Craftsmen brave the scorching sun to make a living.

Even during the scorching hot days, in traditional craft villages, artisans are still busy with their daily work. For them, it's not just a means of livelihood, but also a way to preserve the traditional values ​​of their ancestors.

The people of Tien Loc blacksmith village, Trieu Loc commune, make their living beside blazing furnaces, regardless of whether the outside temperature is high or low.

The Tiến Lộc blacksmith village in Triệu Lộc commune has long been famous throughout the country for its agricultural tools, which are closely associated with the lives of local farmers. However, to create a complete product, the craftsmen must meticulously go through many stages, from selecting raw materials, cutting and shaping the iron, heating, hammering, and finally finishing the product. This work becomes even more difficult during peak hot days, when the outdoor temperature rises, combined with the heat radiating from the blazing furnace and the relentless sounds of hammering and grinding metal, making the livelihood of the blacksmiths in the village even more arduous.

At the Hung Mai agricultural tools manufacturing facility, Mr. Pham Sy Hung said: “During hot days, the facility has to adjust working hours, starting from just after 5 am and ending at 6 pm. At the same time, the facility has also equipped itself with more fans and cooling water to maintain production speed, safety, and efficiency.”

Not far away, at the Ngoc Hoa rolling mill, the atmosphere is also bustling and busy. Despite being equipped with many industrial fans, the heat from the steel rolling mill and the high outdoor temperature keep the workers constantly hot and uncomfortable. Luong Van Thuan, a long-time blacksmith, said: “For me personally, working as a blacksmith in the hot weather is extremely difficult. Especially with the job of being on duty at the steel rolling mill, the heat from the outside combined with the heat radiating from the charcoal furnace makes the workers even more tired. Although it's hard work, since childhood I've been familiar with the smell of charcoal, the heat of the furnace, and the sounds of hammers, anvils, and metal clashing together; it has become an indispensable part of my life. This profession also brings in an income of over 10 million VND per month, helping my family have a more stable life.”

While we were talking, Mr. Thuan remained engrossed in his work, despite the scorching heat constantly beating down on him.

Not only in the blacksmithing village, but also in the traditional rice paper making village of Dac Chau, Dong Tien ward, taking advantage of the hot weather, the people here are busy entering the peak season of making and drying rice paper. From early morning, a bustling atmosphere fills the village streets and alleys, with batches of rice paper being brought out to dry in front of yards and along the dikes... creating a lively scene.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong, residing in Dac Chau 1 residential area and having been involved in the traditional rice cracker making profession for over 40 years, said: "Unlike many other professions, the sunnier the weather, the more people enjoy making rice crackers. Taking advantage of the hot weather, my husband and I wake up at 3 am to prepare the ingredients, make the crackers, and dry them in the sun, trying to finish before 12 pm."

According to Ms. Phuong, making a delicious rice paper roll requires meticulous attention to detail at every stage, from selecting the Q5 rice variety, then soaking and grinding it into a watery batter. The person making the rolls needs to be quick and skillful to ensure the rolls are neither too thin nor too thick; the drying process is also extremely important, directly determining the quality of the product.

Sharing about the hardships of making a living during the hot weather, Mrs. Phuong said that if there's enough sunshine, the cakes will be more fragrant, crispy, and delicious. However, if it's too sunny, the cakes will become hard and dry, not only losing their aesthetic appeal but also making baking more difficult. Although the hot weather and frequent movement make the work harder for the bakers, everyone is determined to try their best to produce better products, which also increases family income. Therefore, like many other families, Mrs. Phuong and her husband have maintained this profession for many years to raise their children and have a more stable life.

Thanh Hoa currently has 118 craft villages and 31 recognized traditional crafts, creating jobs for tens of thousands of workers and contributing to improving the quality of life for rural people. For the craftspeople, traditional crafts require meticulousness, perseverance, and hard work. During the scorching hot days, staying in their trades becomes even more arduous. However, with diligence, resilience, and a love for their craft, they quietly remain dedicated, enriching the vitality of Thanh Hoa's rural villages.

Text and photos: Trung Hieu

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tho-lang-nghe-doi-nang-muu-sinh-286761.htm