At 2 a.m., Loan stirred and found the space beside her empty. Looking over, she didn't see her husband. Hoang hadn't gone to bed yet. Loan went to the living room and found Hoang sitting on the balcony. Under the soft yellow streetlights, looking through the glass door, Loan saw Hoang deep in thought. He was smoking alone, his eyes wandering aimlessly with the smoke.
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Illustration: Tran Thang |
"You haven't gone to bed yet? It's so late, why are you sitting out here?" Loan asked, her voice gentle but full of concern.
"Oh, I'll have a glass of water and then go to sleep. You go to sleep too," Hoang replied, but his voice sounded low, as if something heavy was weighing on his heart.
"Well, if this job doesn't work out, we can find another one. If we can't get a high-paying job, we can take a slightly lower-paying one for now. Just be patient, it's only been two weeks," Loan gently encouraged him.
Hoang looked at Loan, sighed, then fell silent again. His gaze drifted into the distance, his thoughts unclear.
"Actually, if I only had to worry about myself, I wouldn't have to think so much. But now I have to worry about you and the children too," Hoang said, his voice dropping significantly.
Hearing her husband's words, Loan felt so sorry for him. Loan is 35 years old, and Hoang is 40. Both are from the same hometown and moved to the city to study and live since their student days. Their parents are both government employees, so they could only support their education and couldn't offer any further assistance. Loan and Hoang had to rent a room for the first five years after getting married. Like many students who leave their hometowns, they were determined to stay in the city. They wanted to work, earn money, fulfill their dreams of buying a house and a car, and then provide for their families back home. But realizing those dreams wasn't easy.
Loan and her husband have been living in the city for over 15 years. Since graduating, they've been working salaried jobs, and while they tried investing for a while, it failed. After that, they stopped investing and just saved up. Ten years after getting married, they finally bought a small apartment of just over 60 square meters, enough space for the two of them and their two children. Things were different before they got married, but now there are so many things to worry about: food, tuition, rent, gas, phone bills. Living in the city is getting more and more expensive. If they live a bit more comfortably, they barely have any money left to spend each month.
One day three weeks ago, Hoang came home in a bad mood. Loan asked her husband what was wrong, and he just said briefly:
- The company is undergoing restructuring. Now they're letting him go.
He did a good job. Why fire him?
- Well, I've heard people say that young people these days are more agile, do things better, and are much more tech-savvy than we were.
And Hoàng was indeed laid off. Although he had prepared himself mentally, he was still sad. Hoàng had also prepared his resume and applied to many places, but there were many reasons, including his age. It's really difficult to find a job at 40. Meanwhile, the labor market is currently oversaturated, especially with young, dynamic, and capable people. Therefore, many things need to change, and people are no exception; they can't keep doing the same old, leisurely work forever.
Since quitting his job, Hoang has been restless. He's called all his friends, relatives, and acquaintances, asking if there are any stable jobs he could find. But some places aren't hiring, some offer completely new things, and some are impossible to contact. Suddenly, Hoang realized how important job stability is at his age. Once, while lying in bed talking with his wife, Hoang said:
- Now that I'm unemployed, will you support me?
- Yes, absolutely. We'll support both the child and you. But don't worry, we still have some savings as an emergency.
No, he has to find another job to continue supporting the whole family. Who would let their wife support them?
For the past two weeks, Loan noticed that Hoang looked tired, haggard, and smiled much less. He seemed like a completely different person. Perhaps the pressure of life, work, and the burden of money had weighed heavily on his shoulders. Even though Loan tried to talk to him and encourage him, his words, actions, and facial expressions couldn't hide his exhaustion and worry for his family while unemployed.
During the holiday, the whole family decided to go back to their hometown. Partly to visit relatives, and partly to temporarily set aside daily worries and find some peace in the cool countryside. For the past few days, the tension in Hoang's heart had been like a dark cloud that lingered, refusing to dissipate.
They boarded the bus to return to their hometown early in the morning. The children chattered excitedly in the car, Loan sat beside him, constantly looking at Hoang with affectionate but also worried eyes. Hoang was tired, occasionally glancing out the window, listening to the car horns and the noisy surroundings, but his heart was still heavy with thoughts about work and the future.
Upon arrival, the familiar rural scenery transported Hoang back to his distant youth. The peaceful village, with its red tiled roofs, bumpy stone-paved roads, and lush green rice fields, was breathtaking. Loan looked at Hoang and noticed he seemed more relaxed. They spent the entire day resting with family, and in the afternoon, they went to the beach together for a refreshing swim.
The beach in our hometown, though not as grand as those in tourist areas, is uncrowded and possesses a simple, gentle beauty. The whole family stood on the sandy shore, letting the sea breeze blow over them and the waves lap against their feet, soothing their weariness. Loan laughed heartily as the children jumped out of the waves, happily calling out to each other. Hoang gazed at the endless waves, seemingly without end, and his heart suddenly calmed down. Thoughts about work, about the pressures of making ends meet, suddenly became insignificant compared to the vast ocean.
Hoang stood alone, gazing out at the sea. The waves lapping against the shore gradually calmed his mood. He recalled his days working at the company, where he had led numerous projects, made crucial decisions, and helped the company achieve significant success. And now, he could do it again, but instead of working for a large company, he would do it for himself.
Lost in thought, Hoang suddenly noticed someone standing beside him. He turned around and was surprised to see Minh, his childhood best friend, someone he hadn't seen in a long time. Minh was still the same, with bright eyes and a cheerful smile, but perhaps Minh's life had changed considerably.
"Oh, Hoang, you're back in your hometown?" Minh laughed, giving Hoang a firm pat on the shoulder.
Hoang was startled, then smiled back; he also felt happy to see his old friend again. They chatted for a while, and Minh told him about his current life. After working many jobs in the city, Minh had now opened a small business in his hometown, not big, but enough to provide a stable life.
"Are you still in the city? How's work?" Minh asked.
Hoang looked out at the sea, then sighed.
"Yeah, it was okay, but recently… the company downsized, and I was laid off. Now I'm looking for a new job, but it's so difficult, I'm 40 years old already," Hoang said.
Minh was silent for a moment, then said:
- It's really frustrating when you get laid off while working for a salary. Have you ever thought about starting a business? I opened a shop, it wasn't easy, but at least it gives me a sense of control. It's like my own child.
Hoang listened and felt that Minh's words made sense. He recalled his days working at the company, during the economic boom, when work flowed smoothly, his team won many big projects, and the bosses and everyone else were delighted. But now, what Minh said echoed in his mind: why not try starting a small company, making all the decisions yourself?
"Thanks, Minh. Maybe I'll reconsider what you said," Hoang smiled, feeling a little lighter.
After his trip back to his hometown, Hoang returned to the city with a different mindset. He was no longer as stuck as before. He had found a new direction. Instead of seeking a job at a large company, he wanted to return to his expertise, build a freelance business, and provide consulting services to technology companies or startups.
Hoang began developing a detailed plan for his new job. He contacted small tech companies and young entrepreneurs who needed support in product development, process optimization, and technology strategy. He also attended online workshops where he could meet people in the same field, exchange experiences, and seek collaboration opportunities.
Less than a month later, Hoang received a collaboration offer from a startup company that needed a technology consultant to develop their product. Hoang felt like he had found a new path, a path he was confident in and could master.
Loan looked at her husband and saw that he had become cheerful and full of energy again. She smiled, feeling reassured. Finally, they had found a path for their future, and although many challenges lay ahead, Hoang knew that with determination and effort, he would overcome them all.
LE NGOC SON
Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/tac-gia-tac-pham/202506/truyen-ngan-con-duong-moi-22b06b4/
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