Proud of Associate Professor Van Nhu Cuong - an excellent son of Quynh village
(Baonghean.vn) – I would like to recount a memory I have of Associate Professor, Dr. Van Nhu Cuong with the hope of telling him: He will always be the pride and longing of his hometown Quynh village.
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When I first enrolled at Hanoi National University of Education 1 (in 1979), I had just brought my bag to the Marxist-Leninist faculty when I saw Professor - Doctor Phan Cu Nhan - Vice Principal of the school sitting in the faculty.
Seeing me register for admission, the teacher came over and took my hand and asked me: "Are you from Quynh Doi? Whose child are you? Is the journey difficult?" After I answered, the teacher said: "I am also from Quynh Doi. My aunt and uncle live next door. If you have free time, come over and watch TV. If you have any questions about your studies, please tell me. I am the vice principal of this school."
Having just left my hometown for the first time, I met the vice principal who called me uncle and nephew intimately, speaking in a very Quynh Doi dialect, so I felt very close and touched. I immediately suggested: "Uncle, when I was in high school, I really liked math and I got high scores in math, please let me join the math department."
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| Associate Professor Van Nhu Cuong beats the drum to open the new school year at Luong The Vinh School. Photo: Internet |
The teacher said: "You should discuss this with Uncle Cuong, he will be here soon." Then the teacher asked about family and hometown. The two uncle and nephew were talking enthusiastically when they saw a tall man with a beard reaching his chest walk over. Teacher Nhan stood up, shook hands and said: "This is Quang, the son of Uncle Pha's wife Hue from our village. He was assigned to the Marxist-Leninist department."
Mr. Cuong said: “I know Ms. Hue, her father is close to my father. It would be great if you could get into this department!”. I quickly stood up: “Sir, please let me transfer to your math department”. He smiled comfortably and patted my shoulder and said loudly: “It is lucky to be able to study this department, because after graduating from Marxism-Leninism, you can do many things, you can do politics, science, journalism… all of them”.
Hearing what the teacher said, I felt secure to stay and study at the Marxist-Leninist faculty. When I first entered the school, I saw house A7 (Literature faculty students) arguing loudly with house A6 (Mathematics faculty students). The male students from the Mathematics faculty rushed to the Literature faculty. When they reached the stairs, the female students brought pots and pans and ran to knock them on each other, making a continuous clanging sound. A girl came out and loudly read the proclamation (it was a long one, but after more than 40 years, I don't remember the whole content, I only remember the first few sentences):
“Keng, keng, keng, students of the Faculty of Mathematics, listen up, listen up....
The ancients said
Living near rich people, you get to eat green rice.
Being near a thief will get you caught.
Now that I am near you, I must take the brunt of the blow.
In your department
Mr. Van Nhu Cuong
A math problem that shook the world
Female poet Hoang Xuan Sinh
Thirteen years old and got a bachelor's degree in France
You guys didn't take that as an example but went downstairs and turned tray 6 into tray 3, tray 3 into tray 1, causing some weak women to have to go back hungry and thirsty.
Jingle Jingle.”…
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| A moment of peace for teacher Van Nhu Cuong. Photo: FB Ho Ngoc Quang |
Hearing this, all the students of the Mathematics Department went home, and there was no more conflict. Witnessing this, I felt even more proud of Mr. Van Nhu Cuong and my hometown, Quynh village.
It should be added that at that time, Quynh Doi commune had an Association for the Promotion of Education in Hanoi, chaired by Mr. Ho Sy Bang. When children in the commune went to Hanoi to study, the association would welcome them at the teachers' schools and students from the same schools, asking about their studies and their need for extra classes.
For new university students, the association opened two classes for the village children to learn more basic knowledge. Math was taught by Mr. Van Nhu Cuong and Mr. Van Duc Cu, literature by Professor Phan Cu De and several other teachers. Every time they went home for summer or Tet holidays, the association gave them money for the return trip, and when they left, their families took care of it.
The association of fellow countrymen meets the village students twice a year to advise, teach and get to know each other. Therefore, Quynh Doi students in Hanoi are always diligent and successful, upholding the traditions of their homeland. Many are now professors, doctors, military generals, and police generals, holding many important positions in the Party and the State.
These achievements are thanks to the efforts of many generations of Quynh village children, including the great contributions of people like Associate Professor - Dr. Van Nhu Cuong. Let us light a stick of incense to bid farewell to him - an outstanding son of Quynh village.
Ho Ngoc Quang
