Poor Boy

Chapter 10: Hopeful Dreams

As autumn turned into winter, the cold and long nights began to settle in. In Minh's small house, the harshness of winter was becoming increasingly apparent. The northern winds blew through the cracks in the walls, making the indoor atmosphere dreary and gloomy.

One morning, Minh woke up earlier than usual, not because he wanted to prepare for a day of school or work, but because he could no longer sleep. Minh's room was so cold that it felt hard to breathe. His mother had already been up for a while, but the warmth of a proper breakfast was still a distant dream. Today's breakfast consisted only of some cold rice and a few pieces of pickled vegetables—a simple meal but enough to help the family maintain their health.

As Minh sat down to eat, his mother had prepared breakfast. She gave a faint smile, trying to keep the atmosphere in the house light. "You're up early. Have some rice and get ready for school."

Minh sat down and ate quickly. "Mom, I'm not very hungry. I'll eat quickly so I can go to school."

His mother nodded, not wanting to add to Minh's worries. "Go to school now. Take care of yourself."

As Minh left the house, the winter cold made him feel as if he were being frozen. His whole body was affected by the harsh weather. On the way to school, Minh couldn’t help but think about the difficulties his family was facing. Sometimes, these thoughts made him feel discouraged, but Minh always tried to push them aside to focus on his studies and work.

The classroom today was filled with tension due to tests and assignments. Minh always tried to do his best, but the exhaustion and pain were hard to hide. The concerned glances from his classmates did little to ease Minh's stress.

During a break, Hương approached Minh, sitting down next to him with a worried expression. "Minh, you don’t look well. Do you need to rest for a bit?"

Minh nodded, trying to smile. "I’m fine, Hương. Just a bit tired."

Hương looked at Minh with concern. "You need to take better care of yourself. Don’t let your health suffer."

Minh knew Hương’s advice was genuine, but he couldn’t let everyone worry about him. "I’ll try my best."

After school, Minh returned to the store to work. The work in winter was even more demanding. Many customers came to shop, and Minh had to work continuously to meet their needs. Long working hours and physical fatigue couldn’t stop him from continuing his job.

That evening, when Minh returned home, his mother had prepared a simple but warm dinner. The meal included rice with some dried fish and vegetables. Though the meal was not plentiful, the warmth of dinner made the atmosphere in the house more comfortable.

"You’re back? I made some dried fish and vegetables," his mother said, her voice still filled with care and love.

Minh sat down at the table, looking at the dinner with gratitude. "Mom, I’m really hungry. Thank you."

His mother smiled, though her face still showed signs of exhaustion. "You’ve worked hard. I’m proud of you."

After dinner, Minh went to his grandfather’s room. Grandpa was still lying in bed, looking less lively than before. Minh sat beside him, feeling the frailty in his grandfather’s body.

"Grandpa, I’m home. How are you feeling?" Minh asked, his voice full of concern.

Grandpa opened his eyes and looked at Minh with loving eyes. "Minh, you’ve worked very hard. Even though my health isn’t good, you remain my greatest encouragement."

Minh felt a pang of sadness. "I just want things to get better for the family."

Grandpa smiled, though his health was still declining. "Minh, you’ve grown a lot. Grandma and I always believe in you. Even though life is tough, as long as we stay patient and loving, things will get better."

Minh felt encouraged by his grandfather’s words. No matter how difficult life became, his faith in his family and his perseverance were the sources of motivation that kept him from giving up.

The next day, when Minh woke up, the sky was bright, but the cold of winter still enveloped the small room. His mother had prepared a simple breakfast, and Minh began another challenging day.

When Minh arrived at school, he felt the concerned glances of his friends around him. Their encouragement and concern were important parts of Minh’s life, even though he couldn’t share all the hardships he was going through.

At the end of the school day, Minh returned to the store. Winter brought new challenges, but Minh still had to keep working to help his family through the difficulties. The job became even more stressful, and Minh had to work continuously to ensure everything was in order.

When night fell, Minh returned home, exhausted but satisfied. His mother had prepared a simple, yet warm meal. The family gathered around the table; though the meal was not rich, the love and unity of the family made everything meaningful.

"You’ve worked hard all day. Thank you for working diligently," his mother said, her eyes full of pride and love.

Minh smiled, feeling warmth in his heart. "Mom, I will always do everything for the family. We will overcome these difficulties together."

After the family finished eating and prepared for bed, Minh sat by his desk again. Despite his fatigue and the winter cold making everything uncomfortable, Minh remained determined to study, knowing that every bit of knowledge gained was a step closer to his dreams.

On long nights, with the wind blowing through the window and the cold seeping into the thin blanket, Minh felt that no difficulty or challenge could make him falter. His belief in his family and his perseverance in his work were the sources of motivation that kept him from giving up.