Chapter 3 — Fire Race

That name was like a bolt of lightning, tearing through the clouds in my head. “Thank you so much, grandma!” “Thank you very much!” “This information… is extremely important to you!” “Oh, you stupid child…” Grandma's voice was full of sympathy。 “What if I know about the past?” “Don't make yourself miserable。” “And don't… blame your dad too much。” “He… wasn't easy。” I hung up。 My heart was still as chaotic as the rough sea。 Grandpa went missing, rumors of embezzlement, threats from bad guys。 The night before I was born - he returned in secret。 Mom was in shock, then had trouble giving birth。 Dad kept it all a secret, burdened with torment。 And now — is the name that can know the whole truth: Chu Chinh Tuong — grandfather's comrade。 Each piece of memory, each fragmentary clue... Gradually connecting together。 They lead to a huge secret that has been hidden for twenty years. I immediately called Chu Hao。 “Chu Hao!” “Help me look up someone!” “Chu Chinh Tuong!” “Used to work at the City Archives。” “Was my grandfather's battle buddy – Lam Chi Vien!” “Chu Chinh Tuong?” Chu Hao repeated that name。 “Okay, I'll look it up now!” The waiting time is always so long and painful. I can't sit still. My mind keeps repeating what my grandmother said. If my grandfather really didn't die that year... Then where did he go? Why did it disappear? And that "troubling" money... what is it? My father — what role did he play in all this? Are you protecting your grandfather? Or are you... hiding an even scarier truth? A few hours later. Chu Hao's phone called back. Chu Hao's voice became unusually heavy。 “Sister Van。” “Looked it up。” “Chu Chinh Tuong。” “Formerly Deputy Director of the City Archives。” “Retired。” “But…” “What's wrong?” “He passed away last month… due to a sudden myocardial infarction。” [⛔ The document has been tagged with copy protection by Tieu Ho bot. Find quality stories, choose Tieu Ho, stable - reputable - won't collapse ✔] Passed away? The only clue… is broken again right now? I was stunned, my whole body was shaking。 “Sister Van。” Chu Hao's voice rang out again。 “I still found out something。” “It might be… related。” “You say it。” “A week before his death。” “Chu Chinh Tuong went to the Notary Office。” “Leave a… will。” “And especially clearly state。” “If the immediate relatives do not come to receive it within a month。” “Then the heir will be a woman named ‘Lam Van’。” “What?!” "It's me?" Chu Chinh Tuong appointed me to inherit the will and a safe? No way! I don't know him at all! “Miss Van?” “Do you… know this person named Chu Chinh Tuong?” Chu Hao asked cautiously。 “Unfamiliar。” I almost blurted out。 “Never heard of this name。” “That's really strange。” Chu Hao muttered。 “The notary office recorded it very clearly。” “It's exactly your full name and ID card number。” “The address is also the address of my studio。” “There's no mistake. okay。” Someone I've never met. My grandfather's battle buddy. Before he passed away, he left a will for me. This absolutely cannot be a coincidence! Surely he knows something! He's trying to say something to me this way! “Chu Hao!” "Notary office! Safe!" “I will go there now!” “Miss Van, calm down!” Chu Hao quickly stopped me. "It's evening now, the notary office is off work." "And if you want to receive the will, you need to go through the procedures. " "You have to contact me in advance to make an appointment. " "Then bring your identification papers." “Okay。” I tried to force myself to calm down。 “Tomorrow morning。” “I'll go now.” “Chu Hao, thank you.” “Thank you very much.” “What's so polite with me?” Chu Hao said。 “If you have any progress, please let me know immediately。” “And remember to stay safe。” “Um。”

I hung up the phone。 My eyes looked out the pitch-black window。 But in my heart, it was like a rising tide, constantly churning。 Chu Chinh Tuong's will。 That safe。 What was hidden inside? Is it true that my grandfather disappeared? Or… an even more horrifying secret? No matter what。 Tomorrow - everything... will be clear。 The next morning。 I was almost the first person to show up at the city notary office。 Followed the correct process, submitted identification documents, completed the appointment.。 The person receiving the documents was a middle-aged notary who looked very serious。 After comparing my information。 Her face was slightly surprised。 "Are you... Lam Van?" “Do you know Mr. Chu Chinh Tuong?” “No。” I answered honestly。 “But he was my grandfather's battle buddy。” The notary nodded。 Didn't ask any more。 She took out a sealed bag of documents and a small heavy safe from the file cabinet。 “Based on Mr. Chu Chinh Tuong's will。” “If after a month from the date of his death, no immediate family comes to claim。” “Then You will receive these two items。” “Today is the last day.” She handed me the document bag. "This is the original will. Please take a look and sign it." My hand trembled slightly. I opened the seal. Inside was a standard printed will. The content was very simple. In addition to leaving some savings and real estate for the son who is abroad, the most important part was related to this safe. The will clearly stated: 【The personal safe bears my identification number (code: XXXXX), the items inside are extremely important to the granddaughter of the late Lam Chi Vien - Lam Van, I now assign to Ms. Lam Van (ID number: XXXXXXXXXXXX). Suggested password to open the safe: Date of sacrifice of the deceased.】 Date of sacrifice of the deceased? The day Mr. Lam Chi Vien died? The records at the notary office said July 15. But the third lady said... I thought it was like a lightning strike in my head。 Looking towards the notary。 "Can I open this safe right here?" The notary nodded。 “Of course。” “You entered the password yourself。” She pushed the safe towards me。 It is a common type of electronic safe。 Requires 6 digits to be entered。 Date of death of the deceased。 July 15. 715. What about the last two numbers? Is it the year? 92? I tried entering: 071592 【Wrong password】 The red light turned on。 Incorrect。 Could it be... I suddenly remembered what my father accidentally said the other day。 December 8th. Lunar calendar?! I immediately looked it up on my phone. December 8, 1992 according to the lunar calendar and solar calendar is January 30, 1993. 013093? I entered it again。 【Wrong password】 Still not correct! What's the point?! Chu Chinh Tuong left a hint to unlock: "The day of sacrifice of an old man。" He was a close comrade of my grandfather. So the so-called "day of sacrifice" in his eyes... Is the officially announced date - July 15? Or the day my father always mentioned – the 8th day of the 12th lunar month? Or… is it something else entirely? I stared at the safe. My mind swirls like a storm. Chu Chinh Tuong intentionally left this safe for me. Surely you want me to open it. A password hint cannot be an unsolvable puzzle. “Day of Sacrifice”… “Day of Sacrifice”… Wait! In the will, it was written as "The day of the sacrifice of the deceased". But he didn't specify which year! So maybe… The password is not a specific date? But is it some kind of code? Or… that so-called “sacrifice” actually has a different meaning? I looked down at the will again: 【The items inside have extremely important meaning to the granddaughter of the late Lam Chi Vien - Lam Van】 【Suggested password: The day of the sacrifice of the deceased】 Lam Chi

Far… sacrifice… Sacrifice. From there... I suddenly remembered a detail! Notice of receiving funeral money! Not only does it have the date of sacrifice... It also has an identification number! Is the code of a soldier who died while on duty! I immediately took my phone out of my pocket and found a photo of that application! Zoom in! Found it! Right below the name it says: 【Number: 811201】 Eight – One… Eight One – Military National Day?