Joy of the betel and areca nut stall

(Baonghean) - "The elderly nowadays no longer have to worry about their children and family like before. Carrying betel and areca nuts is to feel happy, feel healthy, and do the job they love..." - Mrs. Phat confided.

Every night, after dinner, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phat (80 years old) in Hamlet 3, Son Hai Commune (Quynh Luu) brings her betel and areca nuts to the front porch, gently picks each betel leaf and washes it carefully. After washing, she shakes off all the water and then arranges each betel leaf together and puts it in a basket. Mrs. Phat has been involved in the betel and areca nut business since she was very young. She said that back then, in Ngo village, only her mother sold betel and areca nuts, and there were always many customers. “Early on, I followed my mother to carry betel and areca nuts to the market. During the flood season, the water was up to her waist, but my mother still carried betel and areca nuts to Thoi market, Song Ngoc market, and then to Ngo market. Among the markets, Ngo market is still the most stable place to sell. The betel and areca nut selling job has been with me until now. Also from this betel and areca nut carrying job, Doai and Trung were able to study properly. The betel and areca nut selling job has many pleasures, the greatest pleasure is that it is suitable for old age. At night, we can gather the elders of the village to eat betel nuts, chat, recall old stories, and tell stories of today, which is fun...”.

Mr. Phat has been attached to the betel and areca nut stall since he was a child.

Mrs. Phat also boasted: “In the past, there were more than 20 people in the village selling betel and areca nuts. The oldest person was 85, the youngest was 60. Now there are only about a dozen people left, some of them died of old age, some followed their children and grandchildren to live far away… The village has only a dozen people left, despite their old age, they still love the betel and areca nut business very much. Like Mrs. U, who is nearly 90 this year, just left the betel and areca nut business last month, due to a month-long illness. He said he stopped selling betel and areca nuts, but every night he invited the elders from the neighboring village to my house to talk about chewing betel and betel nuts to have company, in fact, he wanted to help me wash betel and get lime. Mrs. U, like Mrs. Phan, from Ngo village, were destined to sell betel and areca nuts and knew people in village 3, then became husband and wife. Both of them have been involved in the betel and areca nut business since childhood until now. Mrs. Phan said: “Selling betel and areca nuts, one day you can earn a few tens of thousands of dong in profit and it is not too hard, a couple of beams The betel and areca nut basket is also very light. I asked Mrs. Phan: "Where did you buy betel and areca nuts, even vegetarian ones?" Mrs. Phan smiled and immediately said: "There are many, I bought them in the commune and neighboring communes"; "Why are all the betel leaves beautiful and delicious, but you divide them into such piles?" Mrs. Phan smiled, pointing at each stack of betel leaves and slowly said: "This betel tray is sold to families who buy it for important occasions such as death anniversaries, ceremonies or asking for a child's hand in marriage. This place also sells it to women who chew betel, and many new mothers also buy betel. According to folk beliefs, when children have hiccups, they often put the betel shoots on their foreheads and it will go away. Then, use betel leaves to cover the newborn's belly. The betel leaves used for death anniversaries, marriage ceremonies, and important occasions must be kept separately in a basket carefully covered with banana leaves. Betel leaves must be washed clean before being sold, and no matter what job you do, you must put your heart first!” Chatting happily, Mrs. Phan said: “Selling betel leaves and areca nuts in January and February is very enjoyable. In a flash, the whole load of betel leaves and areca nuts is sold out. On normal days, every day, there are about 50 stacks of betel leaves and a bunch of areca nuts with about 50 fruits. That’s why I say selling betel leaves and areca nuts is profitable. But this job is only for the elderly, how many young people sell betel leaves and areca nuts, my dear?”

In Mrs. Phat's hometown, the elderly who do this job feel happy and healthy, so their children and grandchildren are happy too. Every evening, the elders take care of their betel and areca nuts, and early in the morning, they invite each other to carry the betel and areca nuts to the market. Many times, Mrs. Phat ran out of goods before reaching the market. She confided to me: "The elderly now do not have to worry about their children and family like before. Carrying betel and areca nuts is to feel happy, feel healthy, and do the job they love..."

Thu Huong