Chapter 15 — Medicinal Garden After Hospital

After the incident where Kim Thai's representative came to her house, Quyen realized she needed to do something more practical with what she read in her mother's diary, instead of just keeping it for herself. She came up with the idea and, together with Mr. Loc, compiled all those handbooks into a complete medicine handbook, both to systematically preserve her mother's knowledge and as a tribute to the deceased.

During the next week, every evening, Quyen and Mr. Loc sat in the small shed in the middle of the garden, meticulously copying down each remedy, comparing and adding the knowledge that Mr. Loc still remembered but Mrs. Sen had not yet fully recorded. Some evenings, Bao Nam also stopped by to help, contributing a modern medical perspective, helping to explain more clearly the mechanism of action of some herbs from a pharmacological perspective.

One evening, while copying down a long-term cough medicine for children, the three of them suddenly had a heated debate about how to name a medicine that Mr. Loc was familiar with in the local language, while Bao Nam wanted to add the scientific name next to it so that people outside the area could look up and compare easily. "If you only write down the name of the locality, in case no one remembers it in the future, this precious remedy will be considered lost," Bao Nam analyzed, his voice serious but still maintaining respect for Mr. Loc's experience. Mr. Loc nodded and finally agreed to let Quyen write down both names in parallel, to both preserve the soul of the family medicine and ensure scientificity, making it easier to disseminate more widely in the future. That small debate, although sometimes tense, made all three people closer and understand each other better, as if the process of building the handbook together was also a way for them to learn how to reconcile old and new, between tradition and modernity.

"I think, if your mother saw this scene, she would be very happy," Mr. Loc said one evening, his eyes looking at the two young people who were working hard on the page, occasionally exchanging and arguing passionately about how to express it so that it is both scientific and easy to understand for common readers. "A well-trained pharmacist, a talented internist, sitting together to compile the legacy of a physician — this is exactly what she has always dreamed of, even though she may never have dared to say it out loud."

Quyen smiled, her heart was filled with an indescribable warm feeling. She realized that completing this handbook was not only a way to preserve knowledge, but was also gradually becoming her own healing ritual - each page copied was an opportunity for her to sit closer to her mother, to continue the conversation that her sudden death had interrupted.

By the end of the week, the first draft of the handbook was completed, nearly one hundred pages long, including more than fifty precious remedies, accompanied by illustrations of each type of plant hand-drawn by Quyen herself. She decided that the first page of the book would be devoted to writing a dedication, and she thought for a long time before putting pen to paper.

"Dear physician Dao Thi Sen," she wrote, her handwriting careful and neat. "You have taught me to understand that healing comes not only from medicine, but also from the patience to stay by the side of those who need you most. I would like to continue on the path you have chosen, not because of responsibility, but because I have learned to love it, the same way you have loved it all your life."

That afternoon, after completing the cover, Quyen took the handbook out to the garden and placed it on the old wooden table where her mother used to sit and prepare medicine every day. She stood still for a long time, letting the afternoon sunlight dye the surrounding space yellow, clearly feeling that for the first time in more than a year, the pain of losing her mother in her heart was no longer as sharp as before, but had subsided into a gentle, warm longing.

Bao Nam found her there, quietly standing next to her, not saying anything, just gently placing his hand on her shoulder, a simple gesture of comfort but enough for Quyen to feel complete companionship. "Thank you, for always being by my side all the way," she said, turning to look at him, her eyes filled with sincerity. "If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have had the courage to read all those diary pages, nor the courage to let go of the torment I've been carrying for a whole year."

Bao Nam smiled slightly, his eyes gently looking at her under the sunset. "I'm the one who should thank you," he replied, his voice warm. "It was you, this garden, that gave me a reason to believe in life again, after what I thought I would never get over." He hesitated for a moment, then gently took her hand, his fingers squeezing gently and respectfully. "Hey Quyen, I know, this time is probably not the most appropriate time, when we still have so many difficulties ahead. But I don't want to wait any longer to tell you this."

Quyen's heart was pounding, she looked up at him, saying nothing, just waiting in sweet suspense. "I like you, Quyen," Bao Nam said, his voice was quiet but clear and certain. "Not just because of gratitude, nor just because we share the same goal of protecting the garden. But because, with each passing day, I realize more and more that you are the reason why I look forward to the beginning of the new day."

Quyen felt the corners of her eyes sting, but this time, they were tears of happiness. "Me too," she replied, her voice shaking with emotion. "I like you too, have for a long time, I just don't dare to believe that we can find new happiness, even when everything around us is still in disarray like this."

The two stood there, under the yellow sunset of the garden, the distance between them gradually closing. Bao Nam gently lifted her chin with his hand, his eyes filled with tenderness and the desire to be protected. But just as their lips were about touch, Quyen's phone suddenly rang, breaking that romantic moment. The two laughed awkwardly, Quyen quickly wiped her tears and picked up the phone.

It's a call from Mr. Hung. "Quyen, I want to tell you some news," Mr. Hung's voice rang out over the phone, somewhat unusually serious. "Tomorrow, I need to meet you with Mr. Loc and doctor Bao Nam in the meeting room, at eight o'clock in the morning. There is an important matter related to the final decision about the garden, I need to discuss it with you directly."

The two quickly adjusted their clothes, trying to regain their normal appearance before someone passing by saw them. "We haven't had time to say everything yet," Bao Nam whispered, his voice still filled with regret and humor. Quyen laughed and lightly punched his shoulder. "Then let's save it until we finish the important work tomorrow, then we'll continue talking, okay?" she replied, her eyes sparkling with joy mixed with a rare cute confusion. Bao Nam nodded, gently squeezed her hand again before letting go, his eyes still unable to hide his attachment.

Mr. Hung's serious voice made the previously warm atmosphere suddenly sag. Quyen looked at Bao Nam, her eyes were a little worried. "I think, is that good news?" she asked, her voice quiet.

Bao Nam gently squeezed her hand, his eyes still remained calm and steady. "Whether the news is good or bad, we will face it together," he said, his voice firm. "Tonight, let us fully enjoy this moment, tomorrow, no matter what happens, we will accept it together."

Before leaving, Quyen turned to look at the handbook placed on the old wooden table one more time. The light of the new moon shining a dim light on the cover. She smiled slightly, thinking to herself, no matter what news tomorrow brings, at least her mother's legacy is now fully preserved, no longer scattered in yellowed notebooks, but has become something alive, which can continue to be passed on to future generations. Quyen nodded, resting her head lightly on his shoulder, letting the gentle scent of the medicinal plant beds around her blend with the rare feeling of peace in her heart. She knew that ahead might be a new difficult road, but for the first time in a long time, she felt ready, not because she was no longer afraid, but because she knew she would no longer have to face anything alone. Beside her, now there is Bao Nam, Mr. Loc, her father, and the silent love of her deceased mother still present in every tree stump, every page of the medicine book, continuing to light the way for her to continue on the journey ahead, no matter how bumpy and challenging that road is.