Paradise of the Blind

Unable to escape the bitterness brewing in her home village, Que follows Chinh’s orders to give up her street vending business, and she moves to Hanoi. This is still 10 years before Hang’s birth. When Hang is born, Que dotes on her in ways that other mothers do not, which makes Hang uncomfortable. Que continues working as a market vendor, providing what she can and attempting to care for Hang. Que doesn’t tell Hang about Ton, and there are frequent encounters when Hang is ridiculed for being fatherless. When Hang begs her mother to tell her who her father is, Que refuses, begging Hang to stop with her questions and to be content with the company they share between the two of them.

Uncle Chinh resurfaces after nearly 10 years and is surprised that Que has not remarried. He reassures Que that being working class redeems her from the shame of Ton’s landowning family background. Que gently points out that Ton’s family was exonerated during the Rectification Campaign, quickly followed with, “But let’s not talk about the past” to avoid confrontation (47). Chinh is now a teacher of ideology, a position regarded with respect and authority.