Introduction: In a rural town of Vietnam, 17 year old Khue is hoping to start her future in Saigon, living her life and become successful. But in her parents’ eyes, she is just a girl, and what can a girl do to achieve success? Khue is still hoping for a better life, a life where she doesn’t need to relied on anyone. But can that hope last?
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Khue walks quietly on the empty road, wondering about her future. Just this morning, a newly graduated Khue was asked to attend a miai to meet Phong, her classmate and son of the richest man in town. Phong’s parents are not extremely wealthy by any means, but in this small, old fashioned town, they are considered socialites. Phong’s father owns a large wood workshop while his mother has her own restaurant that serves probably the best foods Khue has ever eaten. Their family lives in a big, four stories house located on the hill with wooden fences around, completely separated from the other rundown one story houses. Phong can even afford a motorbike while others like Khue can only walk with hope of getting a bike someday. Phong is everyone’s dream, the boys dream of becoming like him, and the girls dream of marrying him. But Khue is different, she dreams of becoming better than him, making her own money rather than using her parent’s. Khue wants more than a simple life in town, and that is why she rebuffed when Phong told her parents that he wants to marry her.
Khue’s own parents called it a miracle when they heard Phong expressed his interest in her. Khue’s family is the complete opposite of Phong’s. They have a small tailor shop that sews clothes for a cheap price, and Khue’s father works part-time in Phong’s father’s workshop. They struggle everyday to put food on the table and sent the kids to school. Their struggles caused Khue’s older sister Mai to drop out of school two years ago and married her high school sweetheart, who works in the rural district, but Mai’s marriage was not a happy one, and she only stay in it for the sake of her children and family, who needed the money that her husband made to survive. Khue does not want that life, she wants to move to Saigon, she wants to have a better life, a career, a happy marriage that does not center around money. Khue doesn’t want to marry Phong, because she knows that if she does, her life will be just like Mai’s, living everyday in despair and sadness, spending money that she didn’t earn and faces harsh treatments for it. She told her parents that she wants to go to Saigon and attend University there, after a few years she will be fully capable of earning as much money as Phong’s parents, and they will all have a better life. Her mother shakes her head disapprovingly while her father smirk with tears rolling down his cheek. University? They said, you think we can afford for University? Marry Phong and we will all have a better life. What do you think girls like you can do to be successful? Just marry him and it will all be good. Khue’s father slap her, calling her a bad child, while her moher threatened to commit suicide if she does not attend the miai next morning.
Tired of her parents’ pressuring her to attend the Miai, Khue talked to her friends and asked for advice. To her surprise and disgust, her friends told her to marry him. “You are so lucky such wealthy guy agrees to marry you. Why would you say no to money? You should marry him because you are so poor and with his money you can have a better life”. Khue angrily left after hearing those words come out of her friends’ mouth. To her, marriage should be out of love, not to be financially stable. If she doesn't love Phong and only be with him for his money, she is hurting him and herself at the same time. Khue feels as if the whole world is against her, and it is pressuring her into giving up her hopes.
Her walk becomes slower and slower, until she finally stop in front of a small house near the wood, it is the house of her favorite teacher, Mr. Phat. To Khue, Mr.Phat is probably the only person that truly understands her. He supported and cheered for her and alway told her that “you are the best students I’ve ever had in this town”. Khue looked at the house, perhaps this is her only chance, perhaps Mr.Phat will find a way to help with her dilemma.
Khue knocks on the door and waits. Mr.Phat opens the door and lets her in. Tears begin to roll down Khue’s cheek. She tells him about everything that others said to her about her arranged marriage. Mr. Phat just sighed, then suddenly he asks her if she still wants to go to Saigon, or is she willing to marry Phong for the sake of her family. Khue stares straight into his eyes, firmly saying that she will never agree to a loveless marriage that could ruin her future. Mr. Phat smiles approvingly, then takes out an envelope from his pocket. He says that he was waiting for Khue, because he knew she would come. He gives her the money, telling her to spread her wings high and wide. Khue hugs Mr.Phat tightly, at least in this town there is still someone who has fate in her and believes that she will succeed. Khue run back home, packs her stuff quickly. She takes one last look at her house before leaving.
Her parents would wake up the following morning finding her gone, with the dress she was supposed to wear to the Miai folded neatly on her bed, next to it is a letter Khue wrote before leaving. Khue’s parent read the letter, trying not to cry:
“Dear mom and dad, I am sorry for leaving without saying goodbye. I don’t believe that this marriage will work, and if I stay, my life will end up just as unhappy as my sister. I will make a life for myself in Saigon. I promise to come back when I am successful, and I’m sure that I will be successful. Please wait for me”
Khue’s father tears the letter in half while her mother hides her face in her hands, crying. Her brothers and sisters surround her room trying to figure out what is wrong with their parents. From afar, the sound of a car can be heard, a Miai will soon begin with the absence of the bride.
