My name is Li Bufu, and when I was 23 years old, I had been working as a mechanic in a small factory in the county for several years.
My father died of illness at an early age, leaving behind a lot of debts, so I knew from a young age that I had to work harder and not let my mother suffer anymore.
But when the engagement was almost a year old, his fiancée suddenly proposed the idea of getting out of the marriage.
The two of us were introduced to each other through relatives, which is a typical arranged marriage, but fortunately, we look at each other very well, so this family affair is decided.
Who would have thought that this marriage that seemed suitable and recognized by both families ended up after a one-time outing of his fiancée!
01
My fiancée, Xiaoying, is two years younger than me, her family is a small business, she is smart and smart, and it can be said that she has been the top of her class since she was a child.
At that time, she found a job in the county's supply and marketing cooperative, which was definitely good news for us at that time, the job in the supply and marketing cooperatives was stable and the benefits were good.
As everyone knows, when I am immersed in a better and better life, Xiaoying is like a different person.
One evening, Xiaoying's face was a little wrong when she came back.
She took off her shoes and didn't go to the kitchen to see how dinner was ready, as usual, but sat down on the sofa with a handkerchief in her hand.
I looked at her with a sense of foreboding.
In the past, she would be full of interest when she came back from work, telling me about the new things she encountered in the supply and marketing cooperative, but today she is a little too silent.
I sat next to her and asked softly, "Xiaoying, what's wrong? Did something happen to the supply and marketing cooperatives today?"
She took a deep breath, and then said slowly, "Li Bufu, can we talk seriously?"
I nodded, and my heart began to beat faster because Xiaoying had never spoken to me so seriously.
She lowered her head and played with the handkerchief in her hand, and only after a long time did she speak: "After working in the supply and marketing cooperative, I have met many talented people, some of them have been to big cities, and some have even stayed abroad. ”
I listened silently, and I began to feel a little uncomfortable.
She looked up at me with a determination in her eyes: "I started to think about our future, think about my own life, I feel that I need more time to explore this world, Li Bufu, I don't want to give up these possibilities because I get married!"
I felt dizzy, my throat felt like a big stone was blocked, and it was difficult to speak: "Xiaoying, you mean..."
There seemed to be a flash of pain in her eyes, and then she looked up at me and said, "I'm sorry, Li Bufu, I want to divorce you, I know it's very unfair to you, but I don't want to wait until I get married to regret it, I need freedom, I need room to grow, I'm afraid... I'm afraid I won't be able to do it when I get married. ”
I almost gritted my teeth, holding back the sadness and anger in my heart and said, "Xiaoying, are you sure this is what you want?
Her tears began to fall, but Xiaoying still spoke: "I have thought about Li Bufu for a long time, this is my most difficult decision, but I have to do it." I'm very sorry for that. ”
The words fell, and silence once again enveloped the room.
My heart was like a knife, but I could only stand up slowly, and said in a choked voice: "If this is your choice, I respect it." Hope you can find the life you want. ”
I turned around and walked into my room and closed the door, and the whole world seemed to be quiet that night, but I don't know if Xiaoying chose to leave because she really wanted to see the outside world, or if she had another choice.
02
A few months after I got married, I was like the walking dead.
During the day, the noise of the factory drowned out all my thoughts, and at night it was endless loneliness and reflection, I tried to avoid mentioning Xiaoying to others, at first I thought that I would not be greatly affected, but whenever I saw a familiar scene, my heart always couldn't escape the sting.
Late one night, I was walking aimlessly on a deserted street when it suddenly began to rain in the sky.
The cold rain continued to hit my face, and at that moment I was suddenly relieved, I knew that I could not be so decadent anymore, I needed a radical change.
So I decided to sign up for the army.
This decision was both an escape and a challenge for me, but I knew that I could only reinvent myself in the most demanding circumstances.
Life in the barracks was far more difficult than I had imagined.
At first, I was overwhelmed by even the simplest run, let alone strict discipline and constant physical training, but I didn't give up, and whenever I thought of Xiaoying, I told myself that I couldn't fall here.
After a few months, I started to settle into life here and I noticed that I had improved significantly in terms of fitness and was able to react quickly in tactical training.
More importantly, I learned how to find solutions to problems under pressure, which allowed me to gradually show leadership potential in the army.
In a flash, it was five years, and I was also promoted to class president.
This responsibility gave me a new sense of mission, and I began to actively influence and help my comrades-in-arms, and their growth and progress also became the driving force for me to move forward.
During my years in the army, I not only rebuilt my body, but more importantly, repaired the wounds in my heart, and I began to be grateful for that profound failure, because without it, I would not be where I am now.
Not only that, but my performance in the army won the respect of many colleagues and superiors, and I thought that life in the army would be smooth sailing, but I did not know that the real test was yet to come.
It was a thunderstorm night, and our troops were conducting a night exercise.
Suddenly a flash flood broke out, and some of our equipment was swept away by the rapid flood, and several recruits were also trapped in a dangerous area, the situation was very urgent, and the slightest carelessness could be life-threatening.
As a squad leader I had to make decisions quickly, and I remember my heart beating unusually fast at the time, but training in the army taught me that fear and hesitation do not save lives, and I dispatched a few experienced soldiers and quickly developed a rescue plan.
We braved the storm and relied on the faint light of the flashlight.
Every step was extremely difficult, and the mud slowed us down, but the determination to rescue kept us from stopping, and after a difficult effort, we finally succeeded in rescuing the trapped recruits and ensuring the safety of the entire team.
This incident caused a great repercussion in the army, and my actions not only saved people, but also demonstrated the ability to deal with problems calmly in a crisis, and at this moment I deeply felt the responsibility and glory of being a soldier.
Afterwards, I was recommended for a higher level of tactical training, and my official position rose little by little with time and experience.
On the day I was promoted to regimental commander, the sky was unusually clear, as if even the weather was celebrating my achievements, and I stood in front of the troops, wearing a new badge, but with mixed emotions in my heart.
I had reached a pinnacle in my military career, but I knew in my heart that it all started with a painful divorce many years ago.
03
On the night of the award ceremony, I walked to the training ground alone, looking at the starry sky and recalling the bits and pieces with Xiaoying, and time gave me more understanding and respect for her choice.
Her departure was painful for a while, but it also helped me find my true passion and direction in life, and I can't help but be grateful to her for making that decision in the first place.
But soon my feelings were interrupted by a phone call.
On the other end of the phone was an old friend I hadn't seen for many years, and he told me that Xiaoying had returned to the county seat and wanted to see me.
We met at an old noodle restaurant.
Walking into the noodle shop, I saw Xiaoying sitting by the window, she looked much more mature, there was calm and peace in her eyes, we smiled at each other, and at that moment all the past seemed to turn into dust.
Xiaoying begins to talk about her experiences over the years, her life in the big city, her career development, and how she finally found her happiness.
We talked for a long time that day, as if to make up for all these lost years.
At the time of separation, Xiaoying said to me: "Li Bufu, I am very happy to see that you have found your way, and I am grateful for your understanding back then. ”
I nodded and smiled, relieved and grateful. Although our lives are different, we have all found our own light.
04
After meeting Xiaoying, I returned home with a peace of mind that I had never felt before.
I sat down at my desk, took out a pen and paper, and began to write down my experiences and feelings over the years, and every word carried my growth and changes heavily.
I wrote: On this continuous path of progress, every choice is inevitable, and every challenge is an opportunity for growth.
Although Xiaoying's departure was painful for me at the time, it pushed me out of the framework of self-imposed limitations and found a world that truly belongs to me.
A few days later, I was invited to give a lecture at a military academy.
Standing on the podium, I shared my story about how the young officers found themselves in the face of adversity and how they grew in the face of challenges.
In my words are not only love for military life, but also gratitude for the hope and opportunity that lurks in the aftermath of every hardship in life.
After the speech, many young officers came to talk to me, their eyes full of anticipation for the future and determination to defy difficulties.
Looking at them, I seem to see my young self, the young man who still chooses to move forward bravely in the face of difficulties.
I walked home alone at night, and the stars in the night sky were exceptionally bright.
I know that life doesn't go according to your plans, but it's these unexpected changes that give us the opportunity to redefine ourselves and find true joy and fulfillment.
Note: This story is purely fictional, the names and events in the story are fictional, and the purpose of using place names is only for the purpose of describing the plot and making it easy to read and understand
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