As Mèn remorsefully contemplates his actions, he is unexpectedly caught by two human children and lost independence.

While on the way visiting his older siblings, Mèn seeks a companion for a new adventure and encounters Dế Trũi (mole cricket), whom he had previously saved from peril.

They become sworn brothers and "set sail" on a leaf, only to encounter treacherous waters and almost died from hunger and exhaustion before reaching the "coastline".

On land, Mèn and Trũi are welcomed by the inhabitants of Đầm Lầy (swampy animal village), however, soon they leave due to the boastful and distasteful Cóc (toad) and Ếch Cốm (frog).

He meets Xiến Tóc again, who has cut his antenna, now bored with life and plays with butterfly and cicada prostitutes.

Mèn realized that the purpose of an insect's life is to collaborate on shared goals and coexist peacefully with the animal kingdom.

As told by Hoài, the novel is influenced from his involvement with Vietnam's communist movement during his teenage years, and as such the cricket protagonist features a strong adventurous and driven personality.