Short story: The soldier's daughter

( Quang Ngai Newspaper) - 1. The weather in April is really harsh, sometimes there is a little wind but the heat just keeps blowing, very uncomfortable. This year, the dry season must have come earlier. The grass in front of the house has started to change color, dark red. The big stream that was just flowing loudly a moment ago is now just a small creek, winding through the uneven gravel.

MH: VO VAN

The night was dark and the air was also hot. Mr. Lenh lay still for a while and then turned over. He turned left and right, then lay on his stomach, then put his arm on his forehead, then lay on his back, sighing deeply. He was thinking and worrying about something, something very important. Mrs. Sinh knew her husband's personality, at times like this, she just let him toss and turn, sighing, because asking him any questions would only make him nag and feel uncomfortable. She herself was also in turmoil at this moment.

Late at night, Mrs. Sinh gently turned over and slowly sat up. She put on her slippers and slowly walked down to the kitchen. A cool breeze blew by, making her pause for a moment. The cat lying in the corner of the house heard the noise, meowed once, then bent its limp body to follow its owner.

2. Mrs. Sinh was busy lighting the stove, the fire started to catch on the dry wood, crackling and licking around the kettle, flickering, swaying in the wind. Mrs. Sinh hurriedly covered it with a piece of cardboard, but it still couldn't block out the early morning wind, because the wooden partition had many gaps so the wind kept blowing into the house along with the darkness. Quickly wrapping a scarf around her head, Mrs. Sinh hugged the cat to her chest, patting it.
- Today is sunny and dry, the crops are in danger of being lost!
Mrs. Sinh shook her head and looked outside. The space was dim. The rooster crowed, followed by the squeaking of chickens locked behind the kitchen. The sound of buffaloes stamping their feet and butting their snouts in the coop. The sound of water being drawn from the neighbor's house. Mrs. Sinh slowly walked out into the yard. The sky was still dark, mist hung thinly in front of her face, clinging to her hair and clothes.
There was a shadow at the end of the alley. Who could be coming to my house at this hour? Mrs. Sinh was very surprised. It was Mien, her daughter who was studying at university in the city.
- Why are you home at this hour? What happened, son?
Before Mien could say anything, she burst into tears and ran into the house.
Mrs. Sinh hurriedly ran after him, but Mien had already closed the door tightly. She vaguely understood what was happening, helplessly turned around and saw her husband standing in front of her. Mr. Lenh said nothing, just shook his head sympathetically.
Only then did Mrs. Sinh dare to reveal the source of her concern. She looked at her husband as if she wanted him to share what had been on her mind for a long time.
- I'm out of options, I feel sorry for her. I also told her to tell the school that if she has money next year, she can come back to school.
- Poor girl, she is a good and smart child. I have been thinking for a long time but still can't find a way to keep her from skipping school.
Hearing her husband speak, Mrs. Sinh's eyes welled up with tears. She was sad about her family's poverty, and angry at herself for being sick and unable to work. She only had one child and couldn't take care of her. Mrs. Sinh sat down because she suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded.
Mr. Lenh sat on the steps, lighting a cigarette. He was thinking about Mien, his only daughter. He loved her more than anything in the world. Ever since she was little, Mien had shown herself to be intelligent and eager to learn, especially in the field of history. With a father who had been a soldier, Mien was very confident when approaching issues related to war. She chose this field of study and hoped to become a teacher or a tour guide at the provincial museum after graduation.

3. The afternoon in the highlands descended quickly, mist from the mountain tops, across the streams, and deep valleys rushed in. In no time, darkness covered the mountains, forests, and villages.
Mr. Lenh walked and thought. He had thought a lot, he could not let his daughter's dream be interrupted. He had not learned to read and write in his life. When he was young, he volunteered to go to the battlefield, and when he completed his mission, he followed the villagers to go far away to make a living. His family used to have many fields and fields, and when the harvest season came, the corn and rice filled the house, spilling out onto the porch. But his wife was often sick, and the medical bills were quite high. Many times he felt sorry for himself, his wife had been late in giving birth and had few children, only a beautiful, well-behaved daughter when he was over fifty. Now he was in his seventies, Mien had just entered university, studying very well, but the family could not afford it.
A group of men stopped by a small roadside restaurant as Mr. Lenh passed by. They called his name. He stopped, hesitating, half wanting to leave and half wanting to go in. The smell of food from the kitchen behind the makeshift partition began to waft out, hitting his nose, and the smell of alcohol was also inviting.
- Come in and have some tea to warm up!
Mr. Lenh just stood still, someone's invitation kept ringing... At this moment, he was really embarrassed, his hungry stomach was growling, the smell of alcohol made him dizzy. Alcohol in this country is like a medicine for men to relieve their boredom. They drink alcohol like eating meals, not drinking much, but every time they get drunk, they go home and sleep around, never bothering anyone, never harming anyone.
Mr. Lenh shook his head. What was needed now was to find money for his children's school fees. He was a soldier, and as a soldier, he had to be precise in every action. Even though he was poor, he had to keep his head high... This life had taught him not to despair even when he was in a dead end.
- Uncle Lenh, did Mien drop out of school to get married?
Someone had just spoken, his voice already slightly drunk. Mr. Lenh frowned and looked towards the speaker. It was Thinh, a guy who specialized in buying agricultural products and trading buffalo and cattle. He often rode around the village on a big motorbike. Honking, revving the engine and smoke billowing. Thinh was tall and big, many girls were crazy about him. But I heard that Thinh already had a wife and children. A while ago, he often came to his house, set out wine and meat, and called him father-in-law. He glared at him, "If you talk nonsense again, I'll kick you out." Thinh grinned and drove away.
Mr. Lenh felt his stomach churning. The sound of clinking glasses and inviting each other to drink made him gulp... His daughter's cries echoed from the dark room, filled with grief. His wife's screams as she slipped and fell while carrying goods... Mr. Lenh shook his head and walked away with his head down.

4. The meal was served right at the kitchen door, just a few simple dishes. Mien invited her parents and then slowly ate, not daring to look up. Mrs. Sinh felt as if her heart was being torn into pieces. Was her daughter's dream of becoming a teacher so far away? She remembered the times when mother and daughter hugged and whispered all night long. Her daughter would become a teacher, wearing an ao dai, standing on the podium, with students looking up, receiving the new knowledge the teacher imparted. Mrs. Sinh happily waited for that day. She proudly watched her daughter's figure on the uphill path to school. Her daughter would grow up, be loved. And yet...
- You have to go to school next week!
Mr. Lenh was resolute but still did not look up at his wife and children. Mrs. Sinh looked at her daughter inquiringly. Mien was surprised, looking up at her parents with red eyes.
- You must become a teacher!
The loving father confirmed it again. Mrs. Sinh was happy, thinking that her husband had found someone to borrow money from.
Or borrowed from Thinh? Mrs. Sinh looked at her husband in confusion. Mr. Lenh knew his wife was suspicious of him, and his daughter also wanted her father to quickly tell her what happened and who helped her family.
- The border guards are about to launch a new project and are inviting my wife and I to join. For now, they will give us some money to pay for our children's education.
Both Mrs. Sinh and Mien did not understand anything. They just looked at Mr. Lenh, then at each other. Mr. Lenh took out a wad of money from his pocket and pushed it towards his daughter:
- Put it away and get ready to go back to school!

5. Mr. Lenh usually goes to bed right after finishing the military radio program. These past few days, as the April 30th holiday approaches, he is extremely excited. He takes out old mementos to admire. Sometimes, when he is in high spirits, he tells his wife stories about the battlefield. Mrs. Sinh knows her husband's personality, a person who always hopes and cherishes good values, so she listens and agrees.
- Mien will represent the faculty to give a presentation on history, ma'am!
- I heard what you said, can you give me more information?
- Yes. I think your presentation will be very interesting and lively!
- Why?
- Because his father is a soldier!
Having finished speaking, Mr. Lenh laughed heartily and then started singing the familiar song. His voice was still powerful with the image of a large army going to battle.
Mrs. Sinh smiled at her husband. She sat by the fire again, took out a ball of yarn and finished knitting the shirt. Tonight the moon was bright. Moonlight flowed throughout the quiet space. The moon poured into the house, the moon lay on the grass, slid down the deep valley, the moon hung over the areca bushes full of fruit. The moon made the sky higher and more vast.

Mien opened the door and sat down next to her mother. Mrs. Sinh looked at her daughter lovingly. Her daughter's twenties were full of dreams. Her twenties were already full of charm, many young men were already flirting with her. But her daughter said she was still focused on studying and not in a hurry to fall in love. Just saying that, how could she feel at ease when she had seen Mien sitting absentmindedly by the door or wandering across the hillsides many times. When asked, her daughter would cover it up, saying, "Mom, don't worry, I'll graduate and bring you a diploma, along with a son-in-law who is a soldier!" Mrs. Sinh glared at her daughter... Her daughter was like her father and loved to explore the history of the nation!

6. One chilly afternoon, the wind blew gently, signaling an unseasonal rain. Mrs. Sinh was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner.
- Mom, I'm home!
From the bottom of the slope, Mien hurried up. The fourth-year student brought unexpected joy to her parents. Mien won first prize thanks to the things her father told her about history and the dedication of youth of her father's generation.
Mr. Lenh happily ran out of the house and looked at his daughter affectionately.
Laughter and chatter.

CEILING PAINT

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