On an early November afternoon, heavy rain caused water to pool on the tarpaulin covering a chè cart on Nguyễn Văn Thủ Street (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). Mr. Thể stepped out, shook off the water, and then returned to his corner on the sidewalk to continue washing dishes. Fifteen minutes later, after three groups of customers left, he quickly cleaned the cups and arranged the chairs.
He works six hours a day, rain or shine. For four decades, this man has never felt tired because “being able to work is happiness.” His simple chè cart, nestled under two large umbrellas, bears the sign “Dương Quá” as a reflection of his life story.
The nearly 80-year-old man is famous for selling chè in Saigon. It is only after tasting his chè that people understand why he is called “Dương Quá.”
Mr. Thể was born and raised with a healthy body. In 1968, he helped a neighbor by carrying her chè cart. They only had a few simple items like mung beans, black beans, and red beans served with coconut milk.
Four years later, Mr. Thể had an accident and lost one arm. “That was the darkest time; I was sad, afraid I couldn’t do anything and would become a burden to my family,” he recalled. His family consisted only of him and his sister, who always took care of him.
In the beginning, he struggled to move around and couldn’t dress himself. He cautiously took each step around the house and practiced doing everything on his own. Gradually, he could cook, clean, wash dishes, and even ride a bicycle.
When his wound healed, he chose to sell chè for a living. With his sister’s guidance, he sold chè in Phú Nhuận District, then moved to Phạm Ngọc Thạch Street (District 3). Eventually, his chè cart was set up on Nguyễn Văn Thủ Street (Đa Kao Ward, District 1), where it has remained for 40 years.
“Dương Quá” is a nickname given by local residents. Some people passing by saw him working diligently despite having only one arm. He didn’t hesitate to deliver chè on his bicycle, no matter how far, and then quickly returned to stir the chè, bag it, and handle payments.
The image of a one-armed man reminded them of the character Dương Quá from Kim Dung’s novel “The Return of the Condor Heroes.” They called him that so often that Mr. Thể embraced it and named his chè cart “Dương Quá.”
“They often ask me, ‘Where’s your Cô Long?’ I can only smile,” said Mr. Thể. For decades, he has worked tirelessly and has not dared to marry. Every morning, he wakes up early to help his sister cook chè, sets up his cart at noon, and handles countless tasks. He devotes his energy to caring for his nieces, nephews, and elderly sister.
At night, he just wants to rest. Years of such routine have made him reluctant to start a family, as he doesn’t want to bring hardship to anyone. Despite this, Mr. Thể doesn’t feel lonely because he has customers who stop by to chat. Some inquire about his work, some become familiar faces, and some even save his phone number to call when needed.
Around noon, office workers from nearby buildings visit his cart. Each cup of chè costs between 15,000-20,000 VND. He sells about 100 cups daily, enough to cover family expenses.
Mr. Thể’s chè is unique, with a light sweetness and a rich, buttery mung bean flavor. For years, he and his elderly sister have had help from his niece-in-law, Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Nữ (55 years old). She has added new items like water chestnut with coconut rice, combined with various beans, lotus seeds, and grass jelly. Each cup of chè is colorful, topped with rich coconut milk.
The chè cart is popular because “Dương Quá” is always cheerful. He rarely gets upset; when the work gets too tough, he rests in a corner or chats with regular customers.
Đức Tiến (29 years old) is a regular customer. Initially, he was impressed by the one-armed man who was quick and diligent. Occasionally, he stopped by to eat and became “addicted” to the chè.
“He’s very kind, always smiling and never grumpy. Whenever I buy to-go, he asks if my house is far, worried that the coconut milk might spoil or the ice might melt,” Tiến said.
And just like “Dương Quá’s” outlook on life, there’s already enough sadness in the world, so enjoy the happy days while you can.
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Source: Vietnam Insider