The Mountains Sing(44)

Drumrolls. Angry shouts.

“They never exploited me. They treated me as family,” Mrs. Tú said, weeping.

“You fool! They’ve brainwashed you.” The butcher-woman jumped forward. She was the one who snatched Sáng from my arms. Where was he? What did she do with him?

“It’s true,” said Mr. Thanh, one of our longest-serving employees. “They pay us well. They send our children to school.”

“They never insulted us,” said Mr. H?i.

“We’re lucky to be working for them. Luckier than most people,” Mr. Hà, another worker, said.

“Shut up! You’re na?ve and stupid,” shouted a man, stepping up to the front. He raised a large stick in his hands and bared his yellow teeth. “Can’t you see that they got rich on your sweat and blood? They exploited you and brainwashed you.”

“They’ve poisoned your minds,” yelled someone else.

“At other villages around us, terrible crimes by landowners have been revealed. Exploitation, beating, even rape,” barked the yellow-toothed man. “Think hard. Did they rape you, beat you up, starve you?” He raised his stick higher and brought it down onto Minh’s head, knocking him to the ground.

I wriggled toward my son, but somebody kicked me and pulled me back.

The official paced back and forth. “These landowners are born evil. At your neighboring V?nh Ti?n village, a woman has denounced her own father. She said he’d raped her one hundred and fifty-nine times. One hundred and fifty-nine times! His own daughter.”

The man paused, looking at us. “That evil landlord was executed, shot in the head. His daughter received a large share of his land to compensate for her suffering.” He turned to Mrs. Tú and the workers, grinding each word between his teeth. “Now, don’t be afraid. These Tr?n people, they can’t get rich out of thin air. Look at their big house, big garden, fields, cattle. They must have been earning from someone’s blood and sweat.”

“I know how hard they work,” Mrs. Tú wailed. Beside her, Mr. L?c, the eldest worker, had wet his pants. “My husband and sons died in a fire,” said Mrs. Tú. “The Tr?ns took care of me. They saved my life. They’re my family now.”

“Take her away. She’s useless.” The official shook his head. Mrs. Tú was pulled up and pushed away. She ran toward the children.

Next, the official turned to the seven men who sat on the chairs. “Make your choice now, Brothers. Keep sitting here like idiots or condemn them and get a share of their properties. We are here to help, don’t you get it? We’re here to undo the injustice they brought upon you.”

One of our younger workers, Th?ng, lifted his head and scanned our faces. He grimaced. “They exploited us!” He shot to his feet. “We’re poor and they’re rich.”

The crowd cheered and punched their fists.

“They made us work long hours. They didn’t pay us enough. They made sure we remained poor so that we continued to serve them,” Th?ng shouted.

The crowd roared.

“All of this wealth belongs to us, Brothers.” Th?ng looked at the remaining men. “It’s our right to take back the results of our labor.”

“No, it’s not true!” Mr. Thanh stood up. “The Tr?ns gave my family food during the Great Hunger. They helped so many when everyone was starving.” He turned to the crowd. “You, and you, and you.” He pointed at the faces in front of him. “I saw you here receiving their rice. I heard you tell Madam Tr?n you’d be grateful for the rest of your lives.” His voice turned into a yell. “Anyone here, speak up if this family didn’t try to save you during the Great Hunger.”

The crowd grew silent. Even my children stopped crying.

Mr. Thanh turned to Th?ng. “??ng ?n cháo ?ái bát.” Don’t eat porridge then piss into the bowl.

“Enough!” the official shouted into Mr. Thanh’s face. “They’ve brainwashed you more than anyone.”

“To hell with wicked landowners.” The shouts and the drumrolls were weaker this time.

“Rich landowners, how cunning they are.” The official coughed and spat onto the yard. “Well, they can’t get away with this. We’re going to hold an open tribunal against them.”

The drums rolled louder.

“We’re going to divide their properties. Landless farmers will get a share!” the official roared and the crowd roared with him.

“Please, take everything you want,” cried C?ng. “Denounce me if you must, but let my sister and her son go. Please let them go. I beg you. Let them go.”

Another man, also fair-skinned, whispered to the official, who nodded.

“Take these two away.” He pointed at C?ng and Minh. “Keep an eye on this evil woman.” He gestured toward me. “We’ll come back for her. Don’t let her escape.”

“No!” C?ng hollered. “Minh is just a kid. He knows nothing.”

“Please, I beg you. Don’t take my brother and my son away, please.” I bowed to the crowd.

The official flicked his hand. Several men reached down, pulling C?ng and Minh up. My brother turned to look at me, tears and blood trickling down his face. “Don’t worry, Sister, we’ll come back soon. We did nothing wrong. Just take care of yourself and the kids . . .”