The sound of Mong flute on the mountainside

I woke up suddenly, as if the fatigue after a long journey had melted away and disappeared. Opening the window and letting the mountain mist rush in, I suddenly heard the sound of a Mong flute coming from somewhere. The sound of the flute became more and more melodious, entwining, urging me to go find...

That night, the whole Ca Noi village, Na Ngoi commune held a festival to celebrate Lau Nhia Ma quitting opium. By the flickering firelight on the Phu Xai Lai Leng mountainside, the Mong boys and girls were intoxicated by the wine, their faces were red, their footsteps were rhythmic with the sound of the flute. Inviting me to take a long drink of wine, Lau Nhia Ma confided: I have been addicted to opium for more than ten years. Thanks to the soldiers of Group 4, the soldiers of Border Post 545, the cadres of the youth village, the commune cadres, and the teachers of Na Ngoi primary and secondary schools who came to encourage and help me, I was able to quit opium. This Tet, I will build a new house. The villagers are happy, the villagers hold a festival to celebrate for me.

Tet market in Buoc Mu 1 village (Na Ngoi commune - Ky Son)

Captain Nguyen Si Toan, who works at the Political Department of the 4th Economic - Defense Group, accompanied me and added: The "Dinh Army" steering committee that Chairman Lau Va Chong mentioned is the Base Construction Steering Committee headed by Colonel Vi Van Dinh, Head of the 4th Economic - Defense Group. The steering committee was established with the aim of closely coordinating the forces stationed in the area with the local Party Committee and government to join hands and hearts to build the Ky Son Economic - Defense Zone.

Since the day the steering committee deployed the teams to operate, the entire Phu Xai Lai Leng border area has been empowered to change. Soldiers, teachers, young entrepreneurs, and commune cadres have been staying in the village day and night. The right words and actions of the brothers and sisters have made the villagers believe. The Mong girls, who were originally reserved and shy, have practiced military training, shouldered guns with the soldiers of Group 4 and Border Post 545 to patrol the border.

The ears of Mong women have heard the right and good things, so their mouths dare to advise their husbands and children not to replant opium poppies, to quit smoking, to quit free migration... It is this companionship that has created miracles. Up to now, Mong people in Ky Son Economic - Defense Zone absolutely do not replant opium poppies. The number of people who quit smoking opium is increasing.

This Tet, everyone in the Phu Xai Lai Leng border area knows the story of Ms. Xong Y Chia in Tham Hin village (Nam Can commune). Early last spring, listening to the invitation, Ms. Chia's husband, Va Tho Tua, insisted on migrating. The Tham Hin village base construction team, led by Production Team 3 (Economic - Defense Group 4), understood this and encouraged Ms. Xong Y Chia to convince her husband and children to stay. Ms. Xong Y Chia's good and correct words were like "slow and steady rain", her husband and children not only completely gave up the idea of ​​migrating but also actively encouraged some families in the village not to migrate freely but to work hard to eliminate poverty.

Colonel Vi Van Dinh, Head of Economic - Defense Group 4, Head of the Steering Committee for Base Construction, confided: "Each person in the group and in the groups considers the construction of the base in this Phu Xai Lai Leng borderland as their family's work, so they always struggle to find a direction, work enthusiastically regardless of time and weather so that the Ky Son Economic - Defense Zone can change quickly and firmly."

The Phu Xai Lai Leng border area now has many two-crop rice fields. The Mong people know how to sow rice seedlings and plant rice in straight rows, the granaries are full of rice, and the villages are bustling with the sound of rice milling machines. People have made a lot of money from selling ginger and arrowroot tubers... The coordination between Group 4, Border Guard Station 545, and Na Ngoi Youth Village to build a model of two-crop rice cultivation, ginger cultivation, and arrowroot cultivation for the villagers to learn has brought about that result. The accompanying footsteps of soldiers and teachers to each house have brought most of the Mong children of school age to school...

Following the soldiers of Border Post 545, the soldiers of Economic - Defense Group 4 and the Mong boys and girls on patrol up the slope to landmark L10, the Phu Xai Lai Leng borderland today is strangely clear. The warm sunlight awakens the peach blossoms to bloom. The sound of the Mong flute welcoming Spring is melodious, signaling a peaceful and prosperous Tet.

Ho Linh