Chapter 2 — General, It's No Time Anymore... My Wife Has Remarried

In this place, there are no fights and calculations between each other, no endless waiting, and no more men using their eyes to tease me every day. The first time I met Tham Khoat, it was on a pouring rain day. The old roof leaked everywhere, I frantically grabbed a pot and ran to catch water. Unexpectedly, his feet were slippery, his whole body suddenly fell hard on the cold ground, his ankles were so painful that he almost lost all feeling. Rain water mixed with mud soaked my body, the pain made my eyes hot, but in that empty house, there wasn't even a single person to ask for help. I could only endure the pain, calling out with all my might in a hoarse voice:

“Can anyone… help me…”

“Is there anyone…”

Just when I was most desperate, there was suddenly a "creaking" sound outside the door. The old wooden door was slowly pushed open. A tall man walked in silently. He was wearing a short-sleeved coarse cloth shirt that had been patched in many places, and in his hand was holding a bundle of firewood that had just been chopped.

“Are you… okay?”

His voice was a bit hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken for a long time. He is the hunter and farmer who lives at the foot of that mountain - Tham Khoat. I've heard people in the village talk about him, saying he has a lonely personality, doesn't like interacting with others, and lives alone in a wooden house in the most remote place. I looked at him, nodded with some difficulty, then shook my head again. He didn't ask anything else, just put down the bundle of firewood, quietly walked over to look at the leaking roof, then turned around and walked out. I thought he had left, but I suddenly felt a sense of loss. Unexpectedly, a moment later, he returned, holding a large canvas and a few tools in his hand. Without saying a word, he climbed straight up to the rafters, using smooth movements to cover the leak with a canvas sheet, and then carefully checked other places. The rainwater finally stopped dripping anymore. He jumped down from the rafters, walked to my side, squatted down and looked at my swollen red ankle.

“It's twisted.”

He used an affirmative tone, his tone extremely calm. Then, without saying a word, he directly picked me up and placed me on the only dry bed in the room. I cried out in surprise and instinctively reached out to push him. His chest was very hard, like a rock.

“Don't move.”

He only said two words, then turned around and walked out, quickly bringing in a bowl of steaming hot herbal medicine. He applied medicine to my ankle, his movements were so gentle that it was completely unlike the rough and strong appearance.

“Thank you very much.”

I spoke softly. He didn't look at me, just said "um" and after packing his things, he turned around and prepared to leave. I call him back.

"Today... thank you so much. How much is this firewood?"

His steps stopped, he turned his head to look at me, his eyes so deep that it was difficult for others to see through.

"No need."

Having finished speaking, he immediately pulled the door open and stepped into the white rain. From that day on, Tham Khoat became an unexpected thing in my life. Every few days he would bring some wild meat he had hunted, or some vegetables and fruits he had just picked from the fields. Every time that happens, he just quietly puts the things in front door, then turned and left. I feel extremely guilty, so I often make some food to bring to him, such as baking a few cakes, or wrapping some vegetable cakes. He lives in a small wooden house at the foot of the mountain. Although the house is simple, it is extremely clean. In the yard, vegetables are grown and a few chickens are raised. As the days passed, the words between me and him gradually became more and more frequent. We know that he is also an exile. When he was young, his hometown suffered a natural disaster. He wandered all the way to this place, relying on his own strength to survive until today. He doesn't like to talk much, but he is extremely trustworthy. The thugs in the village saw that I was a widow living alone, so they often came to my door to harass me. He was carrying a wood chopping knife, without saying a word, standing in front of my house, strongly threatening those people to run away. The water in our jar has dried up, early the next morning it will definitely be full again.