Find the "rose garden with a path..."

In mid-August 2011, Nguyen Thi Trang, a first-year student at Hanoi Law University, returned to her hometown in Ha Linh (Ha Trung, Thanh Hoa) for summer vacation. On the way home from visiting relatives, her bike unfortunately got a flat tire. It was getting dark and there was no place to fix it, so Trang had to walk. At that time, Trang was very worried because the road was deserted and she couldn't ask anyone for help, so she cried while walking her bike.

By chance, a student from the Air Defense-Air Force Academy passed by. Seeing the young girl sobbing as she walked, he approached her and quickly helped her take her bike to the repair shop. On the nearly 1km road to the repair shop, the two talked happily. Through the conversation, she learned that Nguyen Truong Giang was from the same hometown as her and was on his way home for the summer. Touched by the soldier's sincerity, before parting, Trang did not forget to thank him and give him her phone number to contact.

Also from that chance meeting, the image of the petite, pretty female student made him flutter. Sometimes during breaks, he went down to the Academy's canteen to use the phone service to call her. Seeing Trang's intelligent responses, easy conversation, and more importantly, knowing that "the rose garden has a path but no one has entered", he was even more determined to conquer her. During the conversations, Giang often talked about the military environment where he studied and worked.

Trang shared with him about her studies and student life. Just like that, after nearly a year of knowing each other, their feelings grew, both of them felt the harmony of their hearts and the sympathy and sharing. At the end of April 2012, Giang asked for leave from his unit to go to school and give his girlfriend a bouquet of roses and a heart made from bamboo toothpicks with the words: "Be my other half, okay!", in front of his friends. Trang's cheeks turned red, shy, confused...

After graduating, Giang worked at Division 363, then was sent by his unit to study to become a political officer. After graduating, Trang also found a stable job near his unit.

In December 2017, the couple officially became a family in the joy of both families, friends, comrades and teammates. The result of that sweet love is a cute and adorable son, Nguyen Dang Khoa. Although life is still difficult, the young couple's home is still filled with happy laughter. Trang always takes care of and manages all household chores, raises her children carefully, fulfills her duties to her parents, and is a solid support for her husband to work with peace of mind.

Article and photos: THANH QUANG

Source