Vu Thien Kieu

Vu Thien Kieu, born on September 1, 1974 in Ngoc Minh Village, Quynh Hoang Commune, Quynh Phu District, Thai Binh Province, currently lives in Hon Dat District, Kien Giang. She is member of Vietnam Writers’ Association. Her published works include poetry collections “Thirst”, “Earth, Water and Poetry Love”, “Burning the Quiet Area”, and “Hungry for lip tops”. She has won several awards including second prize in poetry contest 2010-2011, jointly organized by Army Art Magazine and Song Huong magazine; Award for Good Poetry by Writers Magazine in 2012; First prize in the short story contest “Rainbow Six colors” organized by the Center for Research and Applied Science on Gender – Family – Women and Adolescents (CSAGA), in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy in 2013; Third prize in the short story contest of Literature Art Newspaper in 2015-2017; First prize for Short Story 2018 organized by Children’s Web.

The woman with lipstick

By Vu Thien Kieu

(Translated into English by Khanh Phuong)

1.

Mrs. Bay looked at her daughter-in-law. She was ready to go to work again. She rubbed her eyes. Her eyes suddenly felt itchy. But her mouth even felt itch more. How could she be silent when seeing her daughter-in-law to use cosmetics, apply cream? Even more hates when she wore carrot-colored lips. She used to not have cream powder, lipstick like this.

– Please don’t show me the carrot color again, Madam. Cham.

– I’m leaving. No more trouble for you, mom.

Mrs. Bay specialized in calling her daughter-in-law by Madam. She did not know how to speak sweetly to pat her daughter-in-law. Daughter-in-law caught her smile.

One day, little granddaughter Chon was too hot to speak to grandson Chieu: “You find a few Colocasia esculenta leaves”. “What is it for, sister?”

– To treat grandma’s mouth. No one can stand grandma’s mumbling.

– Huh. You dare!

Bad! But how dare it. Their grandma.

Their father was died. Four people (including 3 children and their mother) and their grandma lived together. Their mother was about to go to work at night so their grandma got angry. Children understood. Grandma worried that their mother had this or that and could leave her granddaughter and grandson alone.

The granddaughter often begged her mother: Mom! No matter how hungry you are, stay at home with us. Don’t go to Binh Duong. I’m so scared of losing my mom.

– What happen if I am going to Binh Duong? There will have monthly salary. Money is more regular, isn’t it?

– But you have to stay at the inn. Then men can approach to you. Mom will leave us to get married. I can’t stand my stepfather. Then my mother’s love for us will be less. I can’t stand it.

– And again. I heard from my friends online that a stepfather beat his stepdaughter to death. The boy is only eight years old. I’m so scared. You promise not going there.

Daughter Chan said while looking at her mother, Mrs. Cham as if imploring, her eyes were wet, her body trembled, as if her stepfather had been before her. Compassionated her daughter, Cham gently hugged her in the arms and nodded. The daughter felt her mother’s boundless love through her warm embrace.

2.

There were five people in the house. Four people were absolutely afraid of ghosts. Whenever they heard about ghosts, the four people cringed. Their chests were pounding. At night, every time the wind and storm flash, their souls were like on the clouds. Cham, every night, she went to work until dawn. Sometimes heavy rain and storms, and Chon begged again: Mom, stay home with us. I’m afraid.

Her mother shook her head. Then her eyes were watery.

Since her father (named Hinh) died, the family burden fell on her mother’s shoulders. She, a thirteen-year-old child does nothing but took care of younger brother, swept the house, and went to school. Her grandma had a heart attack, was sick at times had to take medicine regularly. The drug for her grandma every month cost a lot. Then money spent for food, money for schools. Living in a field, but their family had no field, so how can live. The field had followed the illness of their father. The whole family’s life, the whole family’s breath all depended on her mother.

During the day, her mother followed some other people to transplant seeds, pick fruits, cuts fish to dry, then even heavy work such as carrying bricks, pesticides … she also covered all.

She also looked for a job at night. She worked outside Rach Gia.

About six o’clock she left.

The moon was bright tonight. That her father died four years. Four years, a difficult time for her family. In the first year, debts accumulated. In the second year, her mother was able to stretch some debts. In the third year, the whole family passed the suffocation. And this fourth, the family can buy a pack of rice, not every kilogram as before.

It’s all her mother’s works. That was why, grandma loved her daughter-in-law very much. After cooking, she told children to wait for their mother and eat together. There was a meal, a pair of snakehead eggs went around five bowls of rice. Mother picked up for grandma. Then grandma moved to granddaughter, then granddaughter passed it on to the youngest brother (named Duoc), the youngest brother gave it to his thin brother Chieu.

And of course, boy Chieu poured it back into his mother’s bowl: Mom, eat it so you can take care of us. Grandma and granddaughter cried. Really, there was nothing better than their love for each other, though very poor but very compassionated each other. The mother in their lens was the diligent one.

Their mother was kind, diligent. The mother was always looking for more jobs to do. Because if had a job, she can earn more money. Only when have money the family have food, school fees, and clothes.

Their family was so difficult, whether the neighbors or relatives care or not. Yes! On holidays and New Year’s Eve, the family also received gifts as poor households. There were rice cakes, jam cakes, oil and even envelopes. But those were the showers that suddenly come and then stop. “Must earn by yourself. Make your own money, don’t depend on anyone. People can’t help me forever” The mother always told them that.

The moon was bright. Their hearts were sad. It’s almost ten o’clock and they still can’t sleep. The four of them, grandma and 3 children, who are curled up together, could not chase the cold wind outside.

– What does your mother doing?

Grandma’s question startled grandson Chon.

– My mother is going to work. My mother washes dishes for the restaurant.

– Wash dishes, also applying lipstick, Chon.

– It’s okay, grandma. Now everything must have a beauty that can be hired by people. But as ugly as a ghost, who dares to hire her.

– Huh! Ghost!

Grandma wrapped her arms around him. She fears. It accidentally mentioned the word ghost to frighten Grandma.

She laid still. He pulled the soft sheet over his grandma. He loved grandma so much. Whenever a woman or a girl make up, the grandma thought they were doing this and that “dirty works”. Poverty and suffering were closely intertwined. Grandma can’t see a generous glimpse, she was averse to lipsticks and blush.

Grandma was also especially allergic to mother’s phone. The black Nokia phone, when it left the pocket of her coat, is judged. Grandma grabbed the phone and tried to open it. Her eyes were blurred, but her curiosity was greater. She asked grandson Chieu reading for her what the text in phone showed.

– All trash and spam messages, Grandma!

– Trash! Phones also have garbage.

– It’s a random message.

– Is there a message that identifies “dear or lover”?

– Asking too much.

Every day, the mother answered the phone a couple of times. As soon as grandma saw her put the phone to her ear, Grandma sat quietly listening. Mother’s voice says briefly: I know. I go immediately.

And the chorus of lipstick and makeup happened again before mother left the house.

3.

Mrs. Bay was very suspicious. She suspected her daughter-in-law…

She also used to raise children on her own. The night was so long.

One day, she helped her granddaughter Chon pushing a bicycle to repair. She asked the shop owner where his wife was. The husband replied succinctly: It’s over there. She raised her eyes in the direction he pointed. What was that! A tray full of middle women. Also sat on the mat, took glasses of beer. They were very modern.

God! These were married women. What about her daughter-in-law? Her thoughts turned to her daughter-in-law. During the day, she did nothing to hurt mother-in-law’s eyes. But what about at night?

She lured Chon to ask what restaurant her mother worked at. “At that Wave restaurant”. “How do you know”. “So my mother said that”.

She muttered: Wave Restaurant. Madman Cham washes dishes at Song restaurant.

– The restaurant sells through the night?

– No! At twelve o’clock only. My mother finished cleaning up too late, so she stays there and back hom early in the morning.

Mrs. Bay extended her hand to receive the dose of medicine Chon gave, but her heart was still restless.

4.

Wave Restaurant was that. What a beautiful restaurant. The wall was painted with waves.

– Ma’am, who are you looking for?

The young man was wearing a blue shirt with a red ribbon on his sleeve. She thought he must be the security guard.

– I’m looking for my daughter-in-law. She washes dishes here.

– What’s your daughter-in-law’s name?

– Cham. Her name is Cham.

– There’s no one here named Cham, ma’am. And how old is your daughter-in-law?

– She is thirty eight.

– There are only owners who are over forty. The rest of the staff are all under thirties.

Oh my God! She sat down on the ground. Tears welled up in her eyes. “It’s clear”. Her daughter-in-law lied. Hinh! Your wife was spoiled.

She looked at the street through her cloudy eyes. Lamp. The street was lighted. Green and yellow and red lights, so crowded. Her heart roared: “Hinh, my son. You lived wisely and died sacredly, guide the way for your wife to return home to raise your children. Don’t be like the moths that suffer in the life, poor children”.

After a rough night in the street, Mrs. Bay also arrived home about half an hour earlier than her daughter-in-law. Miserable! How was she so hard for an old grandma to take care of his wife for her son. She knew that but what would be matter? Her daughter-in-law has not yet passed young, not reached the old. Without a proof cannot say then the daughter-in-law would deny. Then the neighbors can talk behind. Then the kids scared. No matter what, she had to create peace for the children. They were in adult hood, the psychological shock would affect their whole life. As if it were true. Madam Cham would cry and beg her, that “mom please understand me. I don’t want that”. Her heart would be soft. As if she pushed hard, her daughter-in-law would lose face and leave. Then what would her grandchildren’s lives be like?

She kept her eyes on daughter-in-law. Cham went to the kitchen. Cham boiled vegetables, cooked rice. Mrs. Bay carefully examined the spirit of her daughter-in-law through the light of the fire. The color of her cheeks was pink. The color of its luscious lips meant that she has just been “full”. But where she did “eat”? Was she like that fire? Fire encountered everything. Fire burned anything. Probably not! She sighed heavily.

– What’s up, mom!

– YES. Ah… ah it’s nothing, daughter

She was surprised when she suddenly called her daughter-in-law as “daughter”.

– In a little while, mom please let the children eat rice. Today, I go to cut rice for Mr. Thuan’s house.

The story of last night haunted Mrs. Bay very much. Her daughter-in-law did not wash dishes at Wave restaurant. It was clear. Uncover or cover the story was up to her. When it come out, it could not only deal with her daughter-in-law but for the whole family.

5.

– Where’s Cham?

The bundle of incense on Mrs. Bay’s hands felt freely. A woman with a sullen face entered the house.

– Ma’am, you are looking for my daughter-in-law.

– Your daughter-in-law. She is a wife all over the world, but she also has a mother-in-law. Where is she?

– My daughter-in-law is working.

– Your daughter-in-law steals other’s husbands. Even a poor guy drives a motorbike taxi, she is not accepted.

– Why do you say that? You must not lie.

– Ask your daughter-in-law. I warn you. You must teach your daughter-in-law, if I give her a can of acid, her face would be beautiful.

The children were afraid and hid in Mrs. Bay. Grandma Bay pushed the grandchildren behind her to avoid the fierce woman’s gaze. She glanced around the house. Seeing her daughter-in-law’s lipstick box on the shelf, she crashed to the ground.

– Hey! She uses lipstick as a charm. This charm. I’ll ruin her charms.

She used her foot to crush them breaking the boxes of cream and lipstick. Satisfied! She turned on her heels and got into the car. Her voice squeaked into the house:

– My message to damn Cham, if she keeps going with my husband, I’ll scratch her house too.

Mrs. Bay shocked and her grandchildren had green faces. At this point, they burst into tears:

– Call mother back, grandma. Mommy!

– Mom. Huh…

Mrs. Bay coaxed: Hold on. That’s what they say, kids. Don’t believe it. People hate your mother saying that. But your mother works at a restaurant.

– Grandma met our mother at Wave restaurant.

– I’ve met her. Your mother is busy washing dishes all the time. That’s great.

Granddaughter Chon was excited: Yes. I know. My mother is very good.

The older sister smiled, making the two younger brothers laughed as well. Childish indeed. All three of them ran to the gate to play.

After reassuring the grandchildren, Mrs. Bay turned to be lost. Her daughter-in-law was in danger. Falling on a married man was like a fish on a cutting board. How she could live if being cut and kick like the cream box.

How can be safe for her daughter-in-law? Motorbike. Jealous. If her daughter-in-law drove a motorbike taxi again, it would be beat by that jealous woman. She hurried into the room and opened an old tin box. She opened the lid of the box. Money. The money was enough for her daughter-in-law to buy an electric bicycle. The money she saved for whole lifetime in case… VND three million seven. Active means would be always better. Imagined that Madam Cham would sit on a car soaring, Mrs. Bay’s heart suddenly warmed up. When her son died, her daughter-in-law would be like a daughter. She loved her daughter-in-law, the daughter-in-law loved mother-in-law. But if only it weren’t lipstick, just leave the tanned cheeks, who would be jealous.

6.

You should believe in me. I just want to earn money to support my children. The children are good, your health is good, and then that is the most I ever care.

– Madam Cham is telling the truth. Acid has no meaning to anyone.

– I know mom. Feel free to watch out the children for me and remember to take your medicine regularly. Don’t think too much, mom.

After the sweet sound as a sugarcane, Cham pursed her lips so that the lipstick was evenly covered.

– I don’t like these. But thanks to its color, it is lucky and earns a lot of money.

– Do you have a tip for washing dishes?

– Then, if more customers at night, I would have a lot of tips.

The phone rang again. Glance over the number to Slow off subtitles.

– I’m going, mom.

Saying that, Cham took the electric bike to the gate.

Mrs. Seven looked at her daughter-in-law again! It must have been standing all night. She did not expose her actions as right or wrong. Wrong or right was not as important as the children’s rice and clothes. Children needed to be well protected. Can’t let the children know that their mother who had to do a job that the whole society laughed and scolded.

She searched for a lighter to burn incense. “Husband and son, how can you think to help my daughter-in-law? Limited human power. She plowed day and night to aim for a long time. Dear son Hinh. Was I too bad? I was complicit in giving my daughter-in-law to do bad thing. The road is over. I hope you understand mama”. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she mumbled.

This morning, when the weather was calm, Mrs. Bay went to exercise. This road was only made by the state. She walked slowly. Her hands waved. The doctor told her to walk regularly to be good for her health.

At the foot of the field was the Bau Trau field that once belonged to her family. Now people bought and built a bird’s nest house. She regret. How much sweat were put to the field by all members of the whole family. But in the end, couldn’t keep it. On the day selling, she begged people to set aside a corner of about 100 square meters for a future burial place. Her husband’s grave was buried in the graveyard of Cau No. Five, where all day the cows bulldozed, Hinh also needed a warm place to rest after a series of days of suffering and illness. The new owner said coldly: if bury the grave here, then no birds go back to live. If you don’t sell it, I’ll buy it somewhere else.

Her field was in a stuck position, with no frontage, no water line. Well, let accept. As soon as the children growing up, they would choose to buy land to gather the graves of their grandparents in one place. She had high hopes for her grandchildren. Chon and Chieu were all good kids, who would how to love their grandma and mother. Now suffering and hard work, the next day her grandchildren would try their best to be rich or poor with people.

While thinking, Mrs. Bay suddenly heard a noise ahead. Two women were arguing. Is Cham, her daughter-in-law?

– I said it was mine.

The woman’s voice was bitter.

– Two months ago I gave you one night. Why are you so tough?

The woman scolded and cursed Cham. Cham lowered her face. Tears were down.

– You cry. Fake tear. I told you. Whenever he calls you to bed, you must make excuses for being busy and let me know.

– Yes. Because he likes me.

– He likes you. Damn you.

The woman repeatedly slammed her hand into Cham’s face.

Mrs. Bay panicked and rushed to pull her hands.

– It’s not that. Please calm down. Forgive my daughter-in-law.

– Give my way. I have to teach that damn woman. Every business has a law. You have to look ahead and look back. My rice cooker, you dare to jump in and dig.

After her pushing, Mrs. Bay felt to the edge of the field.

– Mom! Are you okay?

Cham struggled to lift Mrs. Bay. Suddenly Cham turned back. Cham removed a sandal with a wooden sole. She pursed carrot-colored lips and shouted at her:

– Yes. He likes me to sleep there. Why don’t you call him? You are out of time. If you lack of money, I will you some hundreds to eat. Don’t talk to me anymore.

Cham picked out her pocket, she took out a VND five-hundred-thousand and gave it to that woman. She took quickly and said:

– YES. Cute. If you use mine, please share. We share 1/3. Bye bye.

Mrs. Bay’s limbs were trembling. Her eyes rose. Cham was panic:

– Mom. Calm down, mom. Let me take you home.

8.

Recently, Cham was less going to work at night. Mrs. Bay’s health seemed to be weaker. Spending was less than before. The children rarely asked for money for snacks. But they were happy because the night had their mother sleeping together. The sunshine was always above. The ground was getting closer every day. That was, grandma’s back was also bent. Mrs. Bay looked at her daughter-in-law’s neck and saw it was green. It seemed that she also coughed and suffered from cerebral ischemia.

She said to Cham: “you try to eat well. You have something happened, the children cannot depend on. Mom is old.”

– Mom, don’t worry. I’m strong. Ah. I’ll go again tonight, listen to me.

Cham was needless to say, she also knew. Because in the afternoon she saw her daughter-in-law on the phone. She also lit incense to pray to her husband and Hinh to bless her with peace.

She followed her daughter-in-law’s lipstick-painted hand. The carrot color was bright today. She found her daughter-in-law’s lips strangely beautiful. Instinct or bad news for her. Only when one would be close to the earth and far from the sky, one can think clearly. She didn’t hate the color of carrots anymore. It was the color of smiles, of life. It did not matter. She can follow her husband. She didn’t help to see her daughter-in-law, and the money for medicine increased and for children’s school fees. She looked up at the altar, husband’s picture with a kind smile. An incense stick turned off. What would be go on here?

– Mom, you take the medicine. Let the kids go to bed early.

Cham took the mask to cover her face. Through the mask, the carrot lips were still cleared as if screaming in the eyes of Mrs. Bay.

9.

It was nine o’clock in the morning. But Cham has not yet returned. Mrs. Bay went in and out of uneasy heart. Without rice, she cooked noodles for Chon, and Chieu to eat in time to study. The youngest boy was lying in the hammock sleeping in the middle of the day. What was wrong with her daughter-in-law?

She burned incense again. The smell of incense sticks spread the house. She prayed: “Husband! Son Hinh. I pray that Cham would not get bullied. Ours daughter-in-law wears lipstick. Due to the poverty of the house, she chose the profession of standing on the street at night. she has suffered for this family already. I know all. But I didn’t speak out. Women’s fate…”

– Mrs. Bay! Where are the children?

Mr. Thuan’s voice interrupted her line of vows.

– What’s the matter?

– Do you know what your daughter-in-law does?

– Then she goes to work at a restaurant.

– No.

Mrs. Bay looked up at him hesitantly. Maybe he already knew. She hesitantly asked:

– Is my daughter-in-law beaten by jealous woman again?

– No! Your daughter-in-law is dead. She is not as bad as people think.

Dead? My daughter-in-law is dead. Why?

She felt onto the ground.

He wiped his tears with his hand.

– Calm down. Her daughter-in-law worked as a sleeper in a coffin.

– God!

– Who knows that last night she slept and didn’t wake up? The owner of the camp called the police to search. Looks like she had a stroke. They’re about to bring her home.

Mrs. Bay seemed no longer to listen to the man talked.

“Dear Cham. Her daughter-in-law, who liked to wear carrot-colored lipstick. She put on lipstick to go to bed. They hired her to sleep in a coffin to sell at a high price. My daughter. Carrot lips were fake but your heart was real. The long nights I thought you were in the arms of men and boys. I thought you was immersed in the sale of your body. I have loving you so much. Dear Cham. Can you sleep in the long, cramped nights of the coffin? I was so sorry for you. I’d rather have a bad reputation than tell you. Money. What is money that people have to suffer so much? My daughter!”

Grandma was sobbing.

Outside the gate, a car stopped.

People gathered to carry the red box, which was also the color of carrots, into the house.

In the box, the woman with lipstick was asleep. Her lips were still the color of carrots.

________________________

The post The Woman with Lipstick – A Short Story from Vietnam first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Born in 1948, Pham Xuan Hieu is the member of Vietnam Writers’ Association, a UNESCO researcher and collector of preserved antiquities. He lives and works in Hai Phong city, Vietnam. His published books are – The family treasured lamp (short stories); ‘The woman and the silver cup’ (short stories) awarded by Vietnam Writers’ Association; The soul of a bear (story awarded by Ministry of agriculture) and ‘Antiquities galaxy’ (novel).

Old Sin and his little Langur

By Pham Xuan Hieu

The evening market at the foot of Mt Van closed for the day quite a while ago, yet Old Sin continued to loiter among the stalls in search of the day’s leftovers to put in the bag that hung loosely over his chest. His left arm was nearly immovable, and his right one was misshapen, like a twisted piece of firewood dangling from his shoulder. He was by no means a beggar, for he only appeared at the market when the crowd was almost gone because he could not stand their glances of pity. He had no money with him when he went to the market, as he did not need it: he was able to bring home the scraps without paying.

The sun had set behind the mountain range. So far, he had been unable to find anything for this evening’s meal and for the next day. His hesitant footsteps echoed and vacant eyes stared around the empty stalls in vain. All of a sudden, he remembered the parking area, where the scattered remains from coach passengers sometimes lay on the ground.

As he glanced at the dump nearby one last time he unexpectedly heard a weird sound. With the gait of a semi-disabled man, he moved towards the strange noises, in the hope that a lame chicken or an unwanted newborn duckling could be found. To his surprise, he saw a damaged bamboo cage. He lifted it up. Two round eyes pierced from inside. At once he dropped the cage and ran away without seeing what type of animal it was. He was usually averse to eyes that gazed at him in a challenging way, but just a few steps away from the cage, he realized that his fear was unreasonable. What was he afraid of?

He decided to go back to see what kind of animal it was. Picking the cage up, he looked more carefully. Inside he saw a skinny little langur lying on the bottom of the cage. It twitched its tail, eyes brimming with tears, as if it had been waiting for help.

Sadly, a few days before its mother had been fatally shot in the back by an arrow while she was sunbathing with her baby on an exposed branch high in a tree. Blood oozed out in droplets, but in her last dying moments she tried to cling to the twigs in order to take her baby down the tree to a safe place on the ground before breathing her last. But the hunter took the baby monkey home and a few days later brought it to the market in the hope that he might earn some money from this trophy. Of course, no one wanted to buy that hungry, ugly little animal. Finding it seriously ill inside the cage, the hunter mercilessly left the caged animal on a heap of rubbish and returned home.

***

Old Sin found the little animal breathing heavily. He took it out of the cage, held it in his arms and went straight home. He lived alone at the foot of Mt Van. His dilapidated low-roofed thatched hut was furnished with one bamboo trellis used as a door, a creaky bamboo bed, and a few damaged pans, placed on three broken bricks used to support the stove.

“Eat up, dear,” he said to the poor primate after placing a half-consumed tin of condensed milk in front of it. After a long time without anyone to chat with, he talked a lot to the baby monkey in a soft voice. When the primate finished its tasty meal, he stretched out an old torn shirt over the bed and placed the poor animal on it. “When you grow up and recover, I’ll take you back to your natural habitat,” he whispered.

In high spirits, he caressed the little langur’s face then rubbed the wrinkled skin on its chest.

***

When the langur was strong enough, he took it with him to the forest one morning with the intent of letting it go, but it kept clinging to him. Eventually he was compelled to take it home. With a diet of over-ripe fruit abandoned at the market place, the animal grew quickly; it was also getting wiser and wiser with every passing day. At home it could follow any order from by its owner. Sometimes, it would even scratch its master’s back.

From the day the old man brought the little animal home, he turned over a new leaf. He taught the animal through a language of gestures he created on his own.

One day, while he and his little friend were standing by the fig tree near his hut, a group of students and their teacher approached. Seeing the small monkey tossing figs to its master, they stopped short to watch the game. At first, it threw several pieces of fruit at the students, and then the students did the same in response. The students laughed and laughed and the animal joined in their laughter. They raised their hands, shouting with glee. They gave the animal some sheets of paper, a few coloring pencils and many notebooks to practice drawing. Before leaving, the teacher gave the primate some money. Many of the students did the same, to reward it for the interesting games.

After that meeting with the schoolchildren, Old Sin became aware of many things that he had never thought of before. Although money was useful, he never had any because he didn’t want to beg. Now he led his little langur to perform before crowds of curious people eager to see its clever tricks. During each performance, it was given some money, fruit and flowers. Soon he realized that those who had previously avoided him did not really hate him. They just saw that he didn’t have anything useful to offer them. Now, thanks to his little monkey, he was not afraid of the locals any more.

***

Rumour of Old Sin’s intelligent langur reached Voong, the manager of a delicacy restaurant called Rung (Forest) in the Cong Troi (Sun Gate) township. One day Voong ordered one of his staff to invite Old Sin and his baby monkey to his place for some entertainment.

Standing at the center of the courtyard with hands on his hips in the indigo costume of the Tay minority people, Voong looked very imposing and bossy. A brilliant yellow light shone from the ivory pipe at his lips, which he puffed incessantly to emit the thin blue smoke of local tobacco among his obedient and flattering staff.

In truth, the baby monkey did not know how to perform any real circus acts. It could only cleverly do what it had been trained to do: laugh, cry, dance, and so on. With an intelligent mind handed down from generation to generation, the primate was said to be the cleverest creature in the jungle.

When Old Sin and his little monkey were done with several acts, he was invited to Voong’s mansion.

“Sell me your monkey, mate. Living with you, it’s both miserable and good-for-nothing. If it stays here with me, it’ll be happy; what’s more, it would help me earn lots of money,” Voong said to the old man.

“Please, forgive me, my Lord, he is my dear friend. Without him, I’d die of sorrow,” Old Sin said.

“Death is your own problem. I’m fond of the animal, that’s all. Here’s some money for it. Take it and go home at once!” Voong said to the old man, taking some banknotes out of his pocket and tossing them at the poor man’s face.

Old Sin stood up, stared at him and smiled scornfully. His smile made Voong extremely angry, for nobody had ever been bold enough to show contempt for him.

“You’re not willing to sell it, are you?” Voong said, lifting the old man up by the collar.

“No, not at all, Sir!” Old Sin replied without fear. “Frankly speaking, I don’t want to sell him.”

“What a cheek! Drive him away,” Voong said to his men.

Immediately, Old Sin was pushed violently. He tumbled to the ground. A few seconds later, he was dragged to the compound gate.

Meanwhile, the little animal was shrieking bitterly. It wanted to rescue its master, but any effort was in vain. The baby monkey was confined in a steel cage that had previously been home to another monkey that, unfortunately for the creature, had failed to please customers.

Voong’s restaurant became more well-known than ever. The little animal not only refused to amuse the audience, but also showed its hatred against them. Each time it showed its anger it became a laughing stock for viewers. Many patrons would go to the restaurant to see the poor creature first then enjoy a special delicacy – monkey brain – to attain longevity.

Many species of trapped primates were kept in cages in a special “monkey room”. In this room there was a round marble table with a 10-cm hole in the center. Whenever customers wanted to enjoy monkey brain, the manager would remove one ill-fated animal from its cage and tie it limb from limb to a post under the table. The monkey’s head was placed through the hole with about three centimeters exposed above the surface. The top of the head was shaved carefully and washed three times with alcohol. Customers would sit on the simple stools that surrounded the table. In front of each diner was a small set of plates and spoons and numerous spices. Before the start of the banquet, spirits were poured into small crystal glasses and they were raised. “Cheers!” they would shout to pray for health and prosperity.

By this time, an executioner in red clothes and a white turban would wield a large sharp-edged knife in hand in readiness to serve the customers. At their request, the knife would move close to the surface of the table and in a flash the top of the monkey head would be cut off. The executioner would then lift the top of the skull from the still-living animal, revealing a red mass of brain slightly throbbing up and down amid the sound of clinking glasses and joyful “cheers” of the gastronomes that would fill the room. Meanwhile, the poor animal under the table would wiggle violently, with lamenting screams penetrating the room.

One bigwig in particular frequented Voong’s restaurant to entertain his upstart friends with this special delicacy.

“Old Voong’s just bought a clever monkey. It’s as intelligent as a human. What’s more, it’s a precious and rare species of animal,” this VIP guest was told by one of his staff one day.

“Then get there immediately and tell him to try to arrange a special party with that monkey for me,” said the VIP.

“I’ve already asked him to hold a party for us, but he refused point-blank on the grounds that the langur is a key source of income along with the profits he earns from his catering business. So he doesn’t dare kill it for meat,” said his servant. “Maybe if you talk to him directly he would agree with your request,” he added.

On Sunday evening, the VIP and his up-and-coming friends went to Voong’s restaurant. The manager himself welcomed the customers at the compound gate. Barely even waiting to get out of the car, the VIP began dealing with the matter without restraint.

“I’m told that you have a strange new monkey, haven’t you?” he asked Voong.

“Yes, Sir! It’s here in a cage,” he said as he invited the guests to visit the monkey room.

Looking at the queer appearance of the animal, the VIP said to himself, “such a rare primate must have a very nutritious and healthy brain”. Turning to the manager standing behind him, he whispered something in his ear.

“Yes, yes, Sir! For such a saviour as you, how could I have the heart to refuse,” replied the owner respectfully.

Now, the special guest wanted to see Voong show off his skills at that remote yet well-known restaurant.

Although the monkey room was ready, everybody stood in the courtyard to witness Voong’s ability in capturing the wild animal.

In an odd change of habit, the little langur that usually cried loudly and ran wildly now kept totally silent and let the shopkeeper reach in and pull it out of the cage. All of a sudden, Voong was overwhelmed with regret. He wished to keep the monkey in order to entertain lots of customers for more money. Also, if he killed the animal for meat his famous “monkey restaurant” would be less attractive to connoisseurs. He pondered over the matter carefully while taking the limp langur out of the room.

For its part, ever since the day it was shut up in the cage the monkey had tried to escape, but always in vain. It missed the master who had saved its life and raised it in penury and despair terribly and remembered the moment his saviour was tortured right in this very courtyard. It always wished to take revenge for its master and run away at any cost. It now had a golden opportunity.

Voong brought the baby monkey to the VIP and allowed him to caress the smooth yellow fur. To everyone’s surprise, while they were touching the animal it pissed on Voong’s face, scratched the bigwig’s cheek and then shot away and disappeared.

***

From the day Old Sin lost his most precious possession he fell seriously ill. He tried to consider all the losses and gains in his life before confessing his last sins to God before passing on to the nether world.

Living alone at the foot of Mt Van ever since childhood he had led an honest life, without annoying anyone, nor depending on anybody for his existence. Would his next life be different? Only God knew! All of a sudden, he was startled and opened his eyes wide. He felt a little hand fondling his forehead and reinvigorating his strength.

“No matter what, I must be alive and do something meaningful for my poor little monkey in order to protect and care for him,” he whispered.

_______________________

(TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY VAN MINH)

The post Old Sin and his little Langur – A Short Story from Vietnam first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Nguyen Ngoc Loi

Nguyen Ngoc Loi, born on July 15, 1950 in Quynh Luu, Nghe An province of Vietnam, has 6 collections of short stories and 2 novels to his credit. He is winner of 4th prize for short stories of Van Nghe newspaper in 2003; second prize for short story about education in 2010; second prize for novel about transport in 2013; first prize for novel of Ho Xuan Huong Literature Prize for the period 2015-2020; second prize of the National Committee of the Vietnam Union of Culture and Arts Associations and some other local prizes.

The love of Ochna Integerrima Tree

By Nguyen Ngoc Loi

(Translated into English by Khanh Phuong)

The upright ochna integerrima tree placing in the red-brick courtyard of that building had caused a stir in the street. Its root was big, knobs covered with full of green-white moldy lichens. It was more than a meter high, from the root up it is tapered off, twisted full of knobs. Its trunk was like the body of an athlete, curling the wood grain under the dark brown bark.

The canopies were stripped of all leaves, revealing clusters of buds like jade iridescent fruit plates. Scattering from the small branches sprouted purple young shoots. The ochna integerrima tree looked like a tower filled with tens of thousands of buds. The top of the tower, the top of the tree like a cone were knitted with green buds.

No one known the identity of the house owner. The town was upgraded to a second-class urban area, the roads were newly planned, the land was chaotic, people who stayed for a long time sold the land for building houses, and people who come from other places to buy the land, so new houses grew up like mushrooms after the rain. The whole city was noisy all day like a construction site. The sound of hammers piling, the sound of welding machines, the sound of vehicles carrying materials, all were busy causing the fierce noise.

There were all kinds of houses, villas, tube houses… Every house had a few green trees to make it lively, to reduce the glare caused by the large concrete blocks, by the dazzling yellow, brown, and red paint colors. Trees plant in the ground, in cement tubs, in pots, tanks and pots were also of all kinds. Cement pots, ceramic pots… Looking at a tree, can guess one’s economic ability, the aesthetic level and taste of each homeowner. A newly street, the landlords had certain works, each person works at an office, so they lived next to each other but rarely visit each other.

The villa was closed all day. In the afternoons, when a shiny black car stopped as smooth and light as a whisper, the car door opened and a rosy, stylish middle-aged man stepped out, then people knew that the boss has come home from work. On New Year’s Eve, the host had many guests.

Afternoons of near Lunar New Year days, guests were gradually crowded, sometimes two, sometimes three small shiny cars. When one group left, another group came, the car stopped across the street, coming out were suits, ties, shiny brown and black shoes. They confidently stroke their heels, grabbed their bags and across the street, entering the house by the side gate.

The owner of the drinking shop under the tree across the street said that the ochna integerrima tree was transported by a small truck on the afternoon of the twenty-seventh lunar December of the last year. Lowering it to the yard was supported by five or six strong young men, who used skis, levers, and large paddles, carefully moved each section, sliding each inch and lifting like an egg.

The ochna integerrima tree was planted in a square tub, kneeling, about eighty centimeters each. The tub was chiseled by blue stone, the edges bordered by ancient patterns, delicately carved features that viewers cannot help but admire the talented hands of the craftsman. The precious tree was planted in the precious tub, which was quite proportionate. No one can value the ochna integerrima tree. Some said it was VND fifty million, some said it was even VND hundred million… Some people affirmed that it was a family treasure, why people sold it. Passers-by stopped here to look at the precious tree through two huge iron gates or through the green iron flower fence.

Anyone who has stopped to look at the tree was hard to leave. The more looking the more saw it more beautiful. Players of bonsai and trees in the vicinity heard the story of the tree, gathered to come, sometimes stood crowded at the fence. They commented, evaluated and praised the person who had the merit of shaping, trimming, and decorated for many years to have such art work.

The ochna integerrima tree was so beautiful. Looking at the root, trunk, branches with magical curves, people exclaimed how they can create such the beautiful art tree. It met all concepts of Eastern philosophy. That was the concept of the universe, of the philosophy of life. All the branches were full of buds. The chubby buds seemed to be just waiting for the predetermined moment to bloom and dedicate.

Anyone who had ever played with a tree, once held a scissor and plier to bend the trunk, pruning branches, can imagine the creator’s passion and hard work for decades. The tree was in upright shape, even though its trunk was bent, its bending branches like it has been against many storms of heaven and earth and of time, but its main axis was still vertical.

Its form was steady and proud as a challenge. In the midst of the cold and rainy weather, the sporadic yellow color suddenly appeared so fragile, luxurious and noble. The miraculous nature cleverly placed the essence of heaven and earth into the tree so that its petals had the most beautiful yellow color of the sunshine, the most beautiful buds in jade color. The tree was like a mini universe, it had a solid appearance at the root, an indomitable appearance in its standing form, and the luxuriant canopy shown a strong and lasting vitality like earth and sky.

Especially the color of flowers, in the middle of a cold area, peach blossom evoked the warmth and freshness, the yellow color of the ochna integerrima blossom seemed to signal the nobility and wealth. On the morning of the first day of lunar New Year, yellow flowers bloomed on the low canopy as if bringing a little bit of southern sunshine to show off in the North. The ochna integerrima tree had the western brown color of the house wall, the blue color of the door paint and the red color of the yard brick as the background, so it was outstanding, making the house even more splendid.

Mr. Than heard his son talking a lot about that tree but until today, even though he was not feeling well, he tried to get on the bike to see. For nearly thirty years, Mr. Than has completely entered the profession of collecting and playing bonsai. The more he did, the more he became passionate. Whenever he heard anyone mentioned a place with precious trees, he always tried to see it. The more he looked at the tree, the more things he learned and understood.

The bonsai represented the player’s personality, soul and aesthetic. Some people like straightforwardness, stubbornness, and bravado. Other people like the softness and flexibility. Some like the solid layout of the branches. Some like the bush, delicacy… He understood better than anyone how to plant, care and prune a tree shape. It was said that during a lifetime of making trees, just creating only satisfactory tree can be satisfied enough. The whole garden tried to create but he still couldn’t find a root that he could entrust his soul.

Although many visitors had also admired his talented hands. The beauty was infinite. The beauty never stopped but always tended to reach out. Artists expressed their ideas and feelings through skillful hands and sensitive souls to create art works. Especially in playing the trees, the player’s talented hands were not a decision, but the decisive thing was the time and age of the tree.

One can make the tree canopy becoming densely, the trunk with rough knobs, but no one can increase the age of the tree. The tree had an old age, in addition to the fullness and thickness of the canopy, the endurance of the trunk, it also had the shimmer of the creator’s soul. The entire tree, from the branches, canopy, to the root falling into the soil as a philosophy of life and crystallized so much sweat and human energy. Since he was passionate and started working, Mr. Than still felt like he was groping. The beauty that he tried so hard finding was still somewhere, undefined. The beauty so far seemed to still shimmer in his dim memory.

His garden has nearly four hundred roots including all kinds of ficus benjamina, cedrus, wrightia religiosa, feroniella lucida, ehretia microphylla. Some were already in shapes that he put in tubs. The rest he nursed in the garden. His trees were brought from all over the central, southern and northern regions. Before being imported into the garden, they were mainly in raw form, raw material shapes.

He bought and collected, exploited to take care of, curling and pruning by himself. He often said that playing bonsai without being able to create a position, a shape we like, was just the way of people who earn silver coins too easily. Spending money to buy bonsai to display and watch was the play of the vulgarian rich.

People commented that his bonsai had a strange style. It seemed liberal in form and delicate in details. Most of the bonsai in the garden were made by his own hands, from nursery techniques, pruning to techniques of holding branches, techniques of aging… Even though they still were clumsy features, each bonsai had a different mettle. Every day, at the end of the afternoon, he made a pot of tea, sitting on a stone table under the shade of the old Chrysophyllum cainino tree in the alley and watching it while waiting for friends.

Almost every afternoon, he had visitors to see bonsai and talk about it. The bonsai gave him moments of relaxation. Looking at that bonsai, playing with it, he felt like his soul was soaring, those moments seemed to make him forget all the bad things of human life. The more he played, the more he understood about this elegant hobby. It was a loss for those who did not know how to find joy and relaxation in bonsai and flowers.

Both hands clinging to the iron fence, despite the barking of the dog on the steps, Mr. Than watched the ochna integerrima tree passionately. His whole body was like goosebumps. He shuddered. Maybe it was like that. It was right. Standing outside the fence, just two meters from the tree, he looked very clearly. He clearly saw every detail of the pattern on the side of the stone tub.

The four sides of the stone tub, in the bent rectangles, were embossed with four grape characters “Dai”, “An”, “Thanh”, “Dat”. Those four Chinese words have been imprinted in his memory since then by the precious tree, by the skillful carving of the carvers. The two words “Dai” and “An” on the other side couldn’t be seen, but he remembered it clearly.

As for the other word “Dat”, the word “Dat” had a set of “scratched strokes” with sharp marks like a sword, but curved by the curver, perhaps a slight carelessness had left a small streak in the last stroke. The whole tree he can see very clearly. The branch near the root was cut, the cut was now healed.

The branch was close to the root, at that time the owner said that it was broken by a piece of firecracker. He had to raise one more canopy for the “five blessings”. After nearly thirty years, the tree had not grown much. It was this tree that nurtured his love and passion for nature and plants that he had built his landscape garden today.

But why was the tree here? His heart was filled with worrisome. He might call the guard and ask to come in.

But why is the apricot tree here? His heart was filled with worry. Maybe he called the gate to ask to come in. That day, after that Lunar New year, his unit withdrew from Hue. Because of injuries, he was sent back to a village north of Hue. Every day, through the crevice of the tunnel behind the thorny bushes, the soldier Than looked at the ochna integerrima garden passionately. In his sight, very close, just a few steps away, was the ochna integerrima garden. The whole garden, even though the spring was over, still dedicated an overwhelming yellow color.

The yellow one was like light sunshine. The yellow color glowed, tinting the entire space of the garden with yellow. Big trees, brilliant flowers were all from the base to the top. Small trees were also scattered with shy flower clusters among new branches and leaves that turned green buds.

Looking at the yellow color, Than sometimes forgot that he was hiding, forgot the danger lurking from the groups of soldiers who always went back and forth to harass the old owner, from the AR15 series that suddenly exploded on the other side of the dike was just far from a hundred meters where he sat. Although known the ochna integerrima from the forest in the west of Hue.

The ochna integerrima trees, the wild flowers that he had met on the way, in the forest where his unit was stationed in the previous springs had not given him any idea of the beauty of the ochna integerrima. Yet standing in front of a forest of the ochna integerrima with all shapes, the trees with green and jade flower buds, yellow petals seemed to rise, rising up in him the hungover feeling. An indescribable excitement made him feel like was being hypnotized.

Sitting in the basement, Than watched the old owner carefully use pieces of steel impregnated with python fat, later he was taught such explanations, wrapped around branches to bend, tie, hold and shape each tree.

He was so engrossed in observation that he was waken up when the old man’s little daughter brought food. “Why do you ashtonish?”. Knowing that he loved to look at the trees, she said, “My father just lacks sleep by the trees. If you like, ask my father to teach. My father likes you very much.” The little girl said as she looked at the soldier with sparkling and clear eyes.

The old man was probably in his sixties, elegant in appearance with sharp features. Sometimes he holds pliers, scissors, he looked at all sides of a tree to cut off its branches, clinging to the other branches. Sometimes he untied the rope to re-bend branches. The bending of trees he only did in the afternoon. Later, Than was explained by him to do it in the afternoon because at that time the trunk was less watery, the stem would be more flexible, bending would not be broken.

The ochna integerrima garden of all sizes, were classified and planted in straight lines. The old tiled house had a rather large brick yard, near the house were large trees planted in pots and tubs, perhaps for its convenience and watching. Smaller numbers were grown in small pots lined up in the garden. Another types were planted in beds, above there were shelters from rain and sunshine.

Next were the low stands with the soil to nurse the seedlings. The old man worked hard at the garden from morning to noon, from noon to afternoon, he plowed the soil, pruned the branches, and then used a small bottle to spray something that he mixed very carefully on the ochna integerrima trees. While working, he kept an eye on and listened to the movements around him. Sometimes he softly said as if indifferently: “Don’t rush, please”. When he mentioned, at any moment a group of soldiers or strangers who passed by the alley.

Than noticed it seemed that the owner of the garden was most interested in the tree in the middle of the yard. Looking in from the corner of the garden, the top of that tree was level with the roof of the house. The top of the tree was a small golden tower that glowed in the light of the sunshine. When the sunshine was out in the garden, the old man glanced again before entering the house. From then until the lights came on, Than saw him hard working around that ochna integerrima tree.

Nearly two months later, when the wound on his right foot was taken care of by the owner’s young daughter, the skin appeared to be good. On the occasion of nobody there, Than entered the garden and watch that tree. The tree had a root about the size of 2 round hands, upright and about eighty centimeters tall. Its branches were evenly distributed in all directions.

The bend of the tree was soft and natural as it had been since childhood. No trace of human interfere could be found. Although the trunk was bent, its axis was still vertical. Its stance seemed to say that even after going through many harsh and stormy events, despite having to struggle, it still stood firmly and defiantly.

When realized that Than loved bonsai and flowers, the old owner told that not everyone can “play” bonsai, especially ochna integerrima. The profession of “playing bonsai” was not for the lazy and superficial. Those who did not love bonsai and did not consider them as their own children should play in vain.

Habits of conceit, snobbery, and cheating, lying, thinking money were better than people… all were contrary to “the ochna integerrima spirit”. In him, the old saw a “follower” of “the ochna integerrima spirit”. When became the “follower” of “the ochna integerrima spirit”, then would understand more deeply what the old owner said.

The old reminded him that playing bonsai was like everything else in life, if you wanted to do something, you had to be passionate about it and put in effort and pursue it. What he wished for would come true because the war would be soon end. Thieu’s government was full of greedy plunderers, they acted, shoot and killed for no other than the purpose of filling the pockets of dollars. Such a government would be sooner or later end, would be destroyed by the revolution…

Hearing the old man said, Than woke up. The sublime philosophies through the old man’s words became coherent. Than did not expect that a normal person who worked hard all day with plants and trees had such a simple and pure philosophy of life. As a politician, often explaining and encouraging the soldiers, now thinking back, he found that the words he said were empty.

The old owner’s words, the man lived in the heart of the enemy, deeply understanding the truth of life, every day had to reason and fight with the enemy, made him feel like he was drinking a cool stream of water. The old man told him that with a tree, when a person dedicated his whole life loving it, it will not turn back/betray to you. Those trees also cannot be valued by money.

Who can calculate the price of the sleepless nights, awake, the sweat drops dripping down the trees. People loved trees as much as they loved children. For some reasons people can be away from you painfully, but no one will sell their children. Selling children, maybe those were dishonest people…

How much did the old man love that ochna integerrima tree. He boasted to Than, that his father bought the tub in the Non Nuoc mountain of Quang Nam province with expensive price of gold. Four Chinese curved characters on the four sides of the basin were “Dai”, “An”, “Thanh”, “Dat”. Although Than did not understand anything about that confusing words, he still remembered the old man’s words.

He said he liked the shape of the tub, it matched the shape of the tree, but he was not satisfied with the words engraved on the basin. Only two words fit his wish. Those were “Dai” and “An”. He did not expect “Thanh” and “Dat” (meaning of success and satisfy. His life only wished that the country would be soon end the scene of killing so that he could be satisfied with the trees, follow his father’s footsteps, and continue to take care of the ochna integerrima garden according to his father’s wishes.

He believed that the garden would have a successor that was the eldest son who had gathered and worked outside. When his son returned, he would hand over the property that his father and his whole life worked hard to build up. And he also had to pass the secret of the profession to his children… This precious ochna integerrima tree, when he grew up, he saw his father taking care of it. He himself did not know how old the tree was.

In 1960, when his father died, Mr. Can sent someone asking to buy the ochna integerrima tree. When hearing the request, he laughed and shook his white beard:

– How can be hidden the money of the “lord of the Central region”, but you cannot think that with money you can buy anything.

Many times Mr. Can sent people to come but he still shook his head.

Why spent all efforts to make a beautiful tree for others to watch. Sell any tree, but this tree, he definitely did not sell. Money can buy many things, but also things that money cannot buy. When you can make a tree yourself, you would understand…

The wound healed, the unit sent people down to pick Than up. Than had to say farewell to the old man and the girl. Had to leave, he was extremely motioned. The anxiety before leaving Than cannot be clearly explained, the kindness of the old man, the feelings of the young girl or in the ochna integerrima garden. Everything seemed to hold his soul. Before immersing himself in the dark night, he looked at the precious tree, watching the whole garden as if he wanted to gather everything in his deep soul.

The South was liberated, Than left to the army. Remembered what the old man said if loved plants, come back here when you were in peace. On the way home from Saigon, suppressed his eagerness to reunite with his wife and children, Than got off the bus and found the house that had taken care him. The precious tree was still there along with other scattered trees around the yard.

He saw that the trees seemed to have grown up. As for the old ochna integerrima root, he did not see how big it was, but only found it to be more ancient and luxurious. Only the old man was left at home. The daughter, who used to take care of Than, got married to a man in the next village.

Than stayed with him for five days. Five short days, the things he told him about the techniques of care and pruning, Than wrote densely in a notebook. He also gave Than two small ochna integerrima trees for trying to plant. When giving the trees to Than, he said ” Wrightia religiosa”, ” Ochna serrulata”, they can live in all regions, any climate can produce flowers, but ” ochna integerrima” cannot.

“Do not know if it would bloom in cold weather there or not, because each land and climate zone was only suitable for one species of tree. It could be with your youth and new knowledge, can improve it…” – Than understood the old man’s words as a reminder and a profound message.

**

Watched the ochna integerrima tree, Mr. Than seemed to see the shadow of the old man at that time. Hue’s deep and warm voice seemed to be resounding clearly: “…If you play ochna integerrima tree, you must know how to love and care for it. If you are indifferent and mistreated the tree, don’t expect it to repay you…”

Then why was that tree here, right in front of him?

Eyes looked towards the ochna integerrima tree but Mr. Than’s soul was like drifting. The sound of a car parked behind him startled Mr. Than. A man with a briefcase got out of the car. He was young, perhaps ten years younger than him.

While waiting for someone to open the gate, that person glanced at Mr. Than, his face suddenly softened: “Uncle, you seem to love the ochna integerrima tree…Please come in, please….”

The owner opened the gate, extended his hand to invite Mr. Than to go first. Hesitating for a moment, Mr. Than boldly stepped into the yard. This was his chance to see the ochna integerrima tree for his heart’s satisfaction.

The host, after putting away his briefcase, walked out into the yard with a voice:

– Bring water to invite the guest.

Mr. Than almost knelt down next to the tree. The two words “Dai” and “An” appeared here. As he approached, he noticed that on the large root on this side there was also a dent that had been there at that time. He stretched out hands and gently stroked the tree trunk, then stood up and looked from a little far. Looked again at the tree, Mr. Than realized that his skills were still very clumsy.

-The profession of playing is also very elaborate… The satisfied laughter of the owner sounded behind him, making Mr. Than awake.

-Yes, yes…May I ask…where did you buy this tree? Seeing his mistake, Mr. Than became embarrassed.

– I love the tree, right.

After inviting the guest to sit down at the stone tables in the foyer, the host said. Mr. Than looked at the owner. The man who was probably in his forties, graceful and elegant figure pushed a glass of orange juice in front of him.

– Who doesn’t love this beautiful tree…

– Is that so? But not everyone can play the bonsai, right?

– Yes, you are right.

Mr. Than kept a glass of orange juice in his hands and listened to the owner explaining the rules of the tree game, but secretly rejoiced in his heart. It was really worth it to be able to enter a house like this for the precious tree. Although he still wondered why the tree was here, he found it inconvenient to ask.

That evening Mr. Than wrote a letter to Hue city. Although he vaguely remembered the address, he still wrote. It had been a long time since he wrote a letter to there, even though he knew it was his fault. The hunch was like a news that something wrong with the old man’s family. He wrote that if anyone received this letter, please let him know the news of the old man and why the precious tree was here. Mr. Than did not expect such an indifferent letter to receive a reply.

The writer who replied to him was the old owner daughter, who took care of him in the cellar next to the bamboo bushes in the past. The letter replied to him that the old man had died in 1985. The older brother returned to take over the great estate but did not inherit his father’s business. The precious tree was sold by the older brother for a large sum of money. Along with the money from the sale of the land and the garden, he bought a house in the city to trade.

That was clear.

Thanks to that, Mr. Than was able to meet the tree again. It had now been given to a worthy new owner. He was someone who understanding the rules of the game and knowing how to play. Then it would be well taken care of. The tree that has been imprinted in his memory since then, it was now next to him. For a long time, every time he was busy trying to find a way for the bonsai shape, he struggled a lot, and finally he returned to his upright shape.

It was difficult for him to break out of its steady shape. So, the whole garden of hundreds of tubs and pots, all of his trees were still the same. Whether it was “twin trees”, “child and father” … The position of any tree had a strong, indomitable top. The two ochna integerrima trees he brought from Hue were also created by him in the shape of this tree. Although it could not be as flowery and beautiful as the old man’s apricot tree, he was so happy.

He chose the soil to replace in a regular basis, chose the clean water to water the tree and shielded it from the cold wind. He took care of two trees exactly as the old man told him to. He considered his actions as a gratitude to the person who helped and taught him the profession. And the two trees have paid their respects, and every New Year giving bunches of flowers. Although there were not many buds and flowers like the other, the two trees had also shown that the creator’s hands were also talented.

The precious tree was more than ten kilometers from his house. The road from his house to the street, which was bumpy and muddy among vegetable fields, was replaced by a concrete road. Passing this section, on the main road, he leisurely pedaled for more than an hour to arrive.

From time to time Mr. Than cycled on the new street with the desire to watch the ochna integerrima tree. Not wanting to disturb the owner, he set up his bicycle at the foot of an electric pole, a short distance from the iron-gate, and then entered an old man’s drinking shop nearby. Sitting here he can also watch it as much as he wished.

It was almost five o’clock in the afternoon and it was still hot. The heat from the asphalt surface emitted, from the yellow and brown painted walls, making Mr. Than’s whole body was sweat. Having just parked the car at the usual electric pole, before he had time to enter the drinking shop at the invitation of the owner, whom he was now used to, he saw that someone watering the tree. A middle-aged man hold a plastic hose to the ochna integerrima tree. The stream of water rushed out and hit the tree, causing the ground to splash. Mr. Than quickly ran to:

-It can’t be watered like that, why water now?

The other man let go of the hose in astonishment, causing water to splash on the yard:

– What do you say, why not?

Mr. Than looked closely at the tree. Oh my god, it has been a few months since the tree was so different. They took care of the tree like that, no wonder it looked like a seriously ill person. The flowers had all fallen, and from its branches sprouted young shoots. No one had bent or pruned, so the branches and branches were deformed, looking like a grove from afar. The dark green, glossy leaves have turned dry. The soil around the root was eroded by water, exposing the old root, white moldy. The soil on the surface of the tub was compacted, hard and cluttered with gravel.

-Come on, come in and have a glass of water, old friend.

The drinking shop owner said: “Are you worried about the tree? The owner is not worried about it, but you are worried about for get tired. Drink water already”

The owner set a table with a cup of water, but Mr. Than’s eyes were glued to the tree.

– Then it will die, sir.

– What do you say?

Mr. Than turned back sadly…

– Then you look.

He pointed to the pile of trash across the street. The pile of garbage waiting for the sanitation worker to clean up, was littered with a few pots of withered precious trees.

– Its fate is the same as the other pots. They just threw it out yesterday.

He ended the sentence with a distorted smile.

At the end of the year, Mr. Than came up and did not see any ochna integerrima tree in the tub anymore. The drinking shop was also moved, replaced by a large foundation. Standing at the electric pole, he saw that the tree had been taken to an unknown location. Replacing it on the precious tub was a large, bending trunk. From its base to its branches, it was coated with a brown-tinted varnish. The branches were studded with crowns, neither leaves nor flowers, probably made of plastic in orange red color.

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The post The love of Ochna Integerrima Tree – A Short Story from Vietnam first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Nguyen Dac Nhu

Nguyen Dac Nhu has Master’s degree in economics. He is member of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, and the author of many impressive novels and memoirs on Vietnamese literature. He has vast experience with its generous literature style, addition of enthusiasm and love for life. His typical works can be mentioned such as the novel ‘A Bamboo Segment’ (third prize of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, Novel prize); the novel ‘A Swirl of Thunderstorm’ (The Consolation Prize of the Novel Prize of the Vietnam Writers’ Association); Memoir ‘Non-Trade Un-vivacious’; Memoirs “Vietnamese Seen Everywhere’; “Western Europe Without Border’, and “Memoir of South America’.

HOAI

By Nguyen Dac Nhu (Vietnam)

(Translated into English by Khanh Phuong)

The Jeep car was as compact as a horse-drawn carriage, and in less than two days while traveling and resting, it took the teacher and student across the whole road more than a thousand kilometers. At that time, the car was driving on the stone road cutting through Phuong Ha field. Near a restaurant in the middle of the field, Ba Hung told to the driver:

– Stop here, let’s go to the restaurant and rest for a while, Nam!

While Nam carried the things from the car for lunch, Ba Hung walked around the old restaurant. Two gable walls were built with bare bricks, all still intact with a mossy color like the days when he was a kid. The two rows of stone columns, the front and back doors, were still smooth and purple color by the time. The banyan tree behind the restaurant was still green as before, and the sounds of all kind of still playing music at noon in the summer of the bygone period.

After eating and drinking, Nam spread out a mattress/tarp on the ground, arranged pillows and a rechargeable electric fan, took out a set of kettles and a thermos of hot water to make tea to invite his boss, then returned to tide up the dishes.

After a round of tea, Hung took off his shoes, shirt and laid on the mattress to smoke a cigarette. He did not turn on the electric fan as if he wanted to enjoy the rice-scented breezes, the cool aroma of the homeland wrapping around his body. Flickering in the smoke, Hung’s thoughts became as light as a drifting cloud.

…The cloud slowly flew over the Dong village, only kilometers away from the place. The garden of his childhood, where he was born and raised up, the wooden house, the thatched roof, the brick yard, the pond… in the past few decades, although he had not returned, all were still intact in his memory. Only the people there made it strange. A glimpse of Hoai’s face, his first wife, and Hoai’s stepchild later, the two people who brought him so much torment during many past years.

On the day of victory, when he returned, rushed into his lap, not only Nga, a daughter drop of his blood, but also Bau, a boy blood drop of a strange man. The war lasted too long! Was it possible that his father and brother Cuong had to witness it so cruel, that they could not wait until the day of the meeting to tell Hung what need to say? The reunion dinner, the family were busy taking care of the whole afternoon, but Hung did not touch chopsticks. That night he did not give Hoai a chance to talk, she could only hide her tears and lead two children to sleep at the other room. Hungry in the middle of the night, Hung took out the dried cake to eat and then sat and smoked all night.

The next morning, he visited and distributed gifts to the family of Thoa, his young sister got married in the next village. Thoa hugged her brother and sobbed, told him a heartbreaking story that happened six years ago. When found out pregnant, Hoai told her sister-in-law and discussed how to secretly have an abortion. But all kinds of herbal leaves and medicine, all kinds of self-maltreat, all were not used. The pregnancy was getting bigger every day in front of the village gossip. Thoa had asked her sister-in-law a couple of times how to deal with that, but all she just were sobbed and tried to swallow.

On the day of giving birth, Thoa had to invite Mrs. Khan Bong to the house to deliver the baby. According to her father’s orders, she and brother Cuong had to clean up a kitchen space for Hoai. In the new days of birth, Hoai did not eat or drink anything, her body was so thin that not had a drop of milk, Thoa and baby Nga, the two niece and aunt had to take turns nursing the baby with diluted porridge. One morning, when Thoa pushed to open the door and entered in, she saw Hoai lying face down, half of her body on the cot, half down on the ground, drooling with fresh blood from her mouth and an empty bottle of insecticide next to her.

Thoa panicked to call for help, only a few moments the neighbor Cuu Beng brought a hammock with Thoa stretchering Hoai to the emergency room. Fortunately, it was not too late, Hoai escaped death but had to stay in the hospital for treatment. Dad called the grandparent in-law. He said, the story had come to the reality, then you should take your daugther Hoai back to your home, and baby Nga, the blood drop of Hung, let us raise her here to be a good person! Hoai’s parents only knew how to quietly bow their heads to hug their grandson and went to the infirmary to pick up their daughter.

On this side, baby Nga was far away from her mother, fasting, crying day and night, her grandfather ordered Thoa to bring her back to the mother. Two years later, Thoa got married. Many times when visited the house, only saw brother Cuong who was blind in weaving the baskets, saw sister visiting, he had given up the work to earnestly inquire about the health of the mother and her children, and once even asked for a visit. But got order from dad, no one allowed to go and see that bad lewd woman.

The family seemed to have a bad luck. Soon after, brother Cuong suddenly fell ill. He was sick for a long time. After more than 1 year, he died. After his death, his father’s health deteriorated significantly. The father was like a oil lamp that has run out of oil, the day before, still got rice but the next day, couldn’t have three spoons of porridge all day. Hoai heard that she had found Thoa to ask for visiting the father in-law.

She brought gifts, at first he denied to accept, Hoai banged her head and cried and prayed for forgiveness so that she could serve as the daughter in-law. Thoa cooked bran in the kitchen, could not hear clearly the small and loud pleas mixed with Hoai’s cry, only knowing that the father was silent in the end. From that day on, Hoai’s children and she all came, from morning to night, they always cleaned, washed, cooked rice for the sick. Until the day before his death, he called all of his children and grandchildren to his bedside.

Dad told that, Thoa’s family over there, they had enough fields and gardens, so the house and the garden on this side decided to give Hung. Hung was still away, so he gave the whole to the niece Nga to manage on behalf of her father. Since she was still baby, she could pick up her mother and brother to live with, and waiting for her father Hung to return from the battlefield, everything was decided by her father…

Thoa led her brother to the cemetery. Hung burned incense and prostrated himself in front of his mother and brother graves. They laid there, gathered together, which can also be temporarily called beautiful peaceful graves. May all the sufferings of the world be liberated by Gods and Buddhas so that their souls can be in the pure land! A gentle consolation passed through a broken heart. A gentle wind from the field blew to push the smoke of incense covering his sun-tanned face. Spicy smoke or fragile heart made him cry…

A brave soldier, a tactical commander like him, fought hundreds of big and small battles throughout the bloody Central region, many times near death, at that time the image of Hoai and his daughter was bright again, bringing him the strength to overcome death to return proudly. From the height of pride he suddenly collapsed in front of the betrayed woman. The humiliation of being cheated by his wife made Hung feel like he was diving in a pool full of resentment and bitterness.

The raging heart screamed for revenge. But then he looked the graves around, near and far, smelled of smoke, all the same, all green graves again! Soft-hearted in front of the world life, he could only think of how to run away from the shameful complexes that surrounding.

At home, he called Nga and told her that she was now twelve, and she had to be obedient, study hard, and help her mother and brother. Then he privately told Hoai that he had to continue a new mission in a very faraway place, not knowing when to return, but not sure if that day had come, therefore she can be completely free! Hung left all the bicycle, gifts and money saved for long time. He quietly left with only a light backpack and a lonely bitterness in his soul.

The land and the people once nurtured and protected him during the cruel war years, now all stretched out their arms to embrace him. Hai Kien, the closest friend during the war between the life and death, now the vice president of the province comforted him:

– Don’t bother with those small things and discourage the hero, Ba Hung. Your wife has now betrayed, let her be free, don’t torture yourself. This is your motherland. Stay here, tomorrow I will report to the administration division requesting the Military Region to assign you to be the provincial military commander. Uncle Tu Mong insisted on finding a replacement for him to retire. You come back at the right time. I arranged that, if you agree, just stamp it and done!

That was for real! Ba Hung became a true native of Quang region. For the whole year after that, Ba Hung was all alone with the collective life, private bed, certain meal. Hai Kien couldn’t stand it and suggested:

– My youngest sister, Trinh, is a beautiful girl who is studying at Hue University, if you like, I’ll introduce. She is young, but the revolutionary will is very high. The type of man like you is that she loves it. Heroic boy, talanted girl, very worthy!

Didn’t know what Hai Kien has added to her sister, only know that it was done again! News spreading throughout the province, Miss Ut Trinh, the martyred daughter of the former Provincial Party Secretary and the sister of the incumbent provincial vice president, officially accepted the marriage proposal of Colonel Truong Xuan Hung, the provincial military commander. The wedding would be held at the end of the year when Miss Ut returning from university!

The new happiness overflown like cool and calm waves every morning. A beautiful young wife, educated, gentle, very respectful and proud of her husband. A spacious garden house in a quiet central street of the town, always filled with the chirping voices of his two daughters, the little fairies of his life…

But sometimes in the dark corner of the soul, the image of his blood daughter that day, and then the image of Hoai, a famous beautiful woman in the region, the wife he once loved fully; and then the image of Phuong Ha village and the childhood garden in the North, images of relatives’ graves… all of them still returned in anxious dreams…

According to his father’s will, Hung wrote a paper handing over the ownership of the old house and garden to daughter Nga. Then the daughter got married, and she and her husband stayed there with her mother and brother Bau. It was the presence of these two persons that he found it difficult to return to the house. Even on his daughter’s wedding day, he only sent gifts. Occasionally going to the North for a meeting, father and daughter, grandson just made an appointment to meet at sister Thoa’s house. Everything has become familiar, used to the way of people who have been stolen from their birthplace. It hurt a lot, but what can he do?

Then a week ago Nga called to tell him that her mother Hoai was seriously ill, wanted to see him for the last time, had something important to say, and requested him arranged to return immediately!

*

The old landscape, outdated beloved wife was not only in the imagination, all presented in front of his eyes, Hung followed his daughter into the new small house built for Hoai in the corner of the garden. A faint, trembling voice came from the room:

– Is that Nga’s father back?

In front of Hung’s eyes was an elderly woman, long white hair covering on a green flower pillow, a delicate oval face still retaining the elite features of a spring time. A thin blanket covered Hoai’s body.

– Nga’s father must have had a hard time traveling long distances. Take a rest and then eat.

Up to this point, Hung could only say a sentence that only after twenty-five years of silence did he have the opportunity:

– Don’t worry, I’ve already eaten, Hoai!

– Yeah, I forgot, since that day when I went back to leave for B on the New Year of 1965, Nga’s father have not eaten a home-cooked meal for decades!

Hung tried to suppress a sigh and turned to another matter:

– Heard the daughter say Hoai is very sick, how is it now? When I return this time, I will take Hoai to a provincial hospital for examination and treatment.

– It doesn’t matter. I feel a lot lighter inside. After a few meals for a month and a half, I’ll be healthy again, and I’ll be able to go back to work right away!

A moment of silence, Hoai took a small long key and gave it to Hung. She ask Hung to help taking the leather briefcase at the bottom of the box in the corner of the house. Hung trembled and touched the worn-out briefcase when he realized it was the school bag he used during his high school days at the district school.

So many childhood memories suddenly rushed back. All thoughts have passed, but all were kept by Hoai’s hands. Hoai took out a piece of paper rolled in a wooden tube with a tight lid and gave it to Hung, the handwritten paper has now turned yellow.

“Phuong Ha March 5, 1972. Dear Hung. Dad probably can’t wait for you to come back, it’s time for me to go and find your mother and brother Cuong. I love you so much when returning to be orphaned…”.

Tears welled up in his eyes at the familiar trembling words. Witnessing the scene of a strong man who was once affectionately called as the husband, now hold his face and cried like a child, Hoai’s heart fluttered with sadness, she raised her hand to touch his grey hair, but then suddenly retracted as if suddenly touching a fired ember. A voice as sharp and cold as steel whispered softly:

– So boy Bau is my brother’s son?

There was no answer, instead there was a weak cry of Hoai. The small room suddenly became cold and lonely. For a long time, Hung said as ordered:

– Tell me how things were!

At this point, Hoai suddenly sobbed, the cry broke out as if she had never cried like that. Those sobs were of pain and sorrow would never stop if Hung didn’t take a sudden movement to get up and pull out a towel from the line to wipe Hoai’s face and talk to her in a gentle voice:

– Please stop crying, I’m already here.

The sobbing sound has become smaller now, interspersed with broken voices like broken pieces trying to put together…

– Me, I… so miserable… dear Hung…!

– In the father will, he said that before died, brother Cuong confessed to the father…

– Poor uncle’s grave! I am the biggest sin, if I have a heart, a pure heart then could not happen such big matter. Today I would like to apologize in front of the spirits of mother in-law and uncle Cuong, so that I can tell you once again the story…

Both were silent. Hoai’s eyes looked at Hung as expected. Hung remained silent, once again wiping Hoai’s face and lowering his voice slowly:

– Well, don’t tell me what happened.

Hoai’s voice suddenly became urgent:

–   “No! I have to tell you because there won’t be another chance… Did you know, that summer the water of the Vai River rose like never before, sometimes the flood seemed to be about to cross the dike of our village. That day, there was a sudden thunderstorm and rain poured down on the fields. The commune mobilized all villagers in the two villages to rescue the dike. Our family also contributed enough, father, Ms. Thoa and I and brother Cuong also, but Uncle Cuu Beng said that blind Cuong would not go, he could stop the way of other people, let him stay at home and care the children!

The whole village bringing hoes and shovels rushes to the dike. Around midnight, there was an order that women with young children had priority to go home first. When I got home, the rooster crowed for the second time, baby Nga was asleep, brother Cuong was still knitting baskets, the lamp on the sofa turned as small as a pea. I turned up the lights and told him about the work on the dike and then urged him to go to bed before it was too late. He said that he had boiled a pot of water with grapefruit leaves and told me to take a bath to avoid a cold.

I finished taking a shower and was about to go to bed with my baby when he told me to sit down, he had something to say. I sat in the chair across from the table. Silence did not say anything, for a long time he burst into tears. Not understanding what happened at home, I asked what to do, he said that this afternoon, Uncle Cuu Beng berated his blind to make him feel ashamed and wanted to die. Why was God so unfair, so many healthy village boys, all of them have flown away, only disabled man like him forced to be a guard dog, sometimes just wanted to plunge his head into the well to finish the human life.

Hearing he said that made me feel so sorry. At that time, I don’t know why I suddenly thought of you. The two brothers were like two drops of water, tall, muscular, and bright, just because of his eyes, his life became dark. I sought consolation that God did not give him eyes to shine, but gave him golden hands, good at knitting and sewing, I said that can assure that a village girl still on the horizon, and eventually he would have a happy family like anyone.

Heard me say that he tried to hold back the tears and said thanks for encouragement, but how am I, I am thirty this year, never once stood near a woman, never once held hands anyone… Then he reached out and grabbed both of my hands. I tried to pull back, but he was standing next to the person begging for my forgiveness, he only asked to hug me once to know what the warmth and scent of a woman was, and then die willingly. I jumped back in panic, but he hugged me. A mix of emotions welled up inside me, fear, pity, wanting mixed together, leaving me bewildered not knowing what to do. He carried me into the inner room, and so in a moment of infatuation I became a betray with my husband”

Hoai’s cry again sobbed overpowering the voice, at that moment just like a breath “dear Hung, I know my sin is great, so I also understand that no matter how you treat me, I can’t complain about anything. I just feel sorry for boy Bau who doesn’t know his father, even have to take mother’s last name, with no title in this house. I also feel sorry for brother Cuong, from the time his son was born to the moment he left the world, he has never been able to hold his son in his arms, for many years never heard his son speak…

Hoai’s voice gradually became smaller and at this point, she could no longer speak a word, instead, there were weak coughs. Hung had to urge several times to stop talking and then gently stroke Hoai’s chest to ease the cough. She looked at him with grateful eyes and gently took his hand, Hung hold it tightly and looked down to move her cold hands over his own face. Tears welled up in his eyes and his voice choked.

– Hoai! I am guilty of you. I have finished your whole life, now I will do everything to compensate for you… This time I will stay at home to take care and treatment so that you can recover like before, I will do the birth paper for Bau officially as Uncle Cuong’s son. He will…

Hoai pulled her hands out of Hung’s hands and then gently touched his tear-stained face and said, out of breath:

– Thank you… as long as you do it for Bau, means that you compensate for everything… then I’ll have a satisfied life…

*

And Ba Hung stayed in Phuong Ha village. During his days in the village he did everything he could for Hoai. Hung’s high school friend, who now was the director of the provincial hospital, sent a group of doctors and nurses to Phuong Ha village to examine and treat for Hoai, and her health seemed to have gradually recovered. The second thing was to transfer the surname to Bau. In fact, this was not a simple job, but thanks to friends working in the district, he had an official birth certificate in less than a week.

Hoai trembled to receive the birth paper still smelling of ink from Hung’s hand. Her face lit up when she read the words that Truong Xuan Bau, the biological son of Truong Xuan Cuong. Then, as if a cloud suddenly flew across the window, Hoai’s face suddenly darkened with a desolate sadness. She suddenly put the birth certificate on her face. A heavy sigh came from the paper, which now had two faint wet on its back.

Hung gently removed the paper from Hoai’s hand and then wiped the tears on her face sweetly coaxing:

– Stop crying, everything will be fine again!

As if there was a mysterious internal force from inside, Hoai’s hands suddenly pushed Hung’s hands away, the force was so strong that her whole body was moved a distance back to the wall, she told Hung with an unsteady voice:

– Thank you for doing a good deed for me and my son. From now on….

She turned to the two children, she clearly instructed each word:

– From now on, the sister and brother take care of me, don’t let Uncle Hung do it!

*

Also from that moment, Hoai did not say anything to anyone. It seemed that all the remaining strength she tried to talk last words with Hung. After three days, Hoai passed away. The nurse who cared for her said that before she died, her face suddenly became pink and strangely beautiful, she lovingly hold each person’s hand with trying to say that she loved them all!

As for Ba Hung, when he knelt down beside the bed, downed on her face and cried: “Hoai dear you, I will find you again… wait for me, dear Hoai!” Her eyes were so gentle and trusting then. She looked at him with a small smile and nodded before her eyes closed forever.

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The post HOAI – A SHORT STORY FROM VIETNAM first appeared on Sindh Courier.