Indani - Short Stories of Evil Spirits

Good and bad minds

Before we begin the story of this book, I would like to introduce our dear friend U Htun Lin to the readers. U Htun Lin passed the Arts Examination at the University of Yangon and worked as a teacher in high schools for three years. Then he sat for the Civil Service Examination (B.C.S.) and passed it with flying colors. After his first internship in the government service, he worked as a city clerk. Soon after, he traveled all over Myanmar as a district clerk and served the government.

When the British and Japanese governments ruled, he worked in Taungoo. When the British returned, he was sent from Taungoo to Kata and then to Shwebo. Since his wife was from Shwebo, she was a native of Shwebo, and she was also quite old. After working for about three years, she received a pension and retired to Shwebo. U Htun Lin's in-laws were quite wealthy and owned farmland in Shwebo. When they died, his only daughter, U Htun Lin's wife, inherited the land. In addition to the government pension, U Htun Lin was able to live a comfortable and dignified life as a farmer thanks to his wife's assets.

The issue that made it impossible for U Htun Lin to farm but not to go to the forest was the issue of the Land Allocation Act, which gave power to the Boards. The gist of the law was that the Board, consisting of the chief and village elders, would take the land of the landowners and allocate it to suitable farmers. If the landowner was a self-employed farmer, he would be allowed to cultivate up to 50 acres of land. If more land was given to the Board, it would be allocated to the farmer who thought it was suitable. In particular, the Board said that in allocating land, the farmer who had worked in previous years would be given more rights.

Therefore, according to the law and the directives issued under this law, not only is the landowner no longer allowed to cultivate the land as he pleases, but if he does not cultivate it himself, he must hand over all his fields to the board.

When the old man understood the meaning of the law, he began to force U Htun Lin to work the farm himself.

“As the government has allowed, we must ensure that at least 50 acres of land are not lost. Once lost, it is difficult to get it back. According to the instructions, only the crops grown in the previous year can be replanted. Even now, all the farms we have are planted with crops... We, the farmers, did this last year. So this year, if we apply to the board to let us do it, let alone 50 acres, we will not be able to replant even one acre.”

"So... don't worry, my elders are here."

"You are no longer the provincial governor, you are no longer in any position of power."

"There is no power, but there is still love." "So you're going to work in the fields."

"Haven't you already admitted that I'm going to the fields? Where can I go after you leave?"

"I can't go. It wouldn't have happened if I wasn't at home. So I'll take you to the next one to cook for you... and let's have some company."

"It's far away... I have to go anyway. The hard part is that I don't know how to plow the fields."

"You don't have to go into the fields yourself. You hire workers to do the work, and you just show up next to the field. Every time you don't want to go alone, you make excuses...

"Okay, okay."

In this way, U Tun Lin went from being a retired district official to becoming a big farmer.

U Htun Lin’s wife inherited many acres of farmland in Shwebo District. Although there were farms near Shwebo, U Htun Lin was afraid of being ridiculed by his acquaintances, so he decided to move to the Mu-Re-Win fields in the Ye-U Sub-Division, far from Shwebo. (Read: cows as Na-Ta.)

In addition, since the village head of the cattle village had been a teacher and student since he was working for the government, he also hoped that he would get help in all matters related to the farm. Therefore, he wrote to the village head of the cattle village about the benefits and asked him to build a hut in a good place for him to live.

(2)

About a month before the time to go to the forest, U Htun Lin and his disciple Ntoe set off for Ye U town by car to plan for the farm. When they arrived at Ye U town, the village headman of the cattle village sent a cart to meet them, and they followed the cart and the cattle to the village, arriving safely in the evening.

The cart stopped in front of the chief's house. The chief's house was a large house with wooden floors and a very elaborate roof, which is called a standing (madar) house. When U Htun Lin arrived, about 20 men and women had gathered under the chief's house, and a young man was writing on a small round dining table. When he saw U Htun Lin, the chief stepped out of the crowd and greeted him with a loud voice.

"I'm so happy. Since the teacher is coming, we've been so happy, the whole village is waiting for him. Come on, come on. The rice is ready. If you want to take a shower, there's a bathroom over there."

"Didn't you set up a tent to stay in, as I ordered?"

“I have pitched it. I can only pitch a tent if the master tells me to. My house is big. If the master stays, I can live comfortably.” “Let it be... let the master stay, I just want to live freely in the forest, so I deliberately ordered it.”

“That’s just as the teacher intended. The tent was pitched on the outskirts of the village, not far from the monastery, in a shady spot. Three trees and two rooms are enough for the teacher alone.”

"That's great... that's great, thank you."

"Please answer me. After eating, go and get the letter. We will send it to you."

The chieftain stopped him, and U Htun Lin sat down on the large wicker chair that had been laid out for him. Soon, a villager, as was customary in the forest, brought him some black tea, a tea bag, Chinese sweets, and cigarette lighters. U Htun Lin sipped the black tea and the tea, glancing at the group of people gathered in the basement of the chieftain's house.

The old man returned to his original position and looked at a young woman sitting cross-legged in the middle of the crowd.

"Now, Mi Nwe, tell me what happened to you."

The girl looked at him. Then she looked at the men and women around her. The girl's hair was starting to grow, and the short hair was sticking out behind her ears. She was dark-skinned, as was the custom among the villagers. But her figure was a rare one among the villagers, U Htun Lin thought. She was only about 15 years old. Judging by the way her breasts were puffy and her limbs were plump, she looked like a young girl.

A woman who looked exactly like the one next to Mizwe nudged her with her elbow and said, "Speak...", and Mizwe seemed to come to life.

"Last night, around midnight, I wanted to go to the bathroom and when I came downstairs, he was waiting under the palm tree and grabbed my hand. He forcibly hugged me and my shirt came off."

When Mizwe finished speaking, all eyes in the audience turned to a young man, about 20 years old, sitting not far from Mizwe. The young man had neatly parted hair, good eyebrows on his nose, and was quite handsome, so it could be said that he was on a par with Mizwe.

The old man said, “Hey.. Aung Nyunt, what else do you want to say?”

"It's free, sir. He called me at midnight and said, 'Wait for me.' So I went. When his sister found out about this, she deliberately tried to get me into trouble."

"Yes... My daughter. If you order..."

"No, sir. I dare to hold any scripture you give me."

"You're just talking nonsense. You've been with me for a long time."

My sister-in-law came in and said, "Hey.. if it was you, would Mi Nwe shout? Mi Nwe shouted, and Ko Lu Maung, Ko Shwe Ya and others surrounded you, right? Why do you want to deny it now?"

"I'm not denying it. It's true, but I'm waiting for your sister to make an appointment..."

"Let me ask you out. Are you his girlfriend?"

"Yes... I'm his girlfriend, I'm just lying because people are embarrassed to find out now..."

Mizwe said, "Hey.. I'm not kidding, when did I ever like you?"

The old man entered and said, "Oh... Oh..., Aung Nyunt, I saw people arresting you last night."

Aung Nyunt frowned and said, “Yes, his sister deliberately ordered him to be arrested.”

“Hey... Anyway, it was your fault that I found you at the wrong time near the young woman’s house. So, as usual, you are responsible for atoning for the girl’s shame. So, will you listen to our decision, or will you go to court? That’s all I can say.” “It’s your choice.”

"So now all the village elders are here. How much will you decide?"

An old man said, "This case is the same as the case of Nga Kya and Ba Shwe. Just pay them 50 baht and let them live in peace."

"What's the matter... Do you agree with what U Hta Kyi said?"

The other village elders agreed, so the chief

“Kai... Aung Nyunt, the elders have decided to pay 50 baht. I want to know if you can pay it or not.”

"I have to..."

"So, I'll go get the money and give it to you..." The old man made his final decision, and the young man got up from his seat and went outside, while the audience, one by one, began to speak and slowly return.

U Htun Lin was very impressed as he looked at the village court. He thought to himself, "If such an influential court were opened all over Burma and cases were settled in this way, how much more money and effort would be saved for the government offices and the clients?"

Then, while chatting with the village elders, they were served rice and had a meal. While they were eating, Aung Nyunt returned and handed fifty baht to the elder. Aung Nyunt did not return suddenly, but sat and talked with the elders. U Htun Lin, who was a man who wanted to know everything, invited Aung Nyunt to the dining table.