Chapter 36 Summary: Bảo's Confrontation with His Mother
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Bảo meets Linh in the art room early in the morning. She tells him that a customer reported hearing from his parents that there are rats in her family's restaurant. Bảo insists his mother wouldn't do that, but Linh is upset and confused. He promises to talk to his parents.
Later, Linh texts that the restaurant must close for a day because a health inspector is coming. Bảo goes home and finds his mother with her usual circle of friends. He asks her to step into the kitchen. When he mentions the rat rumor, his mother deflects and refuses to answer directly. Bảo realizes she is guilty. He confronts her loudly, defending Linh and arguing that her family is just like theirs. He admits he knows Linh and has been friends with her for months. His mother is shocked and angry that he defied her orders to avoid the Nguyễn family.
Bảo demands to know why the feud exists and asks if it's about what happened in Vietnam. His mother yanks him outside and tearfully admits that her friend Dì Nhi started the rumor, but she didn't stop it. Then she reveals that Bảo's uncle died because of Linh's family—they are murderers. Stunned, Bảo is left reeling as his mother retreats into the kitchen.
Key Events
- Linh informs Bảo that a customer claims his parents spread a rumor about rats at her restaurant.
- Bảo initially defends his mother but grows uneasy.
- Linh's restaurant is forced to close for a day due to the health inspector's visit.
- Bảo confronts his mother in the kitchen of their restaurant.
- His mother deflects and then admits that Dì Nhi started the rumor, but she didn't stop it.
- Bảo reveals his friendship and growing relationship with Linh, shocking his mother.
- His mother pulls him outside and tearfully confesses that her brother (Bảo's uncle) died because of Linh's family.
- Bảo is left alone trying to process this new information.
Character Development
Bảo undergoes a crucial transformation in this chapter. For the first time, he openly defies his mother's authority and defends Linh with conviction. His initial denial gives way to a painful realization that his parents may be capable of harming others. When he confronts his mother, he speaks louder than ever before, asserting that Linh deserves respect. His growth is shown in his willingness to challenge family loyalty in favor of truth and justice.
Mẹ (Bảo's mother) appears vulnerable for the first time. Her usual sharp demeanor breaks when she cries and reveals the long-held secret about her brother's death. Her admission about the rumor—blaming Dì Nhi but accepting partial responsibility—shows that she is not purely malicious but trapped by history and grief.
Linh remains offstage but her influence is felt throughout the chapter. Her courage in telling Bảo the truth pushes him to act. Her message about the restaurant's closure underscores the real consequences of the rumor.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Family loyalty versus truth – Bảo must choose between believing his parents and siding with Linh. His mother's lies test his trust.
The cost of secrets – The rumor about rats is a small act with big repercussions: lost business, a health inspection, and emotional damage. The bigger secret—the uncle's death—weighs on Mẹ for years and poisons the feud.
Intergenerational trauma – The revelation about the uncle ties the feud to Vietnam, suggesting that the families' conflict is rooted in unresolved pain from the past. Mẹ's grief spills into the present.
Rumors as weapons – Dì Nhi's remark becomes a tool of sabotage. The chapter shows how words can harm livelihoods and relationships when left unchecked.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point. It exposes the deepest secret driving the feud: a death in the family. Bảo's confrontation with his mother shatters the vague hostility they have shown toward the Nguyễns. For the first time, he has a concrete reason for the conflict, though it is incomplete. The revelation that Bảo's uncle died because of Linh's family raises the stakes dramatically. It forces Bảo to reconsider everything he knows about both families. It also brings the romantic relationship to a crisis point—Linh's family is accused of something far worse than restaurant rivalry.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Bảo initially refuse to believe his mother started the rat rumor?
Bảo knows his mother can be harsh but believes she is not cruel enough to jeopardize another family's livelihood. He wants to trust that the feud is not that extreme.
2. How does Mẹ react when Bảo reveals he is friends with Linh?
She is shocked and demands to know how he knows her. She then scolds him for disobeying her orders to stay away from the Nguyễn family. Her reaction shows that the feud is personal and deeply ingrained.
3. What does Mẹ finally confess about the past feud?
She tearfully reveals that Bảo's uncle died because of Linh's family, calling them murderers. This secret explains her long-held bitterness and the intensity of the rivalry.