ABSTRACT
Yesterday had been a day of torrential rains, with alleys and roads flooded by red muddy water going nearly up to the waist of the few people who ventured outside.
Seeing me pulling on my raincoat and boots, Ba Chinh firmly said, 'No, you do not go out in that weather. Besides, no one is working today. You haven't understood Vietnam yet, have you? Of course, no one would work on such a day. '
