The beauty of Ao Dai

This year, the women's art troupe of Ms. Thuy's area was chosen to perform in the ward's program celebrating International Women's Day on March 8. The women were very excited.

The Women's Association of the area not only organized early training sessions but also encouraged the women to sew beautiful, splendid, and expensive two-panel ao dai. The women did not want to rent them so they would not have to wear the same clothes again and again. However, sewing beautiful ao dai was quite expensive. The Women's Association of the area only supported a small part, the rest the participating women had to pay for themselves.

Hearing that the cost of making the ao dai was up to a million dong, Ms. Thuy was very worried. Her husband had an accident and had barely made any money for the past few years, not to mention the monthly medical expenses. Her two children were still in school age. Everything depended on her modest salary as a worker. After much hesitation, Ms. Thuy finally decided to go to her neighbor Ms. Xuan's house to ask for a loan. Knowing the reason Ms. Thuy borrowed money, Ms. Xuan frowned slightly, then slowly said:

- You know, I don't mind lending you money, even more than that. But think about it, now you borrow money to make an ao dai for a performance and you don't know when you'll be able to wear it. And then you'll have to save money in all sorts of ways to pay back the debt.

Ms. Thuy stammered:

- I know that too. But if I withdraw from the art troupe now, it will be difficult to find a replacement. Besides, my resignation will affect the team's morale. Well, I'll have to borrow it from you and pay you back later.

- Let me call and discuss with the head of the Women's Association of the area first. If it doesn't change, I will lend you the money.

Having said that, Ms. Xuan immediately called Ms. Huong, the head of the Women's Association of the area. Ms. Xuan did not beat around the bush but got straight to the point:

- Hello, Ms. Huong, I really agree with the fact that women in our area wear ao dai to perform. But Ms. Thuy's situation is difficult, so wanting to make such expensive ao dai will affect her family's finances.

- The other day the association proposed a policy and Ms. Thuy agreed, she had no comments so I don't know.

- I think not only Ms. Thuy but also some other women in the art troupe who are workers, small traders and don't have much money. So the art troupe has to calculate how to make it reasonable according to the sisters' circumstances. In my opinion, we can let the sisters use the available ao dai or borrow from acquaintances. Each color has its own beauty. Those who can afford it should have new ones made, even better if they give them to others...

Listening to Ms. Xuan's analysis, Ms. Huong seemed to agree:

- It's because I only thought about how to make the program "lively" without thinking through all the issues. It's true that the ao dai doesn't necessarily have to be gorgeous to be beautiful, but the important thing is everyone's spirit of participation. I will discuss with everyone tonight to agree on your suggestion.