The "storyteller" of trees and leaves

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang next to the green tree gate he created himself in Hamlet 11A, An Minh Commune.

Mr. Hoang’s small house nestles beside the road in Hamlet 11A, An Minh Commune. The old house, with its discolored cement floor, is the property left by his parents. With no wife or children, limited health, and deaf and mute since childhood, his life could easily have fallen into silence. But this 61-year-old man chose to live differently, diligently sowing beauty.

Every 7-10 days, Mr. Hoang takes out his scissors to trim the gate to keep it beautiful and neat.

The day we visited, Mr. Hoang was hunched over the fence, his usual pair of pruning shears in hand. Seeing a stranger, he just smiled, a gentle smile, his eyes narrowed, then continued his work as if that was his way of greeting.

About 10 years ago, when An Minh started to build a new countryside, Hamlet 11A started to expand the traffic route. People contributed their efforts and efforts. Mr. Hoang, although he did not hear about the campaigns, nor could he say a word of support, still silently did his part.

Mr. Hoang is always optimistic even though life is full of difficulties.

Mr. Hoang brought the tiny saplings he had grown himself to the roadside, carefully placing each one in a straight row. People said that at that time, no one thought that those small green buds would grow. But now, they have turned into a unique three-door gate right at the entrance to Hamlet 11A, becoming the most beautiful structure in the hamlet. The three tree arches are evenly curved, connected by smooth trims, looking like a gate welcoming people back.

Many groups of visitors when returning to the hamlet had to stop their cars to look and exclaim: “Who made this gate so beautiful?”. The people just smiled and said: “That’s the King!”.

For many years, every 7-10 days, he took out his scissors to prune. No one guided him, no documents, no blueprints, everything was shaped by his aesthetic intuition and skillful hands. To him, trees have a voice, a soul. He looked at the shape of each branch, measured it with his eyes, bent it according to his feelings and then cut it into strangely natural circles and curves.

In front of his house is a lush garden of yellow apricot trees. What makes many people more interested is that each tree has a different shape, some are straight and graceful, some are tilted and romantic, some are shaped like a winding dragon. Many people come to his house to see the apricot garden and admire his talent.

Mr. Hoang with his father's portrait drawn with simple but emotional strokes.

Not only good at taking care of plants, Mr. Hoang also draws very well. He can draw portraits, communal houses, temples, and countryside scenes. His strokes are simple but delicate, as if he put all the "listening" and "speaking" of his life into each painting. People in the hamlet often ask him to redraw the image of the old communal house roof, or the old corners of the hamlet. He does not accept money, just smiles and hands over the painting with both hands.

Mr. Hoang’s life is simple, an old house, a few clothes, a small kitchen corner, a pencil box, a few acrylic paint bottles. But those who live near him all comment: “He is not rich in money, but rich in kindness”. He cannot speak, but his devotion to each tree, each branch, each painting “speaks” for him more than a thousand words.

Mr. Hoang is attentively painting his new work.

In the midst of today's hustle and bustle, Mr. Hoang still stands silently at the hamlet gate every day, gently pulling the treetops, sending his love to the place where he was born and raised. So that every person passing through hamlet 11A also carries in their heart a little bit of calm, a little bit of warmth from Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang's very own voice - the voice of trees, of leaves and of a soul that has never been silent.

Article and photos: DANG LINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nguoi-ke-chuyen-bang-cay-la-a469226.html