Sea hibiscus
(Baonghean) - Muong opened a shop by the beach. The shop is made of coconut leaves and bamboo, and the wind blows strongly. Muong's specialty, which is always in high demand, is the sweet coconuts, which are sweet because the shop owner looks as sweet as the coconuts. The nearby military post is Muong's regular customer. They call Muong's shop the Wind Shop.
Or going to the bar alone was Bien, a new soldier so he was very lonely. Bien's fellow countrymen were all enlisted in other stations.
The sea has bronze skin. The muscles roll like waves, the smile reveals teeth as bright as white sand. The sea enters the Windy Inn, drinks water silently, then sits for hours looking out at the distant ocean.
Different from Bien was a group of old soldiers. They went to the bar to drink alcohol, drink coconut water and said disgusting things. They often made jokes and often had lewd actions towards Muong.
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Illustration: Nam Phong |
Once, Muong heard them say:
- What kind of person is that new soldier, Bien?
- He is quiet.
- Should I try this guy?
- How?
- Make him serve wine!
A moment later, Bien was summoned to the restaurant. After listening to his senior's orders, Bien quietly followed. Muong looked at Bien with wet eyes. The next day, Bien went to the restaurant as usual. Muong started the conversation:
- Hey, how old are you, Bien?
- 20.
- Is he married?
- Not yet.
- You look so gentle, Mr. Bien.
That day, Muong cleverly refused Bien's water bill. A month later, it was the same group of old soldiers at the shop.
- Where did you go last night?
Big brother's voice:
- Yes, he goes with his girlfriend.
A junior replied:
- Who is his boyfriend?
- Yes, I will speak only if you allow me!
- Just say it.
- Yes, she is the boss's second sister.
- Lie!
- Yes, I saw it myself.
- See what?
- They, yes, they "feed" each other.
- So what?
- Then they got together.
- Stop!
Fifteen minutes later, the Sea was called:
- Pour wine for the boss, understand? The boss ordered.
Bien took the bottle of wine, poured a glass for the boss and a glass for himself.
- This guy is rude, scratch my back, quickly.
The sea hesitated, its eyes looking straight at the person opposite.
- What are you looking at? Scratch my ass, understand?
Bien suddenly swung his arm. A punch like a thunderbolt landed on the villain's chest. His eyes rolled back and he fainted. Bien went to jail... After a few months in jail, a fellow prisoner was released because his family had bribed him to create an opening for Bien to escape. Bien jumped the mountain to the resistance zone and became a revolutionary cadre.
Ten years later, the country was at peace. At a re-education camp. Officer Luong Van Bien went down to the camp to check the inmates' living quarters.
- Yes, officer, do you still remember me?
Voice of a camper:
- You are…
- Yes, I used to be in the same station with you.
- Oh, I remember now.
- No, the boss didn't die at that time. They said the boss died to get money to escape the crime.
- Oh, I see.
- Yes, big brother is also in the same camp with me.
Bien returned to his office, opened his notebook, and there it was: Tran Bao Ca, captain, station chief... Wow, big brother, we met unexpectedly. Bien thought to himself. In the late afternoon, the sunset was faint, a young woman came to visit her husband. She was about the same age as Bien, with a smile like a purple flower.
- What is your name? asked the sea.
- Yes, Pham Thi Muong.
- Oh, are you Muong?
- Oh my gosh, Mr. Sea.
- Who are you visiting?
- It's Tran Bao Ca.
- Why did you marry him?
- Yes, because he forced me, he forced my brother to join the army if I didn't listen...
Muong cried softly. Night fell quickly in the camp, the sound of some wild animals crying out in alarm. That night, Bien did not sleep. Outside, in the place where prisoners’ families lived, there was also a woman who did not sleep. She remembered that in her hometown, there was a kind of flower, purple, growing on the sand dunes by the sea. People called it the sea morning glory…
Short story byPhan Xuan Hau
(Yen Thanh)
