[lit] Ta?n ma.n ve^` a(n uo^'ng: n'c ma('m [2/2]

[AnHai Doan <anhai@cs.washington.edu>]

CHUYE^.N A(N UO^'NG 

(tie^'p theo va` he^'t)


5

Vie^'t dde^'n dda^y, mo+'i su+.c nho+' ra: no'i dde^'n nhu+~ng
ngu+o+`i vie^'t ve^` a(n uo^'ng, ma` bo? qua Vo~ Phie^'n, thi` qua?
la` mo^.t ca'i to^.i ta`y ddi`nh. DDo.c tu`y bu't cu?a o^ng - mo^.t
the^? va(n ma` Nguye^~n Hie^'n Le^ cho ra(`ng Vo~ Phie^'n co' so+?
tru+o+`ng nha^'t, va` ra(`ng "nghe^. thua^.t di' do?m ho+n,
nhe. nha`ng ho+n, co' hu+o+ng vi. cu?a que^ hu+o+ng ho+n ca? Nguye^~n
Tua^n" - kho^ng the^? kho^ng me^ nhu+~ng trang vie^'t ve^` che` Hue^',
bu'n bo` Hue^', ba'nh tra'ng Bi`nh DDi.nh, ve^` uo^'ng tra`, ve^`
mo^.t qua'n a(n bi`nh da^n o+? Ca^`n Tho+, ve^` hu+o+ng vi. nhu+~ng
gia vi. Vie^.t Nam. Rie^ng ba?n tha^n to^i, u+a nha^'t nhu+~ng lai rai
cu?a o^ng ve^` nu+o+'c ma('m, trong A(n uo^'ng su+. thu+o+`ng (1972).


Nu+o+'c ma('m, cha('c kho^ng pha?i la` ddo^.c quye^`n cu?a da^n to^.c
Vie^.t, nhu+ pho+?, gio`, nem (?) ; da^n Ta`u, Tha'i Lan dde^`u la`m
nu+o+'c ma('m, du+o+`ng nhu+ kho^ng kha'c gi` ma^'y vo+'i ta. Co'
pha?i vi` the^' ma` ma^'y vi. va(n sy~ la~o tha`nh hay no'i ve^` a(n
uo^'ng (nha('c dde^'n o+? dda^`u ba`i) kho^ng dda? ddo^.ng gi` ma^'y
dde^'n ve^` mo'n a(n (gia vi.?) tuye^.t vo+`i na`y?


Nhu+ng to^i ddo^` ra(`ng, chuye^.n ddo' cu~ng co' mo^.t ly' do kha'c,
te^' nhi. ho+n. A^'y la` ca'i hu+o+ng vi., hay no'i tho^ thie^?n, ca'i
mu`i cu?a nu+o+'c ma('m.


No'i tha`nh thu+.c, nu+o+'c ma('m a(n kho^ng thi` ngon, ngu+?i dda~
ke'm pha^`n, co`n lo+~ dde^? da^y le^n qua^`n a'o thi` che^'t
do+?. Khi mo+'i qua Ta^y, to^i tu+`ng nghi~ nhu+ the^', va` cho ra(`ng
da^n Ta^y va(n minh (?!) ho+n ta o+? cho^~ chi? du`ng muo^'i va`
vegeta cu`ng ca'c loa.i gia vi. kho^ kha'c dde^? ne^m va`o ddo^` a(n,
vu+`a sa.ch se~, vu+`a tie^.n lo+.i. Thu+? tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng xem, ca'c
o^ng Marx, Engels, Fidel ma` lo+~ bi. nu+o+'c ma('m di'nh va`o
bo^. ra^u qui', thi` phie^`n ha` va` kho' chi.u bie^'t bao. Nha` va(n
Nguye^~n Y' Thua^`n co' buo^ng mo^.t ca^u "dde^'n Phan Thie^'t thi`
mu`i nu+o+'c ma('m no^`ng na`n trong ho+i tho+?", xin lo^~i ba.n
ddo.c, gia' thu+? mo^.t ca(.p ti`nh nha^n dda('m dduo^'i vo+'i
nu. ho^n nhu+ the^', cha('c la` kho^ng "khoa'i kha^?u" la('m.


To^i dda~ so^'ng sa'u, ba?y na(m o+? xu+' na`y nhu+ mo^.t ngu+o+`i
da^n ddi.a phu+o+ng tre^n bi`nh die^.n nu+o+'c ma('m. Nghi~a la`
thie^'u no'. Thu+.c ra thi` tho+`i xu+a, be^n na`y cu~ng cha(?ng co'
nu+o+'c ma('m, hoa(.c gia? ne^'u co', cu~ng hie^'m va` dda('t vo+'i
tu'i tie^`n ho.c sinh cu?a to^i. To^i tho+` o+ vo+'i ve? ho+i khinh
thi. khi tha^'y ai ddo' vui ve? vo+'i chai nu+o+'c ma('m vu+`a tranh
cu+o+'p ddu+o+.c trong tay, va` tha^`m nghi~: "Da^n mi`nh ta(m to^'i
tha^.t!".


Di~ nhie^n, cuo^'i cu`ng to^i cu~ng nha^.n ra chi'nh ba?n tha^n mi`nh
u muo^.i khi (tu+.) tu+` bo? mo^.t thu+' quo^'c ho^`n quo^'c tu'y cu?a
da^n to^.c. Gio+` dda^y, nu+o+'c ma('m dda~ kho^ng co`n la` thu+' quy'
hie^'m nhu+ tru+o+'c, va` kho^ng ma^'y bu+~a to^i thie^'u ddu+o+.c
mo'n co+ ba?n a^'y. No'i cho to chuye^.n, ddo' la` nho+` y' thu+'c
tro+? ve^` nguo^`n, nhu+ng ki` thu+.c, chi? la` su+. tie^'p no^'i
mo^.t le^` tho'i a(n uo^'ng i't nhie^`u dda(.c tru+ng cho xu+' DDo^ng
Nam A' ma` nu+o+'c ta la` mo^.t.


Nga^~m la.i, co' le~ nu+o+'c ma('m pha?i ddu+o+.c lie^.t va`o ha`ng
nhu+~ng mo'n co^? truye^`n nha^'t cu?a da^n mi`nh. Ha(?n no' dda~ co'
tu+` khi da^n Giao Chi? bie^'t du`ng hai ngo'n cha^n qua(.p ba('t ca',
ro^`i chu+ng ca^'t vo+'i muo^'i tha`nh mo^.t thu+' dung di.ch se^`n
se^.t, kho' ngu+?i vo+'i ngu+o+`i la.. DDo+`i na`y qua ddo+`i kha'c,
nu+o+'c ma('m tro+? tha`nh mo^.t hu+o+ng lie^.u, mo^.t
phu. tro+. kho^ng the^? thie^'u ddu+o+.c trong nghe^. thua^.t be^'p
nu'c Vie^.t Nam.


Ke^? ra nhu+~ng u+'ng du.ng cu?a nu+o+'c ma('m, thi` da`i do`ng. Du`ng
no' dde^? u+o+'p, dde^? ne^m va`o ca'c mo'n a(n, dda~ dda`nh. Du`ng
no' dde^? cha^'m ca'c thu+' rau, thi.t ca', cu~ng kho^ng la.. Nhu+ng
kho^ng i't nhu+~ng gia ddi`nh nghe`o co`n du`ng no' nhu+ mo^.t mo'n
a(n tru+.c tie^'p. Tru+a he` no'ng nu+.c, la('m ngu+o+`i chi? co'
kha^?u hu+'ng, ne^'u ma^m co+m co' che'n nu+o+'c ma('m da^`m sa^'u,
ddi~a rau muo^'ng luo^.c, hay ba't ca` da^`m. Chan nu+o+'c rau, bo?
va`o ddo' chu't ma('m pha chua, la` lu`a ddu+o+.c co+m ro^`i. Thu?a
nho?, to^i co' the^? dda'nh sa.ch ca? no^`i co+m, chi? vo+'i cha?o
ha`nh chu+ng vo+'i nu+o+'c ma('m, hoa(.c ba't nu+o+'c ma('m da^`m to?i
(ca? hai thu+' dde^`u kho^ng co' vi. de^~ chi.u la('m!). Nghe nha`
va(n na`o ddo' ke^? chuye^.n khi o^ng ve^` mie^`n bie^?n, quy' nha^'t
la` ddu+o+.c a(n ma^'y ba't co+m ga.o ngon chan nu+o+'c ma('m co^'t
(Vu~ Ba(`ng cu~ng tu+`ng pha^'n khi'ch vo+'i mo'n co+m ga.o ta'm tho+m
tro^.n nu+o+'c ma('m ha?o ha.ng trong Thu+o+ng nho+' mu+o+`i
hai). Nhu+ng the^' he^. chu'ng to^i tu+`ng qua nhie^`u na(m tha'ng
co+m ha^?m, ho^i ri`nh dda^`y sa.n, tra^'u ru+o+'i nu+o+'c ma('m
to^`i, ma` va^~n nho+n nho+n kho?e ma.nh nhu+ kho^ng, tro+`i dda'nh
cha(?ng che^'t. Co' le~, nu+o+'c ma('m, du` te^. dde^'n dda^u, cu~ng
co' la('m cha^'t bo^? cho con ngu+o+`i. Da^n dda'nh ca' tru+o+'c khi
ra dda.i du+o+ng, thu+o+`ng hu'p va`i ngu.m nu+o+'c ma('m cho no'ng
ngu+o+`i, ha(?n cu~ng vi` va^.y.


Nghi~ la.i ca'i tho+`i xu+a, mo+'i tha^'y ba't cha'o hoa cho ngu+o+`i
o^'m, nhie^`u khi chi? co' ha`nh xanh cu`ng chu't nu+o+'c ma('m ha.t
tie^u. Hay ne^'u co' i't thi.t, cu~ng pha?i la` thi.t na.c lo.c he^'t
mo+~, kho tha^.t ma(.n vo+'i nu+o+'c ma('m, a(n the^' no' mo+'i "la`nh
bu.ng". Nu+o+'c ma('m chu+ng vo+'i ha.t tie^u kho^ng, cu~ng la` mo^.t
mo'n a(n ddu+o+.c la('m ngu+o+`i chuo^.ng.


Nu+o+'c ma('m co`n hay o+? cho^~ no' co' the^? pho^'i ho+.p vo+'i vo^
so^' loa.i gia vi. kha'c, va` mo^~i mo^.t mo'n a(n la.i ddo`i ho?i
mo^.t combination nha^'t ddi.nh, kho^ng the^? xa'o tro^.n: ma('m to?i,
ma('m gu+`ng, ma('m rie^`ng, ma('m ha.t tie^u, ma('m o+'t, ma('m
chanh, ma('m sa^'u, ma('m da^'m, ma('m ca` cuo^'ng , nhie^`u la('m
kho^ng sao ke^? xie^'t. Nhu+~ng co^ da^u to'c va`ng da tra('ng, muo^'n
tu`y tu.c lu'c nha^.p gia, co`n me^.t!


Ca^`n no'i ky~ ho+n chu't ddi?nh ve^` mo'n ma('m ca` cuo^'ng vi` dda^y
la` thu+' kho^ng the^? thie^'u ddu+o+.c dde^? vinh danh ba'nh cuo^'n
Thanh Tri` dda~ ddi va`o huye^`n thoa.i. Nu+o+'c ma('m pha chua chua,
cay cay, xe' mo^.t chu' ca` cuo^'ng bo? va`o, a(n vo+'i ba'nh cuo^'n
tra'ng tha^.t mo?ng, no'ng ho^?i, kho^ng ca^`n co' nha^n gi` he^'t,
cu~ng tha^.t ngon va` kho' que^n. Ca` cuo^'ng - ta.o ne^n thu+'
hu+o+ng vi. dda(.c bie^.t, tu+`ng ddu+o+.c ddu+a va`o cuo^'n ky? lu.c
Guinness vi` dda('t ddo? - la` thu+' vo^'n dda~ hie^'m tu+` xu+a,
gio+` cha('c tuye^.t die^.t, i't nha^'t la` vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i co'
tu'i tie^`n mo?ng. Ho^`i co`n be', chu'ng to^i ddo^i khi co`n ba('t
ddu+o+.c chu'ng ta.i khu la(ng Ba'c mo+'i hoa`n tha`nh. Nhu+ng kho^ng
bie^'t mo^.t ngu+o+`i ngoa.i quo^'c se~ nghi~ ra sao ne^'u tha^'y
trong ba't nu+o+'c cha^'m dda(.t giu+~a ba`n a(n, che^`nh e^`nh xa'c
mo^.t thu+' co^n tru`ng gi` ddo', gio^ng gio^'ng con gia'n. Ha(?n o^ng
ta pha?i hoa?ng ho^`n ma` tha'o cha.y!


No'i dde^'n nu+o+'c ma('m, que^n sao ca'i tho+`i xa va('ng mu+o+`i
ma^'y na(m tru+o+'c dda^y o+? mie^`n Ba('c, khi hai loa.i nu+o+'c
ma('m ddo^`ng mo^'t va` ddo^`ng ru+o+~i ddu+o+.c cung ca^'p nga(.t
nghe`o theo mo^.t thu+' tie^u chua^?n tem phie^'u na`o ddo', nhu+
mo^.t thu+' cu?a quy'. Tho+`i ta ho.c ta^.p o^ng Lie^n Xo^, ca'i gi`
cu~ng tho^ng qua nha` nu+o+'c cung ca^'p, ca'i gi` cu~ng hie^'m va`
pha?i xe^'p ha`ng da`i; nu+o+'c ma('m kho^ng pha?i ngoa.i le^.. Vie^.t
Nam gia`u dde.p co' bo+` bie^?n ba.c da`i va`i nga`n ca^y-lo^-me^'ch,
ho.c sinh lo+'p mo^.t ho.c thuo^.c lo`ng nhu+ the^', ma` la('m khi
khan muo^'i, nu+o+'c ma('m qua'. Nhie^`u ba^.n, to^i ddu+o+.c chu+'ng
kie^'n ca'i tha'o va't, ta`i nghe^. cu?a da^n Vie^.t: cha to^i kie^'m
dda^u ra bo.c ma('m ca', la`m mo^.t he^. tho^'ng lo.c dda~i vo+'i bao
no^`i cha?o, chai lo., ro^`i cu~ng ddie^`u che^' ddu+o+.c mo^.t thu+'
nu+o+'c ma`u nho+` nho+`, gio^ng gio^'ng nu+o+'c ma('m, ra^'t ngo.t,
nhu+ng vi. kho^ng dda^.m dda` ba(`ng.


Ve^` vi. cu?a nu+o+'c ma('m, to^i co`n nho+', nu+o+'c ma('m mie^`n
Ba('c nga`y xu+a kho^ng co' ddu+o+.c ca'i vi. dda^.m, tho+m nhu+
nu+o+'c ma('m Phu' Quo^'c, thi?nh thoa?ng ddu+o+.c ddu+a ra ba'n vo+'i
gia' cao tu+` Nam; to^i ddo^` ra(`ng su+. thoa'i ho'a a^'y cu~ng la`
sa?n pha^?m cu?a che^' ddo^. XHCN trong ma^'y tha^.p ky?, chu+' thu+'
nu+o+'c ma('m co^? truye^`n mie^`n bie^?n Ba('c Bo^. tho+`i na`o,
cha('c pha?i dda^.m dda(.c la('m, kho^ng thi` sao o^ng Cao Ba' Qua't
vi' ddu+o+.c vi. cu?a no' vo+'i mo^.t thi xa~ quy tu. nhie^`u thi sy~
ta`i ba? Ca` ke^ ddo^i chu't, ca'i vi. na`y cu~ng la`m to^i ma^'t
ma(.t nhie^`u phen, khi co' vi. ddo^`ng hu+o+ng na`o ddo' no^?i hu+'ng
ddun na^'u trong ky' tu'c xa': ca'c ba.n ba?n xu+', thoa.t dda^`u
cha.y va`o WC xem co' ai que^n gia^.t nu+o+'c, sau ddo' chi? thoa'ng
dda'nh ho+i tha^'y, ho. hie^?u ngay la` ne^n ddo'ng cha(.t cu+?a,
ddu+`ng da.i gi` ma` da^y vo+'i Co^.ng qua^n! DDie^`u na`y, cha('c
kho^ng chi? dda(.c tru+ng cho da^n Vie^.t ta.i DDo^ng A^u, o^ng Tra`
Lu~ o+? Gia-na~-dda.i trong ma^'y cuo^'n sa'ch cu?a mi`nh, cu~ng hay
nha('c dde^'n ca'i hu+o+ng vi. khie^'n ai ddi ddu+o+`ng du` kho^ng co'
la ba`n, cu~ng de^~ nha^.n ra no+i ddo^`n tru' cu?a qua^n ta. (Di'nh
da'ng dde^'n nu+o+'c ma('m Phu' Quo^'c, xin no'i the^m chuye^.n gia'o
su+ tie^'n sy~ DDa(.ng DDi`nh A'ng, mo^.t trong nhu+~ng nha` toa'n
ho.c no^?i danh nha^'t cu?a Vie^.t Nam, tu+`ng pha^n ti'ch va` chu+'ng
minh ra(`ng dda^y la` thu+' dinh du+o+~ng ha`ng dda^`u "ma` ta co'
the^? tu+. ha`o nhu+ ngu+o+`i Pha'p tu+. ha`o ve^` ru+o+.u vang cu?a
ho.". Ke? kha'c ma` no'i the^', co' the^? to^i cho la` xa.o, nhu+ng
trong vu. na`y, cha('c kho^ng pha?i o^ng A'ng co^' khen la^'y
ddu+o+.c!).


Vo^'n la` mo^.t ddu+'a tre? vu.ng ve^`, kho^ng i't ba^.n to^i la`m
vo+~ hoa(.c ddo^? chai nu+o+'c ma('m, ba'u va^.t cu?a gia ddi`nh,
ddu+o+.c du+. tru` dde^? a(n trong ca? tha'ng. Nhu+~ng khi a^'y, to^i
bi. quo+? ma('ng du+~ do^.i la('m, va` co`n ddu+o+.c cho bie^'t the^'
la` ddie^`m go+?, cha(?ng hie^?u ta.i sao va` tre^n co+ so+? gi`?
Me. to^i phu. tra'ch vie^.c mua nu+o+'c ma('m, vi` so+. "ngu+o+`i ta
lu+`a lu~ tre? nhu+ chu'ng ma`y", nghi~a la` tra'o hai loa.i ddo^`ng
mo^'t va` ddo^`ng ru+o+~i. Nhu+ng thu+.c ra, co' ai ddo ddu+o+.c
no^`ng ddo^. va` pha^?m cha^'t cu?a chu'ng dda^u; kho^ng hie^'m
ngu+o+`i mua pha?i loa.i ma('m bi. pha vo+'i nu+o+'c la~, ve^` pha?i
bo? ddi vi` thiu tho^'i nhanh la('m.


Cu`ng dde^` ta`i, to^i co`n muo^'n ke^? dde^'n mo^.t thu+' "nu+o+'c
ma('m", trong mo^.t thu`ng sa('t ri? ngoe`n ddu+o+.c ba`y lo^. thie^n
ta.i mo^.t tru+o+`ng dda.i ho.c no., dde^? sinh vie^n du`ng "tha?
cu+?a". Du+o+`ng nhu+ no' ddu+o+.c chu+ng ba(`ng muo^'i, ddu+o+`ng,
o+'t bo^.t va` chu't da^'m (?), a(n va`o tha^'y ma(`n ma(.n, chua chua
la.i cay cay, nghi~a la` ddu? mo.i vi., chi? co' vi. tho+m dda(.c thu`
cu?a nu+o+'c ma('m ddi'ch thu+.c la` thie^'u; cu+' ca.n, ngu+o+`i ta
la.i ddo^? the^m nu+o+'c va`o. Nghi~ la.i, to^i va^~n ru`ng mi`nh khi
nho+' la.i nhu+~ng lu'c chui dda^`u va`o chie^'c thu`ng phuy dden si`
si` nhu+~ng ri? sa('t, bo^'c mu`i thum thu?m va` to^'i om om a^'y
dde^? mu'c chu't cha^'t muo^'i cho bu+~a a(n ha`ng nga`y.


Trong tu`y bu't cu?a mi`nh, nha` va(n Vo~ Phie^'n ke^? chuye^.n mo^.t
ngu+o+`i ngoa.i quo^'c mo+'i bie^'t qua loa dda~ tha'n phu.c nu+o+'c
ma('m, dde^? ro^`i buo^ng lo+`i nha^.n xe't: "Su+'c ma^'y ma` mo^.t
ngu+o+`i ngoa.i quo^'c tha^'u trie^.t no^?i ca'i tinh tu'y cu?a
nu+o+'c ma('m! Co`n la^u!". Va^~n bie^'t nu+o+'c ma('m la` ngon, la`
dda'ng ke^? vo+'i ngu+o+`i Vie^.t, nhu+ng no' quan tro.ng dde^'n the^'
sao? Co' ve? nhu+ nie^`m tu+. ha`o cu?a da^n mo^.t nu+o+'c kho^ng co'
sa?n pha^?m co^ng nghie^.p gi` dde^? ddo+`i cho the^' gio+'i, ne^n
pha?i to^n mo^.t thu+' dda(.c sa?n no^ng (ngu+) nghie^.p le^n dde^?
co' ca'i ma` "ve? vang da^n Vie^.t" vo+'i be^n ngoa`i?


Ke^? ra, no'i ve^` su+. "tinh tu'y" cu?a nu+o+'c ma('m thi` cu~ng
dda.i ngo^n kho^ng ke'm gi` ca'i "thu+.c te^' pho+?" cu?a Nguye^~n
Tua^n. Tuy va^.y, vo+'i da^n ta, nha^'t la` vo+'i ca'c ba` no^.i
tro+., co' the^? no'i kho^ng qua' lo+`i ra(`ng su+? du.ng nu+o+'c
ma('m tha`nh thu.c va` uye^?n chuye^?n chi'nh la` thu+o+'c ddo
su+. khe'o le'o trong nghe^. thua^.t na^'u nu+o+'ng cu?a ho.. Ho+i
bo^'c ddo^`ng ne^'u tu+. ta'n tu.ng no' tre^n bi`nh die^.n quo^'c
te^', nhu+ng thu' thu+.c, to^i kho^ng la`m sao gia^'u no^?i no^~i
khoa'i tra' tru+o+'c ca?nh mo^.t anh Ta^y, chi. dda^`m cu~ng du`ng
nu+o+'c ma('m xi` xu.p. Ta co`n nghe`o, cu+' ha~y tu+. ha`o vo+'i
nhu+~ng gi` ta co', theo ca'i ca'ch cu?a ta. DDa~ sao?


Ba.n cu~ng co' the^? tha('c ma('c: "Nu+o+'c ma('m chi? la` thu+' gia
vi., ddo^` a(n trong tho+`i ddo'i ke'm, o+? mo^.t xu+' kho^?
cu+.c. Chu+' ne^'u sau na`y, ngo^. nho+~ chu'ng ta va(n minh, tie^'n
le^n CNCS, thi` no' dda^u co`n la` quo^'c ho^`n quo^'c tu'y cu?a da^n
Vie^.t?".


Co^' nhie^n, ddo' chi? la` mo^.t ca^u ho?i la^?m ca^?m, do to^i
tu+. bi.a ra, dde^? nha^'n ma.nh ti'nh vi~nh ha(`ng cu?a nu+o+'c
ma('m. Kho^ng ai nghi~ ngo^ nghe^ nhu+ the^', cu~ng nhu+ cha(?ng ai
cho ra(`ng ne^'u ta le^n CNXH, thi` gio` se~ ddu+o+.c nho^`i theo
kie^?u co^ng nghie^.p trong nhu+~ng ma'ng sa('t, nhu+ Nguye^~n Tua^n
phi.a ra ho^`i na`o, dde^? ro^`i tu+. phu? nha^.n (xem Gio` lu.a). Vo~
Phie^'n dda(.t ra va^'n dde^` "ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam ma^'t ddi ca'i tinh
te^' ddo^'i vo+'i nu+o+'c ma('m" cu~ng chi? dde^? ba'c bo? lie^`n "gi`
ma` oa'i oa(m qua' va^.y". Chuye^.n ta.i mo^.t nu+o+'c Ba('c My~ na`o
ddo', da^n Vie^.t dda~ la^.p ne^n mo^.t nha` ma'y nu+o+'c ma('m,
quye^'t kho^ng chi.u cho ngu+o+`i Tha'i Lan la`m gia`u ba(`ng chi'nh
sa?n pha^?m cu?a da^n to^.c mi`nh, cu~ng cho tha^'y: nu+o+'c ma('m
kho^ng he^` che^'t, ke^? ca? o+? nhu+~ng mo^i tru+o+`ng xa la., va`
ddie^`u ddo' co' le~ kho^ng di'nh da'ng gi` dde^'n su+. ho^.i nha^.p
kho^ng hoa`n toa`n cu?a nhie^`u ngu+o+`i Vie^.t o+? nu+o+'c ngoa`i.


Nhu+ng co' le~, ta'n tu.ng nu+o+'c ma('m, mo^.t thu+' vo^'n bi. coi
la` thu+o+`ng nha^.t, the^' tu+o+?ng cu~ng dda~ la` nhie^`u. Kho^ng
gi` ho+n la` ke^'t thu'c vo+'i ddoa.n va(n sau dda^y cu?a cu. Vu+o+ng
Ho^`ng Se^?n no'i ve^` ca'i thu' a(n da^n da~ cu?a ngu+o+`i nghe`o,
la^'y nu+o+'c ma('m la`m chi'nh: " Chu'ng ta co' mo'n 'ma('m va` rau',
tu+'c la` 'ma('m kho rau so^'ng', bo^ng su'ng nguye^n so+.i, rau du+`a
nguye^n co.ng, ne^'u xa('t nho? thi` ma^'t ngon, va` pha?i tu+. tay
na('m ca? nu`i rau, vo` la.i va` nga('t ddu+'t ba(`ng tay, do^`n ta^'t
ca? va`o to^, chan nga^.p nu+o+'c ma('m, va` lua va`o mo^`m, nhai nghe
so^`n so^.t, ma' phu`ng ra, ni'n tho+?, mie^.ng mo^`m cha`m ngoa`m,
dde^'n kho^ng tho^'t ddu+o+.c lo+`i na`o, va` nhu+ va^.y mo+'i tha^.t
la` khoa'i kha^?u, ca'i 'mo'n a(n nha` nghe`o' a^'y, ne^'u a(n kinh
kie^.u, rau xa('t nho?, va` mie^'ng nho?, va^n va^n, thanh bai co'
tha^.t, ma` quo^'c ho^`n dda~ ma^'t tu+` la^u." (Sa`i Go`n ta.p pi'n
lu`)


Ba.n tha^'y co' the`m kho^ng?





6





DDa~ mo+? dda^`u ba(`ng ca'c nha` va(n vo+'i su+. a(n uo^'ng, thi`
thu+? ho?i o+? ngoa`i ddo+`i, ho. (ddu+o+.c) a(n uo^'ng ra sao? Ca'i
dde^` ta`i na`y vo^'n thuo^.c loa.i taboo qua', no'i ra kho^ng
tie^.n. Ba(`ng chu+'ng la` o^ng To^ Hoa`i, mo^.t nha` va(n thuo^.c
loa.i "la~o la`ng" tre^n va(n dda`n ta, ma` ca'ch dda^y ma^'y na(m khi
ra cuo^'n Ca't bu.i cha^n ai co`n bi. la('m ngu+o+`i xi` xa`o. Bo+?i
ngoa`i chuye^.n "ti`nh trai" cu?a Xua^n Die^.u (vo+'i o^ng va` nhie^`u
ngu+o+`i kha'c), To^ Hoa`i co`n dda? ddo^.ng dde^'n mo^.t ca' ti'nh
(xa^'u?) cu?a o^ng vua tho+ ti`nh na`y, ma` nhie^`u ngu+o+`i dda~
bie^'t nhu+ng kho^ng no+~ no'i ra: ddo' la` ca'i lo^'i ti'nh toa'n ti?
ma^?n trong a(n uo^'ng, nhi`n gi` cu~ng qui ra bao nhie^u ca-lo, ai
mo+`i ddi no'i chuye^.n hay ddo.c tho+ la` ddo`i xem tru+o+'c thu+.c
ddo+n, do+? hay kho^ng thi.nh soa.n, kho^ng dda.t tie^u chua^?n a^'n
ddi.nh la` da~y na?y cho^'i ngay. Co' khi, o^ng co`n ddo`i tu+. sa('p
saun thu+.c ddo+n; su+'c a(n cha(?ng ddu+o+.c bao nhie^u, nhu+ng ne^'u
ddu+o+.c mo+`i, cu~ng co^' la`m he^'t ca? ba`n tie^.c, dde^'n
ddo^. co' la^`n bi. bo^.i thu+.c, pha?i ddi ca^'p cu+'u. Ngay ba?n
tha^n Xua^n Die^.u cu~ng cho ra(`ng bu+~a a(n cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i
mo+`i o^ng chi'nh la` ca'ch dda'nh gia' ta^`m vo'c thi ca cu?a o^ng!
Nghe ma` tha^'y tha?m va` nhu.c nha~!


La` chuye^.n ca' nha^n va` te^' nhi. ne^n le~ ra mie^~n ba`n. Nhu+ng
kho^ng du+`ng cho ddu+o+.c, vi` dda^y la` tru+o+`ng ho+.p mo^.t vi~
nha^n (trong khuo^n kho^? va(n dda`n Vie^.t Nam). Suy cho cu`ng, co'
le~ cu~ng chi? vi` ddo'i kho^? qua'. Ma` Xua^n Die^.u, mo^.t trong
so^' nhu+~ng va(n nghe^. sy~ "lo^.t xa'c" ky~ ca`ng nha^'t sau 1945,
na`o dda~ thuo^.c loa.i cu`ng qua^~n?


So sao ddu+o+.c vo+'i Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang, bao na(m ro`ng ba('t co'c
nha'i la`m cha? nu+o+'ng ro^`i vu+`a a(n vu+`a tu+. an u?i mi`nh,
the^' la` bo^? ga^n co^'t la('m? So sao ddu+o+.c vo+'i Va(n Cao,
Phu`ng Qua'n , ma^'y chu.c na(m tro+`i thie^'u a(n, chi? uo^'ng suo^ng
ru+o+.u tra('ng, dde^'n no^~i mo+'i xa^'p xi? lu.c tua^`n ma` ra^u
to'c dda~ tra('ng phau tu+.a ngu+o+`i ta'm mu+o+i? Hay Quang Du~ng
la~ng tu+? nga^'t tro+`i mo^.t thuo+?, cao to lu+`ng lu+~ng nhu+ Ta^y,
tu+`ng "ma('t tru+`ng gu+?i mo^.ng qua bie^n gio+'i" na(m na`o, ma`
ve^` gia` ddo'i kho^?, cha(?ng ma^'y khi ddu+o+.c a(n mo^.t bu+~a co+m
no'ng cho tho?a chi', chi? co+m nguo^.i vo+'i muo^'i ca^`m ho+i ro^`i
ma^'t trong ca?nh be^.nh hoa.n kho^ng thuo^'c men. Ro^`i Nguye^~n
Bi'nh, ra ddi giu+~a nga`y Te^'t, mie^.ng co`n cho'p che'p the`m
co+m. Nhu+~ng vi' du. nhu+ the^', ke^? dde^'n bao gio+` cho he^'t!


DDo.c ve^` nhu+~ng chuye^.n a(n uo^'ng, ta tha^'y khoa'i, mo^.t pha^`n
co' le~ vi` ta cu~ng dda~ tu+`ng la^m va`o ca?nh kho' kha(n, khi
mie^'ng a(n tha^.t ha.n che^'. Ne^n ta bie^'t ro~ ca'i gia' (tri.)
cu?a su+. a(n, cu~ng nhu+ bu`i ngu`i tru+o+'c ca'i gia' pha?i tra?
dde^? ddu+o+.c a(n. Va` tha`nh thu+?, tu+` ca'i dde^` ta`i kho^ng
ma^'y cao sang a^'y, la('m ngu+o+`i dda~ dde^? la.i nhu+~ng trang
sa'ch dde^? ddo+`i - ve^` ca'i no, ca'i ddo'i cu?a nu+o+'c mi`nh -,
ma` co' khi chi? da^n ta mo+'i tha^'y hay, tha^'y qui'.


Chu+' to^i cho ra(`ng, ne^'u ddu+o+.c di.ch ra tie^'ng nu+o+'c ngoa`i,
cha('c gi` ngu+o+`i da^n mo^.t xu+' no ddu? dda~ ca?m tha^'y hay,
tha^'y dda(.c sa('c. Cu`ng la('m, vo+'i ho., nhu+~ng trang sa'ch a^'y
chi? co' chu't gia' tri. kha?o cu+'u ve^` mo^.t pha^`n phong tu.c cu?a
mo^.t dda^'t nu+o+'c xa la..
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