Chapter 23 — Fascinated by the Rooster Farmer Raising His Children

Spring had returned across the fields of Binh Xuyen, bringing warmth and new shoots. One year after the fateful wedding day, Ms. Chu Le Phuong personally summoned the entire Chu family to the main villa, a meeting that she declared was "the most important in many years." No one in the family knew the true purpose of the meeting, only Mr. Chu Trong Nghiep, who she had informed in advance, sat silently with an expression full of indescribable emotions, occasionally glancing towards the door as if waiting for someone.

Khanh Vy received a respectful invitation, not an order like before, along with a personal message from her grandmother: "Please bring both Vinh Khang and Tieu Yen back with you, this is a family matter." She read the message over and over again, surprised by the change in her grandmother's tone compared to before.

When the whole small family entered the familiar large living room - where a year ago had held a fateful meeting ranking men according to material value - Khanh Vy realized that the atmosphere was completely different, much warmer and more sincere than the memory she retained. There were no more rankings, no more cards with property history, just a cozy family banquet table simply arranged.

Ms. Le Phuong stood up when everyone was seated, her hand shaking slightly as she picked up the small microphone that the secretary had prepared. This was the first time in her life that the whole family witnessed her showing such lack of confidence.

"Today, I want to tell everyone, especially Khanh Vy, something I should have said a long time ago." She began, her voice choked. "A year ago, I made the most serious mistake of my life."

The whole living room was absolutely silent. Mr. Trong Nghiep bowed his head, not daring to look directly at his daughter.

"I allowed the calculation of family interests to completely override my love and justice for you, the niece I should have protected more than anyone else." She continued, her eyes looking straight at Khanh Vy, not avoiding like before. "I was complicit in Nha Dinh's selfishness, swapping your marriage contract without even thinking about the consequences you would have to endure. I treated you as a pawn to serve the corporation's land expansion plan, without paying any attention to your true happiness."

Khanh Vy sat silently, not expecting her grandmother to openly admit her mistake in front of the entire family. She tightly held Vinh Khang's hand sitting next to her, feeling the warmth and stability from him.

"But what makes me regret the most," Mrs. Le Phuong continued, her voice now regaining some steadiness, "is not that I was wrong, but that I was wrong for so many years without even realizing it. I have always believed that an arranged marriage based on calculating benefits is the only way to protect a family. But look at what you and Vinh Khang have built — not only a happy marriage, but also a strong community, an example of kindness and knowledge triumphing over trickery — I realize I've been wrong all my life."

She slowly stood up from the chair, walked closer to Khanh Vy, her old trembling hands holding her granddaughter's hand. "I'm sorry, Khanh Vy. The marriage that I thought was the biggest disadvantage I assigned to you, turned out to be the greatest blessing in your life, and I'm ashamed that I wasn't wise enough to see that from the beginning."

Khanh Vy felt tears rising, not because of suffering like a year ago, but because of a feeling of being understood and recognized after a long and arduous journey. "Thank you, grandmother, for saying this." She replied, her voice choked. "I don't blame you anymore, because in the end, I have found the true happiness of my life, in the place I least expected."

Other relatives in the family, accustomed to witnessing Mrs. Le Phuong always maintain a solemn and tough look in every decision, could not help but be moved by this rare moment. A few of their elders gently wiped away their tears, realizing that this was perhaps the most valuable lesson the whole family had ever witnessed - the lesson of the courage to admit mistakes and correct them, regardless of age or status.

*

After an emotional silence, Ms. Le Phuong turned to look at Vinh Khang, her eyes now held true respect instead of the disdain like at the meeting last year. "Vinh Khang, I also apologize to you. That year, I looked down on you just because of external circumstances, without knowing the valuable qualities you truly possess. You have proven to this whole family that the value of a person does not lie in wealth or status, but in knowledge, sincerity, and steadfast will."

"Thank you for saying this." Vinh Khang replied, bowing his head politely, his voice was calm but no less sincere. "But I think, the most important thing is not what happened in the past, but how we build the future together from here. I hope our family can see me and Tieu Yen as a real part of the family, not because of benefits, but because of sincere feelings."

The whole living room applauded in agreement, many relatives stood up to shake hands and congratulate Vinh Khang. Their eyes were now filled with respect instead of the probing, disdainful attitude like at that fateful meeting last year.

Mrs. Le Phuong nodded, bent down to hug Tieu Yen who was standing next to her father, her eyes were rarely gentle. "From today, you are my granddaughter, Tieu Yen. I hope you will forgive the mistakes the adults in the family have made."

Tieu Yen, although still a bit timid in front of the strict grandmother she had only met a few times, still nodded and gave a small smile. "Yes, thank you."

Mrs. Le Phuong took out a small, beautiful silver bracelet and personally put it on Tieu Yen's wrist. "This is the gift I want to give to my new granddaughter. From now on, every holiday, you will always have a part in this family, no different from other cousins."

Tieu Yen looked at the sparkling bracelet on her wrist, her eyes lit up with excitement. "Thank you very much, grandmother!" The baby exclaimed, calling Mrs. Le Phuong by that intimate title for the first time naturally, without any force.

*

The family party took place afterward in an unprecedentedly warm and intimate atmosphere. Everyone reviewed old memories together, laughed, and blessed each other, completely erasing the dividing line that had existed for many years between branches of the family.

The family meeting ended in a warm atmosphere unprecedented in the Chu family's history. Mr. Trong Nghiep, for the first time, stood up and hugged his eldest daughter, his voice choked. "I'm sorry, son, for being silent for so long, for not having the courage to protect you when you needed me the most. I'm proud of you, Khanh Vy, for what you've built yourself."

Khanh Vy hugged her father, the tears that had been suppressed for many years were finally released. She realized that the tumultuous journey she went through, even though it began with deception and injustice, eventually led her to a place she had never dared to dream of - a family that truly appreciated her for who she was, not for any other beneficial value.

Before leaving, Mr. Trong Nghiep pulled Vinh Khang to a private corner, his voice sincere. "You are the son-in-law that I am most proud of, even though the beginning was not smooth. Thank you for loving and protecting Khanh Vy with all your heart, for giving her a truly happy life."

"I'm the one who should thank you, Dad." Vinh Khang replied, bowing his head respectfully. "Because in the end, my family gave me something I never dared to hope to have again after Thuy Trang passed away - a bigger, more complete home for Tieu Yen."

On the way back to Binh Xuyen, outside the car window the city lights gradually gave way to the quiet darkness of the countryside. Tieu Yen fell asleep in the car, her face unusually peaceful. Khanh Vy looked at her daughter, then turned to Vinh Khang, smiling slightly, her heart filled with peace. "Finally, all the wounds are starting to heal, right?"

"YES." Vinh Khang replied, gently squeezing her hand, his eyes gently looking towards his sleeping daughter. "And I believe, the best things are still waiting for us, for this whole little family."