Chapter 14 — Fascinated by the Rooster Farmer Raising His Children

After the village meeting filled with anxiety, a tense atmosphere still covered the entire Tan Hoa area. But instead of letting fear take over, Khanh Vy decided to turn challenges into opportunities to build a stronger foundation for everyone.

During the following week, Khanh Vy devoted all her time and enthusiasm to building an official farmer alliance for the Tan Hoa region. She took advantage of the knowledge accumulated from many years of working in the field of investment and corporate management to design a new cooperative model - where each farmer retained its own ownership of land, but shares the same brand, farming techniques, and distribution channels.

"We need to officially register as a new type of agricultural cooperative, with clear legal status." She explained to Mr. Ly Van Ben and farm household representatives in a meeting at the village cultural house. "This not only gives us a stronger voice when negotiating with major partners, but also creates a solid legal defense against any external pressure."

Vinh Khang added a technical part, presenting a plan to transfer his farming technology to other households in the area - a cheap homemade moisture sensor system, a scientific crop rotation process to help improve soil, and biological pest control methods without using toxic chemicals.

"I will directly provide technical guidance to any household who wants to participate, completely free of charge." he said. "We don't need to compete with each other, but rather cooperate to create greater value for everyone."

This proposal received enthusiastic support from the majority of farmers in the area, especially after they witnessed the actual success of Binh Xuyen farm in signing a contract with the Xanh Viet supermarket chain. Within two weeks, more than twenty farming households had registered to join the alliance, with a total land area of nearly one hundred hectares.

Every evening, Khanh Vy and Vinh Khang went to each house on the registration list, explaining in detail the rights and obligations of joining the cooperative, patiently answering every question of farmers who were accustomed to fragmented, self-sufficient business practices. There were nights when they returned home near midnight, exhausted but filled with excitement when they saw the number of registered members increasing.

"You trust us, this is the most precious thing." Khanh Vy spoke to an elderly farmer couple after they agreed to sign to join the alliance. "We will try our best not to disappoint that trust."

*

Not wanting to leave any legal loopholes that could be exploited, Khanh Vy decided to invite more outside help. Vuong Vu Dang, Khanh Vy's lawyer friend, was invited by her directly to advise on the legal aspects of the alliance. He spent three consecutive days in Binh Xuyen village, carefully reviewing each household's land documents and advising on how to draft the most stringent cooperative charter.

"You should know, corporations like Dai Thinh Nong Nghiep often have very strong legal teams." Vu Dang said to Khanh Vy while drafting the document. "They will look for every loophole in the law to apply pressure, including the smallest loopholes in the land documents of each individual household, which are often not stored carefully in rural areas."

"So we need to review all legal documents of each household first, right?" Khanh Vy asked.

"Exactly. And more importantly, we need to have evidence documenting any illegal pressure acts if they intend to use them, to serve as a basis for lawsuits or denunciations if necessary later." Vu Dang replied, his eyes serious. "This type of corporation usually doesn't stop at public offers."

Vu Dang's warning made Khanh Vy and Vinh Khang even more cautious. They began to keep detailed records of every contact and every meeting with representatives of Dai Thinh Group, in case the worst situations could occur.

Vu Dang also spent time instructing Khanh Vy how to install a security camera system around the farm area, and how to safely store backup data to avoid theft or destruction. "I know you don't want to think about the worst case scenarios, but prevention is better than cure, Vy." He said, his voice was rarely serious. "With what I know about this type of corporation, I don't want you and your family to be exposed to any foreseeable risks."

Khanh Vy nodded, grateful for her old friend's dedication. She realized that, in the arduous journey ahead, not only did her small family and farming community support her, but she also had sincere friends ready to accompany her anytime she needed it.

*

Along with building the legal foundation, Khanh Vy also contacted journalist Dang Nhu Quynh, who specializes in writing about agricultural economics with whom she collaborated while working at Chu Thi Group, to share the story about the new farmer alliance model forming in Tan Hoa.

"Mrs. Quynh, I think the story of our cooperative model can be an interesting perspective for readers — on how small farmers can protect themselves against the increasingly common trend of land acquisition." Khanh Vy presented over the phone. "But more importantly, I wanted to have a reliable channel of communication, in case we needed to speak out publicly about any wrongdoing."

Dang Nhu Quynh, with her sharp professional instincts, immediately realized that behind Khanh Vy's proposal there was something bigger than an ordinary agricultural story. "I understand what you mean. I will go to Binh Xuyen this week to find out the reality, and I will always be ready to listen if there are any unusual developments."

This careful preparation — from legal, media, to farming techniques — gradually formed a solid posture that Khanh Vy and Vinh Khang built not to attack anyone, but to protect what they and the entire farming community had worked hard to build.

Dang Nhu Quynh kept his promise, went to Binh Xuyen village that very week, spent three full days interviewing each farmer household, taking detailed notes on the farming process, cooperation model, and even the secret worries of the people about the risk of land acquisition. Her first article about the Tan Hoa farmer alliance model quickly received the attention of readers, laying the foundation for a long-term and trustworthy cooperative relationship between her and Khanh Vy's family.

*

One evening, after completing the final cooperative charter, Vinh Khang looked at Khanh Vy with grateful eyes. "You know, before you came, I only thought I could manage my small farm on my own, never daring to think about building something bigger for the whole region. You showed me a vision that I never dared to dream of."

"You are the one with the fundamental knowledge and techniques." Khanh Vy replied, smiled gently, folded the charter book that had just been completed after many nights of diligent editing. "I just help turn what you have built into something more sustainable, more pervasive. We are a team, Mr. Khang."

Vinh Khang looked at her, a warm feeling rising in his heart that he never thought he would find again after years of loneliness raising his children alone. "Thank you, for coming into my life, even though the way we met was not normal at all."

"Perhaps the best things don't always start the way we expect." Khanh Vy replied, her eyes shining with deep sincerity. "The important thing is what we choose to do with what we have, right?"

Outside, the quiet night of Binh Xuyen passed, neither of them knew that, right now, a secret information network was being established between Khanh Vy's biological sister and the biggest enemy that their farmer alliance was about to face.

In the gentle moonlight shining through the window, Khanh Vy leaned her head on her husband's shoulder, listening to the sound of insects chirping in the garden. She thought about the past journey, from a young lady forced into an unwanted marriage, to a woman who was building a strong community with her husband. She never thought she would find the meaning of life this way, but now, every morning she woke up, she felt motivated to continue contributing to the land and the people who had gradually become her second family.