Dinh Phuong Nguyen lived in Thanh Hoa. He was knows as a good man who considered friendship much more rarely than money and course, he was rich that he had beautiful house with nice gardens around, large fertile fields which provided him much more rice he and his family needed and servants who lived in his house served his family. He never refused anyone who asked his help and so that he used to give people money as they came and borrowed him.
Dinh Phuong had an old friend whose name’s Binh Cung Tran. Binh Cung was a trader he bought and sold wood. That job helped him have enough money for his family, five people but recent times he failed and his money went away a little and a little till whole it vanished. After that his fields, his gardens also followed his money to others’s hands, creditors. That breaking seemed to be a shock with him that he got ill and had no choice but to become a debtor to get money for his medicine. He and his family were in misery when creditors came and asked them to pay. Fortunately, Dinh Phuong was very kind helping him pay the debts that he could keep the last asset he owned, the house. It’s normal because Binh Cung’s family had no one to help them they often went to Dinh Phuong and borrowed money and Dinh Phuong was still kind giving them money. The kindness of Dinh Phuong made Binh Cuong feel super grateful but his illness turned more and more seriously though doctor tried to cured him. Formerly he could move but later, he could only stay on his bed. He knew that he was going to die but he couldn’t be peace because of his family, the people he had to take of. So, the last person he wanted to meet before he died was Dinh Phuong.
“I owe you Dinh Phuong”, he said, “I mean it’s too much that I can’t manage to pay you… your money and also your kindness you gave me but I’ve never told you about paying that has been making me feel uneasy, feel sorry to you…”
“Don’t say that Binh Cung”, Dinh Phuong stopped him, “You are my friend and with me friendship is the rarest thing a have. And money was bricks which help me build our friendship.”
“I can’t”, said Binh Cung, “thingking that had nothing while I own you much money. I wrote a paper that pointed that this house will be collateral for my debt and can you do me a favor, waiting until they can pay the debt. You see my point my children are to young and my mother is too old.”
“Don’t say that brother. I always consider your mother as my mother and of course, always treat your children as if they are my children. So, you don’t need to think much my house is also your house”, said Dinh Phuong, raising his voice, “What you need now is rest, trying to have yourself better and don’t think about other things”.
But Binh Cung didn’t forgive up his point he pushed the paper in Dinh Phuong’s hand. Later he called his wife and children and asked them to kneel down front Dinh Phuong.
“Now I can die, peace”, said Binh Cung, “If having an after life was real, I would pay you all I own”.
Binh Cung stopped breathing after that. Anh Dinh Phuong was a person who help his family to bury him he spent his money to manage all things. After that, he zealously found the way to help them have each meal in day. Money and food were things he often gave them. On their side, they considered him as the main person in their family. They used to find the way to his home to ask things they wanted but generosity of Dinh Phuong shank after times they went to his home. Sometime, they had to wait at his home whole day but still left with nothing. Though Dinh Phuong was staying at home but his servants always answered them that he was absent. The way Dinh Phuong treated them made them feel very disappointed and what they saw now was Dinh Phong had changed he betrayed his promise. After few days, they had no thing to eat, thư widow, wife of Binh Cung, found the way to meet Dinh Phuong. She stopped him on street.
“I and my family are waiting for you help. Hope you can give us your kindness”, said the widow.
But Dinh Phuong refused.
“Recently, I’m also in trouble. It’s not easy to help you more. I think you should try to ask some others”, he said.
“Yep, I know we bother you to much. But, I and my children believe in your promise with my husband that you will take care of us. So, I think you are the person we should…” she said.
“You’re wrong.” He interrupted her, “I also have my wife and children to take care of. You know I can’t provide you, all you for whole of your life time. You should know that I am thinking about selling the house your family was staying to pay few debts”.
The words were like a big jar of cold water poured on her face. She left, swept tears on her face and found the way back home she said her family about that and all of them burst into tears. A old man, one of their neighbor, heard the cry and made his way to them.
“What’s wrong with you? Why all you cry?” said the man.
The widow stopped crying she said him about the friendship of her husband and his friend, Dinh Phuong; the promise between them and now the change of Dinh Phuong.
“Say”, she started crying again, “How can us live if our helper also leave us”.
“It’s the way of life papers are to colored, they will easily fade”, said the man thoughtfully, “I think you and you family need a career to live”.
“God! We don’t have money and this house also is not ours. You say,” she said, “what the career do we can do?”
“Do you know weaving?” said the man.
“I think I can study but how can I have money to buy a loom and money to manage our lives till we had cloth to sell”, she said.
“You know I am not rich to take care of anyone but my family but you are too poor so I will try to help you. If you want I will teach you weaving. You see, you can not ask help from others again and again and weaving could help you not to need any help from people my family had lived by this career in three generations. Think I can manage to help have some money to start”, said the man.
He said and he did. Hurriedly, he bought a loom and taught her weaving. He spent much time directing her secrets in career. With her family his kindness seemed to overcome Dinh Phuong. It took no long time they had cloth to sell. That career helped them have money to take care of their lives. After that, he saved enough money to redeem their house, their fields. They had treated Dinh Phuong as a stranger since the time they got again their house and on other side, the man who taught them weaving was considered as their friend.
Eight years had passed the eldest daughter of Binh Cung got married. A wealthy wedding was hold under direction of the widow. Many people were invited to the wedding. Dinh Phuong who was not invited also followed the crowd of people to join in the wedding. Just saw Dinh Phuong, the widow had gone out, prevented him in lines of people.
“You also come?” squealed the widow, “Thought that you had forgotten us. You must have thought that we had died but you see we are still okay without your help.”
The voice of the widow was not easy to hear. She still didn’t stop trying to find worse words to scold him but she didn’t have chance to do that the weaving-man approached her and whispered by her ear.
“Don’t! Don’t say the words. You didn’t know but all things I gave you was bought by his money. I am the person who helped him give the things to you”.
The widow seemed to wake up she realized that she’s wrong thinking worse things about Dinh Phuong but she had never thought that Dinh Phuong was much more kind than she could think. He was no one who had plan to help her not to need help from others and have the independent life now. She felt ashamed but had to manage to invite him to go in the wedding. Course, Dinh Phuong was very kind ignoring their misunderstanding before.
THE END
"Translator: Hung Nguyen"
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