “But how did you know I…?”
He looked out the hallway, and seeing no one, he softly replied, “Every morning you come down to spy on me and Vu having sex, and you think I don’t know?”
I laughed shyly, “Uh… I didn’t make any noise…”
Uncle continued, “There are only three men in the shop, and two of them are in the kitchen, so why is the outside wall covered in semen every morning?”
I was so embarrassed I lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket over my face. After laughing for a while, Uncle warned me, “Look at An, who wouldn’t be smitten?” “But you mustn’t fall for her, understand, son! She may seem innocent, but she’s incredibly complicated behind the scenes. If you get involved with her, you’ll suffer for half your life, it’s no joke.”
I confidently replied, “Oh my god, Uncle, even if I did fall for her, she wouldn’t fall for me. It’d just be a waste of time and reputation, like a toad trying to eat a swan!”
Uncle Trung nodded, “Yes, remember my advice. Whatever you do, falling for her will only bring you suffering!”
Just then, Truong An came in from outside. Uncle Trung, perhaps feeling guilty for speaking ill of her, hurriedly left, only saying, “Okay, I’m going home. Do your best, and when you have time, come visit me and your siblings. Remember my advice, okay?”
After he left, Truong An asked, “What did you tell me, Uncle?”
Of course, I didn’t tell him, and asked, “Why are you asking?”
Trường An put his hands on his hips: “Now that you’re feeling better, you dare to talk back, huh?”
I shook my head: “I wouldn’t dare!”
Trường An suddenly stared at me intently, then he bent down, placed his hands on my shoulders, and slowly brought his face closer. I was slightly startled and immediately closed my eyes tightly.
Trường An grumbled: “Open your eyes!”
I opened my eyes and saw Trường An’s face right next to mine. I stammered, “You… what are you doing?”
Trường An probably realized his actions were a bit excessive and returned to a normal posture. He said, “Your eyes are so beautiful! Are your parents foreigners?”
I shook my head: “No, my parents are pure Vietnamese. Didn’t you notice the other day?”
Trường An kept gasping: “So beautiful! The other day your eyes were so swollen, I couldn’t see anything, your eyelids were covering everything.” “Your eyes are as sparkling as the color of the sea, it’s such a shame you’re working as a maid.”
No one had ever complimented my eye color the way Truong An exclaimed. Back in my hometown, I always bowed my head to the ground whenever I met someone. Since I was very young, wherever I went, people said I was different. For years in my hometown, my eyes were always hidden behind the brim of my conical hat, and only a few people close to me could see them clearly.
But ultimately, no one had shown as much enthusiasm as Truong An.
Even when I got into his car to go home with him, he sat in the front seat and kept turning around to look at my eyes, sniffing them as if he wanted to gouge them out, put them in a jar, and display them in his room.
I asked, “Have you never met anyone whose eyes weren’t black before?”
I asked for a reason, because in just a few months working here, I’d met dozens of people with mixed-race eyes. My eyes were blue, red, purple, and yellow. Even the people in the cafe didn’t find them particularly strange.
Truong An said, “I’ve seen them before, but not all eye colors are as beautiful as these. Mr. Tai, take a look and see if I’m right! Turn around and take a look!”
Mr. Tai, the driver, heard Truong An’s urging and replied, “You’re always joking, young master. I’m driving, if I turn around and look, the three of us will be back at the hospital!”
But Truong An’s enthusiasm piqued Mr. Tai’s curiosity. While stopped at a red light, he glanced back at me. For some reason, he stared intently, just like Truong An. Even after the light turned green, he didn’t move, causing the cars behind them to honk loudly.
So, all the way home, the two of them kept talking about my eyes. I once asked my mother why my eye color was different from everyone else’s, and she just said, “I have an eye disease, so my eyes are a different color. Unfortunately, you inherited this disease when I gave birth to you.” Since then, whenever anyone asks, I always say it’s because of my eye disease; I’ve never thought of it as something more beautiful than others.
The car had just stopped in the yard when Trường An dragged me inside. I only managed a quick glance around, but that wasn’t enough to see every nook and cranny of the mansion where I was about to help out. Suddenly, I felt a slight pain in my back; weeding the entire garden would probably take two days without eating or sleeping.
Trường An led me to where his father was sitting, drinking tea and reading. Mr. Bầu Nhật was truly as kind and benevolent as everyone described him. His hair was almost half gray, and although neatly combed, it couldn’t hide the ravages of time.
Although he sat still, his movements—turning a book or lifting a teacup—were incredibly gentle, yet he exuded an overwhelming aura. Chang An had been laughing heartily from beginning to end, but when he stood before his father, he instantly transformed into a dignified and serious young master, so much so that I almost didn’t recognize him.
I became even more certain that he suffered from multiple personality disorder. Yesterday, when talking to Nam, he had taught me this term.
Chang An said seriously, “Father, this is the servant that Ngoc Nam introduced to me.”
I stood there, only daring to lower my head and look at the ground; most servants in the house behaved this way when in front of their masters. Mr. Bau Nhat spoke in a gentle, flowing voice, “Take him inside and have Auntie Bay teach him. Sit down here; I have something to talk to you about. How are things going with your work at Mr. To’s?”
Chang An sat at the table for his father to teach him, while Auntie Bay led me inside. She asked, “What is your name?”
I replied, “My name is Phuc.”
The nanny then asked, “Has Mr. An told you what your job is?”
I replied, “I heard him say it’s just an assistant job, he didn’t say what specific tasks I’d be doing.”
The nanny explained, “This house has the master, Mr. An, Mr. Thien, and Mrs. Ly. I take care of the cooking, Mr. Tai the driver takes care of driving and trimming the garden. Nha cleans Mr. Thien’s room, but he’s rarely home. Trang cleans for Mrs. Ly. You’ll be helping Mr. An with the cleaning.”
I asked curiously, “Who did this job before me, nanny?”
Nanny Bay replied, “Many did it before you, but none of them lasted long. For a while, Mr. An did everything himself, but lately he’s been working more, so he needs an assistant. The important thing for an assistant is that they must be there immediately when Mr. and Mrs. An call them.”
After listening to the nanny’s explanation for a while, I still didn’t know exactly what I was supposed to do. Just then, someone rushed in from outside, frantically calling, “Nanny Bay, get me a glass of orange juice for Miss Ly. Oh… who is this, Nanny?”
The nanny said, “That’s Mr. An’s assistant. Just tell him what to do.”
He looked at me searchingly, clicking his tongue, “He looks alright, quite handsome. Doesn’t know what to do? Here, take this paper and read it. I’ll get it back later.”
He grabbed the glass of orange juice and dashed off. I opened the roll of paper he gave me; it was a long list of all sorts of tasks.
“- Clean and organize the room; if he’s still asleep, wait outside until he wakes up before entering.
● Prepare breakfast for him; if he doesn’t come down, bring it up to his room.
● Wash and dry clothes; on rainy days, don’t soak them in fabric softener.
● Clean the rooms; for every speck of dust, deduct 50,000 dong.
● Prepare lunch for him; if he forgets, remind him to eat before continuing work.
● Fan him during his afternoon nap; on cold days, tend the heater in his room.
● Clean the main house. Sweep the yard and garden.
● Prepare dinner for him; if he eats out, this isn’t necessary.
● Prepare his toiletries.
● Clean the bathroom after he’s finished showering; don’t clean it if he’s still in the room. Don’t wash the cleaned items immediately; wait until the next day for enough sunlight.
● If he goes out at night without saying when he’ll be back, wait.” Keep the gate open until you get home.
● Clean all the windows in the house once a week.
● Be available whenever you call.
I only read the first three lines and already felt regret. Actually, the work isn’t that difficult, it’s just that it’s relentless and continuous all day. Besides, I’m working as a waitress, Suddenly I’ve become a servant here? Ngoc Nam sent me here for my own good, but whether it’s for my good or not, I don’t know yet.
I gritted my teeth and swallowed my sigh. Auntie Bay came out and said, “Go pack your things into your room. The first floor is the reception room, the second floor is the master’s room, and the third floor is An’s room. Next to his room is a small room under the stairs; you can arrange your things and tidy up there too.”
It was called the room under the stairs, but it was actually quite spacious. The only problem was that the servants had to use the toilet on the first floor, sharing the bathroom with the visiting guests. I was sitting and stacking my things in the drawers under my bed when Truong An walked by and called out, “Bring me a glass of pineapple juice.”
I immediately replied, “Why didn’t you ask Auntie Bay to do it when you went upstairs earlier?”
Truong An paused, looked at me with a scrutinizing expression, and asked, “Did you bring me here so I could argue with you?”
Oh, I forgot, I’m now someone’s employee. I put on an awkward expression: “Sorry, I’ll be right there.”
Then I dashed down the stairs, avoiding the sharp gaze that Trường An had fixed on me.
While waiting for Aunt Bảy to leave, I casually asked, “Auntie, do you know what An does?”
Auntie busied herself taking fruit out of the refrigerator, washing and peeling it, her hands working quickly while she answered me, “An inherited the boss’s business as a show promoter. He also knows how to write poetry, compose music, and write plays; sometimes the newspaper invites him to write articles for the newspaper.”
I glanced around and saw a stack of newspapers on a wooden shelf. I picked one up to take a look. It turned out his pen name was David Truong An. Actually, I’m not very literate, so reading his articles felt incredibly sophisticated, but overall, I didn’t find them appealing to me.
I even secretly thought, maybe his family background is so powerful that the newspaper asked him to write articles to make them sell better. He’s so bright and handsome; just a picture attached to the front page would attract a flood of female readers, even if they couldn’t read.
My juice had just finished making when I saw Truong An coming down from upstairs. His hair wasn’t completely dry yet, but his clothes were neat and tidy. He strode out like a movie star, his arrogant yet handsome demeanor making me feel he was truly multifaceted.
What a multifaceted person he is! That’s why people say talented people are often a little crazy. That’s not wrong either.
I suddenly remembered the glass of water, grabbed it, and rushed out. I shouted, “Your juice… yours!”
He stopped, took a sip, then walked away, not forgetting to grumble, “So slow, drink it all and learn to be quick.”
I watched his back as he got into the car, suppressing a swear word. Clearly, it was Auntie Bay who had just finished making it, not me being slow.
I put the glass back on the counter and sighed to Auntie Bay, “Look, isn’t this wasteful?”
Auntie Bay said, “Just drink it, don’t waste it.”
I shuddered slightly, indicating I didn’t want to share the glass with that multi-faceted young man. Just then, Nha walked by and conveniently grabbed the glass of water, gulping it down.
He said, “Stupid, you have something good to enjoy but you don’t know how to appreciate it.” “Let me tell you, all the fruit in the house is imported from abroad; you won’t find anything like it here, so don’t complain.”
I thought to myself, “Is imported fruit so great? It’s probably not even as good as the fruit I grow back home.”
Another person came down from upstairs; it was Trang, “Aunt Ly’s” maid. She stood on the stairs and loudly called out, “Bring the food up for Aunt Ly tonight, she’s hungry.”
Although I wasn’t well-educated, I’m confident my cultural knowledge is far superior to hers. She’s the youngest in the house, yet she dares to speak so bluntly and without any regard for anyone. I could overlook it with Nha, but Aunt Bay is someone even the master respects, and yet she brazenly treats her as if she’s on the same level as me.
After Aunt Bay finished preparing the food, Nha looked at me and said, “Bring it up, what are you looking at?”
I was slightly taken aback: “Me?”
Nha calmly replied, “Who else?” “Surely you don’t have to let Auntie Bay carry it up? Do you think that just because An brought you here you don’t need to work, just sit around and collect your salary?”
I didn’t have that thought at all. I mistakenly thought I only needed to help An with chores and cleaning the house. It turned out I also had to endure the orders of two “old hands.”
I tremblingly climbed the stairs, one hand on the railing, the other supporting the tray of food that Auntie had brought. As soon as I reached the last step, Trang started scolding me: “Slow as a turtle! Don’t you know Auntie is starving? Go inside, stop dawdling!”
If I didn’t respect her because she’s a girl, I’d punch her in the mouth until it swelled up like those women who just got lip fillers. If she was hungry, why didn’t she call earlier?
I went into the room and saw Ly sprawled on the bed, munching on sunflower seeds while watching TV. Seeing me, she didn’t bother to sit up, just waved her hand: “Leave it on the table for her and go out. She’ll call you to clean up after she’s finished eating.”
I gritted my teeth and mumbled “Yes,” thinking, “Times have really turned upside down; even dogs are wearing silk dresses now.”
Hearing my voice, she pretended to turn and look, then said, “Oh, Mr. Phuc? My goodness, these kids are so lazy! I called them, and they’re telling you to come and do it?” “Please understand, I’m pregnant, and the stairs are so high, going up and down is incredibly difficult. Being pregnant with the child of a wealthy family is very stressful, you know. I don’t dare go anywhere, one wrong move and it’ll be disastrous.”
I didn’t know what kind of “mistake” she was referring to, whether it meant being kicked out of the house once she no longer had the child. I replied emotionlessly, “Yes, ma’am.”
She feigned surprise, “Oh my God, you don’t need to be so formal. We’re acquaintances, and we should be polite in front of others, but since it’s just the two of us, you can just call me as before.”
I was tired of her hypocritical tone and simply said, “No need, ma’am. I’m here to work, so I should follow the rules. If you don’t need anything else, I’ll leave now. Please enjoy your meal.”
I went downstairs and saw Auntie Bay preparing food for the boss. Afraid she might have trouble walking, I said, “Let me take it up.”
Nha yelled, “You’re too nosy! Only Auntie Bay is allowed into the boss’s room, you know. You mind your own business, sweep and mop the floor for me!”
He had already prepared the mop for me without me noticing. Looking at how spacious the ground floor was, I wondered how long it would take me to get a lunch break. While I was sweeping, I heard the phone ring. Nha said, “Keep sweeping, I’ll go answer it.”
After saying that, she trotted up to the third floor and picked up the telephone in front of the “eldest son’s” room. This house was strange; each room had a landline telephone. The nanny said that was the work phone for strangers to call, or for the sons to call home when they were out.
After a hard day’s work, it was only near bedtime that I and the other servants got to rest and eat. Seeing the plate of egg fried rice on the table, I didn’t hesitate to scoop some into my bowl and chew noisily.
I widened my eyes and looked at Nanny Bay: “You make this dish exactly like Mom does.”
Nanny Bay smiled and said, “Yes, eat a lot.”
I looked around but saw no one, not even Nha and Trang. I asked, “Do you always eat the same thing every day? And where are Nha and Trang? I wonder if they’ve eaten yet?”
Nanny Bay said, “They’re eating in their room with Aunt Ly.” “Poor thing, Auntie. Uncle Thien is always away and never comes home. Auntie is pregnant and all alone. Having those two running up and down would make her less lonely.”
I didn’t particularly like Ly, but what Auntie Bay said wasn’t wrong.
She also instructed, “Remember to unplug the phone before you go to sleep. Otherwise, if someone calls in the middle of the night and startles you, Uncle and Auntie will scold you.”
I asked, “Uncle An just went out this afternoon, do I need to unplug it, Auntie?”
Nha came down from somewhere and shouted, “What a stupid question! If you unplug it, how will Uncle An call you back?”
I asked again, “So, should I just sit there and watch?”
Nha nodded, grabbing the plate of fruit Auntie Bay had just peeled: “Yes, of course! If you don’t watch, should I? You’re just a maid, why are you always haggling? When Uncle comes home, he’ll call you to open the door, and after you’ve answered, unplug it.”
My neighbor didn’t like his attitude either, but since he was teaching me the job, I just put up with it. After all, we had to see each other every day; we were both servants, and there was no point in being resentful.
After dinner, the nanny said, “Go take a quick shower, I’ll watch the phone for a bit.”
I thanked her and hurried to finish showering, of course, in the bathroom for “us” on the ground floor.
After I finished, I came out with my hair still wet. Nha went down to get something, then swaggered back up, not forgetting to smirk: “Good night, man.”
I went upstairs dejectedly, not knowing if I’d get any sleep tonight. The nanny said there were nights when he came home late, two or three in the morning was normal. The previous staff had all quit because of his extremely erratic schedule.
My room was next to An’s, but I didn’t dare doze off at all. If An called while I was asleep, bothering the boss and “Aunt Ly” upstairs, I’d definitely get scolded.
I took my blanket and sat in front of An’s door, ready to answer the phone immediately if it rang. But the phone didn’t ring, and I gradually drifted off to sleep from exhaustion.
After a while, I woke up with a start, my heart pounding like a drum. I wondered if I’d missed any calls. I tiptoed down the stairs and ran straight to the gate to see if I saw Tài’s car headlights waiting outside.
Seeing nothing, I went back inside to wait again. I don’t know how long I waited, but at this point… I drifted off to sleep again. My sleep was restless, I would doze off and then wake up with a start, the sky gradually brightening each time I peeked outside.
Once again I woke up with a start, but this time I felt someone nearby. That person said, “Why aren’t you sleeping in your room? It’s only been one night and you already miss me?”
I looked up and saw Truong An with his vest draped over one arm, the other hand propped against the door, looking down at me. I nervously realized I’d forgotten to answer the phone, and hurriedly stood up to greet him: “You just got back? I fell asleep and didn’t hear it.” “The phone rang.”
Truong An looked puzzled: “What phone call? You didn’t call home last night, did you? You said yesterday that you wouldn’t be coming home tonight?”
I glanced out the window and saw the sunlight filtering in. Perhaps it was the phone call Nha received at noon that Truong An mentioned, yet he didn’t bother to tell me anything.
I wasn’t a character in a movie who would just keep quiet about it. I said, “Nha answered the phone yesterday, not me. He even told me to keep an eye on your phone and call home last night.”
Nha came down from upstairs, and upon hearing me, denied it vehemently: “Hey, don’t act like the victim. You didn’t ask me yesterday, so how would I know? I told you that if you needed to open the door while you were out, you should call home. I didn’t say you were coming home last night!”
I really wanted to rush over and break him in two, but unexpectedly, Trường An said, “Never mind, go downstairs and get me some hot water. Tell Aunt Bảy to prepare the bathwater, she’ll know.”
I left with a resentful look on my face, while Nhã was very pleased with himself for having just played a trick on me. I did sleep last night, but it wasn’t a restful sleep, and I couldn’t lie down properly. Now my head is spinning, and my limbs ache just like yesterday evening.
A little later, I came back up with a pot of hot water in my hands. It turned out that the bathwater wasn’t just boiling water; Aunt Bảy had added all sorts of medicinal herbs to it. She explained while she mixed it, but I was too sleepy to remember any of them.
When I first entered An’s room, I was quite surprised by how spotless it was. An bought the most books; he even had a ten-tiered, ten-meter-long bookcase just for this hobby.
I said, “Here’s your water.”
An asked, “Are you short on memory?” I asked again, “What do you mean by ‘goldfish brain’?”
An clicked his tongue, “It means you’re forgetful! Why do you keep calling me ‘you’?”
Ah, maybe it’s because I’m dedicated to everything I do, even my job as a maid. I said, “Anyway, I’m a housemaid, calling me that isn’t right.”
An closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then exhaled and opened his eyes, saying, “Who said I’m a housemaid? You brought me here to help with chores, nobody considers me a housemaid.”
I clicked my tongue slightly and whispered, “And yet you tell me to fetch water for my bath.”
An scratched his head and looked at me, “Well, you hired me, but it’s not like I’m a live-in servant.”
I asked again, “Is there a difference?”
An nodded, “Of course there is! I’m more like an assistant, not a maid. Go make me some water, don’t ask any more questions.”
I carried the pot of water into the bathroom and turned on the tap to fill the bathtub. When the water was about three-thirds full, I poured the boiling water into the tub and let it cool down. The scent of herbs wafted through the room, and I was immersed in a pleasant feeling when An called out from outside, “Are you ready?”
I replied loudly, “I’m ready!”
Just as I finished speaking, the bathroom door opened. I froze when An walked into the bathroom wearing only underwear. Although An’s figure was beautiful, and her lower body was particularly striking, seeing this scene after knowing each other for so long made me feel a little panicked.
I lowered my head, scratching my head, and said, “There’s someone else here, why are you dressed like that?”
An said, “Oh my god, do you want me to wear a suit to soak in the bathtub?”
An slowly stepped into the tub, then sat down, letting her lower body sink into the water. I hurried outside, and An suddenly asked urgently, “Hey, where are you going?”
I looked at An with the most clueless expression possible and replied, “If I don’t go out now, are you going to stay and give me a bath?”
An nodded, “Yeah, that’s right! The bath sponge is on the wall, scrub my back for me.”
It wasn’t the first time I’d seen a man’s skin, but seeing An in this state made me incredibly flustered. An’s skin was as smooth as a girl’s; I didn’t even dare use much force.
An asked, “Were you hungry this morning? Why are you scrubbing my back so weakly?”
I replied, “I’m really hungry, but I haven’t eaten anything.”
An said, “I have a sausage here, want some? I’ll give it to you after you finish your bath!”
I blushed with embarrassment, luckily An had his face turned away so he didn’t see. I tried to change the subject, “Why do you make me call you ‘brother,’ but you address the others as ‘you’?”
An explained, “Nha and Trang are my children, so it’s only right that they call me ‘uncle.’ From now on, if I’m out late, just unplug the phone and go to sleep. If anything happens, I’ll call you on my cell phone. You don’t need to sit outside the door watching anymore.”
I suddenly thought, aside from those times when he has multiple personalities, he’s actually a decent person.
After scrubbing his back, Truong An said, “Wash my hair. Take a little of the blue bottle and a little of the yellow bottle, mix them well, and then apply it to my hair.”
This guy is incredibly meticulous, but I have to admit his hair is unusually soft and smooth.
Truong An lay on his back, leaning against the edge of the tub, letting me wash his head. His crotch was clearly visible, not to mention the wet cloth clinging to it, revealing the contours of his penis.
Chang An closed his eyes and enjoyed it, while constantly giving me instructions: “Scratch that spot harder, a little further down, yes, that spot, then move your hand from side to side, yes, that’s right…”
IMy hand was scratching his head, but my eyes couldn’t leave his crotch. My lower body had been completely aroused since I first saw him open the door and walk in. If I had to use one word to describe Chang An at this moment, my limited vocabulary would only have one word: “perfect.”
After rinsing my hair, Chang An finally let me out. I was afraid that if I stayed any longer, I wouldn’t be able to resist squeezing Chang An’s crotch.
Chang An instructed, “Get me the white pajamas from the wardrobe outside, and bring the towel inside.”
I opened the wardrobe and saw more than a dozen pajamas, but no underwear. I asked, “Where are your underwear?”
Chang An replied, “No need, it’s in the room, what do I need underwear for?”
Just thinking about Chang An without underwear, his erection dangling in his pants, made me involuntarily swallow. I brought the towel inside, then stepped out and closed the door. Chang An didn’t forget to remind me, “Wait outside, I’ll give you some sausages later.”
I was too embarrassed to say anything, but honestly, I didn’t want to leave yet.
A little later, Chang An came out wrapped in a towel. He didn’t bother to get dressed first, but went straight to me. My heart pounded, wondering if Chang An was really going to give me his “sausages.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, Chang An standing right in front of me. I could even see the bulge under the towel. Chang An leaned forward, and I was so scared I squeezed my eyes shut.
Unexpectedly, Chang An only leaned past me to reach for the bag on the bed. Then, he opened the bag, took out two sausages, and held them out in front of me: “Here, eat! They’re delicious. Eat them and then sleep.”
Ah, so it really was sausage…
I was startled by my own thoughts. I don’t know if Trường An noticed, but he just looked at me and smiled subtly.
I was embarrassed and rushed out of the room. Trường An called after me, “Hey, aren’t you going to stay and sleep for a while? My bed is big, it’s fine to share.”
I knew he wouldn’t mind, but I certainly would.
I didn’t bother to reply and went straight back to my room. I didn’t know if this young master was “on my side,” but I knew he was full of tricks and schemes.