Nguyen Thi Them (born in 1996, living in Phuong Son Ward, Bac Ninh Province) married into the family of Dinh Thi Luan (born in 1957) in 2014.

Living under the same roof, Them had a harmonious relationship with her in-laws. One of the important reasons she agreed to marry was the warmth she felt in the family and the kindness of her future parents-in-law.

In 2015, Them gave birth to her first daughter. In 2018, while her father-in-law had been dead for less than 100 days and her second child had just turned one month old, her husband was killed in an accident. The tragedy devastated both Them and her mother-in-law, as the family lost two male breadwinners within a short period.

“When I heard that my husband had been in an accident, I could hardly breathe. It felt as though my whole world had collapsed. My older child was only 3, while the younger one was still a newborn.

I was naturally shy; previously, wherever I went or whatever I did, my husband was by my side. With him gone, I didn't know how to carry on living. At one point, I wanted to follow my husband because I couldn't bear this shock," Them recalled.

Luan was also devastated by the enormous loss. She had previously suffered a stroke, and the trauma further weakened her health. Seeing her elderly mother-in-law struggling with illness and her young children still dependent on her, Them resolved to pull herself together and become a source of support for the family.

She had previously worked as a factory worker, but later quit her job to have more time to care for her children, returning home to farm and run a small trading business. Concerned about her daughter-in-law's struggles, Luan, despite her poor health, continued to take care of household chores so Them could focus on making a living.

“My mother-in-law and I helped each other through an enormous loss. She has two sons. My husband was the elder, while her younger son works in Hanoi and only comes home occasionally.

“She loves me dearly and always supports everything I do. Once, I wanted to go to Hanoi to take a business course while my baby was still breastfeeding. My mother-in-law was willing to look after my child and take care of the household so I could go study,” Them said.

In 2021, life remained extremely difficult, and more than ever, Them felt she needed someone to lean on. She decided to remarry.

When she heard the news, Luan was surprised and overwhelmed with mixed emotions. She did not want to be separated from her daughter-in-law and grandchildren, but neither could she bring herself to stop Them from seeking happiness of her own. In the end, she accepted Them's decision but asked not to receive any wedding gifts and did not attend the wedding.

Unexpectedly, things did not work out as Them had hoped. After only a few days of living together, she wanted to leave the marriage.

At the time, she was weighed down by countless worries. Her biological mother was elderly and frequently ill, and Them did not want to move back in with her and become a burden.

Her former mother-in-law loved her and cherished her grandchildren, but was living alone. Them wanted to return and live with her, yet feared that Luan might not agree. Unsure what to do, she confided in a cousin and told him about her situation.

“Later, my maternal uncle found out and went to speak with Mother Luan about my wish to come back. She agreed immediately.

“Then I texted her: ‘Mom, can I come back and live with you?’ She called me and said: ‘Has something happened to you? If you don't feel that your life is working out, just come home to me. We can rely on each other and get through life together.’ Those words brought me to tears,” Them said.

Luan added that when her daughter-in-law remarried, she cried a great deal because she missed Them and her grandchildren. When Them asked to return, Luan felt sorry for her after both of her marriages had failed to bring her a fulfilling life and agreed immediately.

“Them is a gentle and filial daughter. She was still young when she had to endure so many upheavals, and I feel deeply sorry for her. I have always welcomed her back to live with me,” Luan said.

Thanh Minh