Confessions.
Hà decides it’s time to tell
Mother why she’s been so miserable, so she admits that she used to buy less pork so she could buy sweets. Mother says she already knows, surprising Hà, and then asks what else Hà has to share. Hà admits that she used to like making
Tram cry—and now kids make Hà cry. She asks if she’ll be punished forever, and then says she has one more big confession: she was the first one to touch the floor on Tet. Mother’s eyes go wide, but Hà shouts that she hates being told she can’t do things because she’s female. Hà asks if she ruined the whole family’s luck, and if that’s why they’re in Alabama.