Illustration (Source: Internet). Using protracted rains on the third and seventh days of the month of Ngau turned out to be an accurate forecast for thousands of years. At least me and my old friends believe so. In the old Hanoi, there was only one public high point where children could play. That’s the Long Bien bridge year round, the piles are painted and repaired. On the bridge, you can have a panoramic view of the old town with brown tiles and white walls. On a rainy day, the pink tile roofs look like they’ve been on fire. The turbid river below his feet was flowing. Surrounding the bridge abutments are rotten firewood and the water is as black as horns. Nearly fifty years ago, I often invited my friends to the bridge on rainy days like that. Now, looking back at my friends, the hair is already more than half gray. Oh well, it seems that during my childhood, the streets called me to wake up sweet memories. The city suddenly turned into a miniature in the embrace of the tolerant rain. Hanoi rain in the old quarter is not sad. There’s no reason to be sad. The city bathing after sweltering days seems to be blooming. People’s eyes are happy and less anxious than usual. The streets are empty of shops and restaurants. Vehicles on the road are also less aggressive. The old people were free to invite each other to drink. Just for a cool reason. My friends often find very surprising and reasonable reasons to drink. Sometimes the reason is just “the wind is coming”. The torrential rain throughout the week can be considered a “reason agent”. Find an empty restaurant overlooking the street. Phung Hung Street at the beginning of the even number is such a place. The door of the shop looks straight to the bridge leading the train to the slope of Long Bien bridge. One of the most majestic stone structures left over from the French colonial period. More than a hundred years, the row of soft iron railings riveted with rivets still has no aesthetic competitor in the city. This section of the bridge is associated with memories of me and my friends at the University of Civil Engineering forty years ago. That’s where you hop on and off the train for the first few months of school. The city suddenly had an unexpectedly calm corner. The sound of the rain could be heard clearly on the stone wall hanging with a few green ferns. Sparrows gliding and jumping on the pavement in search of prey. The arches at the foot of the bridge have been sealed with stone since the day that all Hanoians left the mountainous economic zone to live temporarily. A humorously optimistic dreamy journey of Hanoi residents ends in the arches of no passport. Neither is electricity. It’s strange that quite a few children are born to the grinding sound of railway wheels coming out of their heads. Who are they? Now out on the street can not know. Hanoi again received stray children without discrimination. Like rain evenly distributed throughout the streets. Stop the rain. Fragile yellow lily flowers sprinkled on the quiet Cua Dong street. Suddenly autumn…

Gradually, she was convinced because after using this “super cheap” mask, the shop owner’s facial skin was much more beautiful – no more acne, wrinkles also faded. Oanh also crept to try it, although it was a bit horrible. That night, after the “communication”, she volunteered to bring her “raincoat” to throw it away and did not forget to go to the toilet to smear it. Contrary to whispers, after about 10 minutes her face started to burn, she hurriedly went to wash it. The next morning, Ms. Oanh’s entire face was itchy, swollen, and had a rash… So bad she had to go to the hospital. Doctors said she was allergic to semen. “Fortunately I only have a mild allergy, but if I had anaphylaxis then… I don’t know what to do now. The doctor said that there are people who accidentally apply skin lotion to their eyes and can also contract sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, syphilis) if the man has the disease, “Oanh said. Are sperm masks really as effective as rumored? Share with reporters Infonet, Dr. Dr. Nguyen Hoai Bac, Head of the Department of Andrology and Sex Medicine, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, said that although there is some evidence to prove that semen can be beneficial for the skin, more evidence is still needed. Scientific evidence proves this. The idea that semen can benefit skin health, he says, stems from the small evidence that nutrients in semen can benefit the skin. Accordingly, researchers based on the properties of semen have listed a number of nutrients present in semen. Include protein: Collagen is a protein that can benefit skin health, collagen supplements can improve skin moisture and elasticity, and make skin softer. Zinc is present in semen with antioxidant properties and can help prevent skin damage caused by UV exposure. Magnesium may benefit dry skin by reducing inflammation and boosting hydration and urea: Low doses of urea can be helpful for moisturizing skin. In addition, there are also some people, according to Dr. Hoai Bac, who believe that semen can help treat and improve acne. “This stems from the idea that an organic compound, found in semen, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. But there is no scientific evidence to support the use of semen as a treatment for acne,” Dr. Dr. Hoai Bac emphasized. In addition, semen contains a chemical called spermidine, which is responsible for the smell of semen. A 2021 study notes that spermidine, when secreted from streptococcus bacteria, may contribute to skin repair by encouraging collagen synthesis. The amount of spermidine in semen may be too low for younger-looking skin. But many foods are high in spermidine, such as citrus fruits and green peppers. That does not mean that you have to apply semen to your face to replenish the amount of spermidine. Although semen contains nutrients beneficial to the skin, Dr. There is very little scientific evidence to prove that using or consuming semen topically can improve skin health and appearance, says Dr. Nguyen Hoai Bac. Meanwhile, when using this type of mask, women will have to face potential risks. “Applying semen on the skin carries a number of risks, including: STIs (sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, chlamydia). This is because applying semen contaminated with sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia or gonorrhea to the face, if it accidentally gets in the eyes, can lead to an STI. In addition, gonorrhea can affect the skin and can cause a rash,” Dr. Dr. Nguyen Hoai Bac emphasized. Not only that, some people also have an allergic reaction after coming into contact with semen. The case of Ms. Oanh (Cau Giay) is a typical example. Accordingly, a person who is having an allergic reaction to semen may experience symptoms: itching, swelling, rash, even anaphylaxis, dermatitis … just because semen is applied to the face. “As with any product that a person may use on the skin, using semen on the skin carries the risk of skin irritation. Although semen contains nutritional properties and ingredients that may benefit the skin, in small amounts, there is therefore not any skin or hair benefit through topical use of semen. “, Dr. Doctor Nguyen Hoai Bac confirmed. Agreeing with this point of view, dermatologists recommend that women should not take their face out to test how to beautify skin with sperm. Because everything related to health, once it wants to be widely used in the community, it must be based on medical evidence with clinical trials to verify its effectiveness. Uninformed beautification in the style of leaking ears can have incalculable consequences.

However, there is a photo that is being spread and dissected a lot by netizens because looking at it makes everyone feel “cold.” Because this is an image in the heavy rain, a group of friends of about a dozen people are together wearing raincoats, standing together to shelter the rain under the big pine tree. At first glance, it seems that there is a warm and safe relationship, but in fact, looking at the photo shows great potential risks. Under heavy rain, especially sudden showers, if standing under a big tree, it is easy to be struck by lightning, because lightning will hit objects higher than other objects. Looking at the photo, everyone “shivered” worried: “Where the rain is standing under the tree, you guys. Do you want to catch waves with Thien Lightning or what?”; “If the lightning god unfortunately comes to visit, this tree will not be lonely from now on”; “They must have skipped the correct class on how to prevent natural disasters”; “While waiting for the rain to stop, you will pull your phone out to live on a virtual live stream again”; There are many opinions that this is definitely another tourist to visit Da Lat, to take pictures of the lonely pine tree by the Suoi Vang lake. Because I did not see the weather first, I was unable to prepare a rainproof kit. So, no matter where you travel, prepare all the necessary items such as umbrellas, raincoats … and carefully study the weather and climate of the destination to avoid incidents. a pity happened.

“Is the rain so hard?”, I asked. Ms. Nhi (53 years old, selling fruit in front of the University of Education of Ho Chi Minh City) just laughed: “In the rainy season, we have to bear it, he rains and stops it, we stop it raining, we will continue to sell. Whenever heavy rain, prolonged, come back and rest early ”. The rainy season passes through the city but does not mean every day is rainy, it just means that a rainy day is more than a sunny day. Someone who was not born and raised in this city, but living here for a few years, well understands the weather situation of the city “early sunshine and afternoon rain” and as a survival instinct, people will know how to adapt. Adapt to the rain – sun in the city In areas where there are many office buildings and companies, you will definitely not worry about hunger, because there are enough restaurants around there from snacks to full food. Alley 100, Nguyen Cong Tru Street (District 1), during the lunch break, the office was bustling with rice, this season it was easy to hear people whispering: “Eat quickly and go back to the room to rain”, “bring an umbrella, The clouds are so dark. ”… Ms. Hoa (62 years old), parking her tea car in front of the alley, also took advantage of her acquaintance: there”. Guest nodded and smiled, Ms. Hoa quickly made a few cups of tea. Every job is difficult, but making a living by selling or working outdoors, the natural rain and rain becomes a direct factor. But people always have a way to adapt, almost in this city, I have not heard anyone say because it rains and quit work, only a little bit extreme and sell a little bit slower. Also on rainy days, the benevolent and generous character of the city “drew” more raincoats. On sunny day, easy to see “free iced tea” vase / box, it is raining, hanging in front of the house / shop or a big tree stump on some city streets, the carton paper says “Free raincoat” . Of course, it was a small raincoat to wear immediately so as not to get wet, but the rain fell, it was very smart to take it off, then only be able to wear it once or twice. But the precious thing is that people always know how to share together during hardships, a small raincoat also helps to prevent a heavy rain from getting wet. Rain – sunshine is the law of nature and rain and shine in this city also become a romantic theme of poetry. People remember the flower season – the season of scent in the capital, but Ho Chi Minh City has only 2 rainy and sunny seasons, it also goes into literature, staying in the nostalgia of those who are far away from the city. Rain – sun also carries more stories of life full of love …

Illustration: Dinh Huong Hue told Lich: “When I have a little capital, I will open a company, I will not work as hired labor, so I will see you every day.” Love is like that, people who always need to meet people every day like waking up every morning to see the sun throw brilliant golden rays of sunlight on the ground. But Hue’s work often takes long trips. When she arrived at home without Lich, Hue stuck multicolored sheets of paper on the door of his house. These words are like replacing Hue rabbits with Lich: “God, I have to go to work again today. So I can’t have lunch with you this Saturday. Kiss you”. “You’re spoiled. The other day I told you to go wherever you go, bring a raincoat to keep in the trunk of the car, but you don’t obey. Rain, when you are sick, whoever goes out to go to the market with me. I bought you a raincoat, I kept it in a place where … only the two of us know “. “In a place where only the two of us know” was an empty slot of the house’s two walls, covered with an old, green moss-colored concrete block. “Brother, I miss you so much today.” Sometimes the words on the paper are just that. But is it not necessary to write long enough to spread all your thoughts with your loved one? Sometimes just one word implies a heart leaning toward one heart. Or sometimes, on the other piece of paper just a mere word: “Angry”. The word angry is sometimes very pitiful because he has to endure the monsoons blowing on the street, when Lich has not read, the paper on the door has to turn up and down like hangover be removed, put into the anniversary box. *** Love each other for a month and 12 days, then they get married. All love after walking through the streets of the city, visiting all the sidewalk eateries, even sitting tired in cafes large and small – often end with two people together. about living in the same roof. Calendar laughed with Hue: “Let’s save some money together”. Hue laughed: “That means someone cleaning the house, cleaning the house, rubbing the cigarette butts you smoke, washing the clothes for you to wear, putting the curtains for you to sleep … right?” Calendar shakes his head: “I don’t mean that. I mean when I invite you to breakfast, I have you by my side. No need to call to ask if I have free time? ” Hue pouted: “Get married to have someone go to breakfast and coffee, but do you love me?”. Without answering his wife’s words, Lich just whispered: “Probably no one has stuck the red and green papers in front of my door from now on” … Then Hue opened a real company. Many things learned from the old company, when being assigned to the position of assistant director, helped Hue to have many business partners. Hue is an experienced person in communication, capturing the thoughts of guests. On the day of the company’s opening ceremony Hue, flowers congratulate a lot. In the afternoon of his wife, Lich also sent his wife a huge flower basket with 100 roses. Calendar said: “I should only send 99 roses as in some piece of music. But now you and I are husband and wife, so you have to even count ”. Hue put on her lips with a gloss of lip gloss, sprinkled some pretty glitter, kissed her husband’s cheek: “Thank you. Thank you, General Manager ”. The calendar looked in the mirror, saw that his wife’s lipstick was on her cheeks, and was also happy: “Come on, make me the general manager so that tomorrow I will make you surrender, right?” Hue laughed loudly: “That’s right”. *** The multicolored sheets of paper with a corner of a flower no longer appeared on the door, now hastily written words on the letter pad left at the table in the living room. Hue’s work increasingly attracted Hue away from her role as a wife. In the past, when two people fell in love, Lich once said: “I really crave family meals. Just sitting with you to eat, even if you just eat water spinach dipped in fish sauce, I will feel delicious ”. Hue laughed very happily: “What can I do to let me eat water spinach dipped in fish sauce? I will let you eat stir-fried morning glory with garlic and chili sauce “. The days when two people meet each other are rare, meals together are rarer. Every time I go home in the afternoon, Lich often sees the words Hue written. “Bro, I have stocked meat, I also keep raw vegetables in the fridge. You can just eat rice by yourself. Today I have to receive guests. Have a good meal.” “Today is Grandpa’s death, isn’t it. I kept the money in the envelope. You brought it over to your house, saying I’m sorry for so much work.” “I have to go on an unexpected business trip for a few days. Don’t be sad, honey “. Sometimes, if he wanted to say something to his wife, Lich also had to write quickly on a piece of paper: “Are you not afraid that you forgot me, your wife? You stay at home alone, eating alone like a man. he is single, boring “. “What, I call you for an hour. You keep writing on the desk like in the old days?”. “Next week, my agency organized to go to Da Lat. Try to arrange it. It has been a long time since we went out together.” Then very when angry, he wrote in large letters: “I LOOK SO MUCH. I LIKES YOU”. Hue answered her husband with the words: “I also miss you very much. Lately I’m a little busy, I sympathize with you”. Just like that, the handwritten papers of Hue and Lich have become thicker than ever without Hue’s knowledge. Until one afternoon, after a week of market research. Hue came home. Hue plans to spend a week with Lich, the couple will have an outing such as Ha Long Bay. Hue figured how happy Lich would be. He would embrace Hue and shout: “Yes, it has been a long time since I went out”. But the door to the house is closed even after work is over. Hue was surprised and did not understand that Lich was going to hang out at the inn with friends? Because Calendar almost does not have that habit. Suddenly Hue was startled when she entered the house. On the wall of the living room are pictures of Hue written for Lich. There are many colored sheets of paper from the time the two fell in love and also sheets of paper when the two were married. The calendar writes a large line of letters with a black brush: “I’m so sad. I’m going to drink.” The sheets were removed by Hue and put back in the box. Hue quickly dressed, drove the car into the dark. Hue went to find Calendar. Hue did not want everything to become too late, if she let Lich not return with her today. In the house with husband and wife. Short story by Phan Thi Tan