Chapter 10 — 12 Million Yuan Compensation And 30 Years Confidentiality

I raised my head. Looking towards Uncle Truong Vi standing next to him.

“Uncle Truong!”

“Try smiling!”

He was stunned. I don't understand what's going on.

“Tell me to smile!”

“Laugh out loud!”

I'm almost giving orders. Although full of doubts. He still opened his mouth and smiled. Teeth are yellow due to years of smoking. There are still a few missing. I don't see any gold teeth. No yellow teeth! A speculation so bold that it sent chills down my spine immediately appeared. That photo! The photo is hidden in a fountain pen! The young man has a gold tooth. There are those bright eyes. It's not Uncle Truong Vi standing in front of me! Another Truong Vi! It was the old storekeeper! I suddenly understood. What my father left behind was never a simple souvenir photo. Which is the final clue. A guide to finding the most important witness! This discovery was like lightning tearing through the entire fog. My blood seemed to boil. I got it. All has become clear. My seemingly gentle and simple father. Actually surprisingly careful. Right from the start. He knew that the uncle Truong Vi in front of me was disfigured and lived in guilt for thirty years. Completely lost will. Placing hope in him is like finding a needle in a haystack. What Dad left behind is not a clue about this uncle Truong Vi. It's about another Truong Vi. The storekeeper was innocent. People were swallowed by the fire. The person Cao Phuc Lam erased from everyone's memory. He is the most important witness. He is the one who holds the key to the safe.

“Uncle Truong!”

I held his arm tightly. Hands trembled with excitement.

“Please look closely at this photo!”

“The person in the photo... is it really you?”

Truong Vi was startled by my reaction. He leaned closer. The cloudy eye stared at the small photo. Then his body began to tremble violently.

“No... it's not me...”

He muttered. The voice was filled with disbelief.

“It's... it's him...”

“It's A Vi…”

“It's A Vi at the warehouse…”

“He has a gold-plated front tooth…”

“I remember…”

“I remember…”

He finally realized. Or rather. He was finally free from thirty years of self-deception and chaotic memories.

“Why is that…”

“Why is it like that…”

He sat down on the ground. His eyes completely lost their spirit.

“Kien Quan...”

“Jianjun left a photo of A Vi…”

“So…”

“He never trusted me…”

The shock was so great that he almost collapsed. I don't have time to comfort him. Immediately took out the phone. Call the police officer surnamed Chu from before.

“Hello, police officer Chu?”

“I am Hua An.”

“I just made an extremely important discovery!”

“Can you help me find someone right away?”

“That person is also named Truong Vi.”

“Thirty years ago, he was the storekeeper of Hong Tinh Mechanical Factory.”

“The most important identifying feature is that he has a gold tooth.”

The other end of the line immediately became serious.

“Okay, Miss Hua.”

“We will immediately look up the national civil status system.”

“Details about the gold tooth will help narrow the scope a lot.”

After hanging up. I looked at Uncle Truong Vi sitting blankly on the ground. In my heart, I'm confused across all kinds of emotions. It's not that I don't believe him. It's that Dad understands him so well. I know it's not just the face that's ruined. But also the courage to continue living. Dad chose a safer way. Also more roundabout. To keep the truth. He is always waiting. Waiting for someone like me to appear. A competent person. Enough determination. To dig up all the buried secrets. Waiting is the most painful thing. They are all as long as torture. Uncle Truong Vi and I just sat quietly in that abandoned factory. No one said another word. The sun gradually sets. Darkness covers everywhere. Cold moonlight penetrated through the gap on the roof. Falling on us. Don't know how much time has passed. My phone finally rang again. It was police Chu calling. I almost immediately pressed the listen button.

"Hello! Officer Chu! How are you?!"

On the other end of the line, police officer Chu's voice could not hide his excitement.

“Miss Hua, found it!”

“There is only one person in the entire country who matches the characteristics you provide!”

“Truong Vi, male, fifty-eight years old, hometown Giang Thanh.”

“Thirty years ago, I suffered severe burns on sixty percent of my body in an accident at work, then quit my job.”

“He is still living in Giang Thanh now!”

“Right at Anh Duong Welfare Nursing Home in the west of the city!”