Chapter 74: An Outstanding Fellow Countryman
As soon as Thuy Linh heard the name being announced, her face scrunched up slightly:
"Again? The fridge guy?"
Kieu Ly laughed when she saw her reaction:
"Why that face? He's Vietnamese too—shouldn't we be happy for him?"
"Well, the fridge guy's already been honored before. And now he's being honored again—it's a bit too much, don't you think?"
As Dang Bang Anh stepped onto the stage, the auditorium screen began showing a short documentary, telling his inspiring story in English:
"My name is Dang Bang Anh, from Vietnam.
I was born in the smallest province of Vietnam—small in size, but not in learning spirit.
My family was not wealthy. Both my parents were teachers who bent their backs to support us on meager salaries.
But when I entered high school, my father got into a traffic accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He developed Alzheimer's disease, lost his ability to teach, and gradually even struggled with simple housework.
All the burden fell on my mother's shoulders.
So I had to find a way to rise above, to change my life, and to treat my father's illness.
At that time, I hesitated between staying home to care for my father and flying to this country. I had to face an unimaginably difficult choice.
But today, I have no regrets about the decision I made back then.
Today, standing before all of you, I have truly done it. I am very happy!"
Standing in the middle of the auditorium, Dang Bang Anh appeared to be wiping away tears. Below the stage, a few sniffles could be heard.
Even someone as talkative as Thuy Linh was now quietly wiping away tears that were about to fall. Only then did she realize that the "fridge guy" wasn't as distant as he seemed, nor was he some kind of arrogant star.
A moment later, the entire auditorium erupted in applause.
Kieu Ly sat quietly, looking toward the stage. In her heart now was a mix of pride, empathy, and admiration. If she had known earlier, she would have bought a bouquet of flowers to go congratulate her fellow countryman.
Without flowers, a simple congratulation would have to do.
After the awards were handed out and the honorees returned to their seats, Kieu Ly got up and ran over to where Dang Bang Anh had been sitting.
However, by then, people had started dispersing for the buffet, and by the time Kieu Ly arrived, he was nowhere to be seen.
Maybe he had already left after finishing his part.
Kieu Ly returned to her seat to meet up with Thuy Linh so they could leave together.