"Old man Bay" beautifies the village

Mr. Bay on a homemade rickshaw used to spray pesticides, herbicides, and take care of ornamental flowers along the roadside.

Running along the Nhon Phu hamlet, from Rach Rong culvert to Rach Chua 2 culvert, many people feel like they are lost in a "fairyland". On both sides of the road are houses of local people mixed in with vast durian gardens. Along the road, the red and yellow flower bushes and yellow orchids are interspersed in a very beautiful sequence. The flower bushes are neatly trimmed, like bonsai trees, without any weeds or trash around. Praising the road as truly "green, clean, beautiful", many people do not hesitate to mention the contributions of Mr. Bay Hong.

Indeed, after a while, we saw Mr. Bay spraying weed killer on the roadside and pruning flower trees. He himself used the broken rickshaw to redesign it into a sprayer, so he didn’t have to carry it too heavy. One morning, when the dawn had just passed the bamboo trees at the beginning of the village, Mr. Bay rode his rickshaw around as a way to exercise, saw grass, sprayed it, pruned the overgrown flowers, and planted new ones where the bushes died… The work was quiet and nameless, but for the past 15 years, thanks to Mr. Bay, the road was filled with colorful flowers, beautifying the village.

Mr. Bay said that the flower planting is done by the departments, branches, communes and hamlets here. But to maintain it for a long time, Mr. Bay firmly said: “It is my business, not anyone else’s. If the roads are beautiful, I will admire them and enjoy them. If I see something that needs to be done, I will do it. It’s just a little bit, it’s nothing.” Mr. Bay’s simple but responsible thinking is very much supported by the people. The locality supports pesticides; wherever he goes, he needs water to mix pesticides or water plants, the people are willing to support him.

Not only the homemade rickshaw worth nearly 1 million VND, Mr. Bay pointed to the water tanker and introduced that this was also a product he made, nearly 6-7 million VND. Mr. Bay modified the motorbike's function, installed a front box and put a 300-liter water tank on it. This vehicle is used to water plants along the road in the dry season, and is very effective. All of it comes from the pocket of "old Mr. Bay".

At 75 years old, Mr. Bay is still very healthy, agile, speaks clearly, is straightforward and especially has a righteous lifestyle, seeing a righteous cause that must be done, then he does it. Through that, we think, Mr. Bay is "willing to spend" with the typical temperament of a Southern old man.

Further proof of this is that more than 3 months ago, Mr. Bay and a group of old friends in the hamlet established the Nhon Ai Coffin Farm with 0 VND, to help with funerals for the deceased in difficult circumstances. Mr. Bay discussed with the group about borrowing a vacant piece of land, socializing the construction of a coffin house, and mobilizing the socialization of charity coffins. Up to now, the charity coffin farm has received 14 coffins and according to Mr. Bay, 2 have been "requested" by the people. Mr. Bay added: "For each situation that comes, the farm will support additional burial items and 25kg of rice to help people get through the difficult time."

Mr. Bay repairs bicycles for people in the neighborhood.

Mr. Bay used to be a mechanic, with nearly 40 years of experience in assembling, repairing, and operating rice milling machines and rice dryers. Now, although he no longer works, Mr. Bay still takes advantage of his mechanical skills to do extra work repairing bicycles; welding and patching copper and iron objects; cleaning incense burners… at home. Mr. Bay said that doing these jobs is mainly to help people in the neighborhood when they need help and don’t know who to turn to, and to have someone to come and go to relieve boredom. From the broken washing machine, the broken table to the old car… Mr. Bay makes the most of all the furniture in the house, “converting its function” to serve life. Also with the welding and turning profession, Mr. Bay often follows groups that build charity houses to help people.

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Mr. Bay has 7 children, 5 boys and 2 girls, all of whom have families and stable homes. Mr. Bay and his wife, in their old age, have a happy family and many children and grandchildren. Because of that, Mr. Bay is more at ease taking care of the neighborhood and village affairs, beautifying his hometown. "Old Mr. Bay" firmly stated: "I have never thought about retiring, I will work forever, until I return to my grandparents!". After saying that, Mr. Bay laughed heartily.

Article and photos: DANG HUYNH

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/-ong-bay-gia-gan-lam-dep-xom-lang-a191259.html