On the 28th of Tet, the large market in Kon Tum ward (Quang Ngai province) was crowded from early morning. Stalls selling fruits, cakes, jams, meat and fish were crowded with shoppers. The sound of goods advertisements, bargaining sounds, and the sound of vehicles blended together.
In a small corner near the market gate, Ms. Do Thi Ngoc Lan (80 years old), is still sitting at the joss paper counter like many previous Tet seasons.
Sitting on a plastic chair, Ms. Lan carefully arranged stacks of banknotes and votive paper in bags for customers. Her hair was almost all gray, her hands wrinkled, but her operations were still quick.
Ms. Lan said that selling Tet goods is a habit that has followed her for more than ten years: "As long as I can sit, I will go to the market. Being at home is very sad, I am not used to it.
According to Ms. Lan, this year's business is not as favorable as before. The number of customers coming to buy has decreased, many people only buy sparingly, no longer shopping as much as in peak years. Therefore, right from the beginning of the Tet season, she proactively imported fewer goods.
She recounted that in previous years, every Tet holiday, customers bought very a lot, some days they could not stop selling in time. This year, buyers still come to the market but spend more sparingly.
Although she is old, Ms. Lan still plans to sell until the evening of the 29th of Tet before taking a break. After that, she will clean the house, prepare offerings and wait for her children and grandchildren to return to reunite.
Tet must have enough children and grandchildren coming home, eating together. That's all I hope for," Ms. Lan shared.
Many acquaintances in the market are familiar with the image of Mrs. Lan sitting next to the joss paper counter every year-end occasion, almost never missing a Tet season. Whether it's sunny or rainy, she is still present from early morning. Selling goods is not only to earn extra income but also to maintain her familiar rhythm of life.
When asked about resting, Ms. Lan smiled, saying that she was used to working since she was young, so sitting still feels tired. She also said that trading helps her have more money to spend, not having to depend too much on her children and grandchildren.
The crowd passed by, Ms. Lan slowly packed goods for a customer, then turned to talk about previous Tet seasons. She said, sell as much as you can, the important thing is to maintain the Tet atmosphere and the feeling of participating in the rhythm of life of the market.
Amidst the atmosphere of the year-end market is the image of an 80-year-old woman who is still diligent. Not noisy, not ostentatious, but it is the story of a person who has been attached to the market, to the profession and to Tet for more than a decade.
