I don’t have the blessing of being your daughter-in-law, I beg you; marry… My family is really poor, but I also have self-esteem and don’t let anyone take care of me

“I don’t have the blessing of being your daughter-in-law, I would like to annul the marriage. My family is really poor, but I also have self-esteem, and I don’t let anyone look down on me.”

After saying that, the girl turned away, leaving the luxurious living room with wide, surprised eyes. The man sitting next to him stood up and called out:
“An! Stand back!
But she didn’t stop. She didn’t shed tears. She just pursed her lips tightly, retaining the last bit of pride for herself…

Nguyen An – a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher, lives with her mother in a small fourth-grade house located deep in the alley of the labor area in District 8, Saigon. Her mother – Mrs. Hong – is a seamstress, once a beautiful youth, but fate pushed her, she stayed there to raise her children after her husband died early due to a labor accident. An is the only daughter, gentle, introverted, studied hard and never dreamed much other than a peaceful and idyllic life.

But fate brought her to Khanh – a rich and handsome man, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lam – the owner of a famous real estate chain in Ho Chi Minh City. HCM. Khanh studied architecture in France, returned home to open his own company. They met for the first time at a charity event organized by An at the kindergarten. Khanh is the main sponsor, and An is the instructor of the children’s group to dance the song “Roof of Love”.

No one believed that a relationship between them could blossom, but Khanh was fascinated by the simplicity and sincerity in An. He pursued her endlessly. Even though she knows the separation, An still gives Khanh a chance, because she believes in kindness and love.

After a year, Khanh proposed. An, after many hesitations, finally nodded. But she didn’t know, it was also the beginning of a series of days tested by prejudice and arrogance of people who never believed that “pearls can grow from mud”

An wore a simple white dress, sewn by her mother’s own hands. She came to Khanh’s house with a small bouquet of roses, her heart was full of anxiety but still kept her inherent lightness.

Mrs. Lam – Khanh’s mother – greeted her with searching eyes. From head to toe, that gaze was like a blade that quietly slashed An’s confidence.

The meal took place awkwardly. Mr. Lam was quiet, Khanh tried to keep the air, but Mrs. Lam did not stop giving hidden words.

— Are you renting a hostel at your mother’s house?

“Yes, we live in the small house left by our grandparents. Although it is not new, it is enough to cover the sun and rain.

— Well, but there is no red book, pink book?

— Yes, no…

— So when you become a bride in the future, you probably don’t have much experience in taking care of a “big” family?

An bowed his head slightly, and said quietly:

“You can learn, as long as you’re sincere.

— But do you know, my family has a reputation and social status. Do you think you’ll be able to stand the air here?

The air was thick. Khanh Chau frowned:

“Mom, I love An for who she is, not for the circumstances.

“But love is not enough to live a lifetime, my child! Are you going to let such a person carry the name of your eldest daughter-in-law?

That sentence was like a slap in the face.

Don’t wait any longer. She put down her chopsticks and stood up. The voice trembled but decisively:

“I’m sorry, you’re right. I don’t have the blessing of being my uncle’s bride. I would like to annul the marriage.

— An… — Khanh called out.

She turned around, one last time:

“My family is really poor, but I still have self-esteem. Don’t let anyone look down on you.

She turned her back and walked away. The white dress seemed to melt into the June afternoon sun, leaving behind a cold house, full of pity and regret

An went home, lying quietly with his mother. Ms. Hong didn’t ask anything. She only held her child’s hand, her hands were stiff because of the years.

“I don’t need you to marry into a rich house. I just need you to live with your head up.
— Yes… I’m fine, Mom.

She said that, but her heart hurt as if someone was suffocating. Not because of the loss of Khanh – but because once again, the world reminded her that love is not enough to overcome contempt.

Three months after An left the Lam family’s villa, her life gradually returned to the old rhythm. She still teaches, still eats with her mother under a rickety corrugated iron roof, and still rides an old motorbike every morning through familiar alleys.

It seemed that everything had passed, but her heart was not at ease. Not because he felt sorry for a man – but because he felt that he had never been respected enough in his own love. She didn’t hate Qing, but she didn’t forgive him for letting his mother hurt her right in front of him, without a strong enough defense.

The people around him talked about all sorts of things. Someone told her to be stupid and cancel her marriage with a rich man. Others whispered admiration: “Little An is fierce, poor but has temperament!” But An didn’t care. She understands that sometimes it’s harder to maintain self-esteem than to keep love.

Khanh came over.

On a rainy afternoon, when An was cleaning the classroom, Khanh appeared. Wet, tangled hair, visibly thin. She was surprised. They stood still and looked at each other for a few seconds, then he said:

— I’m sorry… I know I’m wrong for not being on your side. I left you alone before a whole “trial”…

An looked up, and his voice was calm:

— No one is obligated to defend anyone if they are not ready to fight for him. I understand.

— I had an argument with my mother. He ran away from home and became independent. He wants to prove that not everyone is controlled by money.

An lowered his face:

— But Khanh, I don’t have faith anymore. My love is like a house without a foundation – it’s beautiful, but it only takes a breeze to fall.

“Do you think so?

— I can love you, but I don’t understand your life. I don’t understand the feeling of being scrutinized just because of me… there is no red book.

Shut up. For the first time, he really saw the distance – not from the material, but from the trust and hurt that An had to bear.

— So what do you have to do to make me believe you?

An did not answer. She just looked at him, her eyes were not angry, only sad.

Time passed.

Khanh did not give up. He still quietly helps the kindergarten where An teaches. But not named. No nominal donation. He came to repair the roof of the school, build more sinks for children. Only a small piece of paper was left: “Give your children a clean childhood”.

An knew that it was Khanh. But she didn’t say anything.

One day, the school held an art exchange. Children perform, parents come in large numbers. An was struggling to adjust the microphone when he heard a familiar voice coming from the stage:

“I am not only here today to sponsor, but I also ask for permission to speak publicly.

The whole school yard was silent.

Khanh took the microphone, stood in front of hundreds of people, and said:

— I once proposed to a wonderful girl, and then let her leave because I didn’t have enough courage. I want to say to all: there is nothing to be ashamed of when you are poor, only shameful when you look down on others because they are poor.

He looked down at the audience, his eyes stopped where An was standing:

“An, I didn’t beg you to come back. I’m just asking for one chance to be with you—not as a boyfriend, but as a person who respects you with everything you have.

A round of applause rang out. Not for love, but for courage.

An stood there, his eyes a little bitter. She didn’t come forward, didn’t nod, didn’t turn away.

Just smiled. Light as the sun after rain.

Two years later.

A small café opened in District 3. The owner is a young girl, and the interior design is by an architect who used to live in France.

The restaurant is named “Tu Trong”.

Not out of pride, but because they both learned the biggest lesson in love: when people love each other enough, they learn to stand by each other — even in front of the world.