Months passed, and it was almost time for Dau to save enough money to go back to his hometown to get married. He was very happy these days, always grinning from ear to ear like a flower blooming in spring. Lui back home had recovered completely, plowing the fields and carrying rice as strong as ever.
Occasionally, we’d call to check on him, and he’d just say, “Without you guys here to help out with the work, by the time I get back, I’ll probably have built a multi-story house. The only problem is there’s no free sex down here, masturbating all day is so boring.”
I’ve been calling Hanh lately, but she hasn’t answered. Sang said she’s been urging Mom to sell the land for months, and she gets upset when Mom hesitates. Mom told me she’ll probably sell it next month. Hanh said the buyer is an acquaintance of hers, and after the sale, they’ll let Mom and me stay. They won’t come back to take the land for another few years, and then Mom and I will need to move.
I often said to Sang, “That’s easy to say, but what if they change their minds and take the land? Where will my family live then?”
Sang replied, “I live alone. You and Aunt Hai can move over, there’ll be plenty of room.”
I laughed and said, “Oh come on, the house is so small, where would you and Mom live?”
Sang said again, “Then I’ll make another room. Aunt Hai can sleep in one room, and you can sleep with me!”
Since Lùi went back to his hometown, the manager has been frantically searching for another country boy to serve him. But it’s not easy for him to find a second person with a glib tongue like Lùi’s. That’s why he’s always irritable and doesn’t hesitate to fire anyone he dislikes.
Nhí was also once tempted by the manager to have a private room, but he absolutely refused. Out of respect for Đậu, the manager still let Nhí work there, but he transferred him to the loading and unloading area.
More than half of the country boys who came up here at the same time as us have quit their jobs. Only those in desperate situations grit their teeth and stay, enduring the old man’s torment. Everyone knows about his lust for men; Cường often says, “He really likes country boys because they’re strong and muscular, and they don’t have casual sex much, so he doesn’t have to worry about getting diseases.”
With only two months left until Tet (Lunar New Year), Đậu told Hương he wanted to work extra until after Tet. He heard the Tet bonus for workers is as much as a whole month’s salary, and Đậu plans to use that money to quit and focus on his wedding.
Nhí often asks, “Why don’t you get married and then come back to work here? You’re a manager with a high salary, it would be a waste to quit!”
Đậu mumbled a few perfunctory answers to get it over with, but I knew perfectly well he was terrified of being a plaything for the manager whenever he needed entertainment. He didn’t have a wife yet, so having sex with the guy every day wasn’t a big deal. But after he gets married, doing something like that, even just in a physical way, would be disrespectful to the girl he loves.
We thought everything would go smoothly, but this morning Lùi called us with shocking news. He said it with disbelief: “Brother Đậu, Hương… Hương… Mom, what should we say now…”
Brother Đậu, hearing his girlfriend’s name, immediately said anxiously: “Just tell me what it is, why are you being so secretive?”
Lùi said: “Hương’s family is having an engagement ceremony today. My parents went this morning. I heard about it before and thought it was a joke, but it turns out…”
Brother Lùi almost fainted after hearing that. We all knew Hương was the youngest daughter, and her older siblings were all married. If the engagement ceremony was held at her house, it could only be hers.
Dau tried to reassure himself, asking again, “Hey, these things aren’t just nonsense! Have you been there to see for yourself before you say that?”
Without waiting for Dau to ask further, Lui immediately sent a picture he had taken via text message. Dau stared at the picture, his eyes wide with shock. The girl he loved was wearing a beautiful, radiant wedding dress, but the groom standing beside her wasn’t him.
Dau trembled, almost dropping his phone. He frantically searched for Huong’s number to call her. But all he heard were long beeps; the phone rang, but no one answered.
Dau called his parents, who were equally shocked. His family hadn’t invited him to the engagement ceremony, and they were only just finding out about it.
Dau sat slumped for a long time, his eyes vacant like a dead fish. He threw his phone to pieces after hearing his own family confirm that Huong had indeed married someone else.
Perhaps he was asking himself, all this time, he’d worked day and night, enduring so much torment and humiliation, for what purpose. All this time, he’d been like a sandpiper building a sandcastle. A huge wave swept over him, leaving him with nothing.
Suddenly, he jumped up and rushed out of work. We were afraid he’d do something bad, so we ran after him to stop him. I shouted, “What are you going to do? Your parents are waiting at home, don’t be foolish!”
Mr. Dau stopped at the gate, waving down a motorbike taxi as he said, “I’m going back to my hometown to see what’s going on. Whatever happens, I have to explain everything clearly. Don’t worry, I’m not crazy enough to go kill myself. You guys stay here and work properly. If the manager asks, say something happened at home and I had to leave urgently without asking for permission.”
I don’t have a boyfriend, but I’ve heard that love is something that can make people live and die for each other. No wonder Mr. Dau…
He was so rushed that he didn’t even have time to pack a change of clothes. The other two guys and I felt sorry for him but didn’t know how to help, we could only look at each other and sigh.
A few days later, Dau didn’t show up, and his phone was broken, so we couldn’t contact him. The manager, unable to find him, took his anger out on us. Nhi had half his salary deducted for spilling a bag of goods the day before. Although the loss wasn’t significant, the manager still punished him as a warning.
Nhi was furious. That night, he packed everything into his backpack. He said, “I’m going home, I’m not working here anymore. The manager is like a horny woman who can’t be fucked. With this kind of behavior, my salary won’t even cover the cost of the goods anymore, damn it!”
I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn’t listen. The next morning, as soon as he got his salary, he took a motorbike taxi to the bus station and went straight home.
Minh wasn’t much better off, but he didn’t have a choice either. Luckily, I had Aunt Ba “protecting” me, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have been in a much better situation.
It’s almost Tet (Lunar New Year), so the weather is cooler, though still far less pleasant than in my hometown. Mom said she’ll sell the land this month, and Hanh needs the money to buy goods to sell during Tet.
The closer it gets to Tet, the more I miss home, because in my whole life I’ve never been away for more than a day without returning. Whenever I have free time, I sit and count the money I’ve saved, planning to ask her to cook a huge pot of braised duck eggs when I get home for Tet.
Everyone’s been talking about Tet lately, and listening to them makes me even more excited. Minh just smiled dismissively; after all, he has nowhere else to go back to for Tet.
I suggested, “Why don’t you come to my house for Tet? I can introduce you to Sang from the movie.”
Minh is a huge fan of Sang, just like a fan admires their idol. Every time I mentioned Sang, her eyes lit up; she always longed to meet him in person.
On the afternoon of the 28th, as everyone was eagerly packing up to go home for the holidays, the manager gathered everyone in the common area to announce something important. He stood facing thousands of workers and declared loudly: “Due to the high demand for Tet sweets and snacks, as you all know, the company requires all employees on the list to stay and work overtime throughout the Tet holiday. Those of you on the list who cannot stay and work must find someone to fill in for you. And if you neglect your responsibilities, you’ll have to bear the consequences yourself.”
A somber atmosphere enveloped everyone. Hearing about overtime just as they were preparing to go home was truly disheartening. The manager read out each name, and I saw the woman next to me burst into tears. She said, “I bought cakes, fruits, and toys to prepare for visiting my children. I’ve been away for two years now and still haven’t been able to go home for Tet. Poor kids at home, every Tet they miss their mother so much they cry uncontrollably. I’m so terrible.”
My name and Minh’s weren’t on the list of those called. I heard that out of every ten people who stayed, nine had “offended” the manager. He was a vengeful man, and whenever he had the chance, he would torment people both physically and mentally.
Seeing her crying so miserably, I felt sorry for her. Minh, seeing this, whispered to me, “Why don’t you go back to your hometown? This woman lives in the same area as me, I can stay and work in her place. It’ll be like earning some extra money to make up for the half-deducted salary from last month.”
I nodded, not saying anything more, and didn’t want to stop the young man who wanted to do a good deed.
Hearing this, she thanked me profusely, gently wiping away a few tears with her wet sleeve. After she left, I whispered to Minh, “Aren’t you afraid of provoking that old gay man again?”
Minh laughed, “Once you’re in this situation, you have to accept any conflict. He can be cruel, but we’re not forced to be cruel like him.”
So I went back to my hometown, while Minh stayed behind. He promised to find time to go out and tell me what Tet in the city was like. Thinking about how my friends back home celebrated Tet, I became even more eager to go back and help my mother decorate the house.
Being away from my mother’s embrace, I also learned many things, understanding that every feeling of accomplishment in life comes with a price that one must pay.
I got off the bus and Sang was there to meet me. He was still the same tanned man on his motorbike with a carefree expression. Seeing me, he suddenly smiled, a complete loss of the arrogant look he usually displayed to strangers.
I asked, “Have you been waiting long?”
Sang replied, “No, it’s not even as long as it takes me to play half a round.”
I chuckled and sat behind him on the motorbike. Sang wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close, and conveniently squeezed my butt before saying, “Working up there must be tough, huh? Your butt has shrunk to a tiny size.”
I joked, “It’s because the guys patted it too much.”
Sang clicked his tongue, “These guys are useless, they lack technique. Last night at my house, I patted it a few times and it swelled up right away.”
I giggled at his playful remarks. Looking at him from his tough exterior, it’s hard to imagine that his mouth could be so lively.
Sang drove me along the main road; the road to my house was on the riverside. The main road was wide and easy to drive on, and there was a bridge across the river near my house, so I usually took this route for convenience.
Sang was driving leisurely, and…
Suddenly, a car honked loudly from behind. Sang cursed, “Damn it, where did all these cars come from?”
Sang moved aside to let the car pass. The road was so narrow that both he and I were almost forced into the river.
I asked Sang, “Do you know who my mother sold the land to?”
Sang replied, “It seems like it’s someone Hanh knows. I heard they paid the money today.”
I thought to myself, people really do business quickly and efficiently; the money was all paid in less than a month.
Sang’s car stopped at the foot of the bridge, and I noticed the car from earlier had also stopped there. I glanced up at the house at the foot of the bridge, thinking to myself, “I didn’t expect to find someone here who knows someone from the city.”
After crossing the bridge and walking a little further, we arrived at my house. Several people were gathered in front of the house, and I recognized one of them as Hanh. The other three were an older man than Uncle Bay, an older woman than my mother, and a boy about my age and Binh’s.
The woman outside called out loudly, “Is Hai Nguyet home? Hai Nguyet…”
I suspected they were land buyers, but their tone lacked any warmth. My mother heard the call and ran out of the house, but her face immediately turned pale upon seeing the woman.
My mother nodded, “Hello, Sister Hai, it’s been a long time.”
I was a little surprised. Why did my mother call that woman “Sister Hai”? I knew all her acquaintances, but I had never seen this woman before.
The woman sneered, “Yes, it’s been a long time. You’re still living the same way, aren’t you, Nguyet? A dilapidated house, ragged clothes. Truly, those who live immorally can’t get ahead no matter how hard they work.”
I sensed something was wrong. Even if she was the land buyer, there was no need to insult my mother like this.
Sang stopped the car, I jumped out, nodded briefly in greeting, and ran to my mother. I said, “Mom, I’m home. Are these ladies and gentlemen the land buyers?”
Before my mother could answer, the woman continued, “Oh, your illegitimate son has grown so big! He looks quite handsome and tall, it’s a pity I don’t know who his father is.”
The more I listened, the more confused I became, but I was even more bewildered that my mother didn’t say anything. Normally, when a stranger uses unpleasant words about you, you would at least retaliate. But my mother was extremely tolerant of that woman, as if the power of money had forced her to do so.
My mother said softly, “Yes, please come inside, have a drink, and we can talk slowly…”
Before my mother could finish speaking, the other woman snapped, “No thanks, thank you. How dare you invite people into a house like this? Don’t you have any shame?”
At this point, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I shouted, “Sister, what’s going on? You let them insult Mom like that and you didn’t say a word?”
My mother put her hand on my shoulder and whispered, “Phuc, go to Sang’s house to play. Let me talk to her.”
I was fuming, but I decided to leave. The man, seeing this, couldn’t stand still either. His obese body began to “puff up” in the midday heat. He yelled, “Let’s settle this quickly, it’s already noon!”
The woman respectfully said “Yes,” then arrogantly continued, “Why are you chasing the boy away?” “Are you afraid he’ll find out about your sordid past?” Then she turned to me and said, “Didn’t your mother tell you, child? Well, let me tell you then…”
My mother interrupted, her eyes filled with pleading, “Sister, please, let’s talk about this calmly. Adult matters have nothing to do with the child…”
She yelled again, “Stop begging! Twenty years ago, you were the one who begged me to let you stay, and that’s why I lost my husband and my child. Child, let me tell you, your mother…”
My mother suddenly burst into tears, coming closer and pleading, “Sister, please, let it go…”
She brushed her off, “Let it go? Try having your husband stolen and then having him die, and then living on your land for decades—see if you can let it go then?”
She yelled, drowning out my mother’s sobs, “Hey, you bastard, let me tell you something.” “Hanh and your mother have no blood relation whatsoever. And that man sitting on the altar in this house isn’t your father either.”
Each word was like a nail driven straight into my head, leaving me numb all over. A throbbing pain spread throughout my body as she continued talking about my mother…
“Back then, your mother was pregnant out of wedlock, I don’t know where she came from. Hanh’s father was returning from fishing and found your mother lying unconscious on the road, so he let her stay for a few days. Then your mother begged me, saying she was pregnant, and asked me to let her stay here. But I didn’t know I was bringing a devil into the house…”
“While I was away, your mother seduced Hanh’s father, and he became completely infatuated with her, always defending her. But God has eyes; he didn’t take care of your mother for long before he died from overwork, leaving your mother to struggle endlessly without ever being able to hold her head high again.”
Tears streamed down my face without me realizing it; I truly didn’t know what was real and what was fake. I asked my mother, “Mom, Sister Hai, is what this woman said true?”
She sneered, “Didn’t you see your mother has been silent all this time? She’s absolutely right, there’s nothing to argue about. I’m telling you and your mother, this land was left to Hanh by her father, and now it’s mine. You and your mother pack your things and get out of my house, get out immediately. In ten minutes, whatever’s left will be burned to ashes.”
Sister Hanh turned away without saying anything, while my mother collapsed, tears streaming down her face. Suddenly, another voice called out from the street, “What’s going on?”
Uncle Bay slowly walked over, and together we helped my mother sit up on the steps. The man looked at the people standing at the door and said, “Hanh’s mother, listen to me. After all, Nguyet has raised your child for decades. Today is the twenty-eighth day of Tet, let her finish celebrating Tet and then she can clean up and hand over the land.”
The woman glared at Uncle Bay and said, “Isn’t letting her stay here for decades enough? If she doesn’t leave now, I’ll come in and burn down the house right now! It’s my house, I want to burn it down, let’s see who can stop me!”
Sang came over from the next house, holding a large machete. He said, “Go ahead and try burning it down, woman!”
She yelled, “Who are you? You haven’t even wiped your nose properly yet, and you dare interfere in my affairs? If you mess around, I’ll have the gangsters deal with you!”
Sang sneered, “You ask who I am? You’re from Saigon, you probably know Mr. Bau Phu’s house, right?” Hearing this, the woman’s expression suddenly changed, and her earlier aggressive demeanor diminished considerably. Her son, hiding behind the man, spoke up: “Dad, Auntie, this guy killed someone a few years ago and was imprisoned. The newspapers were full of reports about it, his face was even on the front page.”
I was stunned for a moment, and both Uncle Bay and Aunt Hanh looked over at Sang. Although this man was tall and burly, I couldn’t believe he was a murderer.
But, this was something Sang himself had brought up…
Ah, so that’s it. Perhaps that’s why Sang had to retreat to this remote, desolate area. With his physique and strength, he could have easily found work in Saigon. But what establishment would dare hire a murderer whose picture was even in the newspaper?
Deep down, I truly hoped Sang would speak up and correct the record. But in the end, that didn’t happen…