Wife and I, both executives, always pretend to be poor when visiting hometown

I came from the countryside and moved to HCMC to study at a university while working as a waiter. After more than 20 years of hard work, I now own several companies, a house, land, and a car. In the city, due to the nature of my business, I often wear branded clothes. Even my plainest pen or shirt can cost as much as tens of millions of dong. However, whenever I go back to my hometown, I only dress simply for comfort.

Whenever someone asks me about my career, I tell them that I work as a regular office worker. My wife and I still help out with chores like serving food, making tea, or washing dishes, just like everyone else in my family. My wife is also a finance director at a major company. But because we do not want to show off, she tells everyone she is just an accountant.

Meanwhile, I have a younger cousin who married a deputy CEO. The two of them always flaunt their wealth whenever they return to our rural hometown. Every time they visit, our relatives greet and pamper them because they think my cousin and her husband are rich and influential, and perhaps can help them in the future.

Reader Nghia

The comment was shared in regards to how many people pretend to be poor around their friends and family to avoid potential conflicts and have a more comfortable life.

Reader Minh Phuong shared the same view:

"My father always taught me to let no one know whether you are rich or poor. I apply this lesson in many situations, not just with money, but with other aspects of life as well. I do not spend excessively and only buy what is needed. I do not care whether something is branded as long as it is usable. When I go out, I adapt to whatever others have, eating whatever is available and never demanding anything extra. I wear very old clothes

I have gone through times when I struggled with business to the point where I did not know if I would have any money for tomorrow. Fortunately, all my projects worked out and I was quite well off. But when people ask about my business, I just say everything is normal without boasting.

People see me as neither rich nor poor, so no one envies me or looks down on me. I believe staying in the middle is the safest place."

Reader Nguoixala disagreed:

"I do not like to pretend or hide anything, though I have always preferred simplicity since I was young.

My whole family lives like this, open and honest. After all, I am not that much wealthier than anyone else, so there is nothing to show off. But I also do not pretend to be poor to take advantage of others’ sympathy. I just live authentically and help those in need whenever I can. I do not need to pretend to be poor or boast about wealth. It is not worth the trouble."

Reader Khoanhhoatrinh:

"My younger sibling has always pretended to be poor, no matter the situation. He owns four houses, one to live in and three to rent out. He has a significant amount of money, yet he has never helped me out even when I was sick or struggling nor lent money to anyone.

During Tet (Lunar New Year), his house gate was always locked and he always claimed to not be home. Before I moved to the U.S., he even asked how long it would take to apply for social assistance there. In the end, he pretended to be poor so much that I had to distance myself from him. I did not want to be around him anymore."

Reader Anh Duong:

"When I was 17, I was invited to a party at the mansion of a wealthy guy in HCMC at the time. We never expected the host to be so humble. He dressed simply and even helped out in the kitchen. He was laughing and chatting with his staff. When it came time to serve the meal, he personally brought each dish to the table.

He did not need to pretend to be poor because his humility, kindness, and down-to-earth nature were evident even though he was a 'famous rich man.' What left the biggest impression on us, and what we admired most, was not the expensive food or the grand house, but his genuine, warm character."

Would you hide your wealth to avoid potential troubles?

*These comments were translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.