What remains after "Washing hands and laying down arms"?

"Washing Hands and Laying Down Swords" (Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House, 2025) is the latest novel by writer Nguyen Tri. Readers familiar with the author will be no stranger to Minh Tan, a character who has appeared in many of his short stories and novels. This time, Nguyen Tri has written a novel specifically about the turbulent and eventful life of Minh Tan. From there, he answers the question: After a life of wandering and adventure, what does a person gain and lose?

The story is told from the recollections of Năm Lựu Đạn, 68 years old, who helps his wife run a drinks stall in front of a school. Looking at him, gentle and content with writing and gardening, few would guess that he once had a past in the criminal underworld.

Chapter by chapter, the life of Mr. Nam Luu Dan unfolds from after 1975. At that time, Minh Tan (his childhood nickname) was 19 years old, living with his mother and younger siblings. His youthful recklessness led to him being falsely accused of possessing grenades and arrested for re-education. Two years later, Minh Tan escaped, fled to the East, and made a living doing various jobs from teaching martial arts and digging wells to mining gold. Later, he drifted to the city, working as a porter, delivering charcoal, and then collaborating with an official to hunt down wanted criminals… His life continued to wander, until he finally settled down and started a family with a girl in Suoi Duc hamlet in a new economic zone. But life was difficult, and his wife and children were struggling, forcing Minh Tan to return to the city to make a living as a construction worker and sewer cleaner… Each stage of his life, each job, was filled with hardship for Minh Tan.

After a life of wandering the streets, Minh Tan lost a lot of time, energy, and even became worn out, but he also learned many meaningful lessons. What is most admirable is that he always maintained his integrity; even when sinking to the bottom of society and experiencing all kinds of hardships, Minh Tan still rose up to live by honest labor.

Reading the story, readers might sometimes feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of characters with diverse destinies, the abundance of plot points set decades ago, and the writing style that vividly portrays a gritty, everyday life. However, this unique quality opens up a little-known world for readers to explore and learn about a bygone era. This is especially true for the professions Minh Tàn experienced and was involved in, including gold mining and sewer work.

While Minh Tan was incredibly strong-willed, his son was equally prone to falling into addiction. This was what caused him the most pain and shame. He tried to pull his son out of drug addiction in many ways: from home-based rehabilitation and sending him to treatment centers to using methadone… This journey was a long story filled with the patience and love of a parent. And he shared his experiences to help others in similar situations; at the same time, he spoke out to warn those at risk…

From drugs, Minh Tan connects them to equally dangerous "ghosts" that are corrupting human morality and character: the "ghost of fame" and the "ghost of money." Therefore, "Washing Your Hands and Laying Down Your Swords" is not just a lighthearted story about the underworld, but also contains many profound lessons and philosophies about how to live and how to be a good person!

CAT DANG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/con-lai-gi-sau-rua-tay-gac-kiem-a195212.html