The whole family goes to the festival

On Sunday, while watching TV, Mr. Hanh received a phone call. He quickly ran to pick up the Nokia and looked at the screen. It was an unfamiliar number. Who was calling? Hesitating, he did not press the answer button. He needed to be careful of scammers. What if, after pressing the button, it connected and took all his information?

Several times, when an unknown number called, I pressed the answer button but no one said anything. The other end was silent, then “beep beep beep” and then silence. How strange. Maybe it was a wrong number? If it was a wrong number, I should apologize, right? But this person didn’t say anything. What a rude person. Did he ruin my sleep?

When I told this story, everyone told me not to listen. The bad guys called, I dialed the number, they connected and stole all the information on the phone, and all the money in the account was gone.

So, this time he pressed the red button, turning it off. It was better. He turned back to watch TV. The program was good. Before he could sit down, the phone rang again. He looked at the screen again. Same number. So annoying. He pressed the red button, and turned it off again.

After a while, the phone rang again. That number was calling again. This must be someone he knew who had something urgent to do, so they were calling so urgently. He pressed the green button and put the phone to his ear.
- Hello! Dad? Why aren't you answering the phone?

Oh my. His son Phu. He recognized his voice right away. He had only received a phone call from him since the day he sent him off to do his military service. But why did he have a cell phone to call? He was in the middle of his three-month training for new recruits. Did the army allow new soldiers to use cell phones?

- That's right! It's Dad! How did you get the call? Are you okay?

He asked it repeatedly. Phu was excited on the phone:

- Today is Sunday, we have the day off, Dad. I borrowed the phone from the "lieutenant" to call you. I'm fine, Dad. How are you and Mom? Is Trang coming home today?

- Mom and Dad are fine. Trang is not coming home, she is staying at school to practice performing arts to prepare for the Hung Temple Festival performance.

- Really? I like it! Where is mom and dad?

- Mom and I went to a meeting of the banh chung wrapping artisans to prepare for the banh chung wrapping and banh giay pounding contest at Hung Temple.

- So you're the only one at home? I have some good news for you. My unit is also practicing hard to participate in the parade at the 70th Anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory, Dad. It's tiring but fun, Dad!

Phu shouted excitedly into the phone. It chirped for a while then greeted him.
- Okay, I'm hanging up now, Dad. The "lieutenant" is waiting for me. Mom and Dad, take care of your health. Don't worry about me. Goodbye, Dad.

- Practice well, son! Goodbye, son!

Turning off the phone, Mr. Hanh sat there, forgetting about the TV that was blaring in the middle of the house. Smiling to himself, he was as happy as a feather in his cap. There were four people in the family, the eldest daughter and her mother were busy with the Hung King's death anniversary and the Hung Temple festival. The son was serving in the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. The parade and marching were very impressive, right? One was studying at the provincial art and culture school, the other had just become a new soldier, his clothes still smelled of a new soldier. His wife was also very good at making banh chung, for several years she had been selected by the commune to be part of the banh chung wrapping and cooking team to compete at the Hung Temple.

- Where is Mr. Hanh that he is talking so loudly on the TV?
While enjoying his family's happiness, Mr. Hanh heard his wife's voice in the yard. Looking through the wild grass, his wife's face also seemed very radiant.
- I'm here - Mr. Hanh said - still at home. What meeting are you having? Why are you home so early?
- I'll go home after I finish. After agreeing on the personnel, approving the schedule, finalizing the training plan, we'll disband. It's a lot of fun, sir. Even the head of the district's cultural department and the commune chairman attended.
- Really? Is it important?
- Of course not. Representing the whole province to compete with the teams there is not important? They are all strong. And several provinces too. Not to mention the districts of Phu Tho. All the Lang Lieu, descendants of King Hung, are competing, so why is it not important?
- Our team has been number one several times. Don't worry!
- Don't be subjective, sir. Each year has a different strategy, who knows, maybe they are more talented, more skilled? So, we have to practice more, sir.

His wife, Mrs. Hoa, chattered away. Mr. Hanh looked at her and smiled. She was indeed a Hai Duong girl, so lovely. She had participated in the provincial banh chung wrapping team to compete there three times, but she was still so enthusiastic and passionate. They were called the provincial team, but in fact they were from the same village, wrapping and cooking banh chung very skillfully, continuously winning first place in the provincial festivals. Well, at the beginning of the year at the Cao Temple festival, her team was still the first place. The Hai Duong team had been the first and second place several times to the Hung Temple, hadn't they? So it was right for the province to choose her team to go on behalf of the provincial team.

Waiting for Mrs. Hoa to sit next to him, Mr. Hanh immediately informed him of the phone call from his son. After hearing it, Mrs. Hoa's eyes lit up:

- Phu called back? Is he okay? Practicing the parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory? Really?

She asked repeatedly without giving him a chance to answer.
- Then our family is as happy as a festival, isn't it?
- Well, anyway - Mr. Hanh said calmly - Don't worry about Trang not knowing how to sing, going to the art school, what else can she do? See, she is the main soloist of the school now. She sings Xoan properly. She sent me the clip. See? It's only a draft but it's already so sweet. Practice more and you'll be the best. The performance at the mass art performance at the Hung Temple festival is no small feat.
- It's like my genes - Mrs. Hoa added with a smile.
- And Phu - Mr. Hanh continued - I was worried that he was still young and wouldn't be able to last in the army. But after only a few months, I saw that he was already strong. I heard his voice on the phone, it sounded so impressive. And standing in the parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, what could be better? Is there anyone in this village like him?
- It's like your genes - Mrs. Hoa happily flattered her husband.
- So - Mr. Hanh continued - I think like this, I will go to Hung Temple festival with you, then go to Dien Bien to travel there. See how the children are, see how Dien Bien has changed compared to the time I was stationed there.
Mrs. Hoa was surprised, she did not expect her husband to be so "hot" today. She questioned:
- Who will look after the house if you wear socks? And did you participate in the Dien Bien Phu campaign? Only your father fought the French there...

- I didn't participate, but during the anti-Chinese war, my unit was stationed there. I have many memories of that place, grandma. I have to go back and visit the place where my father and I fought and struggled. I heard it's very different now. Besides, you and the two kids are going to the festival, can't you just leave me at home? I'll ask grandma to look after the house for me. Don't worry. Okay, let's just decide like that.

Mr. Hanh waved his hand decisively. Knowing his personality, once he decided something, he would stick to it. Mrs. Hoa clicked her tongue:
- It's up to you, I'm fine with whatever.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she changed her tone: Yes, I have to go, sir. I have to go to ask for King Hung's blessing, to go to see how my son Phu is doing, to see how Dien Bien is doing. I have never been there. So, I agree with you. Okay.
Mrs. Hoa dropped a surprising “final” sentence that surprised Mr. Hanh. They both looked at each other and smiled brightly.

From that day on, every day Mrs. Hoa went to practice wrapping banh chung, Mr. Hanh also went along. He sat and watched them practice and gave advice. He also prepared bamboo strips, dong leaves, sticky rice, firewood, pots, etc. to help wrap and cook the banh chung. He was always busy. With him helping, the women were also happy. Every day the team practiced at his house, he woke up early in the morning to prepare water, firewood, rice, water, etc.

Seeing his quickness and enthusiasm, the men in the team suggested to the commune to add him to the competition team. With him, everyone in the team was more confident. He was both in charge of the overall picture and precise in every movement. The most important thing in a competition is operation and courage. Don't be hasty, don't be swept away by the excitement from the outside, just do it quietly, be precise in every detail, the first and last things must be in order, not messy. So you have to practice both skills and courage. He participated with everyone like that. That's why since he had him as the "flag outside, card inside", the total time to complete the competition has been gradually shortened. The cakes are wrapped more beautifully. Everyone is very skilled and confident.

Hearing that he was added to the team, Mr. Hanh was very happy. It was official, he was going to the festival with his wife. Even if he wasn't in the team anymore, he would still go. He would go to see the festival, to pay respect to Hung King, to offer the Hung King the banh chung that he wrapped and cooked. Phu Tho organized a Cultural Tourism Week during this festival season. It was very big, very grand. It was so much fun. So he definitely had to go. Anyway, being in the official team was better. Even if he was a reserve, or an assistant for the team, it didn't matter. The important thing was to come sincerely to the Hung King's death anniversary.
After being added to the official team of the province's banh chung wrapping and cooking artisans, the couple was extremely happy. Trang was also happy when she heard the news. Everyone in the team was happy. Everyone was eager to go to the land of their ancestors, where there are two world intangible cultural heritages.

That night, Mr. Hanh prepared a meal to worship his ancestors, King Hung first. He mumbled prayers to his ancestors, King Hung, to bless the country, the people, and for the team to win high prizes. While waiting for the incense to burn out, Trang returned. She happily showed off that the school's art troupe would also go to Hung Temple tomorrow. At that moment, the TV was showing the news. The scene of the military unit practicing for the parade, performing martial arts, and marching vehicles for the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory was very grand.

Suddenly, the image of his son Phu was shown. He shouted. Mrs. Hoa and Trang quickly ran over. It was Phu. So cool. Just a glimpse on the screen but the whole family was ecstatic. Everyone's heart was pounding. Could that be the sound of the Hung Temple festival drums? It must be. Then tomorrow the whole family would go to the festival.