Chapter 18 — Fascinated by the Rooster Farmer Raising His Children

News about the upcoming public land auction in Tan Hoa commune spread quickly in the area. According to the official announcement from the Commune People's Committee, this was an auction of the right to use a part of public land adjacent to the farming area of farming households, due to the previous planning not having been fully used. But Khanh Vy, with the sharp eyes of someone who used to work in the investment industry, immediately recognized that this was the opportunity that Tuong Bach Uy was waiting for.

"If he were to gain access to that piece of public land, he would have a strategic position surrounding almost the entire farming area of our union." She analyzed during an emergency meeting with Vinh Khang and Vuong Vu Dang, pointing to the map of the area spread out on the table. "From there, he can control the common irrigation water source, pressuring farmers to sell their land at will."

Vu Dang nodded in agreement, his face thoughtful. "This is clearly the final step in their acquisition plan. If we don't gain the right to use that land, or at least prevent them from achieving their goal, all previous coalition-building efforts may be meaningless."

Vinh Khang clenched his fists, his eyes as determined as steel. "So we have to participate in the auction, and we have to win. This is no longer a matter of choice, but a matter of survival for the entire community."

*

There was not much time left to hesitate, every member of the alliance clearly understands the vital nature of the upcoming auction. In the following days, the entire Binh Xuyen farmer alliance put all their efforts into preparing for the decisive auction. Khanh Vy mobilized capital contributions from farmer households in a fair ratio, and at the same time contacted a few investors who were sympathetic to the sustainable agricultural model to call for more financial resources, enough to compete with the huge potential of Dai Thinh Agriculture Group. She worked day and night, drafting each detailed financial plan to convince potential investors to believe in the feasibility and sustainability of the alliance model.

At the same time, Vuong Vu Dang and his legal team completed all documents proving the alliance's legal rights to use the adjacent public land, based on the long history of farming and the actual need for common irrigation water resources of the whole region.

Dang Nhu Quynh, after many weeks of silent investigation, had completed a long-term report exposing the systematic land acquisition tactics of Dai Thinh Agriculture Group in many provinces and cities, preparing to announce it at a sensitive time to create public pressure.

"I have enough evidence of how they suppress prices, cut off supply, and also have suspicions of property destruction that have not been fully investigated in other localities." She told Khanh Vy in a secret meeting. "But I wanted to wait for the most suitable time to announce it, ensuring the greatest possible impact."

"The upcoming auction will probably be the right time." Khanh Vy replied, her eyes shining with strategic calculation. "If Tuong Bach Uy intends to use unjust tricks right there, in the presence of public opinion and the authorities, that will be the best opportunity to expose the entire truth."

Dang Nhu Quynh nodded in agreement and began planning to mobilize a group of trustworthy reporters to be present at the auction, ready to record any unusual developments that might occur.

*

Meanwhile, Kieu Dac Nhan felt increasingly insecure due to Tuong Bach Uy's increasingly bold instructions. He began secretly collecting and backing up internal documents and emails recording shady instructions given by his boss, as a way to protect himself against possible legal risks in the future, even though he was not sure what he would use them for.

One evening, accidentally witnessing the way Tuong Bach Uy treated a subordinate employee badly just for reporting late, even threatening to fire him immediately without hesitation, along with the growing moral pressure from what he had to do according to his boss's orders, Kieu Dac Nhan began to seriously consider leaving, or even taking the opposing side if the right opportunity arose.

*

As for Chu Nha Dinh, after weeks of colluding with Tuong Bach Uy, she began to feel increasingly uneasy when she realized the seriousness of what she was participating in. Although the money Tuong Bach Uy transferred to her husband helped temporarily solve financial difficulties, she realized that they were only a temporary pain reliever for a body that was rotting from the inside - her marriage continued to crumble, and Khai Van increasingly revealed his cold, pragmatic nature.

"Ms. Nha Dinh, we need you to provide more information about the farmer alliance's plan to participate in the auction, specifically the amount of capital they can mobilize." Tuong Bach Uy requested over the phone, his voice this time carrying more obvious pressure than before.

Nha Dinh hesitated. "But if you knew their exact capital level to deliberately push the bidding price beyond their ability, wouldn't that be too cruel to those farmers?"

"You're already involved in this, there's no room for half-hearted hesitation." Tuong Bach Uy replied coldly, his voice revealing for the first time a hint of hidden threat. "I hope you understand, once you cooperate with me, withdrawing midway will not be simple, especially when I have full evidence of your cooperation."

Those words made Nha Dinh shiver, realizing that she had pushed herself into a trap with no way out, no different from the situation she had deliberately pushed her sister into before. But it was too late to turn back, she was forced to continue providing information, while fear and guilt grew in her heart.

That night, Nha Dinh could not sleep. She recalled the image of her sister in recent phone calls, her voice still warm and sincere even though she had gone through many difficulties and challenges. She wondered if she still deserved to be called the sister of such a person, when she was silently helping someone who wanted to destroy everything her sister had worked so hard to build.

She opened the phone, her finger hesitated on the button to call Khanh Vy's number, wanting to confess everything, wanting to apologize before things went too far. But fear of the consequences, of Chiang Bawei holding evidence against her, made her put her phone away again, sinking deeper into the quagmire she had dug for herself.

*

The night before the auction day, the whole Binh Xuyen village was immersed in a tense but determined atmosphere. Farmers gathered at the village cultural house to review all the plans, all the numbers, and all the strategies that had been prepared for many weeks.

"Tomorrow, we're not just bidding for a piece of land." Vinh Khang spoke in front of all the people, his voice filled with determination. "We are fighting for the right to live and farm the land that our ancestors have devoted their lives to, for the future of our children and grandchildren."

Khanh Vy stood next to her husband, looking out at the sea of simple but resilient farmers, feeling a great responsibility weighing heavily on her shoulders. She knew that tomorrow would be a decisive day, not only for the future of the small family she was building, but also for the livelihood of the entire community that had placed all its trust in her and Vinh Khang.

"We will win." She whispered, holding Vinh Khang's hand tightly, both of their eyes turned forward, ready to face the decisive confrontation about to take place tomorrow.

Returning home, when Tieu Yen fell asleep, Khanh Vy and Vinh Khang sat together, reviewing for the last time all the evidence, documents, and financial data that they had diligently collected over the past many weeks. Vuong Vu Dang called to announce that all legal documents had been completed, ready for tomorrow's auction.

"No matter what happens tomorrow, I want you to know that I don't regret anything about this journey." Khanh Vy said, leaning her head on her husband's shoulder. "Even if it all started from a lie, I found here the truly most precious values in my life."

Vinh Khang squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with determination and love. "Tomorrow, no matter the result, we will fight together with all our might. That is the most important thing."