The moon rises from the flowers.

Since their wedding, Thuc's wife only stayed with Mrs. Mai for about a month before going to the city, rarely seeing her mother-in-law. Yet, she constantly made veiled, sarcastic remarks, creating a suffocating atmosphere. Often, when Mrs. Mai asked a question, his wife was slow to answer, so Thuc had to answer for her. Because Thuc invited her so often, Mrs. Mai reluctantly went out with him, lest Thuc think her son was being disrespectful. She felt sorry for her son, Mit, whose face was always swollen from watching his phone. After eating, he would rush into his room and close the door. And then there was Bong, who had autism and was still in preschool at the age of seven.

Time dragged on slowly. She felt herself becoming increasingly frail. That day she went to Thuc's luxurious apartment, she felt everything was stagnant, longing to return to the fields of purple wildflowers, the fragrant lotus pond, or the chirping of mother hens and chicks. She wasn't used to places where apartments were stacked like matchboxes, and where the elevator made her dizzy…

Illustration. (Source: Nguyen Van Hoc)

Seeing his mother's unhappy expression, Thuc whispered, "If you're upset, I'll take you home." Just hearing that made her feel much better. However, she was still worried about upsetting Thuc. She said she would stay two more days. She also reminded her son, "If you take me home, you and your brother can talk things over. Let bygones be bygones. I only hope you two will love each other like gourds growing on the same vine." Thuc remained silent. His mother patted his shoulder, saying she had two other children, and it seemed like something was missing. Finally, she suggested he bring the children back to the countryside to visit. The simplicity, the sunshine, the wind, the plants and trees of the village might help them overcome their addiction to phone games. Thuc said "yes," but it sounded like he was about to cry.

***

Her husband died in the border war, leaving her to raise their two young children alone. Thuc grew up, studied, and went to the city to make a living. Ton, the second child, preferred to stay in the fields. Ton loved the moon and stars, the plants and trees, and devoted himself to tending the ponds, gardens, and everything else, ensuring a peaceful and fruit-filled environment. All the land and gardens were registered in Ton's name. In the old days, rural land was dirt cheap, some even given away for free, but now it's worth its weight in gold because of the major roads. City dwellers came to hunt for land to build houses and gardens, seeking a peaceful life. Thuc tried to demand a share, but Ton refused. Several times Thuc argued with Ton, weighing heavily on Mrs. Mai's heart. When she suggested giving her eldest son a little, Ton snapped, "They've lost their roots, why bother caring for them, Mother!"…

Thức preferred a life of luxury and finery, and, influenced by his wife, he often ignored invitations from relatives and villagers. Whenever there was a family ceremony or memorial service, Thức would find excuses to decline. This attitude distanced him from the village, causing estrangement between brothers and relatives. Whenever Mrs. Mai was ill, only Tôn and his wife cared for her. She would tell herself that Thức must be too busy. One time, the two brothers had a big argument at Móng Bridge; Thức's face turned bright red, his voice was harsh, and he said he would never return to his hometown. Mrs. Mai worried and tried to find a way to reconcile her two sons. Once, while picking lotus flowers, Mrs. Mai told Tôn: "He's the older brother, but he's foolish. Let's give him a little land. I still remember, I told Thức to keep some, but he didn't want it." Ton calmly said, "Mom, I don't begrate them anything. We have a few thousand square meters, giving him a piece is nothing. The land is a gift from our parents, but he doesn't appreciate it. What I hate most is my sister-in-law's attitude. She keeps calling us country bumpkins, and showing contempt and disdain for this godforsaken place..."

***

Mrs. Mai and her son arrived home late in the afternoon. The village road was quiet. From the beginning of the village, Thuc could already feel the scent of the countryside enveloping him. Thuc asked his mother if he could stay for dinner. During the meal, Ton said nothing, even though Mrs. Mai tried to start a cheerful conversation. After dinner, Ton went to a neighbor's house for tea. The moon shone brightly in the countryside. The scent of lotus flowers and the fields filled the air, making the evening incredibly peaceful. Thuc spread a mat in the middle of the brick courtyard and sat gazing at the moon. He reminisced about the old days with his mother. Memories took him back to his childhood, when Thuc and Ton used to play, making boats out of palm fronds to pull each other along. Every harvest season, the alley was covered with straw, and the brick courtyard was full of rice. Many times, the two brothers rolled around on the courtyard and laughed like popcorn popping. The peaceful memories brought tears to Thuc's eyes. In the blink of an eye, the two brothers had graying hair. The old house, though dilapidated, was quite beautiful now that Ton had renovated it. If only… His emotions suddenly became turbulent. The next morning, before dawn, Thuc returned to the city.

The moon and stars of his hometown awakened something deep within Thức. He remembered his friend's invitation. That weekend, he took his wife and children back to his friend's village. The vegetable garden, the fish pond, the patches of grass, the birds, the chickens—all delighted the two children. Mít happily played with the neighborhood kids, asking questions about everything he saw. Bông got to hold a fishing rod and wander into the garden to pick vegetables. Seeing dragonflies and butterflies, she started to smile and talk more. Those images silenced Thức. That's right. He had been too selfish, chasing after so many meaningless things and forgetting about a peaceful life.

***

On the anniversary of Mr. Mai's death, Thuc and his wife brought their two children back to their hometown, surprising Mrs. Mai and Ton. Ton's wife cooked and helped with the chores, and Thuc's wife also pitched in. The gentle sunlight shone on the rows of betel trees. When there was a break, Thuc's wife even went to the garden to weed the flowerbeds, a stark contrast to the formidable woman who, four years earlier, had vowed never to return to this village…

Thức said to his children, and for his grandchildren to hear: “Playing in this yard is the best. This is where Dad and Uncle Tôn used to play together throughout our childhood. Once, Dad jumped from the water tank, hit a watering can, and cut his knee, bleeding profusely. Uncle Tôn cried and went to call Grandma. There was also a time when the two of us competed to see who could carry the other the longest. When it was Uncle Tôn's turn, he was so thin that his shorts slipped down to his knees.” Bông suddenly said: “Dad, I like it here!” Mít chimed in: “I want to play in our hometown.” Thức laughed: “Then I’ll take you all back to live off Grandma and Uncle and Aunt.”

Tôn was inside preparing the offerings, hearing everything his brother and nephews said. When the offerings were ready, Tôn led the ceremony, while Mrs. Mai and Thức stood behind him with their hands clasped. Mrs. Mai prayed for her two sons to be united. Tôn felt his heart pounding. He wondered if his father was angry that he had put his brother through such a harsh test? Would his brother change his ways, or was he just pretending to gain everyone's sympathy? Thức sincerely prayed, asking Tôn to understand his feelings better, as he regretted his actions as an older brother. In the village, there were many "important people" who had left and rarely returned, only to ask for land to be buried in at the end of their lives—who would listen? The villagers were honest and simple, but they were ready to turn their backs when treated with disrespect.

Sitting at the same table, Ton and Thuc still hadn't spoken, only the children were happily and innocently picking up food. Thuc's wife felt compelled to apologize first. At this point, Thuc and Ton finally looked each other in the eye. Thuc said, "My wife has spoken, and I also apologize to you both for my somewhat arrogant behavior. Today, besides attending my father's memorial service, my wife and I hope you and the children will forgive our offensive remarks." Then Thuc looked at Mrs. Mai: "I also apologize to you, Mother. I know you've been very upset that I haven't come home for Tet (Lunar New Year) for the past few years, causing you worry. We've been truly unfilial."

Ton poured wine and clinked glasses with his brother. The aroma of the local wine was warm and comforting. The two shook hands. Mrs. Mai's eyes welled up with tears of joy. Her husband would surely be very happy. Because she was so happy, she took a sip of wine with her children. After dinner, while drinking tea, Ton said to Thuc: "Your family is so happy that you and your children are back. This afternoon, I'll borrow a measuring tape and ask Uncle Phin to come and witness it. I'll give you a few hundred meters of land near Mong Bridge; with some capital, you can build a house. At the end of the week, you should bring the children back to the countryside. I see that the children miss their hometown." Thuc and his wife looked at each other, unable to hide their happiness.

In the afternoon, the distribution of the inheritance went smoothly. Thuc's wife and Ton's wife confided in each other about many things. From dusk, the moon rose from the lotus pond, bringing its intoxicating fragrance into the courtyard and the house, mingling with the scents of jasmine and osmanthus. The family feast included three guests from the extended family, all admiring the moon. The moon shone brightly over the entire area.

Later, when they were alone, Mrs. Mai asked Ton, "Why are you so easygoing with outsiders, but rather strict with your brother?" Ton replied, "Mom, if I don't test them, will they ever reconsider their actions? I just want him to never look down on the villagers and to cherish his roots." Mrs. Mai nodded, "That's right. That's wonderful!"

However, Mrs. Mai didn't know that it was Ton who had asked Thuc's friend to invite Thuc back to his hometown for treatment. The illness of being far from home and without a familiar place was very dangerous.

Short stories by Thanh Quang

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/trang-len-tu-phia-hoa-post551698.html