- Oh… teacher, are you okay?, A Lang Pong panicked.

The young man was riding his motorbike out of the village, and before he could raise his hand to say hello, he saw Minh’s motorbike crash onto the side of the road. Pong braked hard and hurriedly ran to pull the motorbike that was crushing Minh. The tightly tied cargo box behind him was heavy, while the bulky bag in front made it impossible for Minh to stand up.

- Be gentle… Don’t tear the bag. Minh said, his voice still panicked, but his eyes were glued to the white plastic bag now covered in mud.

- “Is the teacher hurt? I don't care about the person, I only care about the bread.”

Pong's voice was tinged with reproach. But when Minh raised her head, she caught the smile that had just appeared on his lips.

- “This is just popcorn, I brought it up for the kids. It was wrapped in several layers of plastic, but if it tears or gets muddy, it will be ruined.” Minh felt embarrassed. She wiped her muddy hands on her now muddy jacket.

- "What a heavy box, teacher." Pong asked Minh while adjusting the loose rope.

- Oh, that's sea fish. Bring it up for the kids too. Minh smiled.

- Every time I come back to the city, I see you carrying a lot of stuff. The kids must be waiting for you to come back to the city often, right? Pong's voice was half-joking, half-serious.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves, shining on Minh’s face, making her eyes shine brightly. This fish barrel was sent by Liem for the children. He had just returned from a trip to the sea, so he asked his mother to steam a big barrel of fish and then called Minh. So Minh happily headed back to town.

When Minh drove to the school, from afar he saw the school yard shimmering with bamboo trays full of books drying.

- What's wrong with the book, Ms. Chu? Minh quickly parked his bike and ran into the school yard. Ms. Chu, the village chief, was sitting hunched over next to a pile of books.

- Minh is up. Yesterday there was a tornado, a corner of the roof of the reading room was blown off, the rain soaked all the bookshelves. We were busy drying them, we didn't tell the teacher, afraid she would worry.

- Is everyone in the village okay?

- Only old Mo's house next to the school had its roof blown off...

Minh looked at the books drying in the afternoon sun and felt sad. This bookshelf was the result of years of hard work, donated by her friends everywhere. When she first arrived at the school, there were only a few dozen thin books. But now there were thousands of books. Now not only Minh's students, but also adults in the village came to borrow books. From a few lines in the book, Mang's grapefruit tree, which had withered leaves, was revived.

- My son, Mèng, said in the book that it was because we planted the tree wrongly that the roots couldn't breathe. I laughed at him, but I tried to follow the book's instructions and saved the tree that was about to bear fruit. The day he brought the first grapefruit of the season to class to give to Minh, Mèng excitedly showed it off.

From those small stories, the whole village developed a reading movement.

***

In autumn, wild sunflowers bloom brightly yellow all over the slope leading to A Lieng school. The flower path is the work of a group of student volunteers who came to the village to help build classrooms a few years ago. The garden around the school with all kinds of fruit trees such as mango, avocado, rambutan is green and waiting for the first flowering season. Minh and Ms. Chu asked for seedlings from benefactors supporting the school, and the villagers contributed to plant them.

A Lieng village is small, with only more than twenty houses, nestled on the mountainside. Every season is covered in a thin layer of mist. At the foot of the mountain, the Zangka stream babbles, never drying up all year round. From the first days she set foot here, Minh fell in love with this land. She had been to many places, but no place had made Minh feel so peaceful. Minh thought that those who love nature and quietness would surely be like her, coming here and not wanting to leave.

The first person Minh shared the idea of ​​community ecotourism with was Ms. Chu.

- It's difficult, Minh. But how do you know you can't do it if you don't try? Ms. Chu smiled brightly.

The first visitors to the village were volunteer groups who came to help the school where Minh taught. That day, Ms. Chu’s house, Mr. Mang’s house, and Pong’s house were cleaned up, some bamboo mats were added, and clean mats were spread out for guests to stay. Later, those houses were expanded, rooms and kitchens were added, becoming the first homestays in the village. Then the villagers followed suit. Those who came to help the village every year returned to the village with their relatives and friends. This time, they returned to fully experience the beauty of A Lieng.

Back then, the hills around the village were only covered with wild grass and bushes, and the wind blew all day long. Now things are different, thanks to many support programs, each hill has been "divided" into plots by the villagers to plant trees. This area is lush green, the other area is sparkling with pistachios and flying berries. The road leading from the village to Zangka waterfall now has rows of young mulberry trees on both sides, green leaves blooming in the spring, purple fruits in the summer, the sweet aroma of the fruits has kept visitors staying longer. Thanks to the hard-working hands of the villagers, A Lieng has become much more prosperous.

On each tree trunk and each road in the village, there is a wooden board with the names of those who have contributed to A Lieng. Pong carved the pieces of wood beautifully, and Minh carefully wrote each letter. Strange names have become familiar when he devoted his love to this small village. When he has no class, Minh likes to walk around the village, looking at the gentle smiles like the trees and leaves, listening to the sound of the mountain wind whispering through the treetops, smelling the young grass and mountain dew mixed in the early morning sun. The gentle scent of roses and chrysanthemums from the courtyards drifts far away with the wind.

***

Minh sat on Chu's porch looking down at the village. Below, the roofs were hidden in the mist, kitchen smoke rising as light as silk.

- Aren't you really moving back to the city? Ms. Chu held Minh's hand tightly, smiling broadly when she knew Minh would continue to stay at school.

- I still love this place so much, I can't go far away. Minh also smiled with her.

In just five years, A Lieng village has changed so much. The roofs hidden in the morning mist, nestled on the slopes are now covered with yellow wild sunflowers, roses, and hibiscus flowers, as beautiful as an ancient painting. The villagers' lives are also prosperous following the footsteps of tourists coming to the village. "Our village is what it is today, thanks to teacher Minh." Ms. Chu sat next to Minh, watching the villagers carrying baskets to the fields. Minh quickly waved her hand: "How dare I accept that. The village has changed thanks to our people's unity, knowing how to love the mountains and forests, loving our lives and trying hard."

That year, Minh chose to go to the highlands when she learned that her mother had just given birth to a baby. She was happy for her mother, after many years alone, she had found new joy and a new home. But for some reason, Minh felt strangely empty. A Lieng village welcomed Minh with a fresh breeze. The smell of kitchen smoke mixed with the morning mist warmed Minh's heart. The clear eyes of the children also made Minh's heart soften.

- Good news, let's celebrate tonight Minh. No drinking is allowed.

Minh smiled and nodded vigorously. She still remembered the sweet aroma of the jar of hibiscus wine that Ms. Chu had brewed. Just thinking about the shimmering red color and the light, sweet and sour taste made Minh feel happy.

- You stay here, I'll go tell everyone. We have a big party tonight.

After speaking, Ms. Chu hurriedly followed the small path leading down to the village. The golden sunlight scattered happily with each step she took.

Minh watched the yellow flower fields sway in the autumn wind. The children's laughter spread like the sunlight at the foot of the hill. Minh suddenly smiled, feeling his heart suddenly light as the wind blowing across the hill.

Le Ha

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/nang-tren-moi-cuoi-159704.html