"Distant in heart" and "out of sight"

(Baonghean.vn) - Driven by the desire to get rich, many people decide to leave their spouses and beloved children behind to work abroad. But money cannot buy happiness. The result of years of waiting for reunion is that they end up in court...

Story number one: Normally, when a couple goes to court, neighbors and relatives try to persuade them to reconcile, but Hai's situation was different. Family and acquaintances urged him to quickly finalize the divorce to build a new life. They felt sorry for him – a hardworking and resilient young man who had married a wife who was "difficult to accept."

Three years ago, like other young men in the village hoping to escape poverty, Hai borrowed money from his parents and siblings to go work in Malaysia. The young couple, with two small children, couldn't rely on their two plots of leased land. His wife, Thu, hesitated at his decision, but after Hai persuaded her, she agreed. In the first year, with a new job and a life far from home, Hai sometimes felt discouraged. At those times, thinking of his young wife struggling day and night for their two young children and the money borrowed for his overseas employment, he found renewed strength. He worked extra shifts and hours to earn money to send back to his wife and children. He eventually paid off his debts and sent some extra money back for Thu to save, so that when he returned, they could build a new house on the land his parents had given them.

...In the third year, work became less demanding, and the company calculated housing and food expenses, so Hai couldn't send as much money home as before. Thu called to nag and be suspicious of Hai. Suddenly, Hai's family called and told Thu to pack up all her belongings and take the two children to her parents' house. Hai called, but Thu didn't answer. Feeling desperate, Hai arranged to return home before the end of his contract.

When Hai went to his grandmother's house to see Thu, he couldn't believe his eyes. The image of his young, gentle wife standing before him was now bulging with a pregnant belly. So, while Hai was working tirelessly to earn money to send home, Thu had been with someone else. Currently, Thu and that man were living together as husband and wife on a new piece of land that Thu had recently bought.

Having lost his wife and money, Hai's only joy upon his return was his two children, but even that was thwarted by Thu. Thu forced the older child to live with her maternal grandmother, while the younger one stayed with Thu and her "stepfather." Although young, the two children were aware of their surroundings. Many times, the two sisters would sneak away from their mother to their paternal grandmother's house to be with their father. They wanted to stay with their father, but Thu insisted on keeping them there, solely to force Hai to pay her child support. Each time Hai came to take the children home for a few days, Thu would have her family chase them away and threaten him. Once, Hai was waiting to pick up his older daughter from school when Thu arrived. She snatched the child from Hai's arms and verbally abused him terribly. The teachers could only look at Hai with pity.

Hai's only option was to file for divorce and seek legal intervention to gain custody of his children. He had nothing to regret about a wife like Thu.

Second story:Phượng was shocked when Lâm handed her a pre-written divorce petition. She couldn't imagine this would be the outcome of eight years of marital separation. Seven years ago, Phượng believed the petition was just a formality, because at that time, Lâm had just gone to Russia to work, and he had called home asking Phượng to file for a fake divorce so he could enter into a fake marriage with someone there to obtain citizenship and do business. But that fake divorce failed because Lâm couldn't return.

But now, standing before the court, the two of them were no laughing matter. Lam's family and Phuong herself hoped he would reconsider, but Lam remained resolute. He said that after eight years apart, he no longer had any feelings for Phuong. As for Hoan, their child, he would take responsibility for raising him. Looking at Lam and Hoan, Phuong's heart ached as if it were being rubbed with salt. Thus, all her dreams of a better life in the West for her family had vanished into thin air.

Even the simple happiness that other women have, Phuong couldn't have. After losing her husband, Phuong agreed to let her child be raised by his grandmother. The boy was in 12th grade and needed better conditions for his studies, but Phuong's only asset was a small sewing shop in the neighborhood. Now Phuong realized that Lam wasn't incapable of earning money as he claimed. After a year in Russia, he had changed his mind and fallen in love with another woman, also a working-class person like himself. This woman lived in the city. They lived together as husband and wife. Last year, they returned to Vietnam, bought a spacious and well-equipped house, and had a 6-year-old daughter together.

If only Phuong hadn't let Lam go back then, if only Lam had accepted the life of a farmer with muddy hands and feet... But it's all too late...

The stories of Hai and Phuong are just two of many situations that young families face after a period of separation. Let's hope that none of us, due to a moment of thoughtlessness, end up facing the "sentence" of divorce, losing the family we've worked so hard to build, and ultimately, the children are the ones who suffer the most!

Duong Thi Hien