It was a hot afternoon in the village.
I – Hanh – was bending down and picking dry branches to light a fire.
At the door, my ten-year-old son was watching me with his innocent eyes.
“Mommy, why don’t I have a father like my classmates?”
I couldn’t answer. Ten years had passed and I still couldn’t find the answer to that question.
Years of Teasing and Shame
When I got pregnant, rumors spread throughout the village:
—”What a shame! Pregnant without a husband! What a shame for your parents!”
I gritted my teeth and endured everything.
Because my belly was growing, I worked wherever I went: removing weeds, harvesting rice, washing dishes at the inn.
Some threw trash in front of my house, others spoke loudly as I passed by:
“Your child’s father must have run away… who would take care of such a disgrace?”
Little did they know that the man I loved was overjoyed when he found out I was pregnant.
He told me he would go home to talk to his parents and ask for their blessing to marry us.
I believed him with all my heart.
But the next day, he disappeared without a trace.
Since then, I have waited for him every day: no news, no messages.
Years have passed, and I have raised my child alone.
There are nights when I hate him for the pain he reminds me of; To those who pray that my father will still be alive… even though I have forgotten.
Ten Years of Struggle
To get my child into school, I have worked tirelessly.
I threw away every coin, I swallowed every tear.
When the other children made fun of him for not having a father, he hugged him tightly and said:
“You have your mother, son. And that’s enough.”
But people’s words were knives that stabbed me in the heart again and again.
At night, while he slept, I stared into the lamplight and remembered the man I loved—his smile, his warm eyes—and I cried silently.
The day the expensive cars stopped in front of my house
One rainy morning, I was sewing my son’s dress when I heard the loud rumble of engines.
The neighbors came out, wondering.
In front of my humble house, several black, clean, shiny cars were lined up, clearly from the city.
The murmurs began:
“My God! Who will own those cars? They cost millions each!”
I shivered, grabbed my daughter’s hand and got out.
The door of one of the cars opened and an old man with white hair, wearing a black coat, eyes filled with tears got out.
He looked at me, and before I could speak he was kneeling in the mud.
I froze.
“Get up! What are you doing?”
He grabbed my hand, his voice trembling:
—”Ten years… I finally found you—you and my grandson.”
The whole town was paralyzed.
“Grandma…?” I whispered, almost speechless.
He took out an old photo—the face of the man I loved.
It was the same.
I couldn’t hold back my tears.
The old man told me that the day I told his daughter I was pregnant, he was full of joy and rushed out to ask his parents for permission to plan the wedding.
But on the way back to me, he had a car accident… He died that same day.
For ten years, his father searched for me relentlessly.
Until he read the old hospital records, found my name and traveled to different provinces until he found us there.
The Truth That Made the Whole Town Cry
The old man looked at the cars; One of the drivers got out and opened the door.
On the side of the car was the logo of “Lâm Gia Group” – the largest corporation in the country.
Everyone was stunned.
—“My God… That child is the only grandson of President Lâm!” — the neighbors whispered.
The old man approached my son, held his hand, and said with tears:
“From now on, son, you will not suffer anymore. You are the flesh and blood of the Lâm family.”
I just stood there, crying, feeling the weight of all those years begin to melt away.
The eyes of the neighbors who had once despised me were now bowed in shame.
Some even knelt down and begged my forgiveness.
Epilogue
When my son and I left the village, it rained again—just like ten years ago.
But this time, I no longer considered it a curse.
Now I know that even if the world despises you, if you remain honest and steadfast, the truth will always come out of you.
I, the mother who was once laughed at by everyone,
now walked with my head held high,
holding my son’s hand,
with a smile of peace on my lips.