The story goes like this: In 1998, Mr. Long had just started working at Warehouse KV4. At that time, the warehouse had a sister-school relationship with Dong Trieu High School (where Ms. Ha's father worked). Being a talented singer and having a lively and enthusiastic personality, Mr. Long was part of the team participating in an exchange program with the school. Through this exchange, Mr. Long and Mr. Thai got to know each other and became close friends without even realizing it. In their free time, Mr. Long often visited Mr. Thai's house to chat and talk. During one visit, Mr. Long unexpectedly met Ha, a final-year student at the University of Foreign Languages ​​- Vietnam National University , Hanoi, who was on break to prepare for her graduation exams. Mr. Thai only said to Mr. Long, "This is my daughter," then turned to his daughter and said, "He's my friend; he works at a unit near our house."

The brief encounter left a strong impression on the young officer. Taking advantage of the days Ha was home, Long visited more frequently to have more opportunities to talk with her. Ha's father, already fond of Long, also created opportunities for the two to talk and get to know each other. With the support of her father and the backing of both families, a year later, they officially tied the knot.

The early days of their married life were filled with difficulties and hardships. At that time, Ms. Ha worked 10 kilometers from home, and her only means of transportation was a bicycle that her father had bought for her when she graduated from university. She remembers most vividly the mornings she went to work in strong winds, storms, and on bumpy roads, where both she and the bicycle would be blown over. One day, the bicycle broke down in the middle of the road, and she had to push it to get to class on time.

Mr. Le Hai Long and Mrs. Bui Thi Thuy Ha.

All the hardships eventually passed, and joy blossomed when their family officially welcomed their son, Le Duc Son. Both sets of grandparents lived far away, and the family's finances were unstable at the time. The most difficult period was when Mr. Long was studying at the Military Technical Academy. His wife single-handedly managed to care for their young child. In 2009, she gave birth to their son, Le Duc Trung Kien. At this time, Mr. Long was often away on duty, leaving Ms. Ha to single-handedly manage all the household affairs.

Through careful saving and the support of family and relatives, in 2015, the couple decided to build a new house on the land they had previously bought to have a more spacious place to live. Her husband couldn't provide much support, so after teaching hours, Ms. Ha would rush home, managing household chores and cooking meals for the workers. When asked how she got through that period, Ms. Ha smiled and said, "It was tough, but every time I received a phone call from my husband encouraging me, and saw the smiles of my children, I felt like I was given the strength to overcome everything."

In October 2021, Mr. Long was transferred by his superiors to take up a new position at Warehouse KV1, stationed in Lang Son; this meant he spent less time at home. During his breaks, he often took his wife and children to visit their maternal grandparents. In the conversation, Mr. Long repeatedly mentioned: "Thanks to my enthusiastic and understanding father-in-law, I have such good children and a kind wife today." After 23 years of marriage, their love for each other remains as sweet as ever; their children are growing up and becoming mature adults. Ms. Ha continues to go to school every day to teach the children and is a strong support system, allowing Mr. Long to focus on his duties at the unit.

Text and photos: TRAN THANH HUYEN