MEMOIR OF MA.N

Chapter 3: First Journey to Seven Mountains

In his first year away from home, AN found himself wanting to experience a different Lunar New Year in a foreign land. Thus, he made up his mind to stay instead of returning to his hometown. In the same lodging quarter, there was a fellow compatriot. This person had a low-paying job and a love for gambling, so he had no money to go back home. Consequently, the two became like guardian spirits of the land.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, amidst a deep slumber, there came a knock at the door. Thinking it was a fellow villager, AN opened the door without changing clothes out of his undershorts. Standing before him was Hai. Her gaze from above left AN dumbfounded for a few moments, as his p***s was in the midst of a protest. With a hasty expression, Hai covered her face, abruptly shut the door, and then squealed.

"Change your clothes at once, Grandpa?"

AN let out a sigh and swiftly retreated into his room. After a short while of tidying up, AN opened the door, stepped out, and asked:

"Why are you still here? Aren't you going home for the New Year?"

"I feel like staying. You can stay, so why can't I?"

With those words, she gestured towards the gate. There stood a brand-new Viwa motorcycle, all set and ready to ride.

"Want to go out?"

"What? Is this a new motorbike, or did you steal it from somewhere?"

"Steal? What on earth are you talking about? Do you want a beating? To sum it up, do you want to go out?"

"Hehe, of course, I should ride a new motorcycle, but where are we going?"

"You'll find out once we're on the way. No need to ask so much."

With no plans during this time and no sight of his village elder, AN readily agreed.

After half an hour or so, AN and Hai set off, heading toward T T A G Town. Covering a distance of 400 kilometers, they started early on the first day of the Lunar New Year and arrived in T T Town around 8 in the evening. AN was exhausted, realizing that he was really such a fool who didn’t enjoy the comfort but ended up undertaking a grueling journey.

"Is your grandma's house nearby?" AN inquired as they halted near a tree.

"Why stop? What for? I don't have any houses, Grandpa?"

"You're just fibbing, huh? If you don't have a house, where do you live? So why are we down here? Were you planning to trap me here? You're not my style."

"Being both ugly and poor, you're absolutely not whom I've been craving for."

AN was taken aback. Could it be that nowadays, girls only like handsome and wealthy men? After some thought for a while, AN finally spoke up.

"Well, lucky for me, if I hadn't bumped into you, I would have died in the pot of rice water. So, what's the plan now?"

"Let's keep going, ride through the CD temple, Grandpa."

Hai replied with a scowl, her eyes seemingly lost in thought.

And thus, the journey to the temple at C Đ continued, and they finally arrived around 21:00 a.m.

"So, it turns out you are ANun, huh?"

As AN said, he strode into the gate.

"Where are you going?” Hai surprisingly asked him.

“Weren't you headed to the temple? Where are you going now?"

AN cast a curious glance at Hai.

"What, you're waiting for me here."

With that, Hai quickly headed towards the wall, where there was a small dirt path. After a while, maybe a minute or so, she returned and led AN along the wall's edge, through prickly bushes, to a small house dimly lit by a kerosene lamp.

Hai went in first, and AN followed suit. However, upon entering, AN froze. What he saw was beyond his wildest imagination, as the homeowner turned out to be the old lady he had encountered on the C V bridge before.

This old lady was usually seen sweeping around the temple, known as B. Now, AN addresses her as the uncle master, as they were both disciples of the same master, H. At that moment, after a minute of stunned silence, AN was astonished but didn't ponder too deeply, as life sometimes has its coincidences. However, a gnawing feeling of resentment grew within AN's heart. He couldn't fathom why Hai had money, yet her mother was living on the streets when she went to HCMC. These thoughts triggered a surge of negativity, and as AN looked at Hai, he noticed her nonchalant demeanor. After a while of talking, AN learned that Hai was adopted by this old woman after being found abandoned. Over a decade ago, the old lady encountered some issues in Cambodia that prevented her from returning. As a result, she sent Hai to C Mountain so that Master H could care for and educate him.

That night, AN slept in a hammock outside the porch, while Hai and the old lady slept in the bedroom inside. In the Mekong Delta, despite A G being higher in altitude compared to many other provinces, it still retained its unique characteristics.

Mosquitoes were everywhere, each one as big as a cow. AN tossed and turned, unable to find sleep. At around 4 a.m., AN crawled up to make a tee, but while peeing, a sudden coldness filled the air, making it feel like he was submerged in a cave of cold water. Shivering, he was about to rush inside when he spotted two figures in the overgrown grass to the left of the house. Beside them was a giant white snake, coiled around the two figures. AN stood frozen, unable to move for a few seconds. Once his senses returned, he intended to flee, but curiosity urged him forward. As he got closer, he realized the figures were Hai and the old lady. The chill seemed to emanate from the snake, causing the temperature to plummet. AN took a few steps back and then headed off, not towards the house but straight down the mountain. He didn't know how long he ran, but by the time dawn broke, he had reached a residential area. He caught his breath while sitting by the side of the road, his mind in disarray. After regaining some strength, he decided to walk towards SG, making a pact with himself that he would never dare to see Hai again.