A Tower of Strength to Me

Ahn Ha-jeong from Hwaseong, South Korea

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Recently, I had to prepare something personally, so I worked till late at night for several days. I could neither sleep nor do housework properly. One day, I came home around eight in the evening, utterly worn-out after work.

When I entered home, the light was on and the grocery store leaflet was opened wide on the table. I laughed in spite of myself. My husband, who came back from work, must have gone grocery shopping after seeing the leaflet put on the front door. When I looked at my cell phone to call him, I already had a few missed calls from him. I called him.

“Did you go grocery shopping?”

“Oh, you’re home early! I wanted to cook samgyetang [ginseng chicken soup] for you.”

“Really?”

I was moved and impressed. Coming inside the house, I thought of eating samgyetang. Surprisingly, my husband had already thought of cooking it! Usually, he has difficulty cooking rice in a pressure cooker, so I hurried to get ready for a meal.

After hanging up, I was full of happiness. ‘I cannot help loving him! Can I be this happy?’ I thanked God for giving me this gentle and affectionate husband. I could not hide my feeling; I cried buckets, holding a towel.

My husband came back.

“How did you come so early? You should have come when I finished cooking samgyetang and setting the table.”

“Did you try to surprise me? I was already impressed enough. How did you know that I wanted to eat samgyetang?”

“Really? I just thought you needed to build up your health and cheer up.”

“Thank you so much! Whose husband can do better than you?”

I complimented my husband unsparingly.

My husband cooked samgyetang wholeheartedly according to the recipe he had pre-checked on the Internet, and even cleaned up after cooking. Samgyetang was really delicious, and I was greatly encouraged.

I used to think when I was young, ‘If I can live with my loving one, I will be happy even though I am not rich.’ Such a humble wish came true. As long as we serve each other as we do now, though lacking in many ways, it must be love and happiness.