Single woman wishes to have a decent house to worship martyrs
The dream of having a solid house that can protect from the sun, rain, wind and storms, to burn incense and worship ancestors and martyrs is still far away because of the poverty and hardship that always surrounds. That is the family situation of Mrs. Hoang Thi Be (born in 1965) in Loc Dien hamlet, Hung Thanh commune, Hung Nguyen district.
We met Mrs. Hoang Thi Be in the early days of Autumn. In the dilapidated level 4 house, the roof tiles were exposed, the most valuable things in the house were an old altar and a table placed in the middle of the house to welcome guests.
Wiping away the tears that had just rolled down her dark cheeks, Mrs. Be shared that her parents had 3 children (2 boys, 1 girl), she was the second child in the family. Her eldest brother participated in the resistance war against the US and was attacked by the enemy and was seriously injured, discharged and returned home. Due to old age and weak health, her wound relapsed, her eldest brother passed away; and her younger brother, Mr. Hoang Kim Em, sacrificed his life on July 10, 1971 on the battlefield in the South.
The day the youngest son's death notice was received, the whole family was extremely sad. Mrs. Bé's father, Mr. Hoang Kim Nho, also fell ill and died 40 years ago due to his love for his son and grief. Her mother also passed away in 2009. Mrs. Bé never remarried and has remained single ever since then, burning incense and worshipping her parents and the martyrs.
“Life is difficult, working hard all year round does not help. Due to poor health, I only work a few fields and grow vegetables, raise chickens but it is not profitable. In my free time, I do all kinds of jobs, just hoping to have money to take care of life and repair the house to worship ancestors and martyrs properly,” Ms. Hoang Thi Be shared.
Mr. Le Van Phu - Secretary of the Loc Dien hamlet Party Cell, Hung Thanh commune (Hung Nguyen) said: “The house where Mrs. Be is currently living was built several decades ago and is now seriously degraded. The walls are cracked and peeling, many beams are broken and rotten, the roof is leaking... Her family members and relatives also help her, but they all work in agriculture, live around the village, and their economic conditions are not abundant, so helping her repair her house is really difficult. The village Party Committee and government are concerned, but they cannot help her family much. Mrs. Be is the heir and worshiper of martyrs.”
Earning money to repair the house was Mrs. Bé's greatest wish. However, due to difficult circumstances, she could only stand and watch the house and the altar for martyrs deteriorate day by day, but she was "powerless". The little money she earned from growing vegetables and raising chickens was only enough for medicine and treatment for her goiter, which she had suffered for many years.
Mrs. Hoang Thi Be’s situation is extremely difficult. On holidays and Tet, the local authorities often organize delegations to visit and share with the family; at the same time, they also request higher authorities to support funding to help the family soon have a new, solid house to live and worship the martyr.
Mr. Hoang Duc Thong - Chairman of People's Committee of Hung Thanh Commune (Hung Nguyen)
