Chapter 14 — Directions to Cloud Valley

Returning to the city, Dang Khoi quickly began implementing the job change plan he had cherished. He arranged an official meeting with the hospital board of directors to present his proposal to work part-time, devoting the rest of his time to community health work in the highlands.

"This is a rather unusual proposal," the hospital director said when listening to Dang Khoi's presentation, his eyes full of thought. "But I have to admit, what you have done in Ta Chai is very impressive. Let me consider and discuss further with the leadership."

While waiting for the official decision, Dang Khoi continued his daily work at the hospital, while maintaining regular contact with Thao Vy and closely monitoring the progress of building the remote medical station through video calls and photos she sent each week.

"The medical station has finished roofing," Thao Vy informed in a video call, turning the phone so he could see the entire panorama of the nearly completed project. "Only the stage of completing the interior and installing medical equipment remains."

"It's so wonderful," Dang Khoi replied, unable to hide his joy. "I'm waiting for a decision from the hospital about changing jobs. If approved, I can spend more time directly supervising this final stage."

***

Two weeks later, good news came when the hospital board of directors officially approved Dang Khoi's proposal, allowing him to switch to working part-time, three days per week at the city hospital, and be able to flexibly arrange to participate in long-term volunteer work.

"I did it!" Dang Khoi called Thao Vy to inform her as soon as he received the official decision, his voice could not hide his excitement.

"I'm so happy for you!" Thao Vy replied, her joy was no less radiant. "This means you'll have more time to get up here."

"That's right," Dang Khoi confirmed. "I'm planning to stay in Ta Chai continuously for the next two weeks, overseeing the final stages of completion of the medical station, and also..." he hesitated a bit before continuing, "to have more time with you."

Thao Vy felt her heart warm at those words. "I'm looking forward to that too," she replied sincerely.

Dang Khoi's decision to change jobs not only brought joy, but also brought with it some practical challenges that he needed to deal with — rearranging personal finances with a reduced income, finding suitable temporary housing when working long days in the highlands, and most importantly, arranging care for his parents during his absence.

"Mom, are you okay with me spending more time in Ta Chai?" Dang Khoi asked his mother during a family meal, before starting a long business trip.

"I'm fine, son," Mrs. Hanh replied, smiling at her son with proud eyes. "I have hired a professional caregiver to help take care of your father when necessary. You can rest assured to pursue your meaningful work, and your own happiness."

"Thank you, mom," Dang Khoi said, touched by his mother's understanding and support. "I promise to visit my parents often, no matter how busy I am."

***

This long business trip marks a new stage in Dang Khoi and Thao Vy's relationship - no longer short, fleeting meetings, but longer periods of time, allowing both of them to truly live at the same rhythm of each other's lives.

Dang Khoi rented a small room in a family's house in the village, near where Thao Vy lived, and quickly established a new living routine - in the morning he checked the construction site with Thao Vy, in the afternoon he assisted in regular health checks for a number of cases that needed special monitoring in the village, and in the evening, the two spent private time together, continuing to heal and rebuild the relationship that had been interrupted.

"Do you find life here much different from the city?" Thao Vy asked one evening, while the two were cooking dinner together in the small kitchen.

"Very different," Dang Khoi admitted, cutting vegetables clumsily but enthusiastically. "But I like that difference. The pace of life is slower, closer to nature, and everything has more meaning."

"Do you think you can get used to this life for a long time?" Thao Vy asked, a question she had cherished for a long time but had not dared to ask directly.

Dang Khoi stopped and looked at her with serious eyes. "I think, as long as I have you by my side, I can get used to any life," he replied sincerely. "But I also think, we don't have to choose one side completely. Perhaps, our ideal life would be a combination of both — city and mountains, modernity and tradition."

Thao Vy nodded, feeling reassured by his balanced and mature answer. "I like that idea," she said, smiling as she continued cooking with him, both immersed in the cozy, happy atmosphere of a simple but meaningful evening.

***

During the two weeks Dang Khoi stayed in Ta Chai, he quickly became a familiar face to the entire village community, not only because of his role as a doctor, but because of the sincerity in the way he interacted with people. Children in the village especially love him, often surrounding him every time he appears, curious about the medical equipment he carries.

"Doctor Khoi, Doctor Khoi!" A group of children ran over when they saw him walking out of the unfinished medical station, asking about everything in broken Vietnamese mixed with H'Mong.

"Do you guys want to see this?" Dang Khoi asked, taking out a stethoscope from his medical bag, allowing each child to hear his own heartbeat, making the whole group cheer with excitement.

Thao Vy stood from afar observing the scene, her heart filled with an indescribable warm feeling. This was the image she had secretly dreamed of — a future where the man she loved was not just her partner, but an integral part of the community she had come to call home.

"You have a talent with children," she commented when Dang Khoi returned to her after answering all the children's curious questions.

"I always liked children," Dang Khoi replied, smiling. "Perhaps that is also the reason he chose to pursue medicine — the desire to care for and protect the most vulnerable people in society."

That evening, after dinner, the head of Chua village invited them both to his house to discuss the plan to inaugurate the medical station, expected to take place in about a month when the project is completed.

"I think we should hold a meaningful inauguration ceremony," Chua village chief proposed. "Not only to celebrate the new project, but also to thank everyone who contributed, from sponsors to people in the village."

"I completely agree," Dang Khoi replied. "I also want to invite some reporters to report, so that this cooperation model can inspire similar projects in other regions."

"That's a good idea," Thao Vy added. "We should also invite representatives from the medical charity organization that sponsored, and maybe the first group of guests who went on that memorable trip with us."

The plan was gradually completed through discussion, with enthusiastic contributions from everyone, a vivid testament to the spirit of cooperation that has united the Ta Chai village community with people from far away places, all sharing the same goal of bringing better things to this land.

On the way back home after the meeting, Dang Khoi held Thao Vy's hand and walked slowly under the moonlight illuminating the familiar trail. "I can't believe it, just a few months ago, I wouldn't have dared to hope for a life like this," he said, his voice filled with emotion.

"Me too," Thao Vy replied, resting her head on his shoulder. "Sometimes I wonder if this is a dream, because it's more beautiful than anything I've ever dared to dream of."

"If this is a dream," Dang Khoi said, pausing to look her straight in the eyes, "then I hope it never ends."

They stood there under the moonlight, in the middle of the trail leading to the village, two hearts that had found each other again after many ups and downs, looking at a common future that was gradually becoming clearer and brighter than ever.

Dang Khoi pulled her close, holding her in his warm arms under the starry night sky. "Thank you," he whispered in her ear, "for giving me a second chance that I knew I didn't quite deserve, but would spend my whole life proving I was worthy of."

Thao Vy looked up at him, the moonlight reflecting in her eyes. "We have all learned valuable lessons from the mistakes and hurts of the past," she said. "Maybe that's the reason why this second love is much stronger than the first."

They continued to walk in silence, enjoying the peace of the present moment, not needing any more words to fully express the happiness that filled both of their hearts.