To be honest, since Sang came here, Uncle Bay has had an easier time each afternoon. The kids in the house wait for Sang to come home before they’ll take a bath, mainly so he can sit on the bridge watching the crocodiles for them. And Sang is cheerful; every time he calls them up, it’s gentle and pleasant, not like Uncle Bay always whipping them with a stick.
That’s why the kids cling to Sang like chicks cling to their mother. Thang always follows Sang around whenever he’s home. He’s a teenager, curious about many things. And like me, he always wants to know about the bustling city, so different from this remote place.
After bathing, I asked Binh to invite Sang over for dinner. Sang was just waiting for that, grinning happily and trotting after Binh. My mother cleaned the house and set out the meal on the porch for more space. As soon as the two of them approached the door, my mother called out: “Come in and eat!”
*Row three: the space under the eaves
Sang laughed and replied, “Auntie Hai, no need to call. I smelled the delicious braised fish from the house and came over to freeload.”
My mother scooped a bowl of rice and offered it to Sang, saying, “Eat a lot, Auntie cooked a lot today.”
Binh picked up a piece of braised fish and put it in his mouth, chewing. Suddenly, his eyes lit up brightly: “Oh my God, shrimp, Auntie Hai? Let me think, the last time I caught a shrimp was about half a year ago. Did Auntie Hai win the lottery today?”
I interrupted, “Crazy! My mother never plays the lottery, how could she win?”
My mother explained, “It’s shrimp from Auntie Tam. I heard that Tam got several kilograms from the fish farm owner, and Auntie Tam gave some away.”
Then my mother put a shrimp in each of our bowls, looking like a reward for hardworking country children.
Hearing mention of Mr. Tam, Sang curiously asked, “Who is the owner of the rice paddy that’s so generous, Aunt Hai?”
Binh, still chewing his rice, interrupted, “It’s Mr. Tu Tai, the son of Mrs. Be Nam.” Then he whispered, “He’s Hong’s youngest brother.”
I added, “Actually, Mr. Tam is quite persistent. The others only work for a month or two before quitting.”
My mother said, “Guarding the rice paddy, staying up all night and day, young people like you can handle it, but how can old men my age do it forever?”
Suddenly, the phone in my mother’s pocket rang. She took it out, looked at the caller ID on the screen, and smiled. She pressed the answer button and gently said, “I’m listening, son!”
Sitting next to my mother, I heard Hanh’s voice on the phone: “How are you, Mom?”
My mother put down her chopsticks, smiled, and said, “Yes, I’m fine. I’m just worried about you being all alone up there. When will you be coming back home, my dear?”
Hanh’s voice was a little sad: “I’m working on a business with some friends, and I plan to come visit you when I make a profit this time. But I’m short on capital right now. Do you have any money you could lend me for a few days? I’ll pay you back later.”
My mother’s expression froze for a moment, then she asked, “Okay, I’ll gather some money and send it up to you. But how much, my dear?”
Hanh hesitated for a moment before replying, “Um… Around fifteen million dong, Mom.”
My mother’s emotions were a mix of joy and sadness. In our current situation, raising fifteen million dong would probably require selling the land where we live. She still hadn’t finished paying off the debt she owed to the commune committee for Hanh’s tuition. But she reassured her, “Yes, yes, just wait a few days. I’ll send it up to you as soon as I have it!” After hanging up the phone, my mother fell silent for a long time. Suddenly realizing she was in the middle of dinner, she forced a laugh: “Eat, kids! It’s all cold now!”
Sang and Binh sat there listening, but felt helpless because they couldn’t do anything to help.
After dinner, my mother went to the backyard to wash the dishes, and all we could hear was her sigh mingling with the croaking of frogs. Binh and I could only sit with Sang on the old cot in the backyard. No one said a word to each other, but our hearts were heavy. Sang took a drag on his cigarette, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, and said: “Don’t be sad, just go to work and earn money for Aunt Hai, that’s all. I’ll help you guys out if needed!”
I sighed: “Finding work isn’t easy, brother. Here, work is inconsistent.”
unstable work: Some days there’s work, some days there isn’t.
Binh exclaimed: “This time, we’re relying entirely on Sang!”
Sang stubbed out his cigarette and asked, “What, brother? Are you telling me to go work as a male prostitute for Hong to quickly make money or something?”
Binh slapped Sang on the shoulder and exclaimed, “How did you know?”
Sang chuckled, saying, “I could tell just by looking at your lecherous face. But Phuc, you can read, why don’t you go work as a factory worker?”
I was a little surprised that Sang knew I could read, and I didn’t know when he’d noticed. I just replied, “I heard it’s hard to get a job there, and it costs money to bribe the managers. The nearest workers’ housing area is far from here, and commuting back and forth isn’t convenient. Besides, I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving my mother alone if I stayed there.”
Sang lit another cigarette, leaned back against the wall, tucked his legs in, and rested one hand on his knee, saying, “Don’t worry, go. I have nothing to do here anyway, let me look after Aunt Hai for you. And what about Binh?” Seeing my hesitation, he continued, “Now that Aunt Hai is still healthy and able to take care of herself, you should go earn some money. Otherwise, living like this for another few decades will leave you short of everything. Or are you going to wait until you get married so your wife can look after Aunt Hai while you go to work?”
I got goosebumps just hearing the word “getting married.” Thinking about it, Sang was right. Other people have wives and children to look after the house and parents. If I waited to get married, I’d have to wait until the next life.
Binh suddenly reminded me, “Now you’re thinking about going to work, and when will you save enough money for Hanh? It sounds like she needs it urgently.” Then he jumped over and sat next to Sang, putting his arm around his shoulder, saying, “I told you, now I’m just relying on you!”
Sang looked into the distance and replied, “That girl seems to really like you. I’ll play a game for two hundred, you could probably get three hundred.”
I knew Binh didn’t have feelings for girls, let alone a girl he disliked. Binh sneered contemptuously, saying, “Just let me play. It gives me goosebumps. Tell me to play with her brothers instead.”
Sang wondered, “She has so many brothers, why is it so quiet?”
Binh, true to his reputation as a local, recounted the story in detail. Mrs. Be Nam’s family had five children. The eldest son, Thien, was about the same age as my mother, but he used illegal drugs and had been in prison for a long time. Since then, Mr. and Mrs. Be Nam kept a very strict watch over their children. Although they lacked nothing in terms of clothing and food, everything they did had to be within the bounds of tradition.
Fortunately, their younger children didn’t engage in debauchery, but once they were old enough, none of them wanted to stay home and blindly obey their parents’ orders. The second son, Giau, lived in the city and rarely came home. The third son, Quyen, moved out after getting married and bought land in the industrial zone to plant a garden. Only the fourth son, Tai, and Hong remained at home.
Because the fourth son, Tai, hadn’t married yet, Mrs. Be Nam wouldn’t let him build his own house, despite his persistent pleading over the years. Only Hong was constantly flattering her parents. Even though Mr. and Mrs. Be Nam were wealthy, they were just ordinary people, and because their daughter was always clinging to them, they spoiled her immensely. It was said that they wouldn’t let her marry anyone; whoever wanted to marry Hong had to bring their son-in-law to live in their house.
And luckily, except for Hong, all the men were successful in business. Uncle Hai Giau had coffee shops all over Saigon. Uncle Ba Quyen’s orchard was larger than the neighboring industrial park. Uncle Tu Tai, though not yet independent, earned several hundred million dong annually from raising shrimp and fish.
It’s no exaggeration to say that their businesses provided jobs for more than half the population of this area. Therefore, no one dared to displease them, either out of fear of them or because they feared their entire family would starve.
Binh was about to continue his story when Thang’s voice echoed from outside: “Brother Sang, Brother Sang…”
He called out as he came into the house and out to the backyard. Seeing me and Binh, he was slightly startled. He was carrying a large, soft pillow, clearly having stayed overnight at Sang’s house.
At this point, I looked closely and realized Thang was no longer the naive child he once was. I was eighteen and he was sixteen, but he spent all day helping Uncle Bay with weaving, making him look fair-skinned and youthful; I still felt he was very small.
Suddenly, Sang calmly replied, “Go to bed first, I’ll come in later!”
My mind raced, and both of us stared at Sang. Sang stubbed out his cigarette, stepped off the bed, and whispered, “Hey, I know what you two are thinking!”
Binh and I gestured wildly, wanting to say all sorts of things but unable to. Sang pulled the two guys closer and whispered in their ears, “The kid’s still a virgin, I haven’t touched him yet.”
Binh looked disbelieving and asked, “Then what have you done?”
Sang reached for the toothpaste bottle hanging on the wall and replied, “Just let him play with it. He wanted to suck on it, but I stopped him. Don’t worry, I’m a pervert, but I’m a good person.”
Binh sneered, “Good at doing things, huh?”
Sang scooped up some water to brush his teeth and replied, “Yeah, good at doing things, you get money, why not be good?”
Then, he spat out the toothpaste in his mouth and said, “Phuc, go to bed early. Tomorrow I’ll take you to the factory to see if you can get a job. And Binh, go ask around at the shrimp farm. I heard Tam say they’re short on people there.”
We mumbled something in agreement and went home. As we passed the mosquito net, we caught a glimpse of Thang lying inside, looking at his phone, one hand groping down his pants and squeezing. Seeing us walk past, he quickly turned his face to the wall, but not fast enough to hide his pants, which were bulging like a tent because his penis was erect.
We knew without a doubt that the phone belonged to Mr. Sang, yet Thang knew the password to watch porn. I suddenly felt a little worried about the boy’s backside.
But Hanh’s situation was our top priority.
Early in the morning, before I even woke up, I heard Sang and my mother talking outside. My mother said, “I’m not familiar with what they do in there. Could you keep an eye on him for me?”
Sang replied, “I used to work there, so I know what it’s like. But what if Phuc has to stay there to work closer to home? What would you think, Auntie Hai?”
My mother said, “I’d be happy if she had a stable job. I’m just a regular worker at home, I can manage on my own. Look, people only hire me to make fish traps during the flood season; the rest of the year I’m just sitting around doing nothing. I wish she had a stable job, because if she continues living with me like this, when I’m gone, she won’t have anything to leave for her.”
“Oh.”
My mother’s voice was so sad that it made me feel sorry for her. Sang comforted her, “Phuc can read and write, he might even get a job as a manager up there, Auntie. Let me go wake Phuc up so we don’t get late.”
My mother called out, “Phuc, wake up, son!” “Sang, get me!”
My mother called out, then went out to the front yard to sweep and clean up the fallen leaves from last night. Sang went straight into the room, standing outside my mosquito net and calling, “Wake up, wake up, wake up!”
I stretched, wriggled on the bed, and sleepily replied, “Slowly, Sang…”
Seeing my slowness, Sang pulled up the mosquito net with one hand and grabbed my crotch with the other, squeezing it tightly and shaking it: “If you’re a factory worker and you wake up late, they’ll send you home!”
My penis was rock hard in my pants that morning, and Sang’s touch made me shy and recoil. Sang’s hand remained tight, so I reached over and grabbed his crotch in front of me.
But Sang didn’t try to avoid me, just stood there letting me touch him. More importantly, his penis seemed to be getting harder under his pants, about one and a half times bigger than Binh’s. I could feel it very clearly, because I had touched Binh’s penis every day.
I jumped, let go, and sat up, also brushing his hand off my penis. Sang He grumbled, “I stared at her for half an hour, and she didn’t even let me touch her.” Then he regained his serious tone, “Get up, you rascal!”
I shyly stepped outside, saying, “Wait a minute, I’ll be right out.”
I went to the backyard to freshen up, but unfortunately, my penis was so hard from arousal that it took me a long time to pee. Afterward, I changed into my most “decent” outfit and jumped on Sang’s bike to ride to the factory.
On the way, I yawned occasionally. I couldn’t help but ask, “Why are we leaving so early, Sang?”
Sang replied, “Well, it’s a long way off. It’ll probably take two or three hours to get there by bike.”
I silently admired the scenery along the road. The bike had now left the familiar paths. The novelty of being in the very place where I’d lived for almost twenty years filled me with excitement. Thinking back, when I was little, I went wherever my mother went. Even now, I’ve never been further than the district market, let alone anywhere else. Knowing this place and that place.
The morning mist hadn’t yet dissipated, and a gentle breeze blew through, carrying a few cool, refreshing gusts of air. I took a deep breath, feeling myself become more alert. I forgot that Sang had been cycling for an hour. I asked, “Are your legs tired? Let me give you a ride.”
Sang replied, his voice sounding like he was chuckling, “So you don’t even know the way?”
I replied, “Well, you can sit behind and give directions. But wait… You’ve only just arrived here, how do you know the way to everywhere? Or have you been fooling around with someone near the factory?”
Sang replied, “In your eyes, am I that easygoing?”
I quickly corrected myself, “I didn’t mean that. I meant you’re a womanizer.”
Sang laughed again, the sound very soft but his tone somewhat cheerful: “A womanizer? That sounds so poetic.” “I thought you thought I was a sex machine, sleeping with anyone you met.”
I chuckled, “With a guy like you, everyone who meets you wants to give themselves to you.”
Sang suddenly asked, “What about you?”
I didn’t understand what he meant. After a moment of silence, I took a deep breath and replied with a laugh, “Oh, I’m too scared! I can’t handle it!” “Ha ha ha!”
Sang also laughed heartily and continued cycling. The river flowed along the road, strangely peaceful. Somewhere in someone’s garden, a rooster was crowing loudly, calling the sun to rise.
After a while, we came to the foot of a large bridge spanning the river. The bridge was quite steep; it was difficult for one person to cycle up, so I got off and Sang walked.
I discovered that walking in this peaceful setting also filled my heart with joy and freshness. Before, I never woke up without thinking about what I would do to earn a living that day. I touched the railing of the bridge; the cool air from the iron pipes to my palm made me smile foolishly. This moment was so incredibly peaceful.
Suddenly, Sang said, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have touched you like that this morning.”
I smiled shyly, turning away, “Well, I touched you back, didn’t I?” “Fine!”
Sang chuckled silently, jumped onto the bike seat, and gestured for me to sit on it. The bicycle sped down the bridge slope on the deserted road. I remembered how, when I was little, I loved the feeling of sitting behind my mother every time she let the bike down the bridge slope. That brief moment was enough to temporarily allow me to escape the harsh reality and enjoy a little everyday joy.
Sang asked again, “How long have you and Binh been together?”
His voice was pensive today, and his demeanor was unusually serious, making me feel unfamiliar for a moment. I asked, “What do you mean, ‘how long’?”
Sang, for the first time, showed a hint of embarrassment, asking, “Uh… well… How long have you known each other?”
Without thinking, I replied, “We’ve known each other since we were little kids. We’ve been friends for over ten years.”
Seeing that I didn’t understand the question, Sang clicked his tongue, “No, that’s not it.” “So you mean… how long have you two been…?”
I finally understood what Sang wanted to ask, and softly replied, “Just recently…”
Sang got straight to the point: “So, have you two slept together yet?”
I burst out laughing. I couldn’t find anyone as strange as him anywhere else. He was so hesitant about dating, and then he was so afraid to say “sleep together” directly.
Yet, when it came to sex, he acted as if nothing had happened.
I sat behind him, shaking my head and laughing, the whole car shaking, saying, “I’m so scared, oh my god. Even though Binh isn’t as big as you, he’s still a huge one. If he puts it in, I’ll probably die!”
Sang teased, “Why die? Will you die from pleasure? Ha ha ha!”
The early morning sun had already begun to cast its first rays, piercing through the dense foliage of all sorts of trees in the garden, stretching endlessly. Outside, the garden was surrounded by iron mesh; without asking, I knew this garden belonged to Uncle Ba Quyen and no one else. Indeed, as rumored, his garden was vast, and it took a long time to get past it to the nearby factory.
Sang’s calculations were spot on; we arrived just as the factory was opening. I saw many workers in their blue uniforms coming and going, like a bustling Tet market.
Sang parked the car near the gate and ran over to chat with a female worker who had just come out to throw away the trash. Seeing the handsome, tall, and polite young man, she smiled and continued the conversation. Sang asked, “Is Uncle Ba here, ma’am? I’d like to apply for a job here.”
She put the trash can down on the ground and cheerfully replied, “It’s still very early, Uncle Ba hasn’t come down here yet. Usually, he comes down to check on the garden around noon before coming here. You two should go up to his house and ask.”
Then she pointed down the road and gave directions: “Look, go all the way down this road, turn left at the bridge, and go straight for about ten minutes. The huge house you see is his!”
Sang nodded in agreement, then looked around the road in the distance, not forgetting to thank her before leaving. Sang and I continued following her directions, our rickety bicycle struggling to carry us for another stretch. But Uncle Ba’s house was indeed not difficult to find; it was the largest and most imposing in the whole area, and everyone knew it.
I felt overwhelmed just standing in front of the house. The magnificent, imposing house was like a palace, and I looked even smaller than a servant inside.
But Sang was different. He showed no sign of nervousness, approaching the gate and shouting, “Is Mr. Ba Quyen home?”
The gatekeeper immediately ran up and yelled, “Oh my god, keep your voice down! How dare you call Mr. Ba Quyen’s name, and make such a fuss! Do you want to die? You idiots, you don’t even know how to ring the doorbell!”
Sang calmly rang the doorbell, then said, “Is Mr. Ba Quyen home?”
The gatekeeper retorted arrogantly, “Just because you ask doesn’t mean I have to answer!”
Seeing that the gatekeeper couldn’t reason with him, Sang shouted again, “Mr. Ba Quyen, are you home, sir…?”
The gatekeeper yelled back, “Shut your mouth!” Then he muttered softly, just loud enough for us to hear, “Damn you, you bunch of deaf idiots!”
Sang ignored him completely, his cries echoing incessantly. Unable to stop him, he opened the gate and ran out, his hands raised as if to punch. Just then, a shrill voice rang out from inside the house: “What’s all this noise?”
The young man, hearing the voice, stopped abruptly, standing respectfully and trembling slightly. The woman stepped out, her gait graceful and elegant. From head to toe, she was adorned in silk and velvet, gold and silver, and a sparkling diamond-studded fan fluttered in her hand.
The gatekeeper bowed respectfully: “Yes, Madam Ba!”
Madam Ba ignored him, looking at Sang and asking: “Who are you, causing such a commotion in my house so early in the morning? I’ll call the police and they’ll arrest you!”
Sang sighed and replied, “Please understand, Auntie Ba. I came to ask Uncle Ba for a job, but this guy wouldn’t even say anything. If he had answered, I would have left already instead of standing here bothering you.”
Auntie Ba wasn’t that easily fooled. She asked again, “So where are you from? How did you know my husband and I hired someone and come to ask for a job?”
Sang immediately flattered her: “I live several villages away, ma’am, it takes three or four hours to cycle here. I heard that Uncle and Aunt Ba are very kind and generous, giving jobs to the poor people all over this area. That’s why I dared to come here to ask. And they say ‘A kind heart reflects in a kind face,’ and it’s not wrong. Aunt Ba is so kind, she looks so young, beautiful, and benevolent. I lived in Saigon for twenty years, ma’am, and even the young ladies there can’t compare to her. When this guy cursed at me earlier, I thought I’d come to the wrong house. Uncle and Aunt Ba are so kind to us poor people, how could a servant in their house act superior to us? Right, Aunt Ba?”
I stood behind Sang, staring at his rambling speech, my body stiff as a statue. Who would have known that when he flattered me, his words were so sweet, like honey poured into my ears.
Auntie Ba was still covering her mouth with a fan, giggling, when Sang stopped, making her freeze. Then she glared at the boy, who knelt down and begged, “I beg you, Auntie, I won’t dare do it again. Please don’t chase me away, I’m so pitiful.”
Auntie Ba showed no mercy, pulled out a two hundred thousand dong note, threw it on the ground, and said, “How did your uncle and aunt teach you at home? Huh? And you talk to outsiders like you’re smearing mud on your uncle and aunt’s faces? Get out quickly, before I give you a good beating!”
She called loudly towards the house, “Where’s Meo? Gather the gatekeeper’s things and throw them outside! Tomorrow, call someone else to guard the gate for me, understand?!”
Sang breathed a sigh of relief, saying, “Oh my God, what a blessing!”
Not every rich person would stand up and speak their mind, not covering up for their family like you did! If I had argued with him any longer, he would have beaten me up. Luckily, you came in time!
right and wrong: correct and incorrect
Sang took off his outer jacket, revealing a sleeveless t-shirt soaked with sweat clinging to his skin. His nipples were clearly visible, his full chest making it hard to look away.
Auntie Ba stared for a long, long time before suddenly waking up when Sang called out, “Auntie Ba! Auntie Ba!”
Sang immediately rushed to her, put his arm around her shoulder, and asked loudly, “Are you suffering from sunstroke? Are you alright? Oh my God, if anything happens to you, how can I bear the consequences!”
Auntie Ba, who had just woken up, suddenly collapsed to the ground, moaning, “Oh my God, every time I get so angry, I faint. Take me upstairs quickly!” “Ah… I’m so dizzy…”
The people inside the house rushed out like ants upon hearing Sang’s voice, clamoring: “Auntie, are you alright? Auntie, let me call Uncle back, okay?”
Auntie Ba waved her hand dismissively, replying: “Don’t bother Uncle, he goes out early and comes back late, haven’t you seen? I’ll be fine after a little rest, anyone who tells Uncle I’ll kick them out!”
She turned to find Meo: “Meo, show this man the way to get me inside to rest quickly. These two are my guests, make sure you arrange things properly. Ah… My head hurts so much, I’m so dizzy…”
Meo panicked and shouted: “Get out of the way! Come with me, help Auntie into the house quickly!” “Make sure that guy is well taken care of, understand?”
As soon as Mẹo finished speaking, the servants each went about their tasks. One brought my bike in, another closed the gate, another led me inside, and another brought tea and water. It turned out Mẹo was the most powerful of the servants, and also the oldest, around my age. The others were as young as the gatekeeper, or even younger.
They led me to the dining table, where a pile of unfamiliar pastries and snacks were laid out, things I had never seen before. They even left one of them for me to run errands. It turned out the title “the mistress’s guest” was worth so much. I couldn’t resist putting some of the sweets in my jacket pocket, intending to take them home for my mother and Bình. Unexpectedly, the boy next to me saw it and said, “You want to take these home?”
I was speechless, not knowing what to say to avoid embarrassment, while he somehow produced a bag of pre-packaged sweets and snacks and thrust it into my hand, saying, “Take these home.”
I Feeling uncertain, I asked again, “Is it… Is it okay to take some?”
She nodded happily, “Of course. Your guests can take as much as they want!”
After asking her a few more questions, I learned that Auntie Ba was the daughter of a well-known confectionery manufacturer. Therefore, there was never a shortage of sweets and candies in the house; they could have as much as they wanted. For us, it was a dream, but for my aunt and uncle, it was just worthless stuff.
I sat eating and drinking for a while, then noticed the little boy standing next to me staring intently at the candy in front of him. I called out to him, “Come here and eat some!”
He shook his head and said, “I can only eat if the guests give it to me.” “If you don’t, Auntie will kick you out!”
I grabbed a handful of candies and put them in his hand. Since he couldn’t hold them all, he pulled up the front of his shirt to catch them. I whispered to him, “Go share them and come back for more!”
The little boy was overjoyed, running to the back of the house to share the candy with his siblings. After a while, he came back up, and I asked, “Why are there only children in the house? How can you do any heavy work?”
He chewed his candy noisily and answered without hesitation, “We don’t do anything heavy; Uncle Ba’s gardeners do all the heavy work.”
I asked again, “And where is Uncle Ba?”
He looked around and replied, “I rarely see Uncle Ba at home! He goes out to the garden before the rooster crows, and he’s still not back by the time we’re all asleep.” “I probably only see you once or twice a year!”
I wanted to ask more questions, but Mẹo came from a distance. When I saw him, I asked, “Is Auntie Ba alright?”
Actually, I wasn’t worried about Auntie Ba’s well-being, but rather about what might happen to her, because if anything happened to her, Sang and I would be in trouble.
Mẹo, surprisingly, knew his manners and didn’t act resentful like those guys at Hồng’s house. He replied, “Auntie Ba is fine now, don’t worry.”
I asked further, “Where’s Sang?”
Mẹo replied, “That guy over there? He’s talking business with Auntie Ba.” “Oh, Auntie told you to go rest, and then she’ll arrange the work for you at the workshop.”
Meo then led me into a room in the house, saying it was a guest room. I had never set foot in a place like this before, and I was incredibly excited, but I tried to suppress my excitement. Of course, there were plenty of snacks and drinks, and I even got to lie on a very comfortable mattress. Remembering my mother at home, I told myself that when I earned money from work, I would buy her one.
I ate and drank to my heart’s content, and every now and then I would ask Meo where Sang was, but he only said he was still discussing business. I knew right away that it wasn’t easy to get this job; Sang must have had to plead and make all sorts of promises on my behalf.
Lying on the bed, I kept thinking about one thing after another, until I woke up to hear Sang calling from outside: “Come home, Phuc!”
I jumped up and rushed outside, and saw Auntie Ba standing there. She looked at me and said, “You little brat, you look like that.” The steamed buns are also very bright and cheerful.
“He’s so handsome, but he’s still alright. It’s a shame he’s working as a factory worker. I heard you can read?”
I nodded: “Yes!”
She continued: “Okay, get ready to start working next week, son. Oh my goodness, I feel so sorry for you, you’re so young and already have to work to support your mother. My factory is in Can Tho, there’s a dormitory for the workers, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Try to work hard, and later I’ll let you study more and become a manager, and earn money for your mother too, okay?”
I listened to everything she said, but I really didn’t recognize that this was the same person who had spoken to us at the gate this morning. The grumpy, resentful expression on her face was gone, her mood was extremely relaxed, and she spoke very softly, as if she were a completely different person.
Sang pulled me aside and said: “Goodbye, Auntie Ba, we’re going home.” “Thanks to Auntie Ba’s kindness, this trip was totally worth it!”
Auntie Ba smiled brightly: “Oh my goodness, that’s an exaggeration. Helping people is the right thing to do.” “You two brothers are doing well, give Auntie a call if anything happens.”
As Sang and I went out to the gate, someone had already parked the motorbike and was waiting. Auntie Ba stood on the steps, looking out and waving goodbye, watching until the motorbike disappeared from sight before going back inside.
I was still half-asleep, yawning, and asked, “What were you and Auntie Ba talking about for so long?”
Sang threw me his phone and said, “Watch this.”
From the video’s perspective, it seemed Sang had kept his phone in his pocket to record while sitting opposite Auntie Ba and talking. Sang was afraid the noise in the middle of the street would make it hard to hear, so he kindly gave me an earphone to plug in. I could hear every word of their conversation clearly.
Auntie Ba sat on the bed and whispered, “Meo, get me a glass of water.”
Meo asked, “Should I call the doctor to examine you, Auntie?”
Auntie Ba replied, “No need. It’s not some strange illness that requires calling.” “Leave the water on the table for me and then go outside to keep watch while I discuss business with this young man.”
Hearing the door close with a bang, it seemed Mẹo had finished getting the water and gone out. Auntie Ba didn’t beat around the bush: “What do you want to apply for? My house is full of work. If you want to work with my husband, you can tend the garden, or be a processing worker. My confectionery factory is also hiring; do you want to work in packaging, loading, or delivering?”
Sang immediately replied: “To be honest with you, Auntie, I’m so happy you’re giving me a job, I wouldn’t dare haggle or choose anymore. Please find a place that needs us most and assign me and that young man to work there.”
Auntie Ba exclaimed again: “Oh dear, that’s why you don’t know. Let me tell you, you can only do a good job if you want to do it yourself. If you hire people just for the sake of it, it’s a waste of money.” “Isn’t that right, ma’am?”
Sang mumbled for a moment, then said, “Yes, ma’am, that’s right. But we’re used to hard work; we’ve done so many strenuous jobs before, and we’ve always done our best, so we’re not picky at all.”
Auntie Ba laughed and said, “Looking at you, your skin is a bit tanned, not as dark and grumpy as those other men, and you have a scholarly face. I can’t believe you when you say you do hard work.”
Sang said urgently, “It’s true, ma’am. I’ve been doing hard work so much that I’ve built up muscles and don’t need to lift weights anymore.”
Auntie Ba covered her mouth with her fan and laughed even louder, “Oh my goodness, anyone can say that with just words.”
Sang seized the opportunity and whispered, “Then, please allow me to take off my shirt.” “I know it’s really strange, but if you don’t believe me, I don’t know what else to do.”
I thought Aunt Ba would yell at Sang to stop, but instead, there was only an unusual silence instead of agreement. I guessed Sang had then stripped shirtless in front of Aunt Ba, because on the screen, she stared at him with wide eyes, and even praised him profusely: “You must work really hard to have such well-developed and toned muscles! And the important thing is, you still haven’t answered me what you want to do.”
Sang hesitated and then mumbled, and Aunt Ba added: “Well, let me put it simply. Gardening with Uncle Ba is hard work, but the pay is high. Working at his factory is easier, but the pay is lower. If you want to work in a cool place with a high salary, come work at my factory in Can Tho; the pay is good, food and accommodation are provided, it’s just a little far from here.”
Sang was silent for a moment, then replied, “Well, I’m clumsy, not very nimble or skillful, and I don’t know how to read or write. If I touch any machinery, I’ll break it. How about you let me guard the garden for Uncle Ba? And that boy, he knows how to read and is quite quick-witted. Why don’t you let him work at the factory? He still has his mother at home; they’re both struggling to make ends meet. He’ll be sad if he has to go work far away. Let me talk to him about it.”
Uncle Ba exclaimed in surprise, “Oh my goodness, that’s so sad! Okay, let me get the employment contract out. You and the boy can sign it, and you can start working tomorrow. It’s so pitiful!”
With that, she opened a drawer and hastily pulled out a couple of papers. I could even hear the rustling sound of the papers flying in the wind. She said, “Here, sign here. But just sit there, I’ll take them over.” As soon as she got out of bed, she cried out again, “Oh… I’m so dizzy… Oh…”
She felt dizzy and collapsed. Sang rushed to her side, put his arms around her, and lifted her up.
Sang hurriedly said, “Are you alright, Auntie? Just sit on the bed while I come over!”
She said, “Let me get you a glass of water!”
Sang, of course, was extremely concerned, saying, “Sit here, I’ll get it for you.”
Then, he went to the water dispenser in the corner of the room, filled a glass, and brought it to her. As she took it, whether accidentally or intentionally, the glass slipped from her hand and spilled all over Sang’s stomach. Sang quickly caught the glass to prevent it from breaking, but his pants were soaked as if he’d just wet himself.
Auntie Ba exclaimed in alarm, “Oh my goodness, I’m so clumsy! I’m so sorry!”
Sang cheerfully said, “It’s nothing, Auntie, it’ll dry in the sun.”
She interrupted, “That won’t do! If it dries like that, you’ll probably get a rash! Take off your pants, I’ll hang them out with a fan for a bit so you can go home!”
Country folk, especially farmers, always wear two or three layers of pants wherever they go. Shorts underneath, long pants on top. Logically speaking, taking off the long pants shouldn’t be a problem.
Sang awkwardly refused, laughing, “No, ma’am, I… I don’t have a wife or children yet… It’s too embarrassing!”
The woman nudged Sang’s shoulder, laughing, and said, “Oh my goodness, I’m a woman, I’m not embarrassed, so why are you? Take off your long pants quickly, or I won’t let you do it anymore!”
Sang reluctantly complied, “Yes, ma’am, I’ll take them off, please don’t blame me, poor thing!”
Sang took off his long pants as instructed, and then she exclaimed, “Oh my god!”
Sang replied, “Okay, then I’ll put them back on.”
The woman said again, “No, no, since you’ve taken them off, just give them to me to hang out to dry.”
Sang obeyed. Then he went to the window, placed the phone on the sunny window frame, pointed the camera inside, and said, “My phone got wet, let me dry it here, okay?”
Once the phone was properly placed, its camera captured the entire room. It was then that I was shocked to see Sang on the screen completely naked. His huge penis, though not yet erect, was incredibly long and dangling. Sang was sitting in front of me, pedaling his bike, and I lifted his shirt to look at his waistband. Sure enough, he hadn’t bothered to wear underwear today.
No wonder, when I squeezed his penis this morning, it felt so real. No wonder, when Auntie Ba told him to take off his trousers, he said he was embarrassed. Because there was no other fabric under his trousers.
Yet Auntie Ba didn’t even scold him or seem to mind. She got up, went to the other side, and turned on the fan, blowing air onto his trousers that were stretched out on the chair. After turning on the fan, she returned to bed, but somehow she stumbled and swayed.
Sang, of course, rushed to help her, but this time, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down so hard that they both fell onto the bed. Sang, naked from head to toe, was lying on top of her. Sang tried to pull away, but she held on even tighter. She cried out, “I can’t breathe… Ugh… I can’t breathe…”
Sang propped himself up on the bed, trying not to press down on her, and replied, “Let go of me, it’s because I’m lying on top of you that you can’t breathe.”
She shook her head vigorously, “No, it’s not that. We have a strange illness. I saw a doctor, and he said this house has no men, so the yin energy is too strong and needs yang energy to be cured. Now the yin energy is trapped in my chest. You have to make me gasp for breath so I can expel this energy.”
Sang, feigning innocence and ignorance, replied, “I’m not a doctor, ma’am, how would I know?”
Auntie Ba immediately responded, “Just stay still, let me try this.”
Then, Auntie Ba reached down and grasped Sang’s gradually hardening penis, stroking it a few times. Afterward, her hands, which had been around Sang’s neck, were released, not to let him go, but to pull her own pants down to her knees, leaving only her embroidered silk panties.
She pressed Sang’s back tightly against her, tucking his penis under her panties and rubbing it up and down against the edge of her vulva. A look of pleasure gradually appeared on her face. Sang indulged her desires, gently thrusting his hips, his penis rubbing against her vulva, causing her to become aroused and wet, soaking her panties.
With a few more thrusts, she seemed unable to restrain her long-suppressed lust, grabbing Sang’s penis and shoving it into her vagina. Seeing the opportunity presented itself, Sang didn’t hesitate any longer. He immediately transformed into a true sex machine, thrusting his penis in and out like he’d been starving for sex for days. Mrs. Ba closed her eyes tightly and could only gasp for breath as the intense pleasure surged through her body.
Sang unbuttoned her shirt, revealing her two full, smooth breasts. He sucked on them intensely. Auntie Ba happily hugged him tightly, arching her back and moaning with satisfaction: “It feels so good, Sang! Fuck me faster, Sang, harder, Sang… I’ve been horny for months, Sang, your dick makes me so aroused… Deeper, Sang… All the way… Oh… Oh… Oh…”
As she moaned “all the way,” Sang pushed the base of his dick to the edge of her vagina. She could only utter “oh oh” sounds because the pleasure had hoarse her throat, only producing moans of lust.
Sang, unable to say anything because he had to suck her breasts, only breathed heavily and vigorously thrust his dick into her lustful vagina. Probably because Auntie Ba had been horny for so long, after only about ten minutes she was trembling with ecstasy, her vaginal fluids gushing out.
The fluids gushed out. She struggled to take off her clothes and threw them onto the floor, gesturing for Sang to lie on the bed while she sat on his penis and started thrusting.
She thrust wildly, pulling Sang’s hand down to squeeze her breasts and rub her clitoris. She moaned louder and louder, showing no restraint, as if no one could hear her.
“It feels so good, Sang! I’ve never felt this good before, Sang! Your penis is so hard, so long, I’m gushing with fluid, Sang… Oh… Oh… I’m coming again, Sang… Oh… Oh… I’m coming, Sang…”
And so, her vaginal fluids gushed out, spreading across the soaking wet mattress. Her mind was completely consumed by this penis, forgetting even how to address him properly.
After finishing, she left his penis inside her vagina, gently stroking it from the base, rubbing his testicles, her face still showing lingering desire.
Less than two minutes later, she pulled Sang up to a sitting position. This time she knelt on the bed, letting Sang stand below and fuck her from behind. After a few thrusts, she asked, “Are you about to come?”
Sang replied softly, “I’ll come when you want me to!”
She leaned over and took something unfamiliar from the drawer. She said, “Put on this condom! So you can ejaculate inside me comfortably later!”
Sang obediently put it on, but the condom only covered two-thirds of his penis before it was too small. He didn’t care, and continued fucking. Auntie Ba was both ecstatic and exhausted, her head slumped onto the bed, moaning and writhing: “It feels so good, Sang… Hahaha… This dick… Ah… Ah… My pussy lips are numb, Sang… Hahaha… Oh…”
The slapping sounds echoed throughout the room each time Sang thrust his dick in with full force. Auntie Ba had completely forgotten everything, only gasping for breath, yet still struggling to cope with the overwhelming pleasure. Sang could see she couldn’t take it anymore, so he thrust with all his might. Aunt Ba was suddenly jolted awake by a wave of pleasure, urgently urging, “I’m about to come again, Sang… Oh… Sang… Mmm… Come… Come inside my pussy… inside my pussy, Sang… Mmm… It’s so numb, Sang… Oh… Sang… Oh… Oh… I’m coming… I’m coming… Sang…”
Aun Ba arched her back to the peak, Sang understood, took a few deep breaths, and ejaculated all his semen into her vagina. His legs trembled slightly, and he couldn’t stand steady, while Aunt Ba whispered, “So warm… So warm…”
After about fifteen seconds of continuous ejaculation, Sang regained his balance. He asked, “Should I pull out, Aunt?”
Aun Ba wrapped her arms around Sang’s buttocks, replying, “What’s the rush? Your dick isn’t even hard yet!”
Sang urgently exclaimed, “If Uncle Ba comes back immortal, I’ll be dead, Aunt!”
When she heard about Uncle Ba, she felt disheartened and pulled her vagina away from Sang’s still-erect penis. Sang then picked up her clothes from the floor and handed them back to her. She sat on the bed, gazing at the ceiling, and said, “It would be better if he came home. He spends all day holed up in his garden, not caring at all about my well-being.”
Sang comforted her, “Don’t be sad, Auntie. Men, you know, money and career are the most important things. Look at me, without money, nobody cares about me.”
Auntie Ba continued, “Yes, everyone knows career is important. But it’s important, not the only thing. He married me and then abandoned me, leaving early and coming home late, to the point that I, his wife, haven’t seen him at home three times in a year! He doesn’t even bother to visit his parents, always holed up in his garden. Oh well, let’s not talk about it, I’m too depressed to discuss it.”
Auntie Ba finished speaking, then took a comb and tied her hair back as before, her clothes neat and tidy. She grabbed Sang’s trousers, handed them to him, and said, “They’re dry now, put them on!”
Sang nodded in thanks, then joked around a bit, making her laugh, and conveniently grabbed his phone and put it back in his pocket.
She said, “When you have some free time, bring some fruit from the garden up here for me, and fix any small things around the house while you’re at it.”
She winked at him, and he understood, just nodding and smiling. Auntie Ba then called out, “Meow, go get the mattress to wash for me. I spilled water on it earlier and it’s all dirty.”
Meow went inside just as Sang and Auntie Ba came out. Auntie Ba, as if nothing had happened, said, “Okay, let’s decide on that then. If anything happens, just give me a call. Read out my phone number so I can give you a missed call.”
After everything was settled, my aunt led Sang back to the living room where I had been sleeping, and pulled me along to go home.
Having witnessed everything, I immediately asked him, “Are you tired?”
He, of course, knew what I was asking. He replied, “We could have played until the afternoon, I’m not tired at all.”
I teased him, “Are you up for it?”
He teased back, “Do you want to try?”
We both burst into laughter on the way home. Just then, I suddenly remembered having to go work far away, and my heart sank. Seeing my silence, he asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to go to the factory? The salary is high, you might even become a manager. But anyway, if you don’t like it, I’ll call Auntie Ba and let her know.”
I felt reluctant to go, but I also regretted not going, regretting all the effort Sang had put in all morning. Perhaps someone like me, who had always stayed at home, felt a little uneasy about leaving my mother’s side.
Whatever happens, happens; whatever needs to be done, must be done. Though our family is poor, for all these years only my mother has protected me. It’s time to learn to be independent.
“I just wanted to compensate my mother somehow.”
Suddenly remembering that Sang had also applied for a job here, I immediately asked, “But you’re also working for Uncle Ba, so what about my mother?”
Sang turned around and replied, “I have my own way. Just do your best, as long as your mother is healthy at home. I’ll compensate you if anything happens, you’re suffering so much!”
I was still hesitant, feeling like Sang had to use his body to get us jobs. I didn’t want to keep it weighing on my mind, so I said, “But, I still feel strange…”
Sang seemed to read my mind, of course he knew what I was saying, but he still calmly said, “Strange? It’s not like I slept with Aunt Ba to get you a job. Men and women are separate matters, work is separate matters, each is separate. Now, it’s like buying bread, but I help the owner push the ox cart, so she gives me extra meat, and you get plain bread. That’s all!”
I burst out laughing and asked, “Oh, you’re selling bread but pushing a bullock cart, huh? Haha!” He laughed too, a laugh I rarely saw. After laughing, I asked, “But you’re so bold! Daring to mess with Ba Quyen’s wife, what would you do if he found out?”
Sang tapped on his phone in his pocket: “That’s why I need this.”
I patted him on the back, and my mind suddenly cleared: “So you planned it all out, huh? But how did you know for sure Ba Quyen wouldn’t be home today?”
Sang silently gathered his strength, pedaling up the bridge and then down. The cool breeze made us both feel comfortable. He replied, “I just got back here, but I’ve been out and about in the villages more than you guys! There’s nothing I don’t know! I’m about to replace Binh as the local guardian here.”
We chatted non-stop on the way home, and I was even more surprised to find Sang could be so cheerful and humorous at times. Perhaps he has gradually come to accept this place, to accept life in this land where food is scarce.