Once there were two inseparable friends, Quac and Nhan. Both were orphans from poor scholarly families. Quac had studied more, so he became a teacher for children. Although his income was modest, Quac often helped Nhan whenever he could. In return, when Quac fell seriously ill one time, it was Nhan’s care and constant attention that saved his life. Despite their strong bond, circumstances forced them apart, each following a different path. Quac continued his life teaching children, while Nhan wandered from place to place, taking odd jobs to survive. Eventually, his honesty and hard work impressed a wealthy merchant, who trusted him completely and even married his daughter to Nhan. Through this marriage, Nhan acquired considerable wealth, yet he never forgot his vow to Quac, a promise to stand by each other through life’s ups and downs.
Determined to honor their friendship, Nhan sought out Quac and was overjoyed to find him alive. Quac was still in the middle of a teaching term, but Nhan negotiated with the parents of Quac’s students to transfer him to another teacher and brought him home. Nhan instructed his household to treat Quac as their own family, ensuring he was served meals on time and cared for with respect. However, Nhan’s wife did not share her husband’s values. She had little empathy for the poor and was unaware of the deep bond between Nhan and Quac. Although initially she stayed silent, seeing Nhan’s devotion, she soon became resentful. She felt that Quac, an outsider who contributed nothing to the household, was being pampered while doing nothing. Her complaints gradually grew, until one day she openly scolded both her husband and the guest, questioning why they kept a stranger in their home and demanding he be sent away.
Seeing his wife’s hostility, Nhan feared it might drive Quac away. He took care of Quac even more attentively and repeatedly tried to calm his wife, but she persisted in her mistreatment. Quac understood the situation and, despite twice offering to leave, stayed out of respect for his friend. Eventually, however, Quac decided to depart once and for all. He had overheard particularly insulting words from Nhan’s wife and feared further humiliation. He knew that if he left quietly as before, Nhan would likely try to stop him, prolonging the situation.
One early morning, Quac quietly slipped out of the house. To prevent Nhan from following him too easily, he left his scarf and outer robe hanging on a tree branch along the forest path. Quac then traveled to another region to resume his teaching. When Nhan realized his friend was gone, he searched frantically. Hearing that clothing had been found near the southern forest, Nhan rushed there, immediately recognizing Quac’s scarf and robe. Filled with concern, he thought, “I may have caused harm to my friend by bringing him here. Perhaps robbers have found him or he has been hurt.” Then he reassured himself, “Quac left empty-handed, so even if he met robbers, he should be safe. At worst, he might get lost in the forest or face wild animals.”
Nhan entered the forest, calling Quac’s name constantly. He searched tirelessly through thorns and dense underbrush, never stopping, calling out again and again: “Quac! Quac! Quac!” Even at the end of his life, Nhan’s devotion never wavered, and his final breath was spent calling for his friend. Eventually, Nhan died in the forest and transformed into a quoc bird, also known as a do quyen, continuing to call out “Quac! Quac!”
Nhan’s wife, realizing too late that she had been wrong, regretted her harsh behavior. One day, she left her home to search for her husband. Following the persistent calls of “Quac! Quac!” deep into the southern forest, she pressed forward. Unfortunately, she became lost and eventually died beside a tree, never finding her way out.
This story is a powerful testament to true friendship, loyalty, and selfless devotion. It shows that genuine bonds endure through hardship and that respect, care, and integrity leave a lasting impact even beyond life.