The cheerful chatter and the aroma of food emanating from Mr. Luyen's family kitchen have earned him much admiration from his neighbors. Mr. Luyen's wife, Bui Thi Thanh Xuan, a teacher at Trang An Secondary School in Dong Trieu town ( Quang Ninh province), jokingly remarked, "I take advantage of the weekend to get together as a family so I can show off my cooking skills."

Ms. Xuan and Mr. Luyen lived in neighboring hamlets. Although Mr. Luyen was 10 years older than Ms. Xuan, their childhoods were closely intertwined. Ms. Xuan recalled: "Those summer days were so much fun. The children in the village would often gather at the community center to practice Scout rituals and perform arts in preparation for summer camp. Mr. Luyen was the Scout leader, and I was always chosen to stand at the front of the line because of my serious attitude and correct movements. After each practice session, Mr. Luyen always volunteered to take me home."

After graduating from high school, Luyen chose a military career, while Xuan dreamed of becoming a teacher. Seeing that her son was often away from home for work, Luyen's mother suggested finding him a wife who lived nearby so they could easily care for both sets of parents. Knowing that Xuan lived in the neighboring village and was both beautiful and kind, Luyen's mother took notice and wanted to arrange a marriage for her son.

During his leave, Luyen resolved to win Xuan's heart as quickly as possible. True to his word, that evening, Luyen dressed formally and visited Xuan's family. With his mature and confident demeanor and witty conversation, Luyen won the affection of the elders in the house. During his leave, Luyen even proactively asked permission to drive Xuan to and from work.

Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen Van Luyen and Bui Thi Thanh Xuan (photo taken during Tet 2023).

Knowing Luyen's intentions, Xuan's parents were initially worried that their daughter would suffer many hardships because Luyen's job often took him away from home. However, during his short leave, Luyen's diligence—helping with planting trees, repairing electrical lines and water pipes, etc.—reassured Xuan's parents. Thus, after only a month of getting to know each other, Luyen and Xuan became husband and wife with the blessings of both families, relatives, and colleagues.

After their wedding, Mr. Luyen quickly returned to his duties. His unit was stationed far away (312th Division, 1st Corps), so he rarely had the opportunity to visit home. It was then that Ms. Xuan truly understood her husband's hardships and the difficulties she herself faced. The most challenging period was during her first pregnancy. Constant morning sickness caused her to vomit frequently and skip meals. Many sleepless nights, filled with loneliness and longing for her husband, she could only express her feelings through heartfelt letters to him.

Although they had planned ahead, on the day she went into labor, the long distance prevented him from being there in time. Fortunately, with the support of both sets of grandparents, she successfully gave birth. When they returned home from the hospital, he could only hold her hand and thank her for enduring so much hardship and sacrifice so that he could focus on his work. Seeing him cradle their baby so tenderly and lovingly, she felt truly happy. In 2002, Mr. Luyen transferred to Brigade 405, Military Region 3. "Although the unit was stationed near home, due to the demands of his duties, Mr. Luyen was not often home. I loved him and understood him, but I didn't let that make me sad. Instead, I told myself I had to be strong and overcome the difficulties so that he could focus on his work," Ms. Xuan confided.

After 24 years together, their happiness lies in their eldest daughter, Nguyen Cam Ly, currently a fourth-year student at the University of Commerce; and their son, Nguyen Dinh De, a smart, diligent, and academically successful student in class 10A2 at Dong Trieu High School. They are always content with their current life. And she always keeps in mind: "Thank you for life every morning I wake up. I have another day to love."

Text and photos: TRAN THANH HUYEN