Khin Khin Htoo - Five short stories

Almost all the people from the four or five villages around here come to the Kongyi market for various reasons. They want to buy oil or honey, sell their own seeds, beans, and herbs, have something to do with people from one village to another, donate, feed, or invite people, pay off old debts, or get new debts, etc. Since it is a forest market, it is not expensive. There is a market that sells rice every four days on a hill not far from the river. The market on the hill is called Kongyi market. There is no Kongyi village.

There are many types of people who come to the market by cart, by boat, and by foot. The villages near the river do not use oxen. They just push the boats that are moored at the bank and row. The villages that are supposed to be rowing rice have to be very diligent and row in the dark from Kyet U Ton to Myitkyina. The rowers are also not very diligent because they are not very diligent. The market is open shortly after dawn, around eight in the morning. Since it is a forest market, there are no big shops. The seller spreads his own basket and mat, and the buyer buys it, and then returns. Usually, they sell their own goods and buy their own goods. Some come because they want to eat bread and snacks that they can eat once every four days. Some come to the market to find people from the village they want to meet and talk to. Among those who came was Ari Rin Nyein. They knew that Ari Rin Nyein came to the market every market day, so those who wanted to meet people in Chaungsin village didn't have to worry about not meeting people. At least, they didn't think they would find Ari Rin Nyein.

My cousin Rin Nyein is a man from Chaung San. He is also quite young. With a big forehead, large earrings hanging from his soft ears, a big thanakha, and a big turban, he walks around the market with a smile. If he doesn't trip over someone in the market stall, he's lucky.

“It’s very quiet, let’s go down the river. Do you know what Koba Si and Ma Khin Pao are doing? What about Koba Si who is ferrying us? I told him to come to Peipingone the next day and tell him to come back.”

“Basi knows. If you want to see Prince Bo Kay Than Sein, watch him, just like him. It’s okay, tomorrow.”

"Please, please be calm." "Please be calm."

I didn't forget to tell you that. I told you to tell you. I didn't tell you. The customs of each village are different. The person who was told must not want to go or not come. The person who had to tell me didn't have to tell me. The reason why I didn't come to the market every day was not to shop. It wasn't because I came to sell. I was over sixty years old, so I pushed the small boat out into the water and paddled it. I came to hear the beginning of the festival. When I came to the market, I heard that there were charity events in the surrounding villages, a Buddha festival, a monk flying festival, and so on.

Those who know about the peace and quiet of the village, when they see a large crowd in the market, they can tell which village is holding the festival, which day the festival will be held, and how many people will be there. In these villages, no matter which village they go to, whether they are close relatives or not, the one-night stay or the two-night stay is the same, so there is no need to worry about where to stay. An old woman carrying a basket of sissut (wooden cloth) and a large cloth on her shoulder will come to the village on the night of the festival. Only the village knows in advance that the festival will start.

"Hey.. Let's have a festival at Moenangone. The Buddha festival is only held in the month of Tapot-doe. Is it because there is a donation?"

“Donate, Ree Nyein. Donate from Ko San Pe. Just rent a horse farm from the game. Don’t go anywhere, come to our house, row a boat down the creek to the goat tree. When you reach the goat tree, walk two meters and you’ll reach our village.”

The villagers don't go to the villages with the same name. The villagers are accustomed to speaking in a way that is perfect (intellectual) and they also tell the route. The villagers don't accept it that much. They still need to be sure. I went down to the market hill where the Moe Nang Kone carts were parked and asked. Sometimes I arrived on the wrong day, and I never arrived a day late, so I asked to make sure. If I had eaten, I would have eaten a plate of rice from the market and rowed back to the boat dock. If I returned by boat on the market day, the villagers' family would know. If I didn't, I would have been able to start the party. When I knew that the villagers liked the party, the elders and elders never stopped me. Don't mention children and relatives, even if my husband didn't go, he would have been a fool to go because he was the one who went anyway.

"Where is the peaceful celebration? The flying monk is still alive, my lord."

"My mouth is full of tears, my hands are full of tears, don't tell me that I'm not a good person. My horse is a beautiful creature. When the boat comes out of the river, I will show you my waist."

Ari Rin Nyein likes to party so much. Everyone knows that Ari Rin Nyein likes to party, and in the past, they called the big brokers "party girls" and Ari Rin Nyein "party girls". There is no village where Ari Rin Nyein has not been to, as he used to spread his legs while watching the party. Just because someone said, "Ari Rin Nyein, I have to come with you," he didn't say no. He was brought on a boat. In every village, there was a Buddha festival, and as soon as the festival was over, they would put on their robes and start counting the days.