A woman, Linh, and her young child, are struggling to make ends meet. They meet a kind-hearted woman who takes them in and offers them a place to stay and work. The woman's husband is initially skeptical, but eventually warms up to Linh and her child.
As the story progresses, it is revealed that Linh's husband abandoned her after she gave birth to a girl, as he preferred a boy. Linh and her child are forced to wander, struggling to survive.
Years later, Linh's child has grown up and is successful, thanks in part to the kindness of the woman who helped them. Linh returns to repay the woman's kindness, but finds that she is struggling and alone, having lost her family and fortune.
Linh offers to take care of the woman, who is revealed to be her long-lost benefactor. The story ends with Linh and her child welcoming the woman into their family, and promising to take care of her.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker's husband's family prefers boys, but the speaker gave birth to a girl.
2. The husband had a boy with another woman and kicked the speaker and her mother out.
3. The speaker's parents have passed away.
4. The speaker and her mother are struggling to make ends meet.
5. The speaker is looking for a part-time job to support herself and her mother.
6. A woman offers the speaker a place to stay and a job as a maid.
7. The speaker is hesitant to accept the offer due to concerns about the woman's husband.
8. The speaker eventually accepts the offer and moves in with the woman and her husband.
9. The speaker's daughter is grown up and successful.
10. The speaker returns to repay the woman who helped her 25 years ago.
11. The woman has been struggling and is now alone.
12. The speaker offers to take care of the woman and become like family to her.
13. The speaker's daughter keeps a box of female ginseng and licorice pills as a souvenir.
14. The speaker's daughter always calls the woman "dad".
15. The speaker and her daughter want to take care of the woman and be there for her.