“Mua láng giềng gần”

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Nhớ có lần tôi đã phải thức dậy từ rất sớm, khác hẳn với thói quen của mình chỉ vì nhà hàng xóm có giỗ, tổ chức cỗ đón khách. Công việc bận, nhưng tôi vẫn xin nghỉ nguyên một ngày để cùng phụ giúp nấu cỗ bàn và sắm vai tiếp khách.

A few days later, there was an event at my wife's family's house, and she woke up at dawn to prepare for the trip back home. She kept calling me to wake up, but I kept trying to postpone it. She got angry and yelled that I was irresponsible. Then she brought up the story of what I had done for the neighbors. She even said I was just overly enthusiastic and didn't know my limits. Apparently, I had drunk too much while entertaining guests at the neighbor's house, got completely drunk, and had to take the whole next day off work.

After listening to my wife's complaints for a while, I said, "Well, it's just like selling distant relatives to buy close neighbors. Our elders taught us that." My wife remained silent, knowing that arguing wouldn't change anything.

From a young age, I memorized the saying and explanation about the importance of neighbors in community relationships. Growing up and establishing my career far from home, with my siblings all back in the village, I always applied that principle, trying my best to befriend my neighbors in the hope of helping each other in times of need. My wife once said I was being extreme, but I always believed that if you're willing to help, you'll be rewarded later.

Moreover, living in the same neighborhood requires unity to be enjoyable. The neighborhood committee and various community organizations are always calling for this. Every year, the neighborhood organizes a National Unity Day celebration with music and boisterous parties. The neighborhood's loudspeakers broadcast information and calls for residents to unite in building a civilized lifestyle and a cultural neighborhood every month.

I understand that, and I always try to make it happen. However, the more I think about it, the more I realize my wife is right.

Not long ago, a neighbor told me that his son had just graduated from university and asked me to help him get a job in the government because he thought I had extensive connections. Out of respect for my neighbor, I tried to approach an acquaintance and waited for the agency's recruitment period.

To get a job in a government agency, you have to pass an entrance exam, and my neighbor's child failed because he only graduated from a lower-ranked school and didn't bother to study for the exam. I explained the reason clearly, but I couldn't avoid resentment. My neighbor told the whole neighborhood that because I didn't give them money, I intentionally let their child fail. I sadly tried to explain to the people in the neighborhood, but why should they listen to me, since the story my neighbor told has been common in society for a long time?

I lost a neighbor I had tried for years to build, simply because I didn't help his son find a job. Why couldn't my neighbor see my previous enthusiasm and sense of responsibility, instead of imposing his own will and readily "selling off" a responsible neighbor?

Harmony and cohesion within a community are age-old virtues of the Vietnamese people. However, for communities to truly become united, lifestyles and behaviors must be built and operated on the principles of democracy, equality, respect, and sharing. If everyone prioritizes their own interests, no matter how hard they try, it will be difficult to have good neighbors and a unified community.

These communities are advocating for the development of a cultured way of life. They have determination, but more importantly, they must have sincerity. If they prioritize their own self-interest, then no matter how hard they try, they will only be fragmented communities.

Hanh Nhien

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/mua-lang-gieng-gan-245360.htm