Scholar Nghe Van Nhu Cuong and unforgettable anecdotes

(Baonghean.vn)- Many people in Nghe An still remember unforgettable anecdotes about Associate Professor Van Nhu Cuong.

Associate Professor Van Nhu Cuong has just passed away after 80 years of living in this temporary world. He was from Quynh Doi commune, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province, a place with many famous children. In 1954, after finishing high school, he went to Hanoi to study Mathematics at Hanoi Pedagogical University. After graduating from university, he became a lecturer at the school. In 1959, he was one of 8 cadres of the Mathematics and Literature departments of Hanoi Pedagogical University with the task of building Vinh Pedagogical Branch (later Vinh University).

Teacher Van Nhu Cuong and his wife on their wedding day June 30, 1961. Family photo

The Nghe scholar went to Trung Vuong girls' school for an internship and met a female student. They both liked each other. Love blossomed between the poor teacher and the Hanoi girl over the years. In 1961, after Ms. Oanh graduated, Mr. Cuong asked both parents for permission to marry. Behind the wedding photo, he jokingly showed off to his colleagues in the Mathematics department: "According to God's will, we will get married on the evening of June 30 in Vinh. Please congratulate us." Many people wondered:

- Are you religious?

He replied casually:

- Yes, good religion.

That was also the way of life for him and his family until the end of his life. In 1971, after successfully defending his PhD thesis at the Institute of Mathematics, Academy of Sciences of the former Soviet Union, he returned to work at the Faculty of Mathematics, Hanoi Pedagogical University 1. Shortly after, he was assigned to teach Geometry at Vinh Pedagogical University (now Vinh University).

My father (Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quy Dy), a colleague of his, recounted that once he went from Hanoi to Vinh by bicycle, and when he reached Quynh Luu, he was craving a cigarette so much that he was with his companion and went into a state-owned trading store. He spoke in Russian, and his companion translated:

- This is the Soviet military expert in charge of missiles to shoot down American planes. To work at night, we need to buy some cigarettes for the expert.

Seeing the long-bearded man speaking Russian like the wind, the saleswoman quickly ran to report to the store manager and then approved the sale of 1 Tam Dao silver bag to the expert. Before leaving the store, he raised his hand in greeting:

- Kharoso, kharoso (good, good).

During his teaching days in Vinh, he ate communal meals. When a friend from Hanoi came to work, he informed them that he would have extra meals in the communal kitchen, and he joked:

- I tell you, these Vinh school caterers are the best at Russian.

Having said that, he took the lunch box and led the guests to the communal kitchen. Seeing everyone lined up, the catering ladies gently divided the food:

- What is your name? (Karlschauer, in Russian: What is your name?)

Everyone was stunned, not understanding what was going on, then he softly replied:

-Me-nhia-ra-vut Cuong (my name is Cuong).

Both guests and hosts were amazed by the modern comedy of the unique Nghe scholar of Nghe An.

In 1989, he opened Luong The Vinh School in Hanoi, the first private high school in Vietnam since the country opened up and renewed. It all started with zero: no school, no classrooms, no desks and chairs! He believed: "As a teacher, all you need is students and classes to be able to teach. The most important thing is to work in an environment where you can maximize your abilities and be properly evaluated...".

With determination, he has built the Luong The Vinh school brand as it is today. For many years, Luong The Vinh High School has implemented... 3 no's: No meetings; No elections; No rewards.

Teacher Dang Gia Man, a math teacher at Luong The Vinh, recounted that one day, during the admissions season at Luong The Vinh school, it was late afternoon, but a mother and her student were lingering in front of Mr. Cuong's room. He stepped out to ask the reason, and the mother honestly said:

- My mother and I traveled more than 300 km to take the entrance exam but the result was 0.5 points less, so I was sad and didn't want to go home.

He invited him into the room and personally tested the poor student's level. Knowing his family's situation, he said:

- In this case, I decided to give you a special 0.5 point because your father is a war invalid and you have to both earn a living and go to school. But you have to try hard to get into school.

A very Van Nhu Cuong decision.

Teacher Van Nhu Cuong and his students and colleagues at Vinh School. Photo: Dang Gia Man

Associate Professor Van Nhu Cuong is also famous for the famous pig-raising anecdote in Nghe An. The story is that in the years before the renovation, the economy was so difficult that many officials, civil servants, and teachers had to secretly raise pigs. At that time, Associate Professor Van Nhu Cuong lived in the Quang Trung apartment building and raised pigs. When the inspection team criticized "Dr. Van Nhu Cuong raised pigs", the Math teacher immediately retorted, "You guys are wrong, it's not Dr. Van Nhu Cuong who raises pigs, but pigs raise Dr. Van Nhu Cuong."

This anecdote is still told by many people to remember a difficult period of subsidy.

Today, he has returned to his grandparents and ancestors, but the stories of the Nghe scholar live forever in the hearts of his relatives, friends, colleagues and students.

An Thanh