Under the magnolia tree

In a small dilapidated kitchen, Ut Tra full of anxiety hurriedly placed the sticks in the kitchen and lit a fire. Then she used all her strength to blow on the stove so that it could burn. It took a long time for the fire to rise and burn the remaining wood after the heavy rain. After the stove was on fire, Ut Tra put the pot on the stove and started cooking. While cooking Ut Tra, he looked up at the house and his heart full of uneasiness. After a while, Ut Tra finished cooking and carefully poured the medicine into the cup.

At this time, the strong smell of medicine spread throughout the kitchen. Ut Tra quickly brought the medicine cup upstairs, but when she arrived at the door, she was startled and cried out:

- Grandfather!

Then Ut Tra put the medicine cup down on the table, she rushed to the bed and supported the miserable grandfather and carefully wiped the blood stains from his grandfather's mouth with a towel. At this time, Ut Tra trembled and burst into tears:

- Grandpa. Are you okay?

Although it was very painful because of his illness, Grandpa still smiled and said to Ut Tra:

- I'm fine. Do not cry!

Then Ut Tra returned to the table took the medicine cup, brought it to the bed and said to him:

- Grandpa. Let me help you sit and take medicine!

But he did not agree and insisted on refusing:

- Is not. I won't drink anymore. If I take medicine or not, God will force me to die. Don't waste money buying medicine for me anymore!

Outside the yard, Mrs. Tam Huong has just returned home and her mood is not good at this time. Seeing her husband so pessimistic, Tam Huong came inside, knelt down and begged:

- Sir, I beg you. You don't do that anymore. Try to take medicine and the disease will be cured!

Finally, under the persuasion of Ut Tra and Mrs. Tam Huong, the grandfather also accepted to take the medicine and fell asleep. After Grandpa fell asleep, Ut Tra pulled Mrs. Tam Huong to a secluded place and began to ask:

- How's it going, grandma?

When Mrs. Tam Huong heard Ut Tra ask her that, her attitude changed immediately. Grandmother sadly said to Ut Tra:

- She disagrees. She did the right thing, we already borrowed too much money from her!

Ut Tra with tears in her eyes, asked her grandmother:

- So what should grandpa do?

Tam Huong put her hand on Ut Tra's shoulder, took a long breath and comforted:

- Just stay calm and let me find a way!

In the evening, after giving Grandpa porridge, Ut Tra and Mrs. Tam Huong had dinner. While eating, there was a barking dog outside and footsteps coming towards the house. When Ut Tra saw this, she stood up and ran to the door to see who it was and realized that it was Mrs. Ba Ngan - the creditor of Ut Tra's family, who was walking towards Ut Tra with three other servants. Seeing Mrs. Ba Ngan, Ut Tra seemed a bit scared, but she still politely bowed her head:

- Ma'am, you just came over to play!

Although Ut Tra was very polite, Mrs. Ba Ngan did not care about that attitude but expressed anger and asked loudly:

- Where's your grandmother?

When Ut Tra saw Ba Ngan's attitude like that, she also implicitly understood that something bad would happen, thinking of this Ut Tra felt very worried.

- Yes, my grandmother is in the house!

Hearing Ut Tra say that, Mrs. Ba Ngan said nothing more but went straight into the house. Seeing that, Ut Tra also followed to see what was going on. As soon as she entered the house to see Mrs. Tam Huong sitting down to eat, Mrs. Ba Ngan immediately scolded:

- Debts that can't be paid but still eat and dress happily, right?

Seeing Mrs. Ba Ngan entering, Mrs. Tam Huong immediately got up and ran to the table to pull a chair for Mrs. Ba Ngan to sit, then lowered her head and said:

- I do not dare. Mrs. Ba Ngan just came to play!

After saying that, Mrs. Tam Huong put the teapot on the table, poured a cup and respectfully invited:

- Invite Mrs. Ba Ngan for tea!

Mrs. Ba Ngan was still angry and shouted:

- I don't have time to come here to play and drink tea with you! When do you pay me?

Seeing that Mrs. Ba Ngan was so fierce, Tam Huong had to beg:

- Mrs. Ba Ngan, please speak softly, he can only sleep a little. You are a famously kind person throughout the area. I begged you to give us a little more time. I will definitely pay you enough!

After hearing that, Ba Ngan slammed her hand on the table and said:

- Procrastination again? How long do I have to wait?

- I beg you. Now my family has nothing left! My husband has been ill for a long time and there are many possessions in the house that are used for treatment. Now we have no more money to pay you!

Although Mrs. Tam Huong begged many times, Mrs. Ba Ngan was still adamant:

- I do not need to know. Right now you have to pay me both principal and interest. Otherwise your family will not be okay with me!

She could only kneel at Ba Ngan's feet crying and begging:

- I beg you, give us more time. We will pay in full!

When Ut Tra saw her grandmother kneeling like that, she also ran over to help her grandmother. Seeing Ut Tra and Tam Huong kneeling in front of her eyes, Ba Ngan immediately had an idea:

- Stand up. Do you want me to die soon?

Then Ba Ngan continued:

- I will give you more time if you and Ut Tra become my servants. I tell you, not everyone is as favored by me as your family. It's just that I see that she is also hard-working, and that Ut Tra is also quick, so I have such an opinion. Do you understand?

Hearing Ba Ngan say that, Mrs. Tam Huong and Ut Tra looked at each other and then returned to bed where Grandpa was lying. Then Ut Tra politely said to Mrs. Ba Ngan:

- Okay. Tam Huong, you may not have to go, but Ms. Ut Tra must go!

Ba Ngan's decision made Mrs. Tam Huong extremely surprised:

- I'm too young, only 12 years old. Don't make him a servant, poor thing!

When Mrs. Tam Huong heard that, she became angry:

- I do not care! One is that Ut Tra has to be my servant, the other is that she has to pay my debt immediately. She chooses to go!

Faced with these difficult choices, Mrs. Tam Huong began to cry. Her mood was very bad right now, her throat was tight and she couldn't speak. Ut Tra saw her grandmother in such an awkward situation then grabbed her hand tightly and said:

- Grandma, I'm fine. I can do it. Ba Ngan's family has always loved the servants in the house. I will definitely be happy as a servant for Ms. Ba!

After saying that, Ut Tra looked up at Mrs. Ba Ngan and affirmed:

- Madam, I agree to be your servant. I just asked grandma to lend me some money to treat my grandfather's illness!

At Ut Tra's suggestion, Mrs. Ba Ngan also agreed:

- Okay! - Saying that, Mrs. Ba took out money from her pocket and put it on the table. - This is 50 dong. Assume I give you an advance. Ut Tra will work in my house to pay the debt!

Then Mrs. Ba Ngan got up and walked out into the yard and did not forget to instruct Ut Tra:

- Ut Tra, I allow you to prepare everything tonight. Early tomorrow morning I must see you at my door. If not, don't blame me for being cruel!

After teaching Ut Tra, Ba Ngan turned around and said to the servants:

- Let's go home!

When Mrs. Ba Ngan disappeared, Mrs. Tam Huong hugged Ut Tra tightly and scolded:

- Ut Tra, why are you doing this? Do you know how hard it is to be a servant?

- I will try, Grandma. Grandma stay at home to take care of grandpa. I can take care of myself!

Thinking about her little grandchild about to face the dangers out there, Tam Huong feels so helpless. She burst into tears and apologized to Ut Tra:

- Grandparents have made me miserable, Tra!

In the end, Ut Tra and Mrs. Tam Huong also had to swallow their tears so they could happily eat a meal with both of them. Mrs. Tam Huong especially took a bowl of rice for Ut Tra and the potatoes she took in her own cup. Seeing that, Ut Tra immediately stopped:

- Grandma, don't do that!

But Mrs. Tam Huong did not stop, she continued to take rice for Ut Tra and said:

- You eat. When will I be able to have dinner with you again? Eat a delicious meal today so you can go tomorrow!

When Ut Tra saw her grandmother so sad, she also tried to raise the bowl of rice to eat deliciously to make her grandmother satisfied.

After eating, Ut Tra cleaned up, washed the dishes, then went to arrange clothes and a few other things to put in a basket. After finishing, Ut Tra walked out and sat in front of the porch, looking up at the starry sky and then silently asked:

So from tomorrow I will start a new life. Oh my god, is this a happy or sad thing in the end?

Ut Tra sat looking up at the sky for such a long time until Mrs. Tam Huong called out:

- Ut Tra, go home and sleep. If you sit outside late at night, you will get sick!

Listening to Mrs. Tam Huong, Ut Tra did not sit on the porch anymore. She went back into her small room and got into bed. Ut Tra was awake all the time but still couldn't sleep. While having trouble sleeping, Mrs. Tam Huong also came over and lay down next to Ut Tra, then she gently stroked Ut Tra's long silky hair and asked softly:

- Can't you sleep, Ut Tra?

- Yes, I haven't. Can I hug you to sleep tonight?

Ut Tra turned around and hugged Mrs. Tam. Tam Huong also hugged her niece tightly and instructed:

- Ut Tra, I know you have been very smart and gentle since you were young, but when you are a servant, you must remember one thing: do not interfere in other people's affairs or you will be in danger. Ut Tra remember?

- Yes, ma'am, I remember!

- Besides, you must know how to take care of yourself. Definitely do not be gullible to affect your own honor, our family's. A clean fast is better than a dirty breakfast!

- It's correct. I will keep your words in mind!

Then Mrs. Tam Huong instructed Ut Tra a few more things, then hugged Ut Tra tightly and fell asleep.

Ut Tra woke up early in the morning, put on more clothes to be less cold, then took the basket she had prepared last night and was ready to go to Ba ho Xuong's house. Before Ut Tra left, Mrs. Tam Huong with tears in her eyes stuffed a little money into Ut Tra's hand and said:

- You take this little money to save. When you can, remember to ask your grandparents for permission to come home to visit us!

- I remember. Grandma don't cry anymore. I go!

After saying that, Ut Tra turned to walk away, she cried but she did not dare to raise her hand to wipe her tears for fear that her grandmother would see and she did not dare to look back at her grandmother again. At this time, Ut Tra can only be strong and straight forward. Seeing Ut Tra walking like that, Mrs. Tam Huong was also in great pain, her hand clinging to the wobbly fence about to collapse. Her heart ached when she looked at the small figure of her niece and then she blamed herself:

- If only her parents hadn't died early, if only she had been born into another rich family, she wouldn't have been so miserable!