Wedding challenge

Manh is a retired soldier who returned to his village a long time ago and engages in local economic activities , working alongside the teachers in a production team. The teachers are the team leader of the fish farming team, and Manh is one of their men. Every day, Manh often comes to their house to discuss work, and occasionally he brings a bottle of rice wine and a plate of dried freshwater fish with chili sauce. That's the team leader's favorite dish.

Illustration: Le Quang Thai

Seeing the teacher in such a good mood today, Hoan intended to strike up a private conversation, but then her neighbor arrived, so she had to go to the fields to weed the rice paddies. When she returned at noon, she still saw her neighbor sitting and nodding along with the teacher, seemingly very friendly. Hoan felt uneasy, suspecting that something very important must have happened for him to stay so long. Hoan became anxious:

- It's lunchtime, sir. My mother should be home by now. I'll cook lunch, and you can go to the health center to pick her up.

Hearing Hoan's words, Mr. Chien nodded but still leaned closer to his neighbor, whispering for a moment longer before finally standing up.

- Mr. Cúc brought the chicken over, you cook it and stir-fry it with ginger for your mother to eat, okay? I'm leaving now.

Before Hoan could say anything, Mr. Chien had already reached the gate. Hoan looked at the plump, speckled hen with delight. Lately, her mother's health had deteriorated due to overwork. Having given birth to and raised her and her two siblings during difficult economic times, her mother was now suffering from heart disease. Out of love for her mother, Hoan kept delaying marriage, wanting to stay home and help her.

Hoan quickly prepared the chicken as instructed by her teachers, roasting some with ginger and adding the rest to a pot of fragrant rice porridge. But after finishing her bowl of porridge, Hoan noticed her grandmother wasn't happy, and she became worried:

- Is the porridge I made not tasty, Mom?

- I'm worried about her. People her age already have several children, and she...

- Wow, I've found someone to marry me! Are you happy, Mom and Dad?

Hoan leaned in and whispered in her ear. Her face brightened, but then she frowned slightly, leaned back in Hoan's ear, and whispered, "Your father is a patriarch who always makes everyone in the family follow his will. You'd better choose your words carefully."

Hoan knew that, historically, her parents always had the final say on all matters, big and small, within the family. Her mother, though gentle and often ill, always followed her husband's lead. Despite his authoritarian nature, her husband was exceptionally attentive to his wife. He always personally took care of everything, never letting his children lift a finger.

He often said, "I'll only ask for your help when I can't do it myself. If you love your mother, let the children come and visit her often." Hoan had always admired her teacher. With two older brothers already settled down, Hoan was the only girl, so she was also doted on by her teachers.

However, just like how he treated his wife, he never let Hoan decide anything in the house. Everything had to be done exactly as he wanted. Honestly, sometimes she found his authoritarian and somewhat stubborn, unconventional nature a little annoying, but Hoan greatly admired and loved her father. She never dared to disobey him.

This afternoon, he told her to prepare a pot of green tea for the fish farming team's meeting. Hoan nodded and prepared everything for him to pick the tea leaves. Her tea garden was quite large, with tall, towering trees that her parents had planted decades ago, even older than she was. However, whenever they picked tea, they wouldn't allow anyone to climb the trees. This task had always been handled by him alone. He had a three-tiered, rotating chair set up around the tea plants to pick the leaves. Therefore, it was very hard work and somewhat dangerous. But this was something he would never change.

The tea from Mr. Chien's garden is very rich in flavor, and with his skillful brewing, it always has a special taste. Therefore, every team meeting is well-attended. Besides work, everyone eagerly enjoys the delicious, fragrant green tea, especially when offered by his beautiful, well-behaved, and polite daughter.

Mr. Chien's family was only of average means in the village, but his children had stable jobs. Mr. Chien was always proud of that. Although he didn't say it out loud, he had another source of pride: his beloved daughter, Hoan, who was both beautiful and virtuous. Many young men in the area had their eyes on Hoan, but hesitated because they heard that Mr. Chien's dowry wasn't in the form of money, but required the prospective son-in-law to fulfill three conditions. Many young men shook their heads and stuck out their tongues at the first condition.

***

After hesitating for a long time, Hoan finally spoke softly:

- Are you going anywhere tonight, sir? I have something I'd like to discuss with you.

She guessed that the little matter Hoan wanted to discuss with his teacher was about Mạnh, so she felt a little nervous and worried.

Mr. Chien nodded:

- Oh, really? Go wash the dishes and then come up here to talk.

He turned to his wife:

- Take your medicine and then go lie down in your room to rest. I'll come in and massage your neck and shoulders later.

She looked at him, touched. In their marital relationship, he was always so utterly devoted. And in his work, some criticized his authoritarian nature, but she understood that although he was patriarchal, he always thought carefully before making a final decision. He was meticulous in everything he did, so she completely trusted her husband's decisions. Knowing he wouldn't let her interfere in what Hoan had just said, she lay in her room listening to the two of them talk.

His voice was deep and husky:

- What's the matter? Just tell me. Why are you hesitating today?

- Yes, sir, Mr. Mạnh…

- What's wrong with it?

- He… proposed to me.

So, what's your opinion? Tell me.

- I like him too.

- Admiration alone is not the same as love.

- Yes, I mean… I mean… we're in love.

- If you're in love, you should ask your teacher for permission, shouldn't you?

- I wanted to mention this beforehand so that my parents would agree to let him come to our house to discuss the matter.

- That's fine. But you need to do thorough research. Entrusting your whole life to someone isn't a simple matter, is it?

Yes, I know!

- Knowing this, you have to be patient. There are plenty of families in the village who want you to marry their daughters to your sons. You're currently choosing...

Oh, teacher, let me decide for myself what to do.

- "Wisdom doesn't come with youth, strength doesn't come with old age." The teacher needs to carefully consider who will be his son-in-law. He can't just raise and educate his siblings for decades and then marry them off haphazardly.

Yes, I understand.

- It's good that you understand. This is a matter of lifelong commitment for you two, and I need to consider it carefully. Both the daughter-in-law and son-in-law must meet certain standards in terms of both talent and virtue. Tell her to come see me tomorrow.

***

Mạnh, clad in his faded military uniform, possessed a handsome, rugged appearance. His meeting with Mr. Chiến today, though pleasant, was fraught with anxiety. In his daily work, he always interacted with Mr. Chiến in a relaxed and carefree manner, but tonight, seeing the cold expression on Mr. Chiến's face, his heart raced, his face flushed, and he stammered. Mr. Chiến seemed to notice, pouring him some water and interjecting:

- How are things going with your relationship? Tell me about it.

- Yes, sir, please have some tea. Your tea smells so good...

- You're quite clever. Today I brewed a special kind, reserved only for distinguished guests.

Manh felt less worried:

Thank you for your concern, sir/madam.

Mr. Chien's face suddenly turned serious:

- But don't celebrate too soon. If you want to get to know my daughter, you have to pass a test. Consider it my dowry challenge. People usually challenge with money, cattle, pigs, chickens... I don't need those things. I require my future son-in-law to pass three challenges. If you pass all three, I'll let you marry me immediately. What do you think?

After listening to Mr. Chien's lengthy speech, Mạnh felt a little overwhelmed, thinking to himself, "My future father-in-law is truly a figure straight out of a fairy tale." Gathering his courage, Mạnh boldly spoke:

- I agree.

- Great! So the first challenge is: In my tea garden, the tea plants are very tall, but when picking them, you're not allowed to climb them or use a ladder. Instead, you have to use a three-tiered rotating chair to pick them. Currently, only I dare to do that. And that's my first challenge for my future son-in-law. What do you think?

Illustration: Le Quang Thai

- Yes, sir. Well, let me just say that when Hoan and I were dating, she told me about your tea-picking skills. I realized that picking tea in that way at your age was very dangerous, so I asked Hoan to let me try, and I'm quite skilled at picking tea with that three-tiered stool now, sir," Mạnh said, changing his tone to a humorous tone, "so that when my father-in-law gets old and frail, he can continue to maintain the family's traditional tea-picking method."

Mr. Chien was startled but touched. He hadn't expected this young man to be so insightful and thoughtful. Nevertheless, he turned his face back into the room, where he knew Hoan was eavesdropping:

- Hoan, come here.

Hoan cautiously stepped out.

- The teacher called for me.

- Is what Mr. Mạnh just said true?

- Yes, that's right, sir. During the recent market days, while you were taking care of things at the clinic, the tea leaves I brought to sell at the market were picked by Mr. Mạnh.

Mr. Chien nodded in agreement:

Thank you. So, you've passed the first round.

Manh and Hoan were overjoyed. Hoan smiled to herself. Perhaps she had never seen her teachers so lenient before.

Mr. Chien grabbed his pipe, took a long drag, put down the pipe, and looked at Manh:

- I'll get straight to the second challenge. This is a test of intellect, not just strength and courage like the previous one. You just praised my tea, saying it's delicious and has a unique flavor. So you must explain, scientifically , why it's so good? Think carefully and then come back here to answer.

Yes, I will try my best. I'm happy you've given me this opportunity.

Manh felt a great sense of relief. Mr. Chien's challenge wasn't too difficult. He could answer it simply by researching in books and newspapers and learning from practical experience. Especially with Hoan's support, he believed he would easily pass this second round.

***

As the northeast wind blew, Mr. Chien had to take his wife to the district hospital again. He called his second daughter-in-law for help. Only after all the procedures were completed did he breathe a sigh of relief. His wife had a narrowed heart valve, and this time she would probably need an implant. His daughter-in-law said that he only needed to look after his mother, because he wouldn't agree to look after her, and that the two brothers would take care of the finances. Hearing his daughter-in-law's words, he felt reassured.

At home, he entrusted Hoan with managing everything. Knowing that he had Mạnh's help, he felt even more at ease.

The day Mr. Chien took his wife home from the hospital was also the day Mạnh asked to answer his question. Mạnh poured a cup of tea that he had brewed himself and offered it to him. Mr. Chien raised the cup to his lips, took a sip, and nodded:

Please answer me.

- Yes, sir, after some research, I, Hoan, have visited your house and had the pleasure of drinking your tea. I've noticed the difference between your tea and that of other households in the village, starting with the way you care for the tea plants. Good tea requires proper care, harvesting at the right time, and providing the correct amount of nutrients for optimal growth. Another point I'm interested in is that tea made from leaves isn't pruned, so the plants grow tall and strong. You've done the right thing by never letting the plants climb, fearing it would harm their health. Only healthy, thriving plants can produce the highest quality tea. Many households in the village haven't considered this thoroughly, so they can't achieve the same flavor as your tea garden. Sir, your dedication to your tea plants makes your brewed tea truly unique.

He had to restrain himself from blurting out the compliment: "This young man is brilliant. He seems to read my mind." He kept his voice calm:

On what basis do you say that?

- Just like grapefruit and guava trees, when they first bear fruit, they're all sweet and fragrant. But after a few years, as the tree grows bigger, people climb up to pick the fruit, so the fruit gradually turns sour and is no longer as sweet and fragrant as it was initially. Trees are like people; they need love and care to bear sweet and delicious fruit.

Mr. Chien chuckled, thinking to himself, "This young man has hit the nail on the head." Climbing up and tormenting the tea plants like that would cause them so much pain, preventing them from producing the delicate fragrance of the leaves and flowers. That's the secret to tea cultivation that no one in the village pays enough attention to. That's why his tea always ranks number one.

He looked at Hoan and smiled happily:

- It's great that you understand this, even though you don't have tea plants at home. From now on, you must take care of and harvest the tea properly. When the tea leaves have just absorbed the night dew, they are fully saturated with nutrients. The best tea leaves are harvested early in the morning, when they have the purity of water, leaves, and dew. Old people like us call that "tea gems."

- I've never heard that word before.

Mr. Chien raised his hand and declared emphatically:

- He has passed the second challenge round.

Mạnh leaned over:

- Yes. Thank you, my future father-in-law.

- If you pass this third round, I will agree to ask our ancestors to allow your parents to come and discuss the marriage.

Yes, please go ahead, sir.

- However, I am a progressive and modern person, so I don't know if you can meet this third challenge. It's difficult, but for the future of our whole family, I still have to say it.

Manh glanced at Hoan. "Why is your teacher talking so much today, and even beating around the bush?" Hoan shook her head slightly, indicating that she didn't understand what her teacher meant. Only Mrs. Chien, sitting quietly in the room, understood what kind of test her future son-in-law was about to give. When she discussed this test with him, she tried to dissuade him, but he refused to listen.

He cleared his throat and then lowered his voice:

"Listen carefully," he whispered into Mạnh's ear, "I understand your family's situation very well, so I won't demand any money. All I need is a grandchild before the wedding."

Manh was dumbfounded. He stood up, pacing back and forth, his heart pounding, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He had never seen anyone demand such a dowry, especially from someone who valued traditional values like Mr. Chien. He understood that this challenge couldn't be hastily fulfilled. Manh excused himself and left, much to Hoan's bewilderment.

After that evening when the third challenge was given, Mr. Chien kept a close eye on his daughter to see if she showed any unusual behavior. But even two months later, she seemed perfectly normal. His face showed a hint of tension, but he could still manage a slight smile.

His wife also expressed concern, once questioning him:

- What kind of challenge did you give them that made them seem so sulky with each other?

Or perhaps he looked down on their family because they were poor...

- Nonsense. Am I really that kind of person?

This morning, Mr. Chien summoned Manh to his house. After an opening toast, he asked Manh, in a suggestive tone:

- How are the fish fry doing? Have they been released into the pond yet? Was that the test I was giving him?

- Yes, I understand, but…

- But why? So you didn't pass the third challenge?

- Yes. This is too easy for me, but…

Mr. Chien tried to hide his joy, but still spoke in a firm voice:

- You don't want to do it, do you?

- No, it's not like that, but... it falls under the category of ethics, so I wouldn't violate it for personal gain, sir. I hope you understand. Or... could you please give me a different challenge? No matter how difficult, I will overcome it.

Mr. Chien suddenly raised his hand and said loudly:

- I declare that you have passed the third test spectacularly.

Manh was surprised:

- But… but I haven’t done that… yet…

Mr. Chien chuckled:

- If you even think about doing that, you'll fall flat on your face. Secondly, my daughter Hoan wouldn't let you do that either. I know my daughter. So, in terms of both talent and virtue, you have everything you need to be my son-in-law.

Manh broke out in a cold sweat. It turned out to be a trap his father-in-law had set to test his character. Luckily, he hadn't risked taking on the bizarre challenge posed by his future father-in-law.

***

In mid-August of the lunar calendar, Mr. Chien's house was filled with laughter. Hoan, dressed in an elegant, pristine white ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) with minimal makeup, stood out among the village girls. The engagement ceremony was lively and bustling; the women chewed betel nut, while the younger ones savored bowls of fragrant green tea with delicate white tea blossoms. Several women sitting near Hoan's mother couldn't stop praising her:

- Mr. Chien chose the most virtuous and understanding son-in-law in the village.

The old woman just smiled proudly:

- Yes, that's all my family needs to be happy.

Later that year, Mr. Chien's family happily welcomed their grandchild's one-month-old baby. Manh excitedly climbed onto the three-tiered chair to pick tea leaves to boil for his wife's bath. Mr. and Mrs. Chien nodded in satisfaction as they saw the pristine white tea blossoms in the water basin.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-nghe-thai-nguyen/202509/thach-cuoi-aa903fd/