On this occasion, Thanh Nien had a conversation about Selling a mai branch for Tet as well as Tet in the hometown of writer Hoang Cong Danh.
* Can you share the inspiration and process of launching the book 'Selling a mai branch for Tet'?
- Writer Hoang Cong Danh: This collection of stories includes 20 short stories on the theme of Tet and spring , written by me in the last 5 years. By collecting these stories into one book, I hope readers will have moments of relaxation with the many tragicomedies of Tet of very ordinary characters. And who knows, thanks to that, readers will love Vietnamese Tet even more.
The story "Selling a Apricot Branch for Tet" by Hoang Cong Danh
* What place does Tet hold in your heart?
- Indeed, every time Tet comes, I have a lot of emotions and I always keep those emotions for a long time to turn them into creative inspiration. I am a person who loves Tet, craves Tet, and often regrets when... Tet is over. Therefore, from mid-December to the full moon of January, I "celebrate Tet" very carefully. I take advantage of that time to feel the change in scenery, observe the people around me, wander around the markets to see people doing business... Thanks to that, I know a few things around me, see wholesalers struggling with profits and losses, know that poor villagers are very worried about money to pay for a Tet...
* In this collection of stories, which story originated from observations that you like the most?
- If I had to choose one story to introduce, it would be Selling a Apricot Branch for Tet . Once at a flower market at the end of the year, I drank coffee at a roadside stall and saw an old lady bringing an apricot branch to sell. During the whole session, no one came to ask about her apricot branch. It was definitely a branch that she had just cut from her garden to sell to have money for Tet.
That image makes everyone feel sympathy, and reminds of previous years, when many families in the countryside had to cut apricot branches and bring them to the city to sell to have money to buy things at the end of the year. Personally, I find this story has many emotional elements of joy and sadness during Tet, so I chose it as the title of the book.
Self-portrait of Hoang Cong Danh
* When talking about Tet, people often think of happy, energetic stories with happy endings. But your stories also have some deep, sad notes. Why did you choose that structure?
- Tet in Vietnamese culture is a sacred time, with many emotions different from normal days. Therefore, literature written about Tet must of course be different. If we take a normal story and add flowers and spring scenery, it cannot be a true Tet story. Thus, Tet stories must be stories that take place during that special time, with characters and actions that we do not encounter on normal days.
And because of that, everyday life has its ups and downs, of course Tet will also have its ups and downs, it is unavoidable. However, for the writer, if the ending is too sad, it will make the readers… tired. So as you feel, that sadness is just a deep, low note. I think the readers can also share this, because whatever is on normal days, Tet has it too.
* Through these stories, is sharing and empathy the message you want to convey?
- It could be like that. Tet is the time for people to open their hearts to each other. Sharing and sympathizing with life and human destiny - that is certainly the common message that any writer wants. In addition, I hope that through this collection of stories, readers will have more interesting "experiences" about Tet in the Central region. And who knows, readers will love Vietnamese Tet more.
Raising the flagpole to celebrate Tet
* For you personally, are there many differences between Tet in the past and Tet today?
- Of course it's very different. Some people say that Tet in the past was rich, Tet today is bland. I think differently, maybe because my feelings over time and age are different. For example, at this time, a 10-year-old child will find Tet Giap Thin 2024 very beautiful, very rich. In the end, it's because we humans tend to compare. Just enjoy it, and you'll see that every normal day today is also very lovely, and Tet today is also very beautiful, not less than Tet in the past. You have to be excited and happy first, then Tet will be fun.
* What are the characteristics of Tet in your hometown Quang Tri that other regions do not have?
- In my hometown, during Tet, there is a dish called Banh Kho, which is similar to Banh Khao in the North, and in some places it is called Banh No… The glutinous rice grains are popped and mixed with molasses, put into a tightly sealed mold to serve guests with tea during the spring days. Nowadays, it is rare to find a house that still makes Banh Kho, but whenever I talk about the cakes of my hometown, I remember it.
Crispy and fragrant popped rice cakes have been a familiar hometown gift associated with the childhood of people from Quang Nam for generations.
In my village, there is a custom that on the first morning of the new year, everyone goes to the village temple to pray for peace. After that, the elders go to the village temple and the family temple. Then all the men and young men form a group from the family temple to visit each house to wish everyone a happy new year. In general, the whole morning of the first day of the new year in my village is spent on ceremonies, which is also a beautiful custom.
Most families in the village still wrap banh chung and banh tet, light a wood fire to cook the cakes and sit by the fire overnight. My family has a pot of banh chung every year, making Tet feel warmer and more meaningful.
I consider myself lucky to be born and still live in such a village.
* This is your 7th book. What would you like to share about your writing experience with young people who are just starting out on this path?
- I don't think I'm an old writer. But I'm certainly not a young writer either. So I'm a little ahead of those who are still young. From my own experience in writing, I hope young writers will be patient with their work, and not force themselves too much, just write naturally and comfortably. Literature is just a game, but playing it well is not easy at all.
Writer Hoang Cong Danh was born in 1987, currently living and working in Quang Tri. He has published 6 books at Tre Publishing House, including short story collections Carrying each other in a human world, Short ticket train, In a drunken stupor, Holding on to a broken rope, Stockholm hostage ; essay collection Smoke will make my eyes sting ; long story Seven seven four nine . With simple writing style and unexpected endings, Hoang Cong Danh's short stories leave an impression and delight to readers.
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