Chapter 3 — Back to the Year 70 I Became the Blacksmith's Wife

As for me, I was just a small backup dancer, had almost no chance to go on stage, and was discriminated against for being mute. They don't understand the sign language, but I'm not the type to be bullied. I spat hard on the ground, squeezed right between the two of them, and strode into the practice room. Even though I rarely act, I never give up basic practice. Tonight is the premiere of the big music and dance play "Dream of Swan Lake". Xuan Le and Tu Hong have not exercised for a long time and are noticeably fatter. I wonder if they can act? After work, Tran Dien Sinh came to pick me up on time. I told him to sit in the most hidden corner of the auditorium. He leaned close to my ear and whispered excitedly: "Wife, I heard the director say - I'm on the house sharing list!" I was worried that someone would hear me, so I quickly whispered: Go home and talk! Right before opening time, Xuan Le couldn't fit into her performance dress and was in such a hurry that she spun around the dressing room. With one strong pull, the side of the skirt... ripped the seam. The director trembled angrily: "How come you've gotten so fat in just a few days without paying attention? This dress was custom-made! What should I do now?!" Xuan Le pretended to feel sorry for herself: "Maybe it's just the poor quality of the fabric..." then calmly burst into tears.

“Stop acting already!” – The director shouted – "Props team, fix the dress! Where are the stuntmen?!"

I walked out, raising my hands high.

“Miss? That dumb girl?” – The director looked at me from head to toe, full of suspicion. “The dress probably fits... but have you ever practiced this dance?”

I didn't say a word and immediately performed the most difficult eight-step movement in the dance.

"Okay, let me act! It doesn't have to be excellent, just don't mess it up!"

The dance performance began, I stood in the middle of the stage, quietly looking for Tran Dien Sinh's figure in the crowd of spectators. Maybe because it was the first performance, there were too many viewers so I couldn't find him. The applause echoed loudly under the stage. I worked hard to practice each move just to get to this day - when I can dance accurately and confidently on the real stage. Xuan Hong - Xuan Le's close friend - was very unhappy because I was replaced. During the song dance, she constantly caused trouble. Evil meets evil, Xuan Hong accidentally steps on her own dress and falls on the stage. The audience below stirred. Seeing that a performance incident was about to happen, I reacted quickly, using a dance move to pull her up. From the outside looking in, everyone thought it was a pre-designed performance. The performance was a resounding success, and when the curtain came down, the director lavished praise on me. At this time, someone came to the backstage: "You are Tran Dien Sinh's wife, right? He's in trouble, he's at the hospital, quickly go see!"

8

I don't have a bicycle, I can't talk to anyone, I can only run and cry, if I fall I get up and keep running. The person who came to report the news was Tran Dien Sinh's colleague, saying he was called back for urgent overtime. Unexpectedly, the same machine had a problem, dragging half of his leg into it. Amputation may be required. The emergency nurse stopped me outside the operating room, said the surgery had already begun, and told me to go take care of the hospital bills. Worrying about money... I don't have any money. Moreover, this is an industrial accident, we must find the factory director. I rushed to the director's house again, crying and signaling, extremely urgent. But he doesn't understand sign language, i.e exhausted to the point of sweating.

“Here, here, write it down on paper.”

I only need the factory to issue a certificate of occupational accident, then it can be counted as industrial and commercial. But the director did not agree.

"Comrade Lieu, our factory did not announce overtime that day. It is unclear why Tran Dien Sinh voluntarily returned to operate the machinery, so this cannot be considered an industrial accident. Furthermore, the factory still has to determine the extent of damage to the equipment, and Tran Dien Sinh may be responsible."

Is it possible to blame the other way around? I choked with frustration, so many reasons I couldn't put them into words. The only way is to find out who tricked Tran Dien Sinh into returning to work overtime. Who has such motives? When I returned to the hospital, Tran Dien Sinh had already left the emergency room. The right shin bone is cracked, requiring a long period of treatment. My left leg was already disabled, now my right leg was also disabled, and the factory did not consider it an industrial accident. I bowed my head and sobbed beside his bed. I thought that once we got married, life would gradually get better... The anesthetic had not yet worn off, Tran Dien Sinh lay there, his face pale, not hearing my cries. In the end, who tricked him into returning to work? Surely that's someone he trusts, and someone who benefits after something happens to him. Steal your position? But Tran Dien Sinh is just an ordinary worker. So… house share! I rushed to the factory's employee photo board, tore up Tran Dai Hanh's photo, then ran to the dance troupe and asked the ticket checker. Sure enough, before opening time, Tran Dai Hanh pretended to be a member of the actor's family to trick Tran Dien Sinh. I immediately went to his house, holding a stick of firewood to pave the way. As soon as I got there, my second uncle and aunt turned pale when they saw me. I grabbed Tran Dai Hanh's collar and pulled him out.

“What have you done to my child? Are you crazy?” – the second aunt screamed.

The second uncle also chased after me. I turned around and glared at him, causing both of them to immediately shut up and take a deep breath of cold air. I dragged the police to the house, Tran Dai Hanh committed a crime. At the station, I wrote a report, presenting my suspicions and evidence that it was Tran Dai Hanh who deceived Tran Dien Sinh, leading to a serious accident. Tran Dai Hanh steadfastly denied: "If there is no evidence, don't slander! What does it have to do with me?" But once done, there will be traces. The ticket checker confirmed that Tran Dai Hanh had contact with Tran Dien Sinh. As for Tran Dien Sinh's disciples, he testified: after work, Tran Dai Hanh himself secretly adjusted the machines that Tran Dien Sinh used. Tran Dai Hanh couldn't deny it anymore. For what? Isn't it just because of the house share? Then give him a public dormitory room, live together, and consider him satisfied!

9

Tran Dien Sinh woke up. He was very weak, but luckily I was able to buy a chicken and cook him soup to nourish him.

"Wife, eat, I'll be fine. Now both legs are injured, who knows... the limp will stop!" – You can still laugh and joke with me.

I wiped my tears and scolded: "Stop joking, I've already avenged you!" Tran Dien Sinh said that it was true that Tran Dai Hanh called him over that day. He did not expect him to use such a despicable and inhumane method. Thanks to the police investigation, the factory director clearly knew the truth and specifically confirmed that this was an industrial accident. Plus voluntary compensation from Tran Dai Hanh's parents, Tran Dien Sinh received timely treatment.

“Look, wife, now I can hold on to the wall to practice walking, it should be okay!”

I peeled a tangerine and fed it to him: "You are now an official member of the troupe!" Xuan Le and Tu Hong, for causing an incident during a big performance that almost caused the song and dance troupe to collapse, had their salaries cut in half by the group leader and were placed under indefinite surveillance. As for me, thanks to the success in the premiere of "Dream of Swan Lake", I became famous, not only becoming an official actor but also preparing for a nationwide tour. I leaned against Tran Dien Sinh's chest and softly said: "My life is getting better and better. As long as we both agree, no one can bully me anymore." On the day Tran Dien Sinh was discharged from the hospital, the factory director personally brought good news: Because of his good work performance over the years, Tran Dien Sinh was assigned a house! A small apartment of 50 square meters in a red brick dormitory was the first wind and rain shelter for my husband and I. Tran Dien Sinh was so happy that he burst into tears: "Wife, let's go buy furniture and electrical appliances! From now on, the winter won't be cold, the summer won't leak. Finally, I have a house!" Our lives are gradually getting on a good trajectory. But for others it is not so pleasant. My stepmother brought my father to find me and asked me about the previous day when I said I could put Luu Duong's name in the house book if it was still valid. I bluntly said: "I respected the love of marrying my grandparents' daughter, so I called them parents. Back then, my bride price was quite a lot, and I even gave them a good watch - everyone in the village complimented the groom's appearance. Is that still not enough?" Tran Dien Sinh was tough, not giving in to a word. The stepmother shouted loudly in the middle of the yard: "Hey, you guys said it, didn't you? Why didn't you keep your promise? Now that you're crippled in both legs, don't you still need Luu Duong's help in the future?" I glared: "Where's your face? You don't do anything but want to put someone else's house in your name? You thick-faced person!" Tran Dien Sinh sat in a chair, so angry that he cursed. I conveniently grabbed the firewood to light the stove and chased them both out the door. Tran Dien Sinh's second uncle and aunt also did not sit still. When he was still in the hospital, they brought 200 yuan to visit - actually they just wanted me to close my eyes and ignore Tran Dai Hanh's story. I received money, but did not receive "favors". Their son caused trouble and should go to jail. So they came looking for me again, with long tears.

“My dear, I can't let my cousin go to jail. Think about it, I was an orphan at ten years old, without you, how would I be today!”

The second aunt cried and knelt in the yard, the "good side" script was given to her. My second uncle scolded me loudly, saying I was a sly woman who specialized in harming people. Even cursing Tran Dien Sinh "deserves to be crippled in both legs" - all the cruelest words came out. Just because I can't scold back? Thinking so is a big mistake. Tran Dien Sinh could not stand up, but his hands gripped the armrests tightly, blue veins were visible. This is easy to handle - Close the door, release Dai Hoang.

10

Dai Hoang is a wolf puppy I picked up a few days ago. Eat well, fight well. For strangers who arbitrarily barge into the house, it has already prepared the spirit of "fighting". I gave the signal and Dai Hoang rushed out like an arrow, chasing the second uncle and aunt around the yard. Having just escaped from the gate, who would have thought that Dai Hoang also knew how to... climb walls. The whole village echoed with the two people's cries for help them, mixed with the roar of the Great Emperor. I proudly crossed my arms: "What do you think?" Tran Dien Sinh smiled bitterly: "Lately I have to take care of my injury, you have to take care of yourself, okay, dear wife?" In married life, as long as we agree, live peacefully and well, it is stronger than anything else. Very quickly, I understood what Tran Dien Sinh meant - those people would not let me go easily. Especially when I have touched their interests, but still fall into isolation.