Story at the "wordless" tailor shop

Two special fates at the "profitless" tailor shop

In a small room on the second floor of a bedding shop, Ms. Le Thi Hai Yen (Quan Bau ward, Vinh city) is attentively ironing carefully cut and sewn bed sheets to deliver to customers on time. Occasionally, the steady sound of the sewing machine from Ms. Nguyen Thi Cam Van (Le Mao ward, Vinh city) at the next table breaks the silence of the room.

This is a “special” tailor shop where the workers here were born mute. The owner of the tailor shop is no stranger to many people, he is Mai Hong Quan, one of the representatives of Nghe An province attending the “National Conference to honor outstanding disabled people and orphans”. After being accepted by Mr. Quan to work at his tailor shop, for the past 13 years, although they are not relatives, the two sisters have encouraged and helped each other to become famous skilled tailors in Vinh city.

As the main worker of the sewing workshop, Ms. Le Thi Hai Yen (born in 1974)'s job always requires meticulousness and dexterity in each product. For the past 13 years, she has always worked hard to make products that satisfy many customers. Since then, she has had more money to cover her daily expenses, not only supporting herself but also helping her family and parents.

Born with hearing loss and unable to speak, however, the desire to go to school to learn to read and write always burned in her heart. Therefore, she was determined to convince her parents to let her go to the Provincial Center for Education and Vocational Training for the Disabled to study. Once she had a job, she applied for a sewing job at Vinh market.

In the first days of work, she could not communicate with customers normally so she had to use paper to write. On the first day of work, there were times when she did not satisfy customers and was scolded, she felt very hurt. That was also the time when her inferiority complex reached its peak, making the petite girl want to leave life.

Only when she was accepted into Mr. Quan's workshop, where she found sympathy and sharing from people in the same situation, did she truly find a warm place to rely on and forget her own inferiority complex.

As a master craftsman, there were days when she had to work from morning to night to finish a product. When people told her to take a break, she just smiled. She tried to practice her skills so that after a short time, she became proficient in all designs, even the most difficult stages.

After Ms. Yen, Nguyen Thi Cam Van (born in 1986) also had congenital disabilities. However, unlike Ms. Yen, when she came to the sewing factory to apply for a job, Ms. Van had no experience with the profession, everything started from zero.

Understanding Van's hardships, during this time, Ms. Yen was not only a friend, a sister to encourage and comfort, but also a dedicated teacher to teach Ms. Van every detail. Gradually, the products made by Ms. Van have made many customers satisfied and praised.

Thanks to their carefulness, meticulousness, and seriousness in their work, their skills are increasingly affirmed, and many customers in and outside the city trust them to order many high-value products. From the income they have, they can not only support themselves but also support their relatives and families.

Happiness blooms

Smiling happily as she recalled her love story, Ms. Van confided through her hands that I had to listen to through an “interpreter”. During her time working at the tailor shop, she met her husband, Mr. Pham Van Khanh. He was also born deaf and mute.

Love blossomed and bore fruit, and they decided to build a home together. At first, both families were skeptical because they were worried that the couple would suffer when they were both disabled and what their future would be like. But with the determination of the young couple, both families wholeheartedly supported them. A simple, cozy wedding took place in boundless joy and tears of joy and sadness from relatives.

But the happiness was short-lived when the couple got married but could not have children. The following months were followed by many trips to and from the hospital. The journey to find a child seemed hopeless after the doctors shook their heads. The nights in the hospital were filled with tears and endless pain as hope became increasingly fragile.

The journey of fighting the disease to fulfill the role of mother and father seemed hopeless. But a weak woman, mute and deaf since childhood, still tried to overcome. Then happiness burst out when in 2015, Van became pregnant and gave birth to her first daughter.

When she went into labor in the 9th month, both families and friends held their breath when she was admitted to the hospital. But everyone breathed a sigh of relief when their first baby girl cried out, healthy and normal. When she learned that her child could still hear and speak, she was so happy that she cried. That beautiful little girl became the greatest source of joy for the couple.

As fate would have it, Ms. Yen met her husband at a gathering of friends. Her husband is also deaf and mute, and he works as a barber in Dien Chau district. But overcoming the geographical distance and their own disabilities, they decided to live together.

Now, the happiness is even more complete when the couple has a 14-year-old son who is extremely cute and agile. Even more proud, he has achieved the title of excellent student for many years in a row. Although he is still young, he has the awareness to help his parents with daily chores.

Holding her child in her arms, Ms. Yen smiled contentedly. Even though there were still difficulties ahead for the couple, with all their faith and determination, they would overcome everything to build their family. Because as she often shared, “happiness has truly blossomed” in her life.