- Hello Mr. Nham! Where are you going so early today?
Bu Nham stopped, his slightly hunched back bent over the tip of the moldy yellow bamboo stick.
- Yes! I dare not! Are you going to the fields? I will get up early to do some exercise to stay healthy.
- How precious! Please go slowly!
Illustration
Bu Nham is eighty-five years old this year, but he is still strong and healthy. His back is slightly bent, but his legs are still agile. All day long, he wanders around the garden and the yard, cutting vegetables for the chickens and pigs, and collecting firewood to light the fire. In the morning, some old friends come to visit, sit on two stone benches in the front yard, drink tea, smoke tobacco, and listen to Bu Nham tell stories about the Lao battlefield. Bu Nham was once a Vietnamese volunteer soldier who came to help Laos in the "nineties and sixties" of the last century. He often mentioned familiar places like Xieng Khouang, Plain of Jars, Muong Xay, etc. When he was excited, he would add a few Lao sentences, making everyone open their mouths to listen. He also bragged that he almost married a Lao woman. At that time, there were some very pretty Lao girls who wanted to marry Mr. Nham.
- Hehe! I'm telling the truth! When I returned to my country, I had to go into hiding...
At the great national unity festival, with a glass of wine, Mr. Nham also went on stage to dance wildly, making the young people laugh happily. It seemed like Mr. Nham was remembering a faraway Laos, tears welled up in his eyes.
Bu Nham lived in harmony with the villagers. If anyone had any difficulties, he would lend a helping hand. The only problem was that he was too enthusiastic, so sometimes he got backlash. Like Luan, who lived near the cemetery. He was over 40 years old but had no interest in working, only liked to drink alcohol, to the point that his wife got bored and took the child and left. Bu Nham often called Luan in for tea, sometimes even giving him a cup of medicinal wine.
- Don't you want to find a job to make a living? Work for hire for the rest of your life?
- Yes!
He was obedient because he had just been given a glass of wine. This boy had a habit of spending every penny he got on drinking and drinking before going back to work. As long as he had money in his pocket, no one would ask him to go to work. Once, when he saw him wandering around the street, reeking of alcohol, Uncle Nham scolded him:
- Are you going to drink yourself to death?
It turned back, startled:
- I drink with my own money, why ask for money from you? I'm so old and nosy!
Bu Nham felt bitter in his throat, turned away. I'll just "shut my mouth and ignore life". Thinking that, but when he saw Mrs. Mai's grandson was addicted to gambling, he felt "itchy" and reminded:
- You have to love your grandmother! Your parents divorced, your mother remarried. There are two of you…
- You just take care of your family! Leave me alone!
Bu Nham was sad, but told himself to ignore it. But seeing that the other guy brought something to sell every few days, he went to Mrs. Mai to announce:
- Grandma, remind your nephew that he has nothing to sell. I saw him carry a fan and a rice cooker out on the street three times already. Only seventeen years old and already gambling and messing around, he will grow up to be a bad person, grandma!
Mrs. Mai scolded her, saying that her grandson was obedient and well-educated. Why did she make up stories about him gambling, playing the lottery, stealing, and cheating? Mrs. Nham was so angry that he wanted to slap himself in the mouth. He had told himself the "mackeno" reason so many times, but he still wanted to take it all in. There were also many people who listened to her, such as when she advised Hau's family to "go to pieces" or beat their wives when they were drunk.
- If you're drunk, go to sleep! Why do you keep beating your wife? Anyone can beat their wife. If she gets sick and lies there, who will cook for you and your children?
It took months for the grandfather and grandson to sit and talk about life, and Hau's "broken" family finally listened to him and stopped beating his wife. The middle school students, going to school by electric bicycle, were riding their bikes at full speed, but when they saw Mr. Nham, they slowed down and chattered:
- Hello, Dad! "Gút mo ninh" Dad!
They drove single file, not three or four lines across the road like before. This was also thanks to Uncle Nham stopping many times along the road to chat with the children. He asked them if they knew their lessons in class? Did they fight often? Was anyone held back by the teacher at the end of class to copy notes? The children innocently considered Uncle Nham as an older friend, hiding nothing from them.
- Uncle Luc's son Huy has a girlfriend, dad!
- Oh, oh! What love is there for such a small child? Remember to tell each other to drive slowly, don't drive in threes or fours. If you get on the highway and hit a car, you can easily break your arm or leg. When I was a kid, I fell off a hammock and broke my leg and had to wear a cast, so I know. It hurts!
The girls glared at the boys:
- See! Just keep racing. From now on, whoever goes in the second or third row, tell Nham and he will beat them up!
The villagers were surprised that the students were suddenly driving very seriously. When asked, they found out that it was Mr. Nham's doing. Everyone could only praise: "The old man is really talented!"
There was an unexpected incident that made the old lady and her daughter run around like the house was on fire. For the past few days, after lunch, old lady Nham would leave the house and go somewhere unknown. The old lady felt strange. When she came home around one or two o'clock in the afternoon, she was scolded.
- Where have you been all afternoon? It's so hot! And when you're hanging out at someone's house, you have to let them take a nap!
- I did not affect anyone!
This afternoon, a neighbor, Mr. Xuan, stopped by the alley, called his wife out, and announced a shocking news:
- The whole family went to Mau Bay fish pond to see what was going on! I came back from a party and saw my grandfather sitting alone on the shore of the pond. When I asked him what was going on, he just kept mumbling and not saying anything...
The mother and son woke up screaming, calling all the grandchildren to run to the fish pond. Oh no! Maybe the old man was sad about something and had some crazy thoughts. The mother and son ran to the pond and saw the old man sitting on a big rock under a shady banyan bush, next to a bottle of water and a water pipe. The old woman, her hair disheveled, ran towards her husband.
- Oh my god! If there's anything wrong with my mother and I, please forgive me. Why did you think of something so stupid that you came here... hu hu!
Bu Nham was surprised, then said:
- What are you talking about? I came here for work, not hanging around with anyone.
- What are you doing sitting here like a ghost every noon?
Before his wife could answer, Mr. Nham quickly leaned on his cane and stood up, walking towards the lake. The four male students had just stopped, stacked their backpacks in a pile, and were about to take off their clothes.
- Hey! Kids! Swimming is not allowed here! Go home now!
- Oh…! We took a bath a few days ago, did anyone stop us?
- Now the commune has banned it! Have you heard that two children from another commune drowned while swimming in the pond?
- Let us finish our bath today…
Despite the children's begging, Mr. Nham waved his stick and chased them home.
- If you don't listen, I'll call the police now.
The old lady seemed to suddenly understand why her husband had been sitting here all afternoon.
- Home-cooked food, you're a prisoner of war! It's so hot, if I catch a cold, it will be hard for me and my children.
Bu Nham only agreed to go home and not go to the lake anymore when his son-in-law, a militiaman, promised to ride his motorbike around the lake every noon to prevent the students from swimming.
Dog theft in the countryside has become a hot topic. The "dog thieves" have switched from "stealing" to "robbing" dogs, when they brazenly break into people's houses at midnight when the rooster crows, throw poison or use electric guns to shoot dogs, when the homeowner discovers and runs out, they threaten to shoot, then take the dog away. In the case of the neighbor Mr. Xuan's house, hearing the sound of a dog "oanh" outside the gate, he quickly ran out with a flashlight, only to see two thieves jumping over the fence, holding a dog that had just been shot with an electric gun.
- Bye uncle! Next time there's a big dog we'll come again!
Seeing the dog thief holding an electric gun, Uncle Xuan quietly turned back.
Yet, Mr. Nham dared to face the "dog thieves". That night, hearing the sound of a motorbike on the village road, seeing two dogs barking loudly, Mr. Nham took a crossbow, turned on the flashlight and went out the gate. Outside the gate, two dark figures were standing watch, seeing him go out, they threatened:
- Old man, go inside now! Do you want to die by coming out here?
Bu Nham said nothing, quietly cocked the crossbow. A loud pop was heard, along with the sound of an arrow cutting through the air. The two thieves turned their cart and sped away. They knew all too well how dangerous the crossbow was. The whole village was in an uproar over that, everyone blamed Bu Nham for being reckless. Dog thieves were now very reckless, they could easily beat up the homeowner. But from that day on, many people in the village went looking to buy crossbows.
At the end of the year, his two daughters took Mr. Nham to the village cultural house to attend the longevity celebration for the elderly. Mr. Nham received five hundred thousand from the Elderly Association, plus the money from local businesses and other organizations, which also totaled more than a million. Giving all the money to his wife, Mr. Nham said:
- I probably can hold on for another five years. Please keep it for me. When I have enough money, I will buy a cow to herd for fun.
Probably waiting for birthday money in January, when his wife and children held a party to invite the villagers. The old lady brushed it off:
- I'm old and weak, I can't do anything! As long as you're healthy, my children and I are happy!
Bu Nham did not say it out loud, but he objected in his heart. Old people should do old things, they should exercise to stay healthy. Raising livestock would help them earn more money for their daily meals, and would not bother their children and grandchildren.
The night was hot, the sky was stuffy without a breath of wind. The electric fan was whirring, and it was not until midnight that Bu Nham fell asleep tiredly. Bu Nham had just closed his eyes when his dream came. The apricot-colored cow shook its head, wagged its tail to chase away flies and mosquitoes. It leisurely grazed along the dike near the village road. Bu Nham leaned on his stick, slowly following behind the cow. The people in the village plowed and hoed their way to the fields, happily greeting:
- What a beautiful cow you just bought! It might be ready to breed soon.
- Yes! He is over two years old. By the end of next year I will have another calf!
The students were riding their bicycles, chattering:
- Hello dad!
- Yes! Go slow!
The dike was gently windy. The sunlight spread golden on the grass, like sweet honey.
Rules
Live beautifully with total prizes up to 448 million VND
With the theme Loving Heart, Warm Hands, the 3rd Beautiful Life contest is an attractive playground for young content creators. By contributing works expressed through various forms such as articles, photos, videos ... with positive content, full of emotions and attractive, vivid presentation suitable for different platforms of Thanh Nien Newspaper.
Submission period: April 21 - October 31, 2023. In addition to the forms of memoirs, reports, notes, and short stories, this year the contest has expanded to include photos and videos on YouTube.
The 3rd Beautiful Living Contest of Thanh Nien Newspaper highlights community projects, volunteer journeys, good deeds of individuals, entrepreneurs, groups, companies, enterprises in society and especially young people in the current Gen Z generation, so there should be a separate contest category sponsored by ActionCOACH Vietnam. The appearance of guests who own works of art, literature, and young artists loved by young people also helps the theme of the contest spread strongly, creating sympathy among young people.
About the contest entries: Authors can participate in the form of memoirs, reports, notes, reflecting real stories, real events and must have accompanying character images. The article must express the content about a character/group that has taken beautiful, practical actions to help individuals/communities, spreading warm, humane stories, optimistic and positive living spirit. As for short stories, the content can be composed from real or fictional stories, characters, events... of beautiful living. The contest entries must be written in Vietnamese (or English for foreigners, the organizers will take care of the translation) no more than 1,600 words (short stories no more than 2,500 words).
About the prize: The contest has a total prize value of nearly 450 million VND.
In the category of articles, reports, and notes, there are: 1 first prize: worth 30,000,000 VND; 2 second prizes: each worth 15,000,000 VND; 3 third prizes: each worth 10,000,000 VND; 5 consolation prizes: each worth 3,000,000 VND.
1 prize for the article most loved by readers (including views and likes on Thanh Nien Online): worth 5,000,000 VND.
For the short story category: Prizes for authors with short stories participating in the contest: 1 first prize: worth 30,000,000 VND; 1 second prize: worth 20,000,000 VND; 2 third prizes: each worth 10,000,000 VND; 4 consolation prizes: each worth 5,000,000 VND.
The Organizing Committee also awarded 1 prize to the author with an article about entrepreneurs living beautifully: worth 10,000,000 VND and 1 prize to the author with an outstanding charity project of a group/collective/enterprise: worth 10,000,000 VND.
In particular, the organizing committee will select 5 honored characters voted by the organizing committee: award 30,000,000 VND/case; along with many other prizes.
Articles, photos and videos to participate in the contest, readers send to the address: [email protected] or by post (Only applicable for the Article and Short Story contest categories): Thanh Nien Newspaper Editorial Office: 268 - 270 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City (clearly write on the envelope: Works participating in the 3rd LIVING BEAUTIFULLY contest - 2023). Detailed information and rules are posted on the Living Beautifully page of Thanh Nien Newspaper.
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