Pity the 80-year-old grandfather raising his orphaned grandchild
(Baonghean.vn) - At the age of 5, he lost his mother, at the age of 10, he lost his father, had to live with his grandfather, despite difficult circumstances, but every school year, Tran Viet Thanh - a 9th grade student at Hong Minh Secondary School (Nghia Dan, Nghe An) is praised by the school for his determination to overcome difficulties to become a good student and good student.
We went to Hong Viet hamlet, Nghia Hong commune (Nghia Dan) and were told by the locals: “Tran Viet Thanh’s situation is very pitiful, his mother died when he was very young, the father and son raised each other alone. Unfortunately, his father just passed away from lung cancer. Thanh’s only current guardian is his grandfather who is over 80 years old this year.”
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| The simple house of Mr. Tran Mong and his brother Tran Viet Thanh. Photo: Minh Thai |
In the small empty house, Mr. Tran Mong (Thanh's grandfather) shared: "There are only two of us in the house. His parents died early, so he has suffered a lot. I am old and weak, and cannot do much to compensate for him. I only raise chickens and grow vegetables in the garden to improve his meals. If there is any surplus, I sell it to buy more rice."
After his son and daughter-in-law passed away, Thanh's grandfather had to take on the roles of father and mother to take care of and educate his grandson. Life was extremely difficult, but Mr. Mong always advised his grandson to study hard to have a good future.
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| Although he is over 80 years old, Mr. Tran Mong still has to grow vegetables and raise chickens to earn money to support his orphaned grandson's education. Photo: Minh Thai |
Since primary school, Tran Viet Thanh has shown his intelligence and love of learning. In grades 1, 2, and 3, he was very diligent and learned his lessons very well, achieving high results. Then Thanh's father became seriously ill, the family was poor, and his grandfather decided to let him quit school. Fortunately, teachers came in time to encourage, create conditions and help Thanh continue to go to school.
Not letting everyone down, Thanh has strived to excel in his studies, especially since entering junior high school, his intelligence and agility have become increasingly evident. Every year, he is in the district's excellent student competition team and has won third prizes in Biology, an encouragement prize in Physics and a prize for Science and Technology Innovation.
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| After class, Tran Viet Thanh helps his grandfather cut banana trees to feed the chickens and take care of the vegetable garden. Photo: Minh Thai |
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| Despite his difficult and arduous circumstances, Thanh always had the will to excel in his studies and achieved many proud achievements. Photo: Minh Thai |
Ms. Cao Thi Bich Hao - homeroom teacher of class 9A, Hong Minh Secondary School said: "Thanh is gentle, often helps friends and is especially serious about studying. He is very intelligent and eager to learn, has dreams and ambitions. Knowing his difficult circumstances, for many years the school has donated books at the beginning of the school year, called on benefactors to donate bicycles and money to buy clothes to encourage him to strive to excel."
We left just as Mr. Tran Mong was preparing a very simple dinner, with only one dish of stir-fried vegetables, both as vegetables and as soup. Mr. Mong confided: “Having such a filling meal is already a great effort. I don’t know what will happen to Thanh when I am old and weak in a few years and he is gone.”
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| A simple meal between grandfather and grandson. Photo: Minh Thai |
When asked about his dream, Tran Viet Thanh choked up: "My family's situation is very difficult, my father is very old, I just hope he is well so I can fulfill his wish of trying to study hard to become a useful person."
