In a small town located in the middle of the golden rice fields of the West, there is a baker named Minh. Minh is famous for the sweet, delicious cakes he makes. Every early morning, when the sun begins to rise, the smoke from the oven and the smell of cakes spread throughout the streets, attracting people to his bakery.
Minh is a hard worker. He works tirelessly to support his family. His wife, Lan, and two young children, Tam and Binh, are always the motivation for him to try. Every day, he wakes up at 3am, prepares ingredients, makes cakes and sells cakes until late at night. However, life is not easy, they live in a small, cramped house, but it is always filled with laughter and love.
However, deep down, Minh feels that something is missing. He earned enough money to support his family, but the simple joys of life seemed to be slipping away. He often saw his wife tired after a long day of taking care of the children, and that worried him. He wondered if he was really bringing happiness to his family.
One day, while he was working, he received news that an old friend from Saigon had returned to visit. Huy, a successful businessman, always wanted to show off his lavish life. Minh invited Huy to visit his bakery, to reminisce about his old memories from his school days.
When Huy arrived, Minh had prepared a small party with cakes and tea. Huy sat down, savoring each piece of cake and praising Minh’s cooking skills. However, Huy then began to share about his life: the plots of land and houses here and there, the lavish parties, and the luxury cars. Huy said: “I don’t understand why you only make cakes like this. Try going to the city, life there is very interesting and there are many opportunities to make money.”
Minh listened, but in his heart there was a concern. He remembered the simple but warm life of his family, where there was the laughter of his children, the care of his wife. He did not want to trade all of that just to have money but did not know if he would be happy?
After Huy left, Minh struggled with the thought that material things are important for life, but what about happiness and love in the family? Then, like every day, he still spent more time with his wife and children. He organized small picnics, played together and created beautiful memories.
As the days passed, Minh felt that his life was becoming more and more meaningful. He was not only a baker but also a father, a husband who took care of his family. In the evenings, the whole family gathered around dinner, watching TV shows or a movie. Joy and happiness that money cannot buy.
One afternoon, when Minh was cleaning the bakery, a group of children from the village came to visit. They asked: “Uncle Minh, can you teach us how to make cakes?” Minh smiled and nodded in agreement. He spent time with the children, not only to teach them how to make cakes but also to convey to them good life values: love, self-respect and responsibility for the family.
Minh realized that these lessons were not only for children but also things he needed to learn for himself. He understood that each cake was not only a finished product, but also the love and care he put into it. He felt even more proud of his work, because it not only helped feed his family but also brought happiness to everyone around him.
As the years passed, Minh’s bakery became more and more crowded, and his cakes were sold in big cities. Many people like his cakes not only because of their delicious cakes, but also because of his warm atmosphere and friendliness. His wife and children love and respect him not only because he works hard to earn money, but also because of his love and responsibility for others.
In the end, Minh realized that in life, material things can help us survive, but happiness is what makes our lives meaningful. And it is the good values of life, self-respect and responsibility for family that create the foundation for respect from relatives and society. Survive on meals, but to live happily, we must have love and responsibility for each other.
