Nai Myint - The Children of the Boat

Break a piece of ignorance

1.

This morning, I opened my eyes and was busy with the taukto mera. I ate the raw rice with my palms and finished weaving the bamboo skewers that others had given me. After weaving the bamboo skewers, I made a pot of rice. As soon as I was about to eat the dish, I fried the duck eggs. When the rice was cooked, I cut a thick bamboo from a bamboo hut in the backyard. Then I chopped the branches and cut the bamboo into small pieces to weave.

The sun was shining brightly in the yard, so I had to cut the bamboo into pieces and put them on the house. Then, I sharpened the knife on the whetstone for a while because the knife was a little dull. When the knife was sharpened, I soaked it in a pot of hot water and started sharpening it.

At that time -

“Uncle Thar Sein... So.. Uncle Thar Sein”

When I heard the doorbell ring, I looked up and saw my brother. I placed the baby mouse next to me and said, "Come in."

I looked at my brother and he seemed to have something to tell me. There was sweat on his forehead.

The sun had already reached the palm tree. Before Maung Ko could say anything, he poured a cup of hot water from the pot and drank it heartily. The hot water was cold, so he didn't even need to drink it.

"What's the matter?" I asked, and Maung Ko wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

“I have something to tell Uncle Thar Sein.”

"Speak up," I said, opening the way for conversation.

"Tauk Htein and Shwe Nyo are racing each other."

"Shwe Nyo refers to Sanpe's horse, right?"

Maung Ko nodded his head-

"Yes, sir."

I was surprised by the news I heard. Since it was a horse-to-man race, only the horse would win. Besides, San Pe's horse, Shwe Nyo, was the most famous horse in our area. There was no other horse nearby that could compete with him. Shwe Nyo was San Pe's one-handed rider. One thing I heard was that San Pe's grandfather was a horseman during the reign of King Mindon. So San Pe had already learned about horses from his ancestors. But since the man who was going to compete with Shwe Nyo was a Tauk Htin, I figured there must be some solid reason for this. That's why -

“What is Tauk Htein up to?” I asked. Maung Ko looked around, then whispered, making sure there was no one nearby.

"Uncle, you have diamonds, but our people are addicted to beard bees."

"Why?" I asked curiously.

“The other day, Tauk Htein and Ko San Pe were having a conversation. I don’t know how the conversation turned to Shwe Nyo. Tauk Htein backed me and said he would run to defeat Shwe Nyo, and that’s when the competition was decided. Our people, Tauk Htein, just closed their eyes and waited. They’ll definitely die,” Maung Ko said, and took another sip of hot water.

"Will you run away with just gold and brown?"

"If it's just gold and brown, where will it be? Ko San Pe will ride it."

"Huh...then the horse will definitely win."

“Uncle said, if you run at a normal pace, the horse will win. But the horse will race with its back to the man.”

"Where will we compete?"

“The horse must run along the cart path from Tapa to Mangye Kone. The Tauk Htein must run from Ale Zarat to Mangye Kone. The horse must carry the man half the journey.”

Tapa is about two miles from our village, Mangye Kone. The middle hut is between Tapa and Mangye Kone. It is a hut where travelers can rest for a while. It was built and donated by the wealthy U Maung Gyi. There are also many coconut trees around the hut.

When the pork from Tapa village, the mango farmers from Taungdaing village, the sio, the popcorn, and the thanakha farmers from the upper reaches come to the market to sell at the tamarind hill, they stop at the middle stall to drink water. The water pot in the middle stall is filled by the stall owner, Ko Ngao, who is the closest to the stall.

I also wanted to ask about something.

"Where is the place where the flowers will bloom?"

"Under the big sycamore tree on the edge of the village"

My eyes widened when Maung Ko replied.

"Huh...the big oak tree near the cemetery"

"Yes, sir." "So when?"

"In the evening of the following day"

I gradually became interested in what Maung Ko said.

Maung Htein said

“Tauk Htein said. All of us must vote for him and let him win. That’s why I came to tell U Gyi Thar Sein. To vote for Tauk Htein.”

"Who is the referee?"

“Yes, Ko San Pe, I’ll bet on him. U Gyi Thar Sein, don’t lose hope. I’ll come again.”

Saying that, Maung Ko left. I picked up the sword I had put down earlier and continued to read, thinking about Maung Ko's words.

2.

Both Tauk Htein and Maung Ko are my cousins. They are not real brothers. They are cousins. Tauk Htein was born to my sister Htey Yi. Maung Ko was born to my sister Hla Yi. Tauk Htein is a son of the Sun. He was born in the sun and the moon. Tauk Htein is famous in our Mangye Kone. Not in the good side. Not in the bad side. Drinking alcohol, drinking palm juice, fighting cocks, killing cows, playing cards and other bad deeds.

A guy who does a lot of things. This account is only grateful for not sleeping with other people's wives. Hikkha

It's like a little bit of martial arts training, and it's like giving a horse a rein. Tauk Htein's father, San Aye, sent him to Vanto Kyaw Hlaing when he was very young.

I was asked to become a disciple. Vanto Kyaw Hlaing was a famous Vanto master near our village. The bandit

Even the masters were captured by his Vanto knowledge. Now the master is no more. He has passed away. Tauk Htein is famous for having almost all of Vanto Kyaw Hlaing's knowledge.

Tauk Htein's habit is that whether it's in the drinking circle, the poker circle, or the chicken circle, he's the first.

Aung Sao added. I always wear my shirt open and I always put a short stick between my waist.

It is also famous for its swords and daggers. It is also famous for its swords and daggers.

I heard that he was a hunter. Yes, I can't say. Once, the Thein Aung brothers from the north of the village had a fight with Tauk Htein. Tauk Htein was not hurt. The brothers were very good. Since then, no one in the village dared to attack Tauk Htein. But this guy is really fast. There is no one in the village who can run with him. He is also very strong.

Tauk Htein started to be naughty when he was young. To keep his feet steady, he married Sein May, the daughter of Ko Po Htin from the south of the village. He only got a wife when he was old enough. Tauk Htein became even more naughty.

The mountain is bad. He doesn't take good care of his wife either. Sein May also does all kinds of work like a good husband and wife. She plants rice, harvests rice, and sells rice cakes in the village. She is busy with her work. This girl always looks for me. Wherever she meets me, she says, "Where are you going, Uncle Sein?" and greets me. I also respond appropriately because I am my nephew's wife.

The era was also a time when the influence of the chief was weakening due to the Japanese invasion and the return of the English. No matter how bad the situation was, the chief did not dare to attack. He treated them with respect and discretion. Moreover, there was no bullet in the chief's double-barreled gun.

There are people who will hurt Tauk Htein in one way or another.

Tauk Htein also had a son named Tauk Htein. Tauk Htein is my cousin.

But I don't mind disciplining him. This guy doesn't even listen to my teacher's words.

I am not a carnivore. That is why I live in accordance with the Buddha's Pali saying, "Shiva-vanasa-valanam."

Sometimes I know this guy is a guy. Last summer, the sun was scorching hot.

Even the large lake at the top of the village, which had no proper water source, was flooded.

Tauk Htein said that no one should catch the fish that are swimming in the mud.

He was sitting on the edge of the pond with a long sword, meaning that he would only catch him. He was saying that if he dared to catch him, he would go down into the pond and kill him with a sword.

When the water is calm, you can catch big catfish. But no one dares to cross the pond without telling you to fish. Let alone the bystanders. Even an uncle like me can catch fish.

I had no intention of walking across the pond where I was sitting. But I also had a matter to attend to, so I didn't go near it.

When Tauk Htein saw me crossing the shore, he called out to me.

"Come here, Uncle Thar Sein."