"Love regardless of fate"

One person had to bear the cruel fate of 17 years old and was tied to bed due to the unfortunate consequences of an accident. The other person had a difficult and bumpy love life and marriage, almost losing faith in life. These two unfortunate lives met, became husband and wife and accompanied each other on the journey.

The small but cozy house of Mr. Yen and his wife is located at the end of Nhan Hau village, Nam Son commune (Do Luong). The garden is full of vegetables and fruits, showing that the owner of the garden is a diligent person.

The house of Mr. Nguyen Hai Yen (born in 1959) is at the end of Nhan Hau village, Nam Son commune (Do Luong - Nghe An). The house is not big, not many amenities but it is the result of all the efforts of the family members. Photo: Tuong Anh

Mr. Nguyen Hai Yen (born in 1959) lay on the bed, covered with a thin blanket, his head on a rather high wooden beam. The paralyzed man used all his strength to turn himself towards the wall, where there was a water tap. Mr. Yen took a plastic can, his hands cramped to turn the tap, collect water, then wash rice and cook it in an electric pot, all the operations were performed skillfully.

He shared: "Today my wife has to go to the field and will probably be home late, so I told her to prepare rice to cook lunch for herself. When she comes back, the rice is ready, all that's left to do is cook the food."

Lying on the small bed, Mr. Yen told about his life, about his grandparents' love story and family life over the past 25 years. At the age of 17, Mr. Yen was in grade 8/10, at that time he was famous for being a good student and having beautiful handwriting. On a day off, he stayed home to help his father cut bamboo to make a fence, suddenly a bamboo tree fell, the root of the tree stabbed his back causing excruciating pain. Due to his subjectivity, not going to the doctor and not getting timely treatment, the wound became infected and affected the bones and joints, resulting in damage to his spine, he became paralyzed, his limbs contracted, and had to lie in one place for the rest of his life.

Young friends often come to Mr. Yen's house to chat, encourage and help him relax. When there are camps or propaganda movements, people often ask Mr. Yen to write, cut and paste banners and slogans. Everyone is amazed at the dexterity of his cramped, disabled hands. The good news spread far and wide, a girl from a neighboring village wrote to get acquainted, and gradually the two developed "love".

But the girl’s family strongly objected, and the girl did not have the courage to overcome the family barrier. The disabled young man was disappointed once again, his future dreams shattered…

Mr. Nguyen Hai Yen. Photo: Tuong Anh

A few years later, through a matchmaker of relatives, Mr. Yen and Mrs. Dan had the opportunity to meet. Mrs. Dan was from Linh Son commune (Anh Son), and had a difficult love life. She had been married for many years but there was still no sound of children crying or laughing in the house. Not having enough patience to wait, her ex-husband tried every way to get a divorce, and she became a helpless person in life, without any faith...

Until she met a disabled man whose life was only tied to a bed, the unfortunate woman began to have a different perspective on life. From sympathy to love, Ms. Le Thi Dan accepted the marriage proposal, despite the efforts of relatives and friends to dissuade her. Love always has its own reasons, Ms. Dan thought she needed a life partner to share her feelings, even though life would be extremely difficult and tiring, even though she might not have children.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Yen was very happy and joyful. The wedding ceremony was held in 1993, and in that same year their first daughter was born. A few years later, Mrs. Dan gave birth to another daughter and a son. Her husband was bedridden, the children were still young, Mrs. Dan worked hard in the fields and fields alone to provide for daily meals, at times the family fell into poverty.

Although his hands were cramped, Mr. Yen still skillfully wove bamboo strips and braided rattan ropes. Photo: Tuong Anh

Pitying his wife who had to “raise 3 children and 1 husband”, Mr. Yen decided to take up weaving to help. His cramped hands initially had a lot of difficulty whittling bamboo and splitting fibers, but after a short time, they became proficient. The baskets, trays, and tripods that Mr. Yen weaved were both sturdy and beautiful, and people in the village and commune often came to order them, helping him earn more income.

Besides, thanks to the sharing and spiritual and material support of the community, especially philanthropists, the difficulties in life gradually subside.

Currently, their eldest daughter is married and has two children, the second daughter graduated from university and is also married and has children. The youngest son is studying a trade in Vinh city, and the couple has returned to their “free time”.

The passing of a quarter century seems like a fleeting moment, the bitterness and hardships of life have receded into the past, only love remains and grows with the years. But that does not mean life is free of difficulties and hardships, because there are still many worries waiting ahead.

For the past 25 years, Ms. Le Thi Dan (born in 1962) voluntarily accepted to be the wife of a disabled man, always being there to take care of his every meal and sleep. Photo: Tuong Anh

Around noon, Mrs. Le Thi Dan (born in 1962) - Mr. Yen's wife gently pushed the gate open and entered the yard, holding a basket full of field crabs. "He said he hadn't had crab soup for a long time and missed it, so this morning I went to the field to catch some to cook soup" - Mrs. Dan explained. As soon as she entered the house, the woman immediately started cooking, and after a while the smell of crab soup began to spread throughout the small house.

“Up to now, many people still criticize me for being foolish and abnormal for accepting to be his wife. But I am content with what I have and what I am having and think that happiness is truly very simple, it is what I have within my reach” - she talked while serving rice to him, her eyes shining with affection.