Chapter 22 — Old Painting Restoration Workshop

Two weeks before the opening day of the retrospective, Mien Thu and Nguyen Vu returned to visit Ms. Dieu Lan for the third time, bringing with them the entire plan they had painstakingly prepared. This time, they did not come empty-handed — Au Bao Tran also came along, carrying the necessary documents to prepare a notarized report, ensuring that Ms. Dieu Lan's testimony would have solid legal value if necessary.

Mrs. Dieu Lan welcomed them with a calmness that was different from the two previous meetings, as if during the waiting period, she had completely let go of the burden of keeping the secret for sixty years, to receive a new relief.

"Are you guys ready?" She asked, after listening to Mien Thu present her plan to announce the truth at the exhibition opening.

"We have fully prepared scientific evidence, ma'am." Nguyen Vu replied. "But we need the most important thing — your consent to make this testimony public. We don't want to do anything to make you feel coerced or hurt again."

Ms. Dieu Lan smiled, a rare smile of relief. "I've been waiting for this moment longer than you think. Since the day my father passed away, I've lived with half the truth buried, half the pride I dare not say. I want, before I die, to see both the men I love most in my life — my father and Bach Nien — recognized for what they truly are: talented artists, people who loved each other so much that they were willing to sacrifice their personal honor for each other."

She signed the report that Bao Tran prepared, recounting the entire story in detail in her own words, confirmed by a local notary. It is a long, moving document, recounting from the early days of Bach Nien's apprenticeship under her father, through the difficult years of war, to the last night at her hospital bed, and even the torment that lasted for decades afterward.

"Are you willing to appear publicly at the opening?" Mien Thu asked, her voice cautious, not wanting to put more pressure on the older woman.

Ms. Dieu Lan pondered for a long time, her hand placed on the report she had just signed, as if considering it one last time. "I'm old, my health is not as good as before. But if my presence can help this story be told in the most complete way, helping people understand correctly the hearts of my father and Bach Nien, I will try to be present."

Mien Thu held her hand tightly, her eyes filled with tears of emotion and gratitude. "Thank you, ma'am, for everything you've done and are willing to do for this story."

On the way home, the three of them sat quietly in the car for a long time, each lost in their own thoughts about the weight of what they had just achieved.

"We are missing an important piece of the puzzle." Nguyen Vu spoke up after a moment of silence. "We have scientific evidence, Ms. Dieu Lan's testimony, but we have not had any voice from the Chau family admitting Chau Boi Long's role in this whole story."

"Do you think Chau Vinh Thinh will admit that?" Bao Tran asked, her voice skeptical. "He will fight to the end to protect his family's reputation."

"Probably not a public, voluntary admission." Nguyen Vu said, his eyes thoughtful. "But I believe, if we present the full evidence openly and transparently, right at the very event he is trying to defend, he will have little choice but to face the truth, whether he wants it or not."

Mien Thu looked out the window, green rice fields passing by in the sunset. "I still hope, somewhere inside, there will be an understanding, not just a confrontation. This is not a war I want to win by destroying others, but a truth I want to be told as it is."

"That's what makes you different, Mien Thu." Bao Tran said, smiling at her friend through the rearview mirror. "And that's also why I believe this story, when told, will touch the hearts of listeners more than just causing a normal scandal storm."

Back at the workshop, they spent the evening going over the entire plan one last time — the order of presenting evidence, the media approach, the backup plan if Chau Vinh Thinh tried to prevent the event from taking place as planned. Nguyen Vu contacted two reputable journalists in the art research world, both of whom agreed to be present at the opening ceremony, ready to report objectively and with verification.

When everyone had left, Mien Thu was left alone in the workshop, standing in front of the almost completely completed "Vong Nguyet" - only the lower left corner remained, which she still deliberately left behind as a living testament to the truth about to be revealed.

"Only two more weeks, sir." She whispered to the painting, to her deceased grandfather, and to his teacher whom she never had the chance to meet. "I will try my best so that your story can be told in the most worthy way."

Outside the window, tonight's moonlight was full, shining brightly down Hang But alley, like a harbinger of what was about to happen - another full moon night, sixty years after the moonlight night that witnessed a young man tremblingly signing a name that was not his, would now witness the truth finally being returned to its rightful place.

The following days passed at a pace that was both tense and somewhat strangely calm. Mien Thu completed the restoration of the remaining surface of "Vong Nguyet", leaving the lower left corner as planned, carefully wrapping a thin layer of fabric to temporarily cover that area to avoid unwanted attention before the announcement date. She worked with unusual concentration, as if each stroke of the brush, each gentle wipe of solvent, was an apology and also a tribute to both the deceased teacher and student.

Thuy Chi, even though she doesn't know all the details, can still feel the change in the factory atmosphere these days, working harder, more carefully, as if wanting to contribute her small part to something big that is gradually taking shape. Mr. Le often stops by, bringing with him old stories about Mr. Bach Nien, as a way to mentally prepare himself before the truth is widely announced.

"Miss Thu," he said one afternoon, as they were both resting with a cup of hot tea, "I think a lot about what's going to happen. I wonder, if Mr. Bach Nien were still alive, how he would feel when he saw you doing this."

"I wonder that every day too, grandpa." Mien Thu replied, her eyes looking far away out the window. "But I believe, if you really loved your teacher that much, you would want the story to be told exactly as it is—not as an exposed crime, but as a testament to the deepest bond between teacher and student that I have ever known."

Mr. Le nodded, his old eyes shining with deep sympathy. "You're right. Perhaps, after all these years, this is what he has always been waiting for, even though he never dared to say it."

Nguyen Vu, these days, spends most of his time working with the two journalists he contacted, carefully preparing every detail to ensure that the story, when published, will be presented with full context and necessary empathy, and not distorted into a simple sensational scandal. He also continuously updated the situation with Bao Tran, ensuring all legal aspects were carefully prepared, in case Chau Vinh Thinh made unexpected legal moves to prevent the announcement.

Every evening, no matter how busy he is, he still takes the time to stop by the workshop, sometimes just to sit with Mien Thu in silence, hold her hand, and give her a little more strength before the decisive days ahead. There were nights when they didn't say much, simply being together, letting that presence in itself be a comfort that didn't need to be expressed in words.

One week before the opening day, Ms. Kim invited Mien Thu to the museum to review the process of transporting and displaying "Vong Nguyet". During that meeting, Ms. Kim accidentally revealed that Chau Vinh Thinh had continuously called, sent letters, and even personally met with the museum's board of directors to put pressure, but she firmly maintained her stance, citing the professional conservation process to delay any request for early recovery.

"I don't know how much longer I can hold out." Mrs. Kim admitted, her voice clearly showing fatigue. "He has begun to hint at withdrawing funding altogether if the museum does not 'cooperate'. If that happens, not only this retrospective, but many other museum projects in the future will also be seriously affected."

"I'm sorry for putting you in this difficult situation." Mien Thu said, her voice full of guilt.

"Don't apologize." Mrs. Kim shook her head, her eyes determined. "I chose to stand by the truth, and I don't regret it. I just hope that, when the time comes, what you have to say will be convincing enough to justify all the risks we are taking."

Mien Thu nodded, clearly feeling the weight of the promise she had made. In just one week, all the preparations, all the sacrifices of those who trusted her, will be put on the table before the eyes of the entire art world.