Chapter 10 — Medicinal Garden After Hospital

As scheduled, a week later, a survey team from the university of pharmacy led by a leading professor in the field officially visited the medicinal garden behind the hospital. The group consisted of five people, accompanied by full professional sampling and testing equipment, making both the hospital and the people in the town excited and curious about this rare event.

Quyen, Mr. Loc, Bao Nam and her father welcomed the survey team right from the garden gate, led them on a tour, and introduced each growing area in detail. The professor, an older man with a calm demeanor and extensive knowledge, could not hide his surprise when witnessing with his own eyes the diversity of medicinal plants still preserved here.

"I was really surprised by the scale and diversity of this garden," the professor commented, his hands carefully examining each leaf sample and each type of plant introduced by Quyen. "In many other places, preserving indigenous medicinal genetic resources like this has become extremely difficult due to the encroachment of urbanization and industrial farming. This is truly a rare garden that still retains its originality."

The survey team spent the entire day taking samples, taking notes, and taking photos of each type of plant, and interviewed Mr. Loc about the experiences and traditional knowledge he had accumulated throughout his life in the medicinal profession. Mr. Loc, although initially a bit timid in front of the intellectual guests, gradually became confident and passionately shared when he realized the real respect and requests from the research team.

"His knowledge is truly extremely valuable," a young graduate student in the group commented, her hand still taking notes. "This is the treasure trove of indigenous knowledge that we are always looking for, but it is very difficult to meet someone who is as thorough and complete as you."

That evening, after finishing a long working day, the professor had a private conversation with Quyen and Bao Nam in the small meeting room of the hospital. "Through preliminary surveys, I can confirm that this garden has very high scientific research value, especially rare medicinal plants that many other places no longer keep," he commented, his voice full of professionalism and objectivity.

"We will draft an official assessment, with full scientific basis, and send it to the hospital board of directors as well as the Department of Health," he added, his eyes full of commitment. "At the same time, our university also wants to establish a long-term research cooperation program with this garden, if the hospital agrees."

That suggestion made Quyen burst into tears of joy. This was exactly what she needed — an official, objective recognition from the academic community that could add significant weight to the proposal she was trying to defend before the hospital board of directors. “We are extremely grateful for this support, professor,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. "This will be an important turning point in our garden conservation journey."

News of the university's interest quickly spread throughout the hospital, creating a new wave of positive public opinion, somewhat balancing the pressure from Kim Thai company's attractive offer. Many colleagues who had previously been reticent now began to express more public support for retaining the garden.

Mr. Thai Van Hung, when hearing about the successful survey, could not hide his excitement. "This is really great news," he told Quyen in a short meeting afterward. "With official recognition from the academic community, I believe, the chances of your project being approved by the Department of Health will be much higher."

However, at the same time, another piece of information also made Quyen worried. Nhung came to her with a tense expression, recounting that she had just heard from an acquaintance working at the district People's Committee office that Kim Thai company was actively lobbying, trying to influence the final decision through higher-level relationships.

"They don't give up easily," Nhung warned, her voice filled with worry. "I heard that they invited a few officials to go on business trips abroad, in the name of visiting advanced pharmaceutical development models, but actually to build relationships and prepare for future pressure."

That information made Quyen realize more clearly than ever that the fight to protect her mother's garden was not simply a matter of persuasion with arguments and scientific evidence, but also a much more complex struggle, involving overlapping relationships and interests that she could not yet fully foresee. However, with increasingly solid support from the community, from the academic world, and trustworthy companions like Bao Nam and Mr. Loc, Quyen still maintains the belief that truth and true values will ultimately prevail, even though the road ahead may be longer and more thorny.

That evening, after seeing the survey team leave town, Quyen, Mr. Loc and Bao Nam sat down in the small shed in the middle of the garden, summarizing together what had been achieved over the past month since she began the journey to save her mother's heritage. "We've come a long way, much farther than I ever imagined when we first started," Quyen said, her voice both tired and filled with satisfaction.

"I believe, your mother up there must also be very proud of what you have accomplished," Mr. Loc said, his eyes shining with emotion. "From a girl who used to be afraid and avoid stepping foot in the garden, she has now become the leader of a conservation movement, supported by both the community and academia."

Bao Nam nodded in agreement, his eyes looking at Quyen were full of sincere admiration. "I still clearly remember the first time we met, when I was skeptical, even somewhat uncomfortable with everything related to traditional medicine," he said, smiling slightly in memory. "Looking back now, I realize that it was her steadfastness and sincerity that completely changed my perspective, not only on medicine, but also on many other things in life."

Quyen smiled, her heart filled with warmth at those sincere sharing words. Although she knows that there are still many difficulties and challenges ahead, especially when her opponent Kim Thai is still quietly trying to put pressure on her from many different sides, she feels more confident than ever, knowing she has trustworthy companions, sharing the same goal, a belief in the good values that they are protecting and preserving for the whole community.

Before saying goodbye and leaving, Mr. Loc stayed behind to give more advice. "Tomorrow, I will draft a separate petition, with the signatures of all the doctors and physicians in the area I know, to send to the Department of Health along with your proposal," he said, his voice filled with determination. "He believes that the collective voice of traditional medicine practitioners will also have a certain weight."

"Thank you very much," Quyen replied, her voice choked with emotion at the heart of her long-time teacher who had always accompanied her from the first, most difficult days. "Without you, I probably wouldn't have been able to go this far on this journey."

"Don't thank me," Mr. Loc waved his hand, his eyes looking kindly at her. "I'm just doing what an old friend of your mother should do. You're the one who reignited the fire in my heart, after many years it seemed to have cooled down since the day my mother passed away."

The three people walked out of the warehouse together, under the rising moonlight, illuminating the quiet garden. Looking at the plant beds that are gradually reviving and growing green again after many days of abandonment, Quyen secretly feels that all the efforts and sacrifices she has made over the past month have been completely worth it, and she will continue to steadfastly continue on this path, even though there are still many thorns and challenges ahead that cannot be foreseen.

On the way to see Bao Nam leave, Quyen stopped at the garden gate and looked up at the starry night sky. "Thank you, for always patiently accompanying me along the way," she said, her voice soft but full of sincerity. "I don't think I could go this far without you by my side."

"That's what I want to do, not out of obligation, but because I really believe in what you are pursuing," Bao Nam replied, his eyes gently looking at her under the moonlight. The two stood quietly together for a while longer, no one said anything, just letting that rare moment of peace settle, before each person returned home, preparing for a new day with many challenges still waiting ahead.