Vietnamese Stories for Language Learners. Tri C. Tran

du to go places

      quây màn to set up a tent

      quyết định to decide

      run rẩy to shake, quiver

      tấp vào bờ to go ashore

      thần phục to submit to

      trăn trối to say one’s last words

       ADVERBS

      đùng đùng thunderously

      no ấm with adequate food and clothing

      táo bạo boldly

      tấp nập in great number

      thanh bình in peace

      tình cờ by chance

      trầm ngâm pensively

      tự tiện without permission

       IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

      kẻ hầu người hạ servants and lackeys

      nổi trận lôi đình to be in a black cloud of anger

      trên đường ngược xuôi along one’s travel route

      từ đó trở đi from then on

       Discussion Questions

      1 In a culture where the man customarily initiates a marriage, Tien Dung’s decision to get married to Chu Dong Tu can be considered brazen or even immoral. Why do you think Tien Dung did this?

      2 King Hung was angry about Tien Dung’s decision, not necessarily because she had not asked him for permission to get married, but obviously because she was marrying a man of a low class. Discuss the cultural and social implications of his reaction.

      3 The story was not specific in letting the reader know whether or not King Hung knew that the rebellious kingdom belonged to his estranged daughter. If he did, do you think his decision to rage a war against his own child was a legitimate one?

      The Beautiful Woman in the Painting

       A Love Unachieved

       Quite a few people believe that love is an opportunity for two people to pick up unfinished affairs and relationships left behind in their previous lives. When the two lovers part, they may go to different worlds: one back to the human world and the other, to the fairy world. Their unachieved love affair draws them towards each other in another life, overcoming visible and invisible obstacles that usually separate the two, very faraway worlds.

      Long ago, in the village of Bich Cau, there lived a poor orphan boy named Tu Uyen, who was gifted with language. One evening, he visited Ngoc Ho temple to admire the scenery and offer incense to Buddha. As dusk moved across the sky, a single leaf fell in front of him. When he picked it up, he saw a poem written on it. At that moment a pretty young lady walked past. As they happily walked and talked, they didn’t even notice night falling around them. When they got to a deserted section of the road, the young lady’s silhouette suddenly started to fade, and then disappeared completely. Tu Uyen stood there alone and astounded for a long time, before sadly walking home.

      From that day on, the image of the pretty young lady danced around in his head. Every day and night, neglecting his studies and forgetting to eat or sleep, he daydreamed about her. He heard rumors about a shrine in the area that was very spiritually powerful. Tu Uyen immediately went searching for it. He asked for his fortune, prayed, and told the god of the shrine his deepest wish. As night descended, Tu Uyen fell asleep at the shrine. That night, the shrine god appeared in his dream and ordered him, “Tomorrow, go to the tree on the east side of the bridge, and you will find good things.”

      Early the next morning, Tu Uyen rushed to the bridge. He waited until noon before he saw an old man walking along selling paintings. The man offered to sell him a painting of a pretty young lady. Tu Uyen was stunned because the pretty young lady in the painting looked exactly like the person he had met at the temple. He bought the painting, took it home, and ceremoniously hung it on the wall. During every meal, he would set out an extra bowl and an extra pair of chopsticks. Every time he invited the woman in the painting to eat, he saw her smile back at him.

      One evening Tu Uyen came back from school tired and hungry. Strangely, he saw a complete meal already set out for him. From that day on, he would always find a delicious meal on the table waiting for him when he came home. He was determined to find out who this secret person was. One morning he pretended to go to school as usual, but quickly returned home. Just at that moment, he caught the familiar young lady in the painting bringing food that she had freshly cooked to the table.

      Tu Uyen grabbed her hand and declared, “I have waited for you all this time. From now on, please don’t ever hide from me again!”

      The young lady then said shyly, “I am Giang Kieu, from the heavens. We have a predestined love bond from our previous life. Let’s continue with our love in this life to complete our destiny.”

      From then on, Tu Uyen and Giang Kieu lived together, and Giang Kieu took care of her husband’s every need. As for Tu Uyen, he loved his wife with all his heart. However, in time he slowly began to neglect his studies. What’s more, he began getting drunk and at times used harsh words on his wife. One night, after Tu Uyen fell asleep completely drunk, Giang Kieu flew back sorrowfully to the heavens, ending their predestined union filled with bitterness.

      When Tu Uyen awoke from his drunken stupor and did not see Giang Kieu anywhere, he was filled with regret and cried heart-wrenching tears. In his tremendous suffering, he thought about committing suicide. Just as he was about to end his life, Giang Kieu appeared in time to stop him. Tu Uyen was overjoyed and begged Giang Kieu for forgiveness. He swore off drinking and promised to return to his studies. After the broken pieces were mended, the couple was once again as happy as they had ever been. Not long afterwards, Giang Kieu gave birth to an adorable baby boy, whom they named Chan Nhi. He grew to be handsome, healthy, and bright. As for Tu Uyen, he started training in the mystical powers of the heavens. When Chan Nhi matured into a teenager, Tu Uyen and Giang Kieu instructed him to remain on earth and live a meaningful life. The husband and wife then rode a crane up to the heavens.

Người Đẹp Trong Tranh

      Duyên Tình Chưa Dứt

      Không ít người tin rằng tình yêu là cơ hội để hai người tiếp tục những gì còn chưa viên mãn giữa họ trong một kiếp trước. Khi hai người yêu nhau chia tay, họ có thể đi về hai thế giới khác nhau: thế giới loài người và thế giới thần tiên. Những duyên nợ chưa giải quyết giữa họ đã thúc đẩy họ tìm đến nhau trong một kiếp khác, vượt qua những ngăn cách hữu hình và vô hình giữa hai thế giới muôn trùng cách biệt.

      Ngày xưa, ở làng Bích Câu có anh học trò mồ côi nghèo nhưng văn hay chữ giỏi tên là Tú Uyên. Một hôm, Tú Uyên đi vãn cảnh chùa Ngọc Hồ và dâng hương cúng Phật. Lúc trời đã xế chiều, một chiếc lá đa rơi xuống trước mặt chàng. Tú Uyên nhặt lên xem thì thấy trên lá có đề một bài thơ. Ngay lúc ấy có một cô gái xinh đẹp đi ngang Tú Uyên. Chàng vồn vã chào hỏi cô gái. Mới gặp nhau mà xem ra hai người rất tương đắc. Mải nói chuyện vui vẻ, cả hai cùng không để ý màn đêm đang dần xuống. Đến một chỗ vắng trên đường, bóng hình cô gái bỗng nhoà đi rồi tan biến hẳn. Tú Uyên đứng