The story of a woman who was 'wife kidnapped' 16 years ago

(Baonghean.vn) - In front of a small house at the end of Hop Thanh village, Xa Luong commune (Tuong Duong), Ms. Ly Y Mo (born in 1982) meticulously sat embroidering a dress. While embroidering, she told the story of how she was "captured" to be his wife.

Ms. Y Mo said: “That year, a long time ago, I think it was 2001, right after Tet, I followed my friends to the wedding of an acquaintance in Ky Son. During the party, everyone sang and danced, then went to the yard to throw pao. I saw a boy looking at me, I followed his every step, and that’s how we met.”

The house of Ly Y Mo and her husband in Hop Thanh village, Xa Luong commune (Tuong Duong). Photo: Cong Kien.

The boy in Ly Y Mo's story is Ho Ba Phong (born in 1984), a healthy and handsome Mong boy but with a difficult family background. During that year's party, the two spent time together talking, every story was fun and agreeable. So love began, it came naturally like the forest trees changing leaves in spring, like the mountain mist melting when there was sunlight.

That year, there were no cell phones, so to meet and talk, we had to cross several high mountains and wade through several rapid streams, which was very difficult and arduous. One evening when they met, Phong's hair was wet with dew, and he whispered in her ear: "Let's be husband and wife! But I haven't prepared the money, silver bars, and buffalo for the wedding. Will you let me take you home and hold the ceremony?"

The couple Ho Ba Phong - Ly Y Mo are praised by the Mong people in Hop Thanh village for being gentle, hard-working and dedicated to their work. Photo: Dinh Tuan.

Hearing her boyfriend say that, Ly Y Mo suddenly felt sorry and immediately nodded in agreement. The day and time to "capture" the two people were agreed upon, Ho Ba Phong returned to the village, invited a few close friends, prepared his motorbike and set off to "capture his wife". It was very late at night, it seemed that only a few forest birds were still awake to call each other, hearing the sound of a motorbike at the beginning of the village, Y Mo jumped out of bed and stood by the door waiting. Then there was a soft knock on the door, the young girl gently opened the door and stepped out...

Ms. Ly Y Mo meticulously embroidered each stitch. Photo: Dinh Tuan.

Mr. Ho Ba Phong always takes care of the fields. Photo: Dinh Tuan.

Y Mo was taken home by Ho Ba Phong and his friends. The next day, the young man returned home to inform the girl's parents that Y Mo had agreed to marry him so that the parents could rest assured and not have to worry about finding him. A few days later, the two families met to discuss the marriage of the young couple. Their wedding was not grand but warm and happy. Thanks to Ly Y Mo's agreement to let him "catch" her, Ho Ba Phong did not have to have an expensive wedding, which would have required borrowing money and would take a long time to pay off.

After 16 years of living together, Ly Y Mo and her husband have 3 children, the oldest is in 7th grade, the second is in 5th grade and the youngest is in kindergarten. Their biggest dream is for their children to study well, go to university, have a lot of knowledge to get rich and later have less hardship like their parents. Like many other couples in Hop Thanh village, their daily work is to go to the fields to grow rice, corn and cassava, raise 6 buffaloes, some pigs, and find extra work when they have free time.

Mr. Ho Ba Phong and his youngest son. Photo: Cong Kien.

Life is still full of difficulties and deprivation, but the small house of Ho Ba Phong's family is always filled with laughter. Everyone in the village praises them because both husband and wife are gentle, hard-working, and their 3 children are all obedient and studious./.

Cong Kien - Dinh Tuan