Mo Yan - Radish

‘We’ve got a problem, brigade commander. This bear cub has dug up half our radishes.’

The sleepy man ran to the radish field to see for himself; he returned with murder in his eyes and gave Hei-hai a swift kick. Hei-hai rose slowly, but the man slapped him while he was still dizzy.

‘What village are you from, you little prick?’

Hei-hai’s disoriented eyes clear as tears.

‘Who sent you to sabotage us?’

Hei-hai’s eyes were filled with water.

‘What’s your name?’

The water in Hei-hai’s eyes sparkled.

‘What’s your father’s name?’

Two lines of tears rolled down Hei-hai’s face.

‘Damned if he isn’t a mute.’

Hei-hai’s lips quivered.

‘Give him a break, brigade commander, let him go.’

‘Let him go?’ He smiled. ‘I will.’

The brigade commander stripped Hei-hai of his new coat, his new sneakers, even his shorts. He wadded them all up and tossed them into a corner. ‘Go home and tell your father to come claim your clothes. Now get out of here!’

Hei-hai turned to leave. At first he shyly covered his privates with his hands, but dropped them after a few steps. The old man sobbed at the sight of the dirty, naked boy.

Hei-hai slipped into the jute field like a fish that has swum into the ocean. The jute leaves rustled under the shimmering autumn sun.

‘Hei-hai!’

‘Hei-hai!’