Making a living under the scorching sun.

Amidst the scorching heat, many impoverished laborers still toil to make a living on the streets, in local markets, and on sidewalks. Behind their sweat lies the worry of food and clothing, along with the unwavering determination to cling to their work in order to survive.

Amidst the scorching heat of the peak summer days, at a corner of the market, poor laborers still toil tirelessly. Living in My Thuan commune, Mrs. Luu Thi Kim Song and her husband rush back and forth every day, transporting harvested vegetables from farms to the Rach Gia agricultural and seafood market in Rach Gia ward to meet market day. Their daily struggle for survival begins at 4 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m.

Vendors at Rach Gia's agricultural and seafood market struggle to make a living amidst the prolonged heatwave. Photo: CAM TU

For eight years, working at the market has not only been the sole source of income to cover the living expenses for Ms. Song's family, but it has also been the period during which she and her husband have endured the harshness of the weather. Ms. Song confided: "The worst days are the peak of the hot season. Even with constant watering and careful covering, the vegetables and fruits still wilt and lose moisture quickly. Sometimes, I bring in fresh cabbage and lettuce in the morning, and by noon they're wilted and discolored. Customers see the wilted vegetables and leave immediately. On days like that, I make no profit."

Song's greatest support is her husband, who is always by her side. In the scorching sun, a simple wipe of sweat from each other's brows, a shared sip of cool water, or his understanding gaze soothes her weariness. Even though a long day ends with exhaustion, they feel lighthearted when they return home and see their children well-behaved and helpful.

The scorching heat has fueled a surge in demand for refreshing drinks, with street vendors selling sugarcane juice operating at full capacity. However, behind each cool glass of sugarcane juice priced at 10,000 VND is the struggle of poor laborers working under the blazing sun. Having the opportunity to buy sugarcane juice from Mrs. Tran Thi Kim Cuc, a resident of Long Thanh commune, during a busy period, I understood the hardships of making a living on the sidewalk. Without a sturdy awning, the sugarcane juice cart huddles under the few trees along the roadside, enduring the intense heat rising from the road surface.

To date, Ms. Cúc has been selling sugarcane juice on the sidewalk for over 5 years. She said: “It’s nice when there are many customers, but it’s also tiring. Standing next to the continuously running juicer, radiating heat, combined with the sun beating down on my head and the fumes from the asphalt rising from my feet, sometimes I feel dizzy and lightheaded.”

To have enough sugarcane to sell each day, vendors have to wake up at dawn to peel dozens of bundles. Their hands are calloused and covered in scratches. According to Mrs. Cúc, from 11 am to 3 pm, when the sun is at its hottest, is when the most customers come to buy. She stands constantly, carrying ice in one hand and pressing sugarcane with the other, running back and forth to serve customers. The heat causes the ice to melt quickly, reducing her meager profit.

It was only 10 o'clock, but the surface of Nguyen Trung Truc Street in Rach Gia Ward was already radiating intense heat. Under the shade of a tree by the roadside, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang sat resting beside her mobile fruit cart. Her sun-protective scarf, wrapped tightly around her face, was soaked with sweat. Leaving her hometown in Giang Thanh border commune, Ms. Hang rented a room in Rach Gia Ward and earned a living selling fruit. Her daily journey to make a living begins at 6 a.m., as she travels back and forth to the wholesale market to select the best fruits, neatly arrange them on her cart, and then begins her journey pushing it along the streets.

Ms. Hang shared: “Lunchtime is the rush hour, the easiest time to sell, so even though the temperature on the street is scorching hot, I still try to stay and sell all the fruit for the day. Moreover, the hot weather makes the fruit ripen and spoil quickly, so no matter how hot it is, I have to keep going because if I wait until tomorrow, it will be wasted.” Normally, Ms. Hang sells until about 3 PM before going home. On hot days, fewer people are out, so sales are very slow. Some days she goes out all morning and doesn't sell much at all.

At midday, with almost no customers around, Ms. Hang takes a few minutes to rest before continuing her journey. Her lunch is often just a dry loaf of bread swallowed quickly with a sip of water she brings along to quench her thirst. Each day, selling just a few dozen kilograms of fruit is enough for her to cover her rent, utility bills, and support her family back home.

Somewhere along the roads, there are still people braving the harsh weather to continue their journey of earning a living. No matter how severe the weather, these people persevere, moving forward. Behind the sweat and the stories of hardship lies a spirit of resilience and perseverance worthy of respect.

CAM TU

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/muu-sinh-duoi-nang-lua-a487009.html