Chapter 4 — Fire Race

The People's Army's founding day - August 1?! Could it be... My hand trembled as I reached towards the number keypad. I entered: 8 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 0 - 1 【Tit！】 A soft sound rang out。 The green light lit up！ The safe door... opened！ My heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest from excitement！ Even the notary looked surprised。 I took a deep breath。 Slowly opened the safe door。 There was no gold or silver inside. treasure。 There are only a few items。 A thick file wrapped in cowhide, the mouth sealed with red wax。 An old diary that has discolored over time。 And a small brocade bag embroidered with images of lovebirds. My eyes were immediately attracted by that file. The red wax seal was printed on a strange badge I had never seen before. I carefully picked up the file. I tore off the sealing wax layer. Inside was a stack of documents. The first page clearly printed in large bold letters: 【Report on the end of comrade Lam Chi Vien's "undercover" mission】 Undercover?! End of mission report?! My whole body felt cold as if the blood had been drained！ My grandfather... was not sacrificed？ But... on an undercover mission？ I quickly flipped through it. The report clearly stated: In the past, Mr. Lam Chi Vien received an extremely top secret mission, infiltrating a unit involved in a major case of corruption and espionage. In order to collect important evidence, he volunteered to take on an "undercover" mission. He had to pretend to "embezzle and disappear"。 And at the decisive moment, "sacrifice for the sake of the mission"。 In fact, it was just a stage for him to withdraw into deeper secret activities. The date of "sacrifice" on July 15 was just a cover arranged by the organization. As for the time when he actually "disappeared from public sight." happened a long time ago. The report also emphasized a key detail: During his time undercover, in order to protect his loved ones, Mr. Lam Chi Vien reached a special agreement with the organization. Back up an important piece of evidence and hand it over to his most trusted comrade - Chu Chinh Tuong. The two also agreed on a special method of communication and decoding. That is this safe - and the secret. code！ The last part of the report clearly states: The campaign was successful。 The criminal organization was wiped out。 The spy network was eliminated。 Comrade Lam Chi Vien made great contributions and sacrifices for this victory。 But... At the end of the report... a question was left open: 【After the mission ended, comrade Lam Chi Vien could not return to the unit according to the original plan】 【After many investigations, it was confirmed. receipt: he lost contact shortly after the last intelligence transmission】 【Current status: Missing】 【Closing date of file: June 1995】 Missing? The mission was successful. Yet he... disappeared? What's going on anyway? My mind is as tangled as a tangle of threads。 He did not sacrifice. He is a hero. But in the end... still disappeared from this world。 I took the old diary. Dark blue hardcover, worn over time. Open the first page. It's her mother's soft, familiar handwriting. 【December 10, 1992 - Clear sky.】 【A Vien has secretly returned.】 【He said, the mission is about to end】 【Kinh Quoc was very emotional, and I... was extremely scared】 【He said looked a lot more haggard than before】 【Hugged me and said: "I have tormented you"】 【He said: Wait until everything is over, our whole family will truly be reunited】 【He also said... he had prepared a gift for the unborn child】 The diary has confirmed that grandfather really returned secretly! And… my mother knows the truth! She knew he was on an undercover mission! I quickly turned to the next pages。 【December 13 - The sky is gloomy】 【A Vien has already left】 【Before leaving, he gave Kien Quoc something】 【Wrapped with oilcloth, very heavy】 【He said, it was his "talisman"】 【Also... the "life-saving charm" of the whole family】 【Brother

said: If you don't come back】 【Tell Kien Quoc to take me and the child far away】 【Never come back】 【Never... try to find the truth】 【I saw Kien Quoc hide that item】 【My heart feels like someone is choking it】 【A Vien... what are you getting yourself into?】 【20 December - Snowfall】 【I gave birth - it's a girl】 【Got well, mother and child are both safe】 【Kien Quoc hugged the baby, burst into tears】 【He said, it looks a lot like you... also looks a lot like A Vien】 【He named the baby "Van"】 【Lam Van。】 【Brother She said, hoping that this name 'Van' would be 'Complete' in 'completed'。】 【Hope that all the suffering... stops here。】 【But in my heart... I became more and more uneasy。】 The diary stopped here。 The following pages - completely blank。 Mother could no longer write anymore。 The insecurity and fear in her heart... made her unable to hold a pen okay。 That so-called “protective talisman”。 Or more precisely, “life-saving talisman”… What is it? Where did dad hide it? I picked up the last thing。 The small brocade bag embroidered with the image of a lovebird。 It was soft to the touch, with a faint scent of sandalwood。 I untied the string. Poured out two items。 A square folded piece of paper。 And a tiny piece of jade engraved with a lotus flower。 The piece of jade was clear, warm, shining with a flawless jade color。 Clearly not an ordinary thing。 I opened the paper。 On it was my grandfather's strong, solid handwriting. Just one sentence: 【Van Van, if you see this - go immediately to Giang Nam, search for "Tinh Tam"。】 Van Van? Are you calling me? “Calm Mind”…? Is it the person's name? Place name? Or… a signal? Giang Nam... Too wide. This clue... is almost meaningless. I put it all together carefully. Files, diaries, brocade bags, jade pendants. My heart is in utter chaos. My grandfather was a hero. But he... disappeared. My parents, wanting to protect me, kept it a secret for twenty years. Enduring pressure and pain without anyone knowing, especially my father. Not only do they have to play the role of human. son lost his father。 And he may also have to play the role of... a father to a child who may not be biologically related。 Wait——！ Biological father？ I suddenly realized a detail that I had never dared to think of before！ That photo！ If my grandfather was undercover… And the time he returned was a few days before I was born… Then… Whose child am I… in the end? Is it my father's nominal daughter – Lam Kien Quoc? Or... grandfather's biological daughter - Lam Chi Vien? That thought was like a bolt of lightning hitting my head! Could this be the true source of my father's pain and suffering over the years? Could this be the reason why my mother stopped writing a diary, and eventually died in depression? I must know the truth! I took out my phone。 Almost immediately made a decision。 “Chu Hao。” “Help me make an appointment。” “I want to do a DNA test。” “With… my father – Lam Kien Quoc。” “And also…” I took a deep breath。 “If I can find my grandfather's biological sample –” “For example, the hair left in the remains –” “Also take it to work。” Chu Hao was very silent for a long time on the other end of the line。 “Miss Van…” “Have you… thought about it carefully?” "YES." “I have never been more certain than I am now.” Regardless of the outcome。 I have to know. Who am I? The appointment was quickly arranged. The sample collection process went smoothly. Although my father seemed confused and a little resistant, under my insistence, he finally agreed to cooperate. I didn't clearly state my suspicions. I only used the excuse of wanting to verify some genetic issues in the family. In my grandfather's pile of relics, I found the old military hat he used to wear. On the inside of the brim. hat，I discovered a few remaining hairs。 The biological sample was sent to the examination center。 Next… It was a long and torturous waiting period。

Every minute, every second，seems to stretch into a century。 I try to keep myself busy。 Processing orders at the studio。