On hot sunny days in Ho Chi Minh City, there are small stories in the middle of the city that pass by in a moment but are like a shower that cools people's hearts.
Every time they went to receive rice, the old couple held hands, asked about each other, and wished each other good health, making everyone feel like they were the ones receiving rather than the ones giving - Photo: NGOC AN
Small stories about a free rice distribution session on a small street in Binh Tho ward, Thu Duc city, Ho Chi Minh city.
I agree with you…
That's what the owner of the cheap restaurant replied when I suggested to her that I would periodically give charity rice next to her restaurant.
Thinking that distributing rice like that would attract some of her customers: motorbike taxi drivers - workers - lottery ticket sellers in the area... so I boldly texted her, through the phone number on the sign:
Cute text message makes many people happy - Screenshot
"Yes, tomorrow Saturday I have a program to give rice to the people. I will do it two days a month, every other Saturday at noon. I will divide it into two locations, one at the restaurant, one at the social welfare center on Vo Van Ngan street.
So it will probably affect your shop more or less. But I think only people who are in difficulty will visit. So I will talk to you and apologize in advance if there is any impact.
I hope you are happy so we can progress together, sister".
Her answer made me feel both relieved and a little embarrassed:
"You have a good heart to do good deeds, I agree with you, I will rejoice in your blessings."
Before that, I had imagined a very complicated scenario of discord…
And just a few short sentences from her dispelled the doubts that had been forming in my heart for some unknown time.
From 3am Hao went to the cooking station to help wash vegetables - Photo: NGOC AN
Dad remember to wake me up!
Those were the words of Hao, seventeen years old. Normally he sleeps in, but every Saturday he comes to the cooking station at 3am to help out.
He "jumps into" everything even though he doesn't lift a finger at home: from washing rice, picking vegetables to dividing food into boxes.
Then the neighbors and people who asked were shocked: no one knew each other. It turned out that at first they were strangers but later became friends. Each person came and helped out, and finished 300 servings of rice with laughter as if they had known each other for a long time.
One woman did not give her name, but only said: she is a newly retired civil servant, does not know what to do, and came to help us.
Some women hesitated: I sell lottery tickets, but I feel embarrassed to keep asking for them, so I helped you a little...
An old lady who buys scrap metal folded her arms and bowed deeply to thank her when receiving the gift. Surrounding her were the security guard and the barber who treated her with equal care when giving her a portion of rice and a bottle of essential oil - Photo: NGOC AN
Yes, ma'am, thank you to us...
On the other side of the street, an old lady collecting scrap metal was fidgeting, trying to push her rickety bicycle across the street to get some rice. Seeing this, the barber shop owner hurriedly came out to ask her how she was doing, then gave her a bottle of balm.
People brought her food across the street. She put the food on the cart, folded her arms, bowed her head: "Yes, ma'am, I am grateful to you...".
The bowing of an old woman over 70 years old with folded arms suddenly blurred many people's eyes.
I don't know if it was because of the noonday sun or because it had been a long time since I heard such a sincere and straightforward "yes" and "no" in the middle of a noisy street.
Her bowed head and folded arms made it obvious that she was the one giving.
She has helped people find faith, see the strength of neighborhood solidarity, and support each other in difficult times.
And people's hearts seem to be cooler even though the sun is hot outside.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhung-cau-chuyen-nho-mat-diu-ngay-nang-gat-20250317103224591.htm
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