Everyone chooses the easy job.

(Baonghean)In our group, the painter Ly preferred dark brown, the old town crier liked Saigon black, the bronze drum guy preferred stone black, the water spinach seller Trung preferred pale silver, and I – nicknamed Ngo Dong – preferred black filter. That's perfectly normal in an everyday life; everyone gets to follow their own preferences without affecting anyone else.

But that was on the mainland. When they were assigned to room C12 on ship HQ 571, during the mission to bring the Year of the Goat to Truong Sa, the members of the room became accustomed to drinking G7 Trung Nguyen instant coffee from the same metal thermos.

On the first day, the artist Mr. Ly was still being picky, complaining that instant coffee was "self-destructive coffee." But from the second day onwards, he couldn't find a single old street corner with evocative views, like the hazy beauty of West Lake, or the pristine tranquility by the Flagpole..., and all he could see was water everywhere, he finally pleaded: "Hey, Ngo Dong, give me that metal thermos cup!"

Watching the painter Mr. Ly gulp down his drink, the old man Mõ said that when you're adrift at sea, scarcity is common, and you shouldn't make demands or ask for things. Mr. Trống Đồng, however, said that it's not just at sea; once you're on a march, once you're in the ranks, it's the same everywhere. If you're all wearing the same sandals and pith helmets, then you should also be "uniformed" in your tastes!

Then Trung, the water spinach vendor, recounted that one day he went into the rooms reserved for officers and soldiers and asked what kind of coffee the officers and soldiers usually drank on the ship and on the island. The officer in charge slowly replied: "As soldiers, we're always ready to fight, so what's the point of coffee, sir? For our hands to be able to savor a cup of coffee, the soldiers' hands must be holding guns, training, and ready to fight! If the officers and soldiers are always absent-minded, how can the mission be accomplished?"

Suddenly, no one could laugh anymore. Yes, it's not just coffee; soldiers also make sacrifices for their hobbies, interests, and personal needs. Yet, while we "consume" these peaceful moments to fulfill our desires, earn a living, or entertain ourselves, how often do we think about those who are silently making sacrifices for us?

The taste of instant coffee suddenly seemed to dissolve into the vast ocean.

Paulownia tree