Chapter 29 — Medicinal Garden After Hospital

That year's winter came to Yen Son earlier than usual, bringing with it the characteristic coldness of the northern mountains, but it did not slow down the pace of preparations for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Center for Research and Treatment of Eastern - Western Medicine, expected to take place right when the first spring flowers began to bloom. Quyen and Bao Nam, amidst all the preparation work, still tried to spend valuable private time with each other, so that the relationship between the two had the opportunity to be fully nurtured and developed, without being completely caught up in the work cycle.

One weekend evening, when the rare first snow of the season lightly covered the distant mountains around town, Bao Nam suddenly suggested taking Quyen to a special place. He led her to the right corner of the garden where the light purple wildflowers planted by both of them a few months ago had now taken root and were growing lushly, even though it was not yet blooming season. Under the light of small lanterns hanging sparkling around that area, a small wooden table was prepared, simply but warmly furnished with a few familiar dishes that Quyen loved.

"I want to give you a very special evening," Bao Nam said, pulling out a chair to invite her to sit, his eyes shining with a rare thrill. Quyen couldn't help but be surprised and touched by that unexpected thoughtfulness, especially in the midst of the recent busy days. "Is there something special?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity.

Bao Nam smiled, sat down opposite her, but did not answer immediately, just quietly looked at her for a long time, his eyes filled with deep love. "You know, since the day I set foot in Yen Son, I never thought I would find this feeling again - the feeling of looking forward to waking up every morning, the feeling of believing in a bright future ahead," he said, his voice warm and sincere. "All of that originates from you, from this garden, from the journey we went through together."

Quyen felt her heart pounding, she listened to every word he said in excitement mixed with happiness. Bao Nam continued, his voice somewhat hesitant but still full of determination. "I know, there are still many things that need to be built on the road ahead, both in one's career and in one's personal life. But I don't want to wait any longer to tell you that I want to go through that journey with you, not only as a work companion, but as a life partner, someone who will be by your side, sharing all the joys and sorrows for the rest of your life."

He took out a small box from his pocket, inside was not a gorgeous ring, but a pendant delicately crafted from wood, engraved with the image of a small branch of honeysuckle - the type of tree that the two of them took care of together during their first memorable afternoon. "I don't have many conditions to give you lavish things," he said, his voice humble. "But I think, there is nothing more meaningful to us, than the symbol of the place that has brought us together. Quyen, do you agree to build a small family with me, right in this land, where we both found healing, found each other, or not?"

Quyen's tears rolled down her cheeks, but they were tears of bursting happiness. She nodded endlessly, her voice trembling with emotion. "I agree," she replied, a bright smile on her lips. "I agree, build a family with you, right here, a place that has witnessed so many ups and downs, so many losses but is also full of love for both of us."

Bao Nam gently placed the pendant on her neck, his hands shaking slightly with emotion. The two hugged each other in the quiet garden, under the shimmering lantern light, amidst the rare snowflakes that were still falling, creating a romantic, heart-warming scene. "Thank you, for waiting patiently, for giving me the opportunity to love again, completely, without fear," Bao Nam whispered in her ear.

"Thank you, for appearing right when I most needed someone to move forward with," Quyen replied, resting her head on his chest, listening to his throbbing heartbeat, harmonizing with her own.

Before leaving the garden that night, Quyen also pulled Bao Nam to the small wooden sign in the corner of the garden reserved for the deceased. She gently placed her hand on the sign, her voice whispering with emotion. "Mom, I want to introduce to you, this is Bao Nam, the person who will walk with me for the rest of my life," she said, her eyes were filled with tears but the smile was still bright on her lips. Bao Nam also bowed his head, his voice equally solemn. "I promise you, I will always love and cherish Quyen, and together with her, I will continue to preserve and develop what you have worked so hard to build." The night wind gently shook the surrounding foliage, like a gentle, warm response from the deceased mother, making both of them unable to help but smile, clearly feeling an invisible but sacred witness and blessing.

That good news was quickly shared with family and friends in the following days. Mr. Thanh, when he heard his daughter's news, hugged her, unable to hide his tears of happiness. "I'm just sorry your mother couldn't be there to witness this moment," he said, his voice choked up. "But I believe, she is somewhere, smiling down, no less happy than I am right now."

Mr. Loc, when he heard the news, could not hide his emotions and humorously joked. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time," he laughed, his eyes shining with sincere joy. "You two must definitely let me arrange a decent meal, according to traditional customs, when holding the opening ceremony." He also excitedly listed a series of indispensable traditional dishes in the feast, from Gac sticky rice, boiled chicken, to dishes made from the herbs in the garden, making both Quyen and Bao Nam both touched and unable to help but laugh at the old man's great enthusiasm. That suggestion made both Quyen and Bao Nam laugh, but both of them were filled with an indescribable warmth, knowing they were surrounded by the love of a big family, not only people who shared the same bloodline, but also people who had gone through many challenges together, building a true home together.

Doctor Phan Ngoc Lan and several other colleagues in the department, when they heard the news, rushed to congratulate them during their lunch break, bringing with them a small bouquet of flowers that they had hastily bought at the town market. "The entire internal medicine department is happy for you two," a young nurse said, her voice cheerful. "Since the day Mr. Nam and Ms. Quyen met each other, the working atmosphere here has become much happier and lighter." Bao Nam could only laugh, while Quyen blushed at the warm concern of her colleagues, but inside she felt strangely warm, when she realized that her happiness was also spreading joy to those around her.

Nhung, upon hearing the news, immediately ran to hug Quyen, laughing and crying at the same time. "Finally, the day has come," she said, her voice choked with joy. "I have followed your journey from the first days when you were afraid and avoided the garden, until now, seeing you find complete happiness like this, I am really happy for you, very happy."

That night, after everyone had returned, Quyen and Bao Nam lingered in the garden for a while longer, admiring the peaceful scene under the cold but clear winter moonlight. "I think, next spring, when the new center officially starts construction, it will be the time we start a completely new chapter in our lives," Quyen said, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"That's right," Bao Nam replied, squeezing her hand. "A new chapter, where there are no longer pains to bear alone, but joys and difficulties to be shared and overcome together. I look forward to every moment of that new chapter, with you, with our family." The two stood silently together, letting the warmth from each other's embrace dispel the cold of winter, preparing themselves for a new spring approaching, the spring of beginnings, of dreams that are gradually becoming reality. In the distance, the light from the small warehouse still casts a warm halo, like a gentle reminder that, no matter how much time passes, no matter how much the garden changes, the warmth of intimacy and love will always be present, as persistent as the medicinal plants that have been deeply rooted in this land for the past thirty years.