Chapter 15 — Husband's Death Certificate

Tran Mai pulled the child close to her. “Don't ask.” The boy held up the fire truck. "My dad said, the fireman will save people. Did the fireman take him home?" Co Thua An turned away. I squatted down and looked at the child. “My dad is very brave.” The boy asked: "So, dad, will you receive a certificate of merit?" I said: “Yes.” Tears welled up in Tran Mai's eyes. "We don't need a certificate. We just want to know how he died." I nodded. “We'll know.” She looked at me. “Doctor Lam, I heard that Captain Tham is your husband?” “Before, yes.” Tran Mai said in a low voice: "Then you are also very upset." I smiled once. “I have no right to be upset.” The person who really deserves to cry is this woman in front of her. Her husband is not a hero, there is no poster, no shrine, no group of people to speak up for him. He was just changed into protective gear and burned into a fake corpse. In the end, even the name almost didn't leave. Manager Chu walked out of the meeting room. "Doctor Lam, the compensation process for Liu Shun's family members will be reviewed. As for Tham Nghien and Trieu Minh Vien, the chain of evidence is being supplemented." I asked: "What about the squad's press conference?" Chief Chu said: "It will be organized." I looked at Tran Mai. “This time, the photo should have Liu Shun's name on it.” Chief Chu nodded. “There will be.” Co Thua An saw me out the door. Coming down the steps, he said: "Lam Thinh, the wound on your neck should be replaced with medicine." “I forgot.” “You are a doctor.” “Doctors sometimes forget.” He gave me a bag of medicine. “Conveniently bought a bit too much.” I take it. “Team leader Co, your statement is so false.” He said: "Then I'll change the sentence." “What question?” “I specially went to buy it.” I took a look at him. "Thank." “Nothing,” he said. I took two steps out and he called me again. “Lam Thinh.” “Huh?” "The investigation team will clarify the medical record modification that Tham Nghien mentioned. But if it was really to cover up the fact that he was late, you may also be subject to disciplinary action." "I know." “Regret?” I looked at the gloomy sky outside the door. “Don't regret saving people.” I stopped for a moment. “Regret saving him.” The investigative press conference is scheduled for a week later. The location is still the squad hall. This time, there are no fresh flowers, no hero posters. On the stage are three chairs. Chief Chu, Co Thua An, incident investigation expert. I sat in the second row under the dais. Tran Mai led her two children to sit next to me. The Tham family also came. Tham's mother aged a lot, her hair seemed half white overnight. Tham's father sat silently. Tham Dao lowered his head and no longer glared at me. Hua Niem did not come. She was officially detained. Trieu Minh Vien was taken for investigation. Tham Nghien was detained in the detention center, waiting for the next step. Manager Chu picked up the microphone. "In the fire incident at the Western chemical factory, through the re-investigation process, the initial conclusion was that there were serious errors." Below the stage, a reporter raised his camera. Manager Chu continued. "The person who is said to have sacrificed Tham Nghien has not died after verification. This person is suspected of taking advantage of the incident to fake his death, disperse money, and avoid investigation." In the hall, someone took a breath of cold air. This time, there was no need for anyone to intentionally scream in terror. I saw the pen in Mr. Vuong's hand fall into the notebook. Seeing Tieu Chu sitting straight, her eyes were red. Seeing Tham's mother cover her mouth, her shoulders trembled violently. Chief Zhou turned to another page. "The body found at the scene of the incident, through re-examination and verification, was a seasonal maintenance employee of the chemical plant, Luu Thuan." Tran Mai's hand immediately grabbed my sleeve. The little girl looked up at the stands bewildered. The boy still didn't understand what was going on, just holding on to the fire truck that was missing a wheel. Head of Department Chu stood up and turned towards Tran Mai. “Miss Tran Mai, I'm sorry.” The three people on the stage bowed in unison. Many firefighters below the platform also stood up. There are n

The person's eyes were red and he raised his hand in a solemn salute. Tran Mai burst into tears. She didn't make a noise, didn't curse, just hugged her two children tightly, saying over and over again: "He has a name, he finally has a name." I gave her the napkin. Tham's mother suddenly stood up. “What about my son?” Everyone's eyes were on her. She asked tremblingly. "He saved a lot of people, don't those things count anymore? He's just stupid, he's not evil to the core." Chief Chu looked at her. "Tham Nghien once saved people, it's true. It's also true that he broke the law." Tham's mother cried and said, "Can you give him a chance? He's still young, he can't go to jail." Tran Mai raised her head. Her face was full of tears. “My husband is also young.” Tham's mother stiffened.