When village and neighborhood affection is tested by personal disagreements
In the late afternoon, the small alley in Do Xa residential group (Phu Ly, Ninh Binh) is submerged in faint sunlight. There, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan has lived nearly 80 years of her life. In the familiar house, she sat quietly by a wooden table, where the Happy Birthday paper was just placed solemnly. She looked at it for a long time, saying softly: "I didn't think there would be a day when I would wait for such a piece of paper.
Not because of material value. But because of its meaning, in a place where human honor is always associated with how the community perceives us. In this village, Mrs. Lan is not a stranger. People know her since she was a young girl, then became a wife, a mother, a grandmother. Her life is associated with every path, every roof, every familiar face.
Being close to each other for life, what I cherish most is respect" - Ms. Lan shared.
But even in the closest place, sometimes inevitable conflicts arise. According to Mr. Le Van Loi - Head of Do Xa residential group, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan is still a member of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly. However, before that, during her activities, she had conflicts with some members and had arguments in about two meetings of the Branch Association.
Those clashes, after all, are just common disagreements in community life. But then, the Branch made a record to remove her from the list of requests for a Certificate of Longevity, leading to the fact that her name was not printed in the original list.
When recalling this, Ms. Lan remained silent for a long time and then said: "People live together, it is inevitable that there will be misunderstandings.
Her voice did not blame. Only the experience of a person who has gone through enough joys and sorrows of human life.
On the day of attending the early spring longevity celebration, she still walked like everyone else. Still wearing neat clothes. Still sitting among familiar people.
But then she realized she didn't have a Certificate of Longevity like her peers. Poland quietly stood watching other elderly people receive Certificates of Longevity, without asking anything more, because she didn't want to put anyone in a difficult position.
At this age, people understand that there are things that are not necessary to say. Not because it is not important, but because honor sometimes lies in the way you keep silent.
I just feel my heart a little quieter," Ms. Lan said.
No one sees that feeling. But for her, it is a very real void. Because honor, for her, is not about competing for right or wrong. But about being treated fairly like everyone else.
In the following days, Mrs. Lan still lived normally. Still sweeping the yard every morning. Still greeting neighbors when they met. Not a word of reproach. According to Mrs. Lan's sharing, in the village, we still have to look at each other for a long time, she does not want to lose affection because of herself.
Perhaps, for the elderly, the important thing is not to prove themselves right. But to keep their hearts at peace.
The Certificate of Longevity is returned: When honor returns to its rightful place
Then one day, representatives of Phu Ly Ward People's Committee came to her house to return the Certificate of Longevity to her. Ms. Lan accepted it, not seeing herself winning or losing anything, but only feeling respected again. At that moment, there were no applause. No witness from many people. But for her, it was enough to lighten her heart.
In ancient villages, people live with each other through many things more than regulations. There is affection, there are conflicts, there are misunderstandings, but there is also tolerance.
I am not angry with anyone. Everyone has their own thoughts. The important thing is that in the end, everything is fixed," Ms. Lan shared.
To this day, the Certificate of Longevity is now lying quietly on the table. Not as a reward, but as an affirmation that, after all, the honor of a person is still kept.
At the age of 80, Mrs. Lan no longer expects much. She only hopes that everyone will still look at each other with affection. Because living to old age, the most precious thing is not money, but the way you are remembered.
Previously, Lao Dong Newspaper reported on the longevity celebration ceremony on the afternoon of the 4th day of Tet in Do Xa residential group, Phu Ly ward (Ninh Binh), Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, although 80 years old according to regulations, only received 500,000 VND in longevity money but was not awarded a longevity certificate like other elderly people, suspected due to personal disagreements in the Elderly Association. The image of an elderly woman silently, sadly standing watching other elderly people receive longevity certificates has caught the lens of reporters.
The above incident has caused concern for families and local people about the process of making lists and appraising at the facility.
On the afternoon of February 22, Secretary of the Party Cell, Head of Do Xa residential group, along with representatives of the Elderly Association, Head of the Fatherland Front Work Committee, Veterans Association, and Women's Union, directly visited Ms. Lan, took responsibility for the shortcomings and handed over the longevity certificate.
We have visited the family, apologized and handed over the longevity certificate to Ms. Lan. We will seriously learn from experience and rectify the process to avoid similar errors" - Mr. Le Van Loi, Head of the residential group, admitted.
