Chapter 4 — From B-Class Star to National Farmer

I paused for a few seconds before I understood. — “No, my dog's name is Haha…” — “It just ran away, have you seen any huskies?” The ladies shook their heads: — "I didn't see any huskies, I only saw something that looked like a pig but had dog hair, running past here just now." — "Yeah... it must be my Haha. Which direction did you see him running?" The whole group pointed: — "It ran to the top of the village, to the North." — "Forget it, you're so small, there's no way you can chase it away. Don't worry, we're free, let's go look for you." After speaking, an old lady quickly stood up. — “That's right, let me go to the commune headquarters and shout on the loudspeaker.” Not long after, the group marched together like a parade. Village loudspeakers echoed loudly everywhere: - "Attention everyone, Thua Tieu's family lost their dog! The dog has black and white fur, looks like a pig, its name is Haluqi something, if you have any free time, please come out and help. The informal name is Haha, that's right, that Haha like a laugh!" As soon as the shouting ended, the whole village was in an uproar. — “Haha! Haha!” The call echoed throughout the village, both people and dogs were looking for... dogs. 13 While I was frantically looking for the dog, A Hoang and Tieu Gia also ran over. — “Sister-in-law, don't worry, someone posted a message on the Luc Gia Trang group, can you see if this is the case?” I looked at the video and saw Haha shaking his head and wagging his tail among a group of dogs, surrounded as... strange creatures. The village dogs looked at it with skeptical eyes, as if thinking: Is this city's "eunuch" brain damaged? — "That's right! It's Haha!" — “It ran to the edge of the village, quite far.” A Hoang immediately rode his shabby old motorbike and quickly called out to me: - "Sister-in-law, how can you keep up with such slender limbs? Get in the car and I'll take you there!" I sat in the car, and after a while of chaos, I finally brought Haha home. I was so angry that I wanted to take him out and give him a good spanking. Haha immediately sneaked behind her mother-in-law, still moaning as if she was wronged. — “Come on Chi Chi, he knows he's wrong, don't hit him anymore.” Haha snuggled into her lap and rubbed her heart, looking angry. I pointed at it and scolded it, but I had someone to protect me so it wasn't convenient to vent too much. Mother-in-law brought a plate of fresh grapes that had just been washed: - "Chi Chi, the grapes are just picked from our garden, try eating them. Thua Tieu said you like to eat grapes, right?" - "Yes." I was a bit stunned — I didn't expect him to still remember. Many years ago, when he was helping my mother plant flowers in the garden, I excitedly ran over and held out the grape seeds I had just finished chewing: — "Brother, do you know how to grow grapes? Plant me a tree!" He took it, smiled gently: — “Okay.” A few days later, a few young grape vines actually grew in the yard. I happily showed off to my father: - "Dad, your student is so good, he can grow grapes from seeds!" My father sighed helplessly: — "Daughter, have you seen anyone growing grapes from seeds?" — "That's a branch he cut from his mother's vine. He brought it home and planted it. Each tree only has a few branches, but he dared to take it for me to plant." — “This boy is too honest.” I just remember those grapes were big and red and tasted better than any I've ever eaten. I bit into a grape my mother-in-law washed, the taste was exactly the same as last year. Not an industrial sweetness, but a sweet taste mixed with a slight sourness, filled with the scent of fresh grapes. — “Is this also grown by Thua Tieu himself?” I asked my mother-in-law. — “That's right, if you like, go to the garden to pick, now is the harvest season, grapes, Apples, peaches, everything." — “How much land does our house have?” I'm curious. — “Oh my god, there are so many, the villages around here in Thua Tieu all rent land, grow rice, vegetables, fruit, everything.” — “If you're bored at home, just go to the garden and play.” Hearing my mother-in-law say that, I became even more interested. After eating, you must take a walk around the garden! 14 When I washed my face and looked in the mirror, I suddenly remembered - when I went to look for the dog, I was still wearing my pajamas, my face was unwashed, my hair was tangled like a crow's nest, just running around the village... My pajamas were baggy, the marks on my neck and knees were so obvious that they couldn't be hidden. Thinking about last night's scene, I was both embarrassed and angry. Luc Thua Tieu normally looks upright and dignified, but when he takes off his shirt, he turns into someone else. It's true that a dog's mouth can't grow ivory! I changed into a decent outfit, matched it with a matching handbag, combed my hair neatly, applied light makeup - and finally went out with a neat demeanor. More than twenty years of living in the city, this was the first time I saw the countryside with my own eyes. The golden rice fields stretch endlessly, with vast green corn, juicy red apples, golden pears, sparkling purple grapes - the colors are as brilliant as a painting. Villagers were busy going back and forth, tractors and carts moved non-stop between the fields and villages, bustling with laughter everywhere. — “Oh sister-in-law! Why are you going out to the fields like this?” A Hoang riding a small motorbike appeared first. — “I had some free time so I went out for a walk.” I greeted him. — “Thank you and Tieu Gia, and everyone in the village, I didn't expect everyone to enthusiastically help me find the dog.” A Hoang waved his hand: "Mr. Tieu is very popular with the villagers. If your family has a problem, everyone will help." I was curious: — "Why?" — “Mr. Tieu works in agriculture, helping his village change its life! My hometown used to be very poor, but now thanks to him, business is thriving, pulling the whole district out of poverty." I was stunned: — "Is Luc Thua Tieu that good?" Until now, I had only heard people say that he was a "country tycoon who knew how to farm." I narrow-mindedly thought that farming didn't make much money. — “You don't know anything about your husband?” A Hoang asked back. I was speechless, a bit embarrassed. A Hoang shouted loudly into the distance: — “Brother Tieu! Sister-in-law is here to visit you!” The voice was so loud that not only Luc Thua Tieu heard it, but the worker also looked over. Luc Thua Tieu drove a tractor out of the corn field, loading a cart full of golden corn seeds. Seeing me, he was surprised, quickly turned off the phone and jumped down. — “Chi Chi, why are you here?” It was a bit cold in late autumn, he was only wearing a black t-shirt, sweating profusely. — “It's so sad at home.” I took a tissue from my bag to wipe off his sweat. He was embarrassed, his face was a little red, he quickly took it: - "Let me clean it myself." — “Luc Thua Tieu, you're really good, you even know how to drive a tractor.” He didn't say anything. A Hoang squatted nearby and laughed: "Oh my god, sister-in-law, who doesn't know how to drive a tractor when working as a farmer? You compliment me so much, ha ha ha!" I was speechless, unable to say a word. Luc Thua Tieu glanced at A Hoang coldly: — "Go to work if you have free time." — “Yes yes, I'll go now!” The harvester in the field was still working smoothly. Soon the corn was harvested and the stalks were crushed. I looked at it with my mouth open: "I've seen a movie and saw that the corn harvesting is done by people picking each cob, this is so modern." — “Now it's all mechanized, the harvester just passes by and separates the seeds After finishing, the corn stalks are crushed as fertilizer.” He explained. — “It's dusty and noisy here, let me take you somewhere else to play.” 15 He stood up and went first, I trotted behind him. Just like that, one in front and one back, a meter apart. It was clear that last night they were so intimate that they were inseparable, so why act like we don't know each other now? — “Luc Thua Tieu, why don't you hold my hand?” — “Your hands are dirty.” he replied. I immediately took out a wet towel from my bag and forced him to wipe his hands clean. — “It's not dirty anymore.” He coughed slightly: — "Chi Chi... there are too many people out here, the impact is not good." My God, is this person shy? I don't know who went crazy last night. No matter how many times I begged, I still couldn't stop. When I put on clothes during the day, it really changes 180 degrees. I glared at him, snorting coldly. He looked left and right like a thief, then secretly held my hand. — “Chi Chi, don't be angry…” I gritted my teeth, smiling like I wasn't smiling. Both sides of the road were full of working villagers. When they saw us passing by, they immediately teased us: "Oh my, Thua Tieu is taking his wife out to the fields, she's so pretty!" — “When we go out, we still hold hands, husband and wife are so affectionate.” — “No wonder why Thua Tieu is smiling all the time these days, his mouth keeps grinning.” — “That said, the boss has a wife and is much more spirited at work!” He was so shy that he could only nod and laugh, I was embarrassed and wanted to withdraw my hand. He took me to visit a few gardens and picked a basket full of fresh fruit. The fruits here are succulent, naturally sweet, completely different from supermarket products. Passing by the greenhouses, my curiosity exploded. — “Luc Thua Tieu, what is growing in there?” — “That greenhouse grows strawberries, just planted now, they will bear fruit in the winter.” I looked at the lush green strawberry beds and took pictures continuously. — “Oh my God, strawberries came out, it's amazing.” — “The other area grows strawberry tomatoes, a new variety that tastes as sweet as fruit.” He picked one fruit, washed it and gave it to me. I took a bite and almost exclaimed: — "Oh my god, it's so delicious!" — “That side is a flower garden, planted with roses, the season is almost here.” I carry a small basket everywhere, everything seems new. — “Luc Thua Tieu, you are really good. It turns out farming is so fun!” He was embarrassed when he was complimented, scratched his head: — "If you like, just come and play." I suddenly understood why Haha wanted to run outside every day — the world out there was so fun. A Hoang drove by on a tractor, smiling like he couldn't hold back. — “What are you laughing at?” I glared. — “I'm not laughing.” He tried to hold back. — “You laughed!” — “Because little brother likes to laugh.” Then he burst into laughter: — "That's not true, sister-in-law, city people like you and your dog are really... so cute and silly haha!" What? Dare you call me stupid?