Grandson missing, grandmother cycled to find for 9 years

Every time she thinks of her grandson Chau Thang Dung, born on June 17, 1994, who went missing 9 years ago, Mrs. Chau Ngoc Nu, now 82 years old, cycles around the alleys looking for him. With no news of him, she returns home and sits absent-mindedly.

"I wonder where the boy is now, is he hungry or cold? He was very gentle and well-behaved, I don't know who lured him away and made the whole family go looking for him," Mrs. Nu said with a sigh.

9 years ago, Dung was 16 years old, living with his grandmother, mother and brother in a rented room of more than 10 square meters.²in Thanh Loc ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. Every day, Ms. Nu and her daughter go to collect scrap metal to make a living. Dung at that time had been working as a car radiator repairman for more than two years.

The only photo of Dung was taken in middle school.

Dung also told her: "I'm going to work, you stay home and I'll take care of you. You've suffered a lot with me and my mother. Now that you're old, you should rest well." Mrs. Nu was happy, not because her grandchild would take care of her, but because, in her life, she had to sleep under a bridge, eat leftovers, and live homeless, but now her grandchild's life is better.

Feeling sorry for her grandson who ate instant noodles every day to work, on the evening of March 16, 2010, Mrs. Nu gave Dung 100,000 VND, telling him to buy something to eat to have energy to work tomorrow morning. Dung refused to accept the money she gave him. He said: "Grandma left it there. In the afternoon, Mom went to collect scrap metal and bought things to cook for the whole family to eat. In the morning, I can eat instant noodles."

That afternoon, Mrs. Nu's family's meal had meat and some fruit for dessert to celebrate Dung's new job. "The boy ate all the food in the pot. He praised me as the best cook," Mrs. Nu's eyes were red as she recalled memories of Dung.

At night, Mrs. Nu's family turned off the lights and went to bed earlier than usual. The rented room did not have a loft, so the four of them slept on the floor. Before going to bed, Mrs. Nu told Dung: "Tomorrow is your first day at the new place, try to sleep early to feel well." Then she fell asleep without realizing it.

Currently, Mrs. Nu is collecting scrap metal to earn money to continue looking for her grandchild.

Mrs. Nu's family called Dung but the phone number was turned off. Waiting until the next morning, she still didn't see him come back. Mrs. Nu asked around to his neighbors, friends, and the company where he would be working, but no one had any news about Dung.

Waiting for her grandchild to return, for over 9 years she went to every alley, bus station, hospital, park, and sensitive area of ​​the city to look for her grandchild but could not find her. She also asked the police, local authorities, and the Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs of District 12 for help but to no avail.

"There is an uncle from the district's Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs who really loves me. Every time he sees me, he turns on the camera and shows me videos and pictures of criminals to see if anyone looks like my nephew. I watch for a while and then go home empty-handed," Ms. Nu said.

Mrs. Nu and her daughter just hope that somewhere Dung is still healthy and no matter what happens, the family will accept him.

"I think maybe he was lured away somewhere, but he is a good boy and works hard," said Mrs. Nu. Because she hopes Dung is still healthy, Mrs. Nu will continue to look for him, no matter how hard it is.