Chapter 2 — A Nhu's Delirious Words

Not far from the small road Do Mai Hoa often takes when returning to her mother's house. In my previous life, when I was a ghost, I often saw the two of them secretly meeting there. I'm too young, I can't do too many things. But children also have childish ways. First, I stole the remaining half of my father's bottle of rice wine. He was afraid that his mother would see him, so he often hid the wine behind a pile of firewood. I couldn't hold the bottle, so I could only use a small bowl to scoop little by little and pour it into an old gourd ladle. In the afternoon, when no one was paying attention, I took a few handfuls of dry straw, stuffed them into a torn basket and slowly dragged it to the side of the brick kiln. On the way, I fell many times. His knees were scratched and his palms were also pricked by thorns. But I don't dare cry. I hid straw in the collapsed rock outside the brick kiln and poured wine on top. After that, I left a piece of tinder I found in the stove and used a piece of tile to press it over it. After finishing everything, I was so tired that I sat on the ground panting. The sun is about to set. The abandoned brick kiln was dark, like the mouth of a river in its previous life. I trembled. But don't turn back. In the evening, when eating dinner, I intentionally lay down on my stomach on the doorstep and looked at the sky. Cuu Oa ran to find me to play. I pointed to the west of the village and the mysterious spirit said: "It will be light there tonight." Cau Oa asked: "Where?" "Brickyard." “Why is it bright?” I blinked. “The man under the bed wants to hide his shoes, God will light a lamp to see him.” Cuu Oa was stunned when he heard it. The next day, this story immediately spread throughout the village. "A Nhu is talking crazy again. She said that at night sky lights will appear at the brick kiln." “It also said the man under the bed would hide his shoes.” “She once had a fever, maybe she actually saw something.” After hearing this, Do Mai Hoa certainly couldn't sit still. In the afternoon, she came to my shop, appearing to buy two dumplings but her eyes were always staring at me. “Ah Nhu, what are you saying to others?” I hid behind my mother and said in fear: "The black man will be exposed by the fire." Mom frowned. "Sister-in-law, A Nhu's illness has just recovered, don't scare her." Do Mai Hoa tried to force a smile. "Did I scare it? I'm lucky it didn't scare me." After she left, I saw her turn to the small road east of the village, walking very quickly. I know she wants to find cripple Trieu. She's scared. I'm afraid that the more I spread my delirious words, the more true they will become. I'm afraid that one day my uncle will actually search under the bed. Therefore, she will definitely deliver the red cloth package. But she can only act at night. That night, I went next to the water jar again. This time it was even colder than last time. I put my feet in the water, it was so cold that my teeth chattered. I know doing so is dangerous. But I definitely have to make myself sick like the real thing. Mom quickly discovered I wasn't in the room and rushed out to hug me and return home. "Ah Nhu! Why are you sitting here? Do you want to scare me to death?" I curled up in my mother's arms, my body was sometimes hot and sometimes cold. Mom covered me with two layers of blankets, but I was still shivering non-stop. By midnight, I was feverish and unconscious. The room was filled with people again. Because of what happened last time, everyone wanted to hear if I had anything more to say. Of course Do Mai Hoa did not come. She was busy going to the stove
brick. I'm waiting for this right moment. I suddenly sat up in bed, opened my eyes wide and shouted: "Fire!" “The brick kiln is on fire!” “The black man ran away holding the red cloth!” Mom was so scared that her soul would fly away. “A Nhu!” Someone standing outside the door burst out laughing. “She started it again.” But right after that, the sound of dogs barking outside suddenly rang out frantically. Someone shouted loudly: "It's really bright in the west of the village!" "There's a fire in the brick kiln!" 4 The crowd immediately dispersed. Dad was the first to rush out. Mom was about to follow, but I grabbed her sleeve. “Mom, don't go.” “Mom stays with A Nhu.” Mom hugged me, tears falling down my face. Not long after, there was a louder noise outside. Someone shouted for help. Someone shouted to arrest someone. There was also the sound of women screaming until it was heartbreaking. When it was almost dawn, Dad returned. His clothes were covered with ash and dust. His facial expression was extremely strange. It's both anger and fear because of what almost happened. He looked at his mother, his voice hoarse. “Tu Nuong.” “Caught it.” “Do Mai Hoa and Trieu were crippled in the brick kiln.” “Clothes are not yet worn properly.” Mom sat next to the bed, her whole body stiff. The women in the room sucked in a cold breath. “Is Trieu really lame?” “Is everything A Nhu said correct?” “Oh my god, doesn't this child really have the ability to see spiritual things?” I curled up in the blanket, feverish enough to make my lips dry. But the heart gradually returned to its right position. Got it. This time, what the whole village saw first were not my mother's tears. It's Do Mai Hoa's bad story. After dawn, the whole village seemed to explode. The fire in the abandoned brick kiln was not large.