Chapter 3 — When I was born, I broke off my engagement with the group leader

Luc Cam Trinh was stunned, his eyes flashed with panic.

“What… what do you mean?”

6

“As I wished, we were just a childhood engagement, never registered for marriage, so this engagement is considered annulled.”

"I won't lie to myself anymore. You don't owe me anything, there's no need to reluctantly marry me just to repay your grandfather."

"You stay with Tham Hong Anh, I'll withdraw, bless you both."

"From now on, we end our engagement and have nothing to do with each other anymore. From now on, you go your way, I go your way."

After saying that, I turned around and left without looking back. In my previous life, I saw Luc Cam Trinh's back too many times. In this life, it's my turn to be the first to leave. Two days later, late at night, in a semi-conscious dream, I heard a knock on the window from outside. I know who it is. Anyway, this is not the first time. Not wanting to wake the neighbors and let them gossip, I still rolled the window open. Let Luc Cam Trinh climb onto the window sill, then quietly enter the room. His eyes were as deep as a still lake, tightly locked on me. In those eyes, there seemed to be thousands of words that wanted to be said, rolling like underground waves. That look again. In my previous life, it was also because of this look that seemed to contain intense emotions and endless attachment that I kept falling into it, over and over again. I silently pressed hard on my thighs, reminding myself to stay awake. I coldly asked: "What are you doing here?" Luc Cam Trinh squeezed my wrist, lowered his voice, leaned closer, and questioned:

“I heard the neighborhood director say you gave up joining the army?”

I nodded: "I have no ambition there, so I won't join the army to avoid causing trouble to the organization." I thought Luc Cam Trinh would be happy, after all, he was always waiting for me to give up my enlistment in the army to give it to Tham Hong Anh. However, his face immediately darkened.

“Jiang Moc Hoa, what do you mean?”

“From giving up joining the army, to canceling the engagement, there must be a limit to your joking.”

I curled my lips sarcastically: "Isn't this what you want the most? Giving up the last enlistment slot to Tham Hong Anh, and then giving up the position of Young Master Luc's wife. Thus, the two of you can fly together in the army, becoming the golden couple of the army." Luc Cam Trinh didn't expect me to say it so bluntly. He awkwardly touched the tip of his nose, clearly not knowing how to react.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

"I promised my grandfather that after this busy time in the army, I would marry you."

"Before transferring work to the South, I will try to get you pregnant. Lady Luc's position is always yours, you don't need to use these tricks to attract my attention."

"There have been a lot of people talking outside. Hong Anh has been very sad these past few days. I don't want these rumors to affect her."

I laughed bitterly, bowing my head to hide the wet corners of my eyes. Even though my heart has cooled down, there are still small corners of dull pain somewhere. Turns out, he didn't come to find me because he had any remaining feelings. But just because he doesn't want Tham Hong Anh to be criticized by people.

“Luc Cam Trinh, I never loved you at all, that's it must marry me?

Finally, I asked the question that I always wanted to ask in my previous life. He paused, his face briefly showing confusion. Then, as if losing patience, he frowned: “What about love or not love? This marriage was predetermined a long time ago, arranged by the parents, arranged by the matchmaker, it's not something you can choose." I was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Luc Cam Trinh, life keeps running after you, it's really tiring, I don't want to continue anymore."

“For all these years, I still assumed that we would always be together. But looking back now, it was all just my own delusion.”

Luc Cam Trinh didn't say anything, just pursed his lips, his eyes were unpredictable. I took a deep breath: "Go away, don't come looking for me in the future." Everyone has their own path, everyone is at peace.” The air seemed to freeze for a moment. I heard Luc Cam Trinh laugh softly, a laugh full of contempt.

“Okay, then it ends here. I hope you don't regret what you said today."

With that, he jumped back through the window as he came, then “Bang!” sound, decisively slamming the door shut. Luc Cam Trinh's departure no longer makes me waver. I turned off the desk lamp and continued to close my eyes and fall asleep. If there was no marriage contract, Luc Cam Trinh and I would have been two parallel lines, never intersecting. I'm no longer naive enough to think that he won't leave me anymore. Even though there was some excitement for me, it was just a temporary physiological reaction. In my previous life, I never once entered his heart. In this life, of course not. As long as I am no longer entangled, we will no longer have anything to do with each other. From now on, I will take advantage of my reincarnation and work hard to make money. The period of reform and opening up is coming. In this life, I will not foolishly fall in love again. I have to fight for myself!

7

After Luc Cam Trinh's vacation home visit ended, he returned to the unit. As for me, every day before dawn I was at the factory, busy among the rows of giant weaving machines, attentively observing every detail of their operation. I did not dare to be negligent for even a second, and even took advantage of the break to learn from experienced masters in the profession. Neighbors and colleagues in the factory whispered behind my back:

“Is the little girl from the Giang family rusty in her head? Refusing to be an officer's wife, instead rushing to become a factory worker!

“Mr. Giang is so angry that he's crazy! No matter how good a worker is, he or she is only a high-level worker, how can he compare with a regimental commander's wife?

They don't have reincarnated memories like me, and of course their vision is also limited. Little did they know that, after 1984, the State began to gradually reduce production according to the target plan. By the mid-1980s, China became the world's number one textile power, and the non-state economic sector began to boom strongly. Currently, people's clothing consumption is still low, the materials, designs and colors are all monotonous. But in the future, the textile industry will not only meet the needs of simple wear, but also serve the increasingly diverse needs of personalization, fashion and functionality. I definitely have to stay at the factory for a few years and learn the techniques well. I want to catch up in time era, when the country entered a period of strong development and acceleration on the path of innovation. With the advantage of reincarnation, I believe that I will successfully start a business and realize my dream!

8

That day, I woke up early to go to work, walking along the river bank of the citadel. Suddenly, a series of "hmph" sounds broke the silence. I turned my head to look around, and it turned out that a huge black pig had jumped out of the military supply pickup truck. It rushed straight towards me at terrifying speed. Panicked, I turned around and ran. But the black pig refused to let go and kept chasing after him. Behind him was a public service soldier who had just jumped down from the car and eagerly chased the pig. The scene became extremely chaotic—I ran, the pigs chased, the people chased the pigs. Along the riverbank, the chase was fierce. Until I slipped—”Boom!” an hour later, it fell straight into the river. The cold river water quickly soaked into my clothes and into my skin. I struggled in the water, filled with panic and despair. Did I have to work so hard to be reborn, and in the end have to die again because of a black pig? Dirty river water poured into my eyes, nose, and mouth, making me choke. In this situation, my tears threatened to flow, but then they were drowned by the river water, no one noticed.

“Could fate tease me like that?”

I scrabbled around looking for anything to hold on to, but could only grasp a handful of slippery grass. At that moment, the public service soldier chasing the black pig saw me fall into the water. Without hesitation, he immediately jumped into the river. Just a few powerful swimming movements, he approached me, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me towards the shore. When I got to shore, I was soaking wet and extremely messy. Clothes stick tightly to the body, clearly outlining the curves of the chest. The civil service soldier quickly took off his already wet military uniform jacket, wring it out a bit and then gave it to me, signaling me to put it on. He scratched his head, avoided my eyes, and said a little shyly:

"Comrade, I'm sorry. This pig is unreasonable and scared you."

But I didn't respond right away, because at this point, I could see his face clearly. My whole body froze. A complicated feeling rolled up in my heart. Forty years ago—a lifetime ago. I also met him once. That day, I married Luc Cam Trinh, but he became more and more disgusted with me, to the point of sending a letter requesting a divorce. I panicked and packed a few simple clothes, hurriedly took three buses, and spent three days and two nights traveling more than two thousand kilometers to get to the Southern barracks. However, Luc Cam Trinh refused to come out to meet me. He just asked someone to pass me a piece of paper. Written on it:

"This life is too restrictive, we don't have the same goals. If we continue like this, it's not good for anyone. Divorce, let each person find their own peace."

Unable to meet him, I was both hungry and cold, exhausted and fell down on the edge of the field near the barracks. It was this honest, simple-looking public service soldier who happened to pass by and gave me two dumplings. He also helped me find a small motel that didn't require a referral so I could have a place to rest. Many years later, I learned that he was a soldier in Luc Cam Trinh's unit, name Ha Xuan Lai. He was smart and hard-working, but because of his poor family background, he only studied until middle school and then joined the army. Previous life, this life, meeting twice—isn't this a kind of fate? I thought, maybe this is fate, for me to meet Ha Xuan Lai again. A feeling of inexplicable attachment to him suddenly arose in my heart. I deliberately bit my lips, pale from the cold, in a sulky tone: "What kind of pig are you looking after, letting it run around and harm me like this? Today's matter cannot be let go like that!" Ha Xuan Lai scratched his head, looking both guilty and embarrassed: "It's my fault, I will definitely re-educate this pig. Comrade, I made you suffer." I narrowed my eyes and suddenly said: "So... what about the fact that you saw my body? What should I do?" He immediately lowered his head, his hands frantically clutching the hem of his shirt, his voice whispering like a mosquito: "I... I didn't mean it... whatever you say is what I hear..." I deliberately looked serious and lamented: "A girl has to know how to maintain her reputation. If this gets out, the aunts and uncles will say I don't know how to keep manners. What face do I have left to live?" As I spoke, I gently bit my lip, trying to suppress the corner of my mouth that wanted to curl up in excitement. Ha Xuan Lai is truly an honest person. Hearing that, he was so embarrassed that he didn't even dare look at me. He stammered, blushing so nervously: "You... don't listen to people's nonsense! I... I will be responsible for you!"

9

Reborn again, I originally intended to devote all my energy to my career, no longer thinking about love. But when fate comes, you can't avoid it even if you want to avoid it. Our eyes met, a delicate feeling gradually bloomed in my heart. After only a few meetings during short vacations, I made up my mind to be with Ha Xuan Lai for the rest of my life. During the time when supplies were scarce, every time he met me, he collected all his meal tickets and brought me a full bowl of rice, along with some delicious dishes.