The imprint of Lao Cai's prose

In my hands is a publication still smelling of fresh ink: Anthology of Excellent Short Stories from Lao Cai. My heart is overflowing with indescribable emotion because this publication was released by the Lao Cai Literature and Arts Association at a time when the whole country is enthusiastically celebrating the 50th anniversary of the reunification of the country, and also the 50th anniversary of literature and art after the country's unification.

The collection of excellent short stories from Lao Cai brings together 27 works by 18 authors who are members of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association. These are award-winning works or impressive pieces by some of Lao Cai's prose writers in recent times.

These are "By the Cliff" and "Mother Dung" by the late writer Ma A Lenh, with a gentle writing style that easily touches the heart. Reading his works, we can visualize the life, customs, culture, and character of the Hmong people in the highlands: “ That Tet, perched precariously on a desolate mountain slope called Doc Nui Lo, appeared a simple, unpretentious hut, like a makeshift shelter for guarding a cornfield. That was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gie Song. Initially, it was unpretentious because they had nothing but their bare hands. But they possessed abundant strength and diligence; just watching the way Mr. Gie chopped wood with his knife and the way he struck the ground with his hoe was enough to know. They devoted themselves wholeheartedly to each other, and after a few rice harvests and a few seasons of farming, they became Xenh Lau, a prosperous household with plenty of food and drink, pigs and chickens filling the pens and yard, buffaloes, cows, horses, goats, and sheep filling the fields, earning the respect of everyone .” (By the Cliff). Nguyen Van Cu, with his works "Stories from Ban Thanh" and "Love Story by the Waterfall of Love," presents a wealth of life experiences, reflecting the depth and experience of a leader deeply involved with the people and grassroots before becoming a writer. Doan Huu Nam, a writer with a vast collection of short stories and novels, chose to publish excerpts from his novel "Human Roots"—a work that won the A prize in a writing competition on the theme of national security (organized by the Vietnam Writers Association and the Ministry of Public Security )—and his short story "Following the Current." These works bear the distinct mark of Doan Huu Nam, a writer who always delves into many aspects of life with his imaginative yet realistic writing style. For writer and teacher Cao Van Tu, the editorial board chose to publish "The Little Horseman" and "Returning to Sin Chai," gentle short stories for children, reflecting the characteristics of a teacher who dedicated his life to the cause of educating people and writing for children. The anthology also includes short stories by authors such as Nguyen Van Tong, Nguyen Xuan Man, Tran Thi Minh, Trinh Bang, and Ngo Quyen. Each author has a different style and story.

For young authors, this anthology introduces Hoàng Anh Tuấn, the youngest of the four members of the Vietnam Writers Association from Lào Cai. Tuấn excels in poetry, so when he transitions to prose, his writing is equally ethereal, as ethereal as the poetic verses: “ The fine rain falls gently on my mother’s head and dress, but it doesn’t wet her head or her clothes. Oh, is this January rain mist or smoke? With each step my mother takes, the tender grass sprouts, tingling underfoot. Looking at the sash fluttering in the wind, Tùng imagines my mother tying both sides of the Diêm Hộ river, one side eroding, the other building up, one side remembering, the other loving ” (The Sound of the Chèo Drum on a Spring Night), with vivid imagery such as “ The winter night in Phiêng Ban village is so long, like a thread sewing a cotton mattress. Huổi Nưa mountain collapses like the thin, anxious breasts of a sixteen-year-old girl ” (Cotton Mattress with Red Trim). This is Nguyen Thi Thu Trang with her very lyrical and youthful short stories: Hoa watched Sinh recounting their dreams and plans from days gone by, his heart warmed by Sinh's smile, full of spring sunshine. He gently stroked her fluttering hair and picked up a fallen peach blossom petal from her shoulder. Yes, Hoa had to continue his studies, and so did Hoa. Hoa and Sinh would fulfill their dream of transforming Dao village into a tourist destination. Here and there, tourist houses would spring up, under the peach trees, the Hmong girls of his village would still be diligently embroidering colorful patterns and laughing happily. Hoa would take out his flute and play, each note lively and joyful. Somewhere far away, his parents must have found each other and were watching him live happily… (The Flute on the Hillside).

This anthology features works by several authors who are experimenting with the short story genre for the first time but have already achieved success, such as Nguyen Thanh Long, Nguyen Thi Hang, and Luu Tu Anh… Particularly noteworthy is Chu Nguyen Thuy Duong, a young author who is also experimenting with both poetry and short stories and has achieved success with several awards, leaving a strong impression on readers. Her debut short story, " The Rice Tree Blooms," with its content addressing a challenging issue: delving deep into belief, spirituality, and the harsh triumph over fate, was selected by the editorial board for inclusion in the anthology.

Over the years, with their talent, professional integrity, responsibility, passion, and creative aspirations, the prose writers of Lao Cai have united and strived together, gradually establishing themselves and contributing to the foundation of Lao Cai literature and the development of national literature. While this book may not fully meet expectations in showcasing the achievements of all writers, the editorial board has endeavored to select and present representative works reflecting the literary achievements of these authors during the period of reform. We respectfully introduce this book to our readers.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/dau-an-van-xuoi-lao-cai-post401161.html