The rare happiness of four families under one roof.
(Baonghean.vn) - In Hung Binh ward (Vinh City), many people know the Phan Van Trinh family for many reasons. Most notably, he and his wife live together with their three sons' families in a loving and harmonious community.
Living amidst love and kindness
Two shrapnel fragments in his head, a wound in his left knee, and several age-related illnesses have left Mr. Phan Van Trinh (born in 1946, Block 20, Hung Binh Ward) unable to walk for several years. Although he shows signs of dementia and has forgotten many things, he remembers everything that happened before he was injured.
Mr. Trinh was born and raised in An Hoa commune, Quynh Luu district, and enlisted in the army in 1966. During the resistance war against the US, he was wounded twice: once in 1970 with two shrapnel fragments in his head, and again in 1973 when a bomb blast shattered a bone in his left leg. At that time, he was a platoon leader of Company 53, Battalion 972, BT 11. For his contributions, Mr. Trinh received two Third-Class Military Merit Orders, one Second-Class Military Merit Order, and was awarded the title of Hero of the Vietnam People's Army, along with many other commendations. Due to his recurring injuries, Mr. Trinh requested early retirement due to disability in 1982.
Not only famous for his medals, certificates, and achievements, Mr. Trinh is also famous for… poverty. Because of poverty, in 1982, Mr. and Mrs. Trinh loaded all their belongings and children onto a three-wheeled cart and pushed it for two days and two nights to Quy Hop to start a new life. Life was not easy for them. With poor health and five children to feed, Mr. and Mrs. Trinh struggled to make ends meet by working odd jobs.
“I still vividly remember the image of my husband carrying baskets of soil, struggling to climb up and down when he was hired to dig a pond. His head and legs hurt a lot, but he had to crawl out to work because if he didn't, the children would starve…,” recalled Mrs. Vu Thi Chuyen, Mr. Trinh's wife.
After working for a while, the employer, seeing that Mr. and Mrs. Trinh were honest and hardworking, considered them like sworn brothers and provided them with support. Not only were they paid in full, but they also received extra meals to take home for their children. Even so, life remained very difficult for the family.wounded soldierThis.
In 1982, when the State implemented many programs and policies for those who had rendered meritorious services to the revolution, the General Department of Logistics established a team to investigate Mr. Trinh's family situation in Quy Hop. As one of the members of that survey team, Mr. Le Van Cu (now the Head of Block 20, Hung Binh Ward) recounted: “We knew Mr. Trinh's family was large and poor, but witnessing the reality, everyone felt heartbroken and sympathetic. We were determined to persuade him to return to Vinh City and submit a proposal to the unit for approval of a program to build a house of gratitude for his family. Besides the 150m² house.”2The brothers also fenced off an additional 50-square-meter garden for the couple.2next to it to grow vegetables."
The recognition from the State and the love and support of their comrades helped Mr. and Mrs. Vinh have a house to settle down in. “Back in the city, with limited abilities and health, my husband worked as a security guard and a cyclo driver, becoming increasingly senile and less talkative. My children and I would gather snails and sell them at Vinh market. We had many children, all growing up, but we ate only sweet potatoes and cassava. Occasionally, I would go to the market to ask for leftover pork skin and fat from the butchers to… improve our meals!” – Mrs. Chuyen said.
Recounting the hardships and deprivations of the past, Mrs. Chuyen's face showed no trace of worry; occasionally, she even smiled at the unfortunate situations her family faced. She confided, "No matter what, I am still very grateful that life has allowed my family to meet good friends, people who always shared and helped us in times of difficulty. Back in Quy Hop, I had a sworn brother, and after moving to Vinh City, I met kind comrades and neighbors… To live amidst such love and kindness is a great blessing!"
A house under a shared roof
Mrs. Chuyen said that her life took a new turn when her children reached marriageable age, bringing more members to the family to help her nurture it. Life didn't become easier or more prosperous because of it, but it did.happyMoreover, in the eyes of many, Mr. Trinh and Mrs. Chuyen's family has another reason to be famous: a large family. Currently, the family consists of 15 people, with three generations living together.
For many, the image of the house with the words "House of Compassion" inscribed on it in front of Hung Binh Primary School has probably become an unforgettable part of their memories. The small, old house was always clean and tidy, bustling with students buying snacks and fruit salad after school. In that house, Mr. and Mrs. Trinh lived with their three sons.
“My eldest son sells fruit salad and has three children. My second son is a driver in the army and has two children. My youngest son is a freelance worker; his wife is working abroad in Japan, and they have two children. It's a working-class family, large and with many members, each with their own personality, but no one ever raises their voice at each other. We always show consideration, speak gently, and address each other respectfully. Siblings and children are always polite, respectful, and courteous to their grandparents. The house is small and the furnishings are simple, but it's always tidy. The family members live harmoniously with their neighbors. Despite being classified as a disadvantaged household,"My family has always enthusiastically supported the community activities of the neighborhood," Mr. Le Van Cu shared.
Mrs. Tran Thi Lien (a neighbor of Mr. and Mrs. Trinh) said: “Mr. Trinh's youngest daughter-in-law went abroad when her child was only a few months old. The second daughter-in-law takes care of the baby, feeding and sleeping with love as if it were her own child, which is incredibly precious. She does all the housework, from washing clothes, washing dishes, cleaning, changing diapers… whether it's a boy or a girl, she does it voluntarily whenever she has free time, without hesitation or discrimination. The family traditions and upbringing of Mr. and Mrs. Trinh truly impress us neighbors. That's why every afternoon, everyone in the neighborhood likes to gather at their house to chat.”
Sharing her "secret" to maintaining her family's traditions, Mrs. Chuyen confided: "I always tell my children that their parents grew up in well-mannered families and want our family to continue to maintain that discipline and good upbringing. Furthermore, our family is a revolutionary family, and my children must live ethically, honestly, and diligently to be worthy of what their father has contributed."
Her simple advice and exemplary attitude towards life were the first "spiritual building blocks" in creating a warm home for her children. In her story, Mrs. Chuyen admitted that she often thought about her children and grandchildren, and tears would well up in her eyes. Each time, her children would encourage her: "Mom, don't be sad, you have to be happy. How many families are as close-knit and get to live with their parents as we do? Even though we are poor, not as talented or wealthy as others, we are always hardworking and honest, and the difficulties will pass."
Looking back on 15 years as a daughter-in-law, Ms. Vu Thi Duyen – the eldest daughter-in-law of Mr. Trinh's family – confided: “The most difficult time was probably when my sisters and I were raising young children. The children would get sick one after another, and every time we needed to go to the hospital, we had to borrow money. We all had small families to take care of, but we always had a larger family to rely on. When one family needed help, the other would assist. Perhaps that's why, with each passing day, I always feel grateful for what I have.”
These days, Mr. Trinh's family is staying in rented accommodation while waiting for the house to be completed.new houseA house that offers more privacy for small families while still sharing one roof. Hardships and shortages will still be there, but it will certainly be more spacious and cozy.
People say, "Having a place to return to is called home. Having people to love is called family. Having both is called happiness." If that's true, then all the members of Mr. Phan Van Trinh's family possess immeasurable happiness.
