The novel 'They Lived Like That' by Vu Tuyet May is a book worth reading and pondering, because its content deals with realistic topics.
Read the novel “They lived like that" by author Vu Tuyet May, licensed by the Writers' Association for publication in the fourth quarter of 2024, with 400 printed pages, I feel that Vu Tuyet May must have had a lot of experience to put into the pages of the book a deep and broad range of social topics including: intellectuals, civil servants, public employees and workers, distributed in many professions serving agriculture (in which the pinnacle industry is technology).
The characters in the story are quite typical people, representing the good, the bad, the noble, the base, the talented, the opportunistic... It is worth mentioning that even in the period when the country is on the path of innovation, with the goal of "building a strong country", there are still people who only think about self-interest, obstacles to the development process, hiding in the levels, organizations, and fields, when there still exist loose and inconsistent laws, regulations, and conventions.
The phenomenon of many people, little work, many degrees, but limited capacity, lack of responsibility, lack of courage, opportunism, corruption... creates separate corners of the world.
The story revolves around four main characters. They used to study in the same class but were enemies because they had different ideals in life.
Since their university days, four people have formed two groups. The group representing progress includes Mai Hoang Nam, Ha Trong Vinh and Nhat Thu. They are scientists and businessmen, always dreaming of success and contribution. Meanwhile, Trinh Dinh Long nurtures the desire for money and status. From beginning to end, Trinh Dinh Long does not hesitate to use any means to satisfy his selfishness and greed.
After graduating from university, Nam and Vinh were sent abroad by the government to study in-depth in the field of electronics and information technology with the aim of bringing knowledge back to serve the country's "industrialization and modernization" strategy. Nhat Thu (later Trong Vinh's wife) pursued business right in her homeland. Trinh Dinh Long entered a state-owned enterprise.
Successful abroad, two doctors Nam and Vinh returned home to work in the agricultural sector (Institute for research and application of high technology in agriculture). Over time, labor brought them to the pinnacle of creativity, brought them glory but also made them experience a lot of bitterness, because of jealousy, because of benefits along with some inappropriate and outdated policies, creating loopholes for some people in power to take advantage of, making right and wrong almost belong to those in power.
The semi-market, semi-subsidized mechanism also makes those who do genuine science always suffer pressure and disadvantage because of the habit of profiteering of a part of the leaders and opportunistic cadres and employees. But with the intelligence and mettle of scientists: Hoang Nam, Trong Vinh, Nhat Thu received the support of a number of people holding important positions in public agencies, which are dedicated and visionary cadres such as: Chairman of the Union of Cooperatives, Secretary of the District Party Committee Do Thiet, Chairman of the town Pham Quang Vinh, journalist and Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Ngoc Anh... They have successively overcome all obstacles, overcome each storm, each trap, and deception of a number of powerful people, typically Trinh Dinh Long, Tran Van Giac...
The ending of the story is that the three characters: Mai Hoang Nam, Ha Trong Vinh and Nhat Thu have succeeded. They are the monuments of justice overcoming evil. They have solved the curse: "Just wait and see who will be the loser" of Trinh Dinh Long. They have realized their dream of building an IT park, on a land area of hundreds of hectares, attracting tens of thousands of workers including: managers, researchers, skilled workers, laborers and service workers... They will research, teach, produce and do business. Mai Hoang Nam and Ha Trong Vinh have kept their promise to the Party, the Government and the people, before the day they left to study abroad. to "bring scientific knowledge to build the country".
Meanwhile, Trinh Dinh Long, although he had risen to the position of Chairman of the City People's Committee, had to pay the price with the rest of his life in prison for fraud, appropriation of state and people's assets, and enrichment on the people's pain.
It can be said that the novel "They Lived Like That" by Vu Tuyet May is a book worth reading and pondering, because the content deals with realistic, highly social topics that many people are interested in.
With flexible narration and description, with many faces, many personalities, many unexpected details, creating drama, the story is rich in images, rich in language, many of the characters' words become truths, through cinematic techniques... those are the things needed in a literary work.
NGUYEN THANH CAI