Chapter 3 — The Quiet Husband Loves You All My Life

3

I opened my eyes, there was no one next to me. On the small table next to the bed, two smooth, fatty white meat buns were placed, still steaming. Next to it is a bowl of millet porridge. My heart felt warm, knowing for sure this was because Luc Trung had gone to the restaurant early in the morning to buy it for me. The meat dumplings of his unit's restaurant have thin crusts and are filled with fillings, mouth-watering aroma, but the price is not cheap. This man really brings the best of everything for me. I was eating dumplings when I heard Vuong Thai Phuong's sour voice ring out in the yard.

"Oh my god, whose house smells like this? Do you eat meat dumplings? Truly living a happy life, unlike my family, who nibbles on cornflakes every day."

I found it funny. This Mrs. Vuong Thai Phuong is truly a rubber dog. If she doesn't cause trouble, she'll be itchy and uncomfortable. I didn't bother to pay attention. After breakfast, I cleaned up the dishes and planned to go out to get water to wash my face. As soon as I opened the door, I saw Vuong Thai Phuong standing right in front of my door. Today she was wearing an old floral shirt, her hair was combed and shiny, her hands were on her hips, clearly coming to cause trouble.

“Hua Hoa, you finally woke up.”

She smiled as if she wasn't smiling and said.

“What's going on?” I asked coldly.

“It's no big deal.”

Vuong Thai Phuong looked at me from top to bottom, his eyes full of contempt:

"It's just that seeing your family's company chief Luc cooking and washing for you every day, like a nanny, I feel sorry for him. In this entire military compound, which soldier's wife doesn't get up early and late at night, go to the fields to earn points, and take care of her husband and children? Only you, so precious, sleep until noon, not touching anything."

She stopped for a moment, deliberately raising her voice so that the neighbors around her could hear clearly:

"If you live like that, is it worthy of Captain Luc? He's a fighting hero, so marrying you makes you a burden?"

There were a few soldier's wives around, peeking over. Their eyes were partly curious, partly jealous, and partly waiting to see a funny show. In my previous life, I lost my reason because of these words and accidentally said many things that hurt Luc Trung. I said:

"Who wants to marry him? If it wasn't for my parents forcing me, I would never marry this rude country boy!"

That sentence was like a knife, stabbing straight into Luc Trung's heart. From then on, he still treated me well, but there was always a pain in his eyes that I couldn't understand. In this life, I will not make that mistake again. I looked at Vuong Thai Phuong and suddenly burst into laughter.

"Ms. Vuong, you care so much about my family's affairs, outsiders looking in would think you care about my family's Luc Trung."

Vuong Thai Phuong's face immediately turned red like pig liver.

“You... you're talking nonsense!”

These days, things between men and women are very sensitive. Saying someone likes someone else's husband is like scolding someone for being promiscuous. The soldiers' wives looked around, their eyes also changed.

“Am I talking nonsense?” I took a step forward, pressing close to her, my voice was not loud but each word was clear:

"Then why do you keep looking at my house every day? Luc Trung bought me a dumpling, she was jealous. Luc Trung washed my clothes, she was angry. Even if I sleep in my house, she also takes care of it. Sister Vuong, you worry too much!"

“I... I'm just reminding you!” She was speechless, her neck strained to argue.

“Remind me?” I laughed coldly,

“Remind me not to be too lazy, or remind me not to be too happy, annoy you?”

I pointed to the dress I was wearing:

“This dress, Luc Trung asked someone to buy the fabric from Shanghai and sew it for me himself. Isn't it beautiful?

Vuong Thai Phuong's eyes seemed to be on fire. I pointed to the leather shoes on my feet again:

“This shoe was also bought by Luc Trung. He said my feet are soft and can't stand grass sandals."

"And this hair," I gently lifted a strand of hair,

“He said girls in the city all use cream, so he bought it for me too. Apply it to your hair and it smells so soft."

With every word I said, her face turned a little grayer. By the end, her face was like a palette, patchy and unsightly. The soldiers' wives around there were also full of jealousy. Nowadays, which men don't consider money as life? People like Luc Trung, willing to spend money for his wife, are as rare as morning stars.

"Miss Vuong," I looked at her, smiling innocently,

"Luc Trung treats me so well, if I don't stay at home and enjoy myself, but go out like you, talking bad about others all day long, wouldn't that be his fault?"

“You… you…”

She was silenced by me. She pointed at me and trembled and couldn't say a word. I patted her shoulder, my voice full of kindness:

“If you have free time, take care of your Mr. Truong. Yesterday I saw him secretly taking home rice stamps to exchange for cigarettes."

Vuong Thai Phuong's face turned pale immediately. She hid her husband's bad news like a cat hiding shit, but I didn't expect it to be exposed by me. She didn't have the strength to argue, so she cursed and turned around and ran back home. There was a commotion, I gently calmed it down. Feeling comfortable, I carried the bucket to the well to draw water. The ladies were still listening to talk, but now when they saw me, they all avoided their eyes. A slightly bolder person - Ms. Ly Tu Mai - stepped forward to start a conversation:

“Hua Hoa, don't get attached to Vuong Thai Phuong. Her mouth is really poisonous.”

I smiled:

"I know, thank you Ms. Ly."

In my previous life, Ms. Ly helped me a lot. Every time Luc Trung went on a mission and the house ran out of rice, she secretly gave me a bowl of cornmeal. I always remember that kindness. That night, when Luc Trung returned, I told him what happened during the day. I thought he would compliment me, at least smile. Unexpectedly, after hearing this, his eyebrows frowned tighter.

“Don't argue with her in the future.”

“Why?” I'm not satisfied. “It was she who found trouble first.”

“She is unreasonable.” He said in a low voice,

“If she wins the argument, she holds a grudge. If you lose the argument, I'm angry. Not worth it.”

I was stunned.

“So won't that let her bully you?”

“I told you, let me worry.”