Short stories

After the rain

NGUYEN SY DOAN January 11, 2025 10:00

For the first time in years he picked up a textbook. For the first time he stepped into a school supply store. After the rain the sky cleared up...

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Minh họa truyện ngắn

People called him by the common name: "Long-headed chief". What a man. He only had about twenty workers and assistants. He was a freelance construction worker. He found work and paid for it himself. Sometimes he couldn't get rid of all the work. Sometimes he sat around doing nothing for months because of the rain. Of course, his income was also irregular.

Normally, winter is the main month for construction workers to make a living, but this year it was off-season, with continuous heavy rain. No investor dared to give him an advance. He had to make do. Another downpour, the wind blew fiercely. He stopped by the side of the road and opened the trunk to get a raincoat. "Uncle, can I get a ride for a while?" He turned around, startled. A girl with a slim figure, wearing a big "fat" shirt, was holding a large travel bag with both hands. Through the street lights, he vaguely recognized a pale, rustic face that exuded confusion and weakness. He smiled and said: "Do I look like a motorbike taxi?" After saying that, he changed his tone and continued: "I'm not a motorbike taxi, but if it's convenient, I'll give you a ride for free." The girl took out a piece of paper, read it, and said: "Yes, I'm going to Van Xuan Street, number 20, western urban area."

He frowned. He knew this place well. It was a newly opened urban area. The population was still very sparse. The most worrying thing was that there were no street lights. It was more than ten kilometers from here to there. Half a year ago, a scoundrel tricked a motorbike taxi driver to come there and rob his motorbike. He was a bit worried, knowing what kind of person this girl was. Don't think women are weak. A piece of cloth soaked in anesthetic would do the trick. Only when he saw her disappointed expression did he decide: "Get in the car". The clumsy girl sat a little away from him. He carefully pulled the tail of the raincoat he was wearing to cover her. When he was done, the car sped off in the rain. The girl asked: "Where do you live?". He replied: "In the opposite direction of where we're going". The girl timidly said: "I'm so sorry. Knowing this, I didn't dare ask you. You're so kind". The girl's words of thanks and the way she addressed him touched him.

“Let’s stop and eat something. I haven’t had dinner yet.” He said as he stepped on the brake. The girl got out of the car and stood there hesitantly. He said, “Get in. What do you want to eat?” The girl refused, “No. I’m not hungry.” He said sternly, “Even if you’re not hungry, you still have to eat.” Then he ordered two bowls of chicken porridge. Now there was enough light for him to look at the girl more closely. A pale face from the cold and fear. She wasn’t pretty but easy to remember. He asked, “Where did you come from? It’s so dark?” “Yes. I’m from the countryside.” “No one came to pick you up?” “Yes. My brother said he would pick you up, but he hasn’t shown up for hours. Maybe something bad happened again.” I don’t know why he asked, “Aren’t you afraid of me?” “Yes. I trust you.” He laughed. It was true that country people thought everyone was as honest as themselves. But the smile on his lips gradually faded and then disappeared. No girl had ever put her absolute trust in him, except his mother.

At the age of ten, his father divorced his mother. At the age of ten, his mother died of cancer. He went to the city to live with his father and stepmother for two years. His stepmother kicked the basket and hit the tray, scolded the fish that swims and scolded the bird that flies. However, he was able to study like all the children in the city. In the middle of the 12th grade, he dropped out of school because his stepmother abused him to the extreme, despite his father's warnings. He despised the scorn of many people in his paternal family: "Like your mother, lazy and stupid. Truly like a donkey that likes hard work." He sold all his houses in the countryside, took the money and went to the city, determined to live an independent life. He had lived in many places, done many jobs. He did whatever people hired him to do. As long as he had money to live. His life was like that. At thirty, he was still single.

He had known many beautiful women, but no one had ever spoken to him with such a trusting and affectionate tone. “Hey girl, look at me, am I old enough to be your uncle? Oh, and what’s your name? My name is Quan, Hoang Dinh Quan.” The girl changed the way she addressed him: “Yes. My name is Mua.” “How old are you?” He asked without a subject. The girl frowned slightly but still answered: “Yes. I’m twenty-two.”

Twenty-two years old. He thought about what he had done when he was this girl's age. At that time, he had been working for several years at the Quy Hop gold mine. This girl could not have imagined that in front of her was a man who had stolen, gambled, and fought. That is, all the bad qualities except stabbing, drug addiction, and murder. At twenty-two years old, he had realized that his father was a flirtatious and ungrateful man. He realized that behind the beautiful but scheming face of his stepmother. At twenty-two years old, his mother had been like a hopeless husband waiting day and night for her husband to return from cold Russia. And then ended up receiving a divorce paper.

His mother was a gentle, patient woman who had never been angry with anyone in her life. She did not cry, beg, or complain about her efforts in serving her husband and his family during her years as a daughter-in-law. She silently accepted her disadvantages. She was stupid and clumsy, and she was a “moldy chopstick on a golden tray”. At twenty-two years old, she had not yet had a good meal or sewn herself a nice set of clothes.

On the day his mother died, his father also came home to burn three incense sticks, bow three times, and then quickly returned to the city. He himself knew that she was a very good person. But being a good wife was not all that. To repay her for her efforts, after the divorce, he gave her everything. From the house to the fields and gardens, and his ten-year-old son. What he needed was freedom.

Thinking of his mother, tears suddenly welled up in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you crying?” The girl was startled. He turned his face into the darkness and asked, “What are you doing in town? Who are you staying with?” “Yes, I’m staying with my brother and his wife.” In his mind appeared a cozy house, where Mua’s brother and sister-in-law lived with their young child. Maybe they didn’t want to send their child to daycare or hire a maid. Who should they trust? It would be best to bring in relatives from the countryside. This girl Mua would be a maid for the next few years. After that, she would marry a man in town. Mua would quickly change from a maid to a beautiful but no less capricious and arrogant boss. The association made him smile. “What are you laughing at?”

“No. Nothing at all.” He was confused. Seeing Mua cowering and shy, he found her cute. That appearance used to be his mother sitting in front of her in-laws. Suddenly he asked bluntly: “Mua is not married, right?”. He was used to the rough life at the construction site. His job taught him that sweet words were sometimes much scarier. After asking, he realized he was tactless and rude. Mua’s embarrassed and confused expression answered his question.

After a few hard trips, he finally found the right house. Brother Mua was overjoyed to see his sister return home safely. Mua thoughtfully handed him a dry towel when he saw his face and hands were wet. Brother Mua held him back: "Have a drink to warm your stomach, my friend." He thanked him profusely and explained why he couldn't come out to welcome his sister. He squeezed his hand tightly: "My family is very fortunate to have met a good person like you. Thank you very much!". He repeated that sentence over and over again, making him a little embarrassed. "It's nothing. Seeing Mua's situation, I just helped." "Hey, it's late anyway, let's have a drink to commemorate our first meeting." He refused, making the excuse that he had to go home and rest because he had to go to work early tomorrow. Seeing him off at the door, Brother Mua patted his shoulder intimately and said: "I appreciate your sincere and humane heart. Come visit when you have time. We always open the door to welcome you."

From then on, he became a relative of Mua's family. Every time he had to go through the process or when he had free time, he would stop by to visit. The whole family happily welcomed him. One day, he even stayed for dinner. He honestly told them about his life. Mua said: "It's okay, the storm has passed." Different from his initial prediction, Mua did not have to go out to work as a maid for her brother and sister. She had just finished her university education and started working in a district next to the city. The distance from home to school was about ten kilometers, but Mua still creaked on her bicycle. Mua's slender figure remained in his mind. How pitiful! Several times he suggested picking her up or giving Mua an electric bike so that she could travel more conveniently. Every time, Mua thanked him and shook her head: "You are so good to me. When I need you, I will ask you. Don't refuse then."

Another time he visited Mua in the evening. His sister-in-law was at work. His brother was studying something upstairs. Mua was rocking the baby to sleep while reading a book. Oh, life was so peaceful and happy. The long-cherished wish in his heart kept rising. A gentle gesture, a trusting look from Mua seemed to be given to him. He suddenly understood what he wanted. But he couldn't explain why. He only knew that he liked Mua, loved Mua. One or two beautiful girls came to him, but he was smart enough to understand that those girls weren't for him. If only his wife was Mua, how precious she would be. Mua could teach or be a housewife. He just needed to love her sincerely. Then Mua would give birth to beautiful, healthy, and intelligent children. He needed warm human love, not commercial love. He furtively glanced at Mua. Mua was silent and then suddenly looked up at him. Their eyes stared deeply into each other for a moment. It seemed that Mua was also waiting for him to say something truly precious and sacred.

One time, as if by accident, he asked: "Do you have any plans for the future?". Mua laughed: "A lot. But don't think I'm greedy." "Yeah, just tell me, maybe I can help." "For example, improving your career and then studying further. But the ultimate goal is to open a charity class for orphans. Of course, it must be approved by your future husband." "Can you help me?". Mua asked again: "Can I help you for the rest of your life?". He understood, his heart felt like it was sunny. He held Mua's hand tightly: "Okay, okay. Even in the next life." He would help Mua make that dream come true. Helping Mua was also helping himself have a more meaningful life. He was thinking about the house he was living in, enough to design it into a classroom. Mua quietly put her hand in his calloused hand.

For the first time in years he picked up a textbook. For the first time he stepped into a school supply store. And for the first time he walked down the street with Mua by his side.

NGUYEN SY DOAN
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