Ms. Vuong Tu Van (1960) was born into a farming family in Linyi (Shandong, China). As the eldest child in the family, she had to help her parents take care of her younger siblings. Because her family was poor, Ms. Van dropped out of school early. Her childhood was spent doing laundry, cooking, and going up the mountain to collect firewood.
Excessive expectations become imposition
At the age of 22, Ms. Van married Mr. Luu Kinh Khoa, a teacher at a school in China. Despite the difference in qualifications, Mr. Khoa always respected his wife. Shortly after their marriage, Ms. Van gave birth to her eldest son, Luu Diep Nam.
The whole family depended on Mr. Khoa's salary. Because she was illiterate, Mrs. Van stayed home to do housework and take care of the children. To increase her income, her husband took on an additional job as a news announcer at the District Radio Station.
Aware of the hardships of being illiterate, Mrs. Van told herself not to let her son follow in her footsteps. She entrusted her wishes to her son, hoping that Diep Nam would change the family's fate through education.
Not disappointing his mother's expectations, Liu Ye Nan showed his intelligence when he went to school. Even in primary school, although he was naughty, he still completed the study tasks assigned by his mother. Although not the best student in school, Ye Nan's scores were always among the top.
In middle school, Diep Nam felt suffocated by his mother's expectations. She imposed her thirst for knowledge on her son. Gradually, expectations became a burden, and in the face of his mother's strictness, Diep Nam wanted to escape from studying.
In class, Diep Nam did not listen to the lecture and fought with his friends outside of class. This made the teacher angry and repeatedly called the parents. Confronting the teacher, Ms. Van received information that if Diep Nam continued this situation, it would be difficult to pass high school.
Life-changing contract
Mrs. Van's strictness made things go too far. At the rebellious age, Diep Nam expressed his own opinions, doing the opposite of what his mother expected. During the argument between mother and son, Diep Nam loudly asked: "What is the purpose of studying? What is the use of getting into Tsinghua or Beijing University?".
Diep Nam's question, which showed his indifference, was quickly answered by his mother: " If you pass the entrance exam to Peking or Tsinghua University, an illiterate person like me will also become a writer." His mother's answer left Diep Nam with no chance to refute.
Diep Nam believes that an illiterate person like his mother would find it difficult to become a writer. The debate between Mrs. Van and her son came to an end when both of them signed a fateful "contract" that would change their lives. "You and I will bet on this contract. You will get into Peking University or Tsinghua University, or I will become a writer," Diep Nam said.
It was this bet that changed the family's fate after 20 years. Sharing the family's story with the media, Diep Nam said: "When my mother and I made the bet, no one thought about what would happen 20 years later." However, it was also this contract that caused Diep Nam to drop out of school. Diep Nam studied hard and did not cause any more trouble at school. In the university entrance exam that year, Diep Nam scored 645/750 points, not passing the entrance exam to Tsinghua or Beijing University. He passed the Beijing Forestry University.
Liu Ye Nan, a rebellious student, passed the university entrance exam after a bet with his mother. He later earned a master's degree from Tsinghua University. (Photo: Sohu)
With her husband’s help, Ms. Van also successfully became a writer. She said that getting her rebellious son into university was not easy. Even though he did not get into Tsinghua or Beijing University, for her, the contract was completely fulfilled.
Inspired by his mother's success, Diep Nam decided to take the postgraduate entrance exam two years after graduation. This time, he was admitted to the Tsinghua University School of Architecture to obtain a master's degree.
Ms. Van has published a number of novels such as: "Four treasures", "Cinema tonight", "Guard", "Small town life" and " Ngu family",...
The story of Ms. Van's family was reported by the newspaper and China National Radio, inspiring many people. In 2018, the Shandong Writers Association announced a new list, and Ms. Vuong Tu Van's name was added. She confided that this was a dream, something she had never thought of before.
Ms. Vuong Tu Van went from being illiterate to becoming a writer at the age of 42. (Photo: Sohu)
Nobel Prize-winning writer Mo Yan commented on Wang Xiuyun's parenting style as follows: "Mother and daughter only bet with each other through a contract. When people are put in adversity, they can see their efforts, even though it is difficult, they do not falter. From anger leading to arguments, then understanding, in the end both mothers achieved their own goals and achievements."
"To teach children, parents must first set an example," is the message Ms. Vuong Tu Van wants to convey when sharing her family's story.
(Source: Vietnamnet)
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