The gathering has dispersed…

(Baohatinh.vn) - The loudspeaker near Mrs. Le's shop blared: Absolutely no prolonged spring excursions are allowed...

January is the month for partying!

Nam sat with his legs crossed, sipping his morning tea at Mrs. Le's shop, and spoke to Bac.

Mrs. Le runs a small shop at the edge of the village, with a few scrawny crape myrtle trees in front of her yard. The crape myrtle blossoms fall in layers during the spring, making Nam think of carefree, adventurous things.

"That's nonsense! 'The party's over, we're saying goodbye by the river.' Once the party's over, we have to stop playing around. We have to get back to work!" Bắc replied.

Oh well! Why think so much about it? Spring only comes once a year, and youth is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

- Playing as much fun as yesterday is more than enough for me!

- Yeah! Yesterday's Bong village festival was so much fun! It's been a long time since I've had such a blast. That girl Xoan is so pretty, with her dimples, and she dances so gracefully!

Illustrations by Huy Tung.

Bong village is about 6-7 km from Tien village, Nam's home. The day before, Bong village held a festival, featuring cockfighting, duck catching, resounding gong performances, and lively dances in the village communal house… Nam and Bac – two young men from Tien village – rode their Yamaha Exciter motorcycles to join the crowd and watch the festival.

Back then, full of excitement, and with a bit of high school experience, Nam believed: He would find a bunch of betel nuts at Bau Market… And, Nam saw Xoan. But, Nam didn't have the slightest chance to strike up a conversation. Thinking of Xoan, Nam felt:

- Losing folk traditions means losing the soul of the nation. As long as there are festivals, there will be opportunities for recreation.

- What other festivals are there to celebrate and have fun at?

- Have you been to the temples and shrines yet? And then there's the full moon of the first lunar month, with processions and drums everywhere. Why not join the villagers and enjoy the simple, rustic atmosphere?

- It's not that I'm not fitting in, but you need to think things through. We've had a blast since the beginning of the year, haven't we? Going to temples and pagodas is something you do at the beginning of the year, not at this time. Even guys from Dong Nai like Lam and Yen have gone. I'm getting really worried. Last year I was broke because I lost my job midway. I even had to borrow money for Tet.

Still feeling annoyed, Bac said in a harsh voice:

- I only came out for a cup of tea with you out of respect. It would be really awkward if we were both sitting here on this day. We need to go to work, find a job. If we can't find work at the beginning of the year, we'll be starving all year.

Taken aback by his best friend's words, Nam's face changed color, losing all his confidence and enthusiasm. Nam was flustered:

So what are you planning to do?

- What else can I do? Forget the parties and the revelry. I've got my plan. In a few days, I'll go see Ms. Tin in Hoanh Son ward and ask her to help me find a job as a factory worker in the Vung Ang Economic Zone. There'll be a bus ride there, and I can take care of my parents. These days, if you don't have a job, you're starving. Honestly, girls these days only accept dates from guys with money. Don't just sit there dreaming!

- Hey, could you ask Ms. Tin to inquire about it for me? The commune's People's Committee is open today, so I'll take the opportunity to prepare my application. I'll tuck the application behind me and go apply for the job with you.

Then, Nam continued: "To be honest, I regret it a lot. I didn't focus on my studies before, I just played around and now I don't have a job. My mother keeps nagging me all the time, and I feel so sorry for her. If you can help me with this, you'll truly be a lifesaver."

- Hmm, let me ask Ms. Tin. They're still hiring a lot of factory workers there. If we're like you and me, we'll just have to work hard as factory workers, because nobody cares about a high school diploma these days.

- Remember that. Ask for me too. Getting a job as a worker is already a stroke of luck.

Nam used his phone to scan the QR code to pay for iced tea and tobacco. The loudspeaker near Mrs. Le's shop was now blaring: Absolutely no prolonged spring festivities, neglect of duties, or allowing the mentality of January being a month for leisure to affect work...

The Exciter motorcycle started its engine, and the two young men's figures faded into the distance. Mrs. Le's shop remained, only the apricot blossoms continued to fall silently. The loudspeaker blared, directed towards Tien village. Mrs. Le looked out at the sky, her heart longing for lunchtime, when people passing by on their way to the fields could stop by her shop for a cigarette and a sip of iced tea. She thought: At my age, spring like this is the best. Just keep the shop open, have customers, and enjoy the days, leisurely and happy! As long as people come and go, spring is still here!

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/hoi-da-tan-roi-post306611.html