Chapter 26 — Old Painting Restoration Workshop

Three weeks after that stormy opening night, the independent appraisal council established by the Hong Lam Museum of Fine Arts completed its official report. Mien Thu received a call from Mrs. Kim one morning, inviting her to the museum to hear the conclusion announced before it was widely released.

The museum's large meeting room that day was full of council members - the most prestigious art researchers in the country, along with representatives of both parties involved: Mien Thu and Nguyen Vu represented the side that made the discovery, and surprisingly, Chau Vinh Thinh was also present, sitting quietly in a corner of the room, no longer looking as overwhelmingly authoritative as in previous meetings.

The chairman of the council, an elderly professor with many years of research on Indochina fine arts, read the official conclusion aloud. "After reviewing all scientific evidence, including spectral analysis, dating of materials, and comparison with historical documents and testimony of living witnesses, the council came to the conclusion: the work 'Vong Nguyet' is a composition started by the famous painter Tu Binh Son, completed after his death by his devoted student, artist To Bach Nien, in accordance with the original author's will. The council recommended that the work be officially recorded. is co-created by both artists, with full historical context presented transparently in any future exhibition and related research materials."

Mien Thu listened to every word, feeling a deep relief spread throughout her body, mixed with pride that couldn't be expressed in words. She looked at Nguyen Vu, who gently squeezed her hand under the table, his eyes filled with mutual joy.

"The Council also noted," the professor continued, "that the actions of artist To Bach Nien, although technically it could be considered not strictly following the standards of originality, stemmed from noble moral motives — loyalty to the teacher and responsibility to the teacher's family in a difficult war situation. The Council recommended that this story be seen as a precious testament of teacher-student friendship in the history of Vietnamese art, rather than an incident that should be denounced. judgment."

After the announcement, as everyone gradually left the meeting room, Chau Vinh Thinh lingered, approaching Mien Thu with a hesitation rarely seen in the man who once exuded absolute authority.

"Miss Mien Thu," he said, his voice now different from the first time they met, "I want to apologize to you formally, for what I've been doing all along—the threats, the legal letters, the pressure on the museum. I acted out of fear, out of wanting to protect what I thought was my family's legacy, without realizing that I was repeating my father's own mistakes in another way."

Mien Thu looked at him, feeling a sincerity in those words that she did not expect. "I accept your apology." She replied, her voice was calm but not lacking in warmth. "And I think we've both learned something important through this — that protecting a legacy doesn't mean hiding the truth about it, but daring to face the whole story, even the imperfect parts."

Chau Vinh Thinh nodded, his eyes carrying a deep thought. "I have decided that Tinh Hoa Auction House will partially fund the establishment of a conservation fund named after both artists - Tu Binh Son and To Bach Nien - to support restoration and research projects on this period of fine art in the future. I think that is the best way for me to partially repair what my father, and myself, have caused."

Mien Thu felt an emotion rising in her heart at that unexpected gesture. "That is a meaningful decision, Mr. Chau. I believe both your father and my grandfather, if they could witness this, would feel reassured."

On the way back to the workshop, Nguyen Vu held her hand, and they were both silent for a moment, letting the meaning of what had just happened sink deep into their hearts.

"Can you believe it?" Nguyen Vu finally spoke, his voice still a bit surprised. "From a seemingly irreconcilable confrontation, it has now become a cooperation for common benefit."

"I think," Mien Thu replied, looking out at the familiar scene of Hanoi passing by outside the car window, "that is the most beautiful thing that the truth can bring — not the victory of one side over the other, but an opportunity for everyone to reflect and grow from the mistakes of the past."

When they arrived at the Bach Nien workshop, Thuy Chi was waiting with a bright smile, holding in her hand a stack of new cooperation invitations from many different museums and collectors, all of whom expressed a desire to work with the workshop — not out of curiosity about the recent incident, but out of admiration for the integrity and workmanship the workshop had shown throughout the process of handling an extremely sensitive situation.

"Ms. Thu, our workshop is famous!" Thuy Chi shouted, her voice full of excitement. "But not famous because of scandal, but because of honesty!"

Mien Thu took the stack of letters, smiled and looked around her small but warm workshop, where everything began, where she learned the first and most important lesson about restoration — that every painting, no matter how old, deserves to be treated with both respect and absolute honesty.

Mr. Le, hearing about the appraisal council's conclusion, came to the factory that afternoon, bringing with him a bottle of old sticky rice wine that he had kept for a long time. "Mr. Bach Nien left this bottle a few years ago, telling me to keep it until something good happens, then open it and drink to celebrate." He said, his eyes filled with tears of emotion. "I think, there is no more joyful occasion than today."

Together they raised a small glass, not of luxurious champagne as often seen in the art world, but of a simple, rustic cup of sticky rice wine, true to the spirit of the Bach Nien workshop over the years. Thuy Chi, even though she was not old enough to drink, was also given a small symbolic sip, her face beaming with joy.

"Mr. Bach Nien is probably smiling somewhere." Mr. Le said, his voice was deep and warm. "Finally, after so many years, the burden in my heart has been laid down."

Mien Thu looked around the workshop, looking at the dear faces who had accompanied her through the recent turbulent journey - Mr. Le with his memories and silent loyalty, Thuy Chi with his youthful enthusiasm, Nguyen Vu with his love and tireless companionship. She felt her heart filled with deep gratitude, not only for the end result, but for the whole journey that had brought them closer than ever.

"We should think about reorganizing the workshop a bit." Nguyen Vu said, after everyone had calmed down their emotions. "With the amount of new work coming, maybe we need more people, we need to invest more in equipment."

"We?" Mien Thu asked, her eyes playfully looking at him.

Nguyen Vu was a bit embarrassed, but then smiled and held her hand in front of everyone without hesitation. "I'm thinking that, if you agree, I will officially cooperate long-term with Bach Nien workshop — not just as a companion in a case, but as a real part of the workshop's future, if you want."

The whole workshop was silent for a moment, then Thuy Chi shouted with joy, breaking the solemn atmosphere with the crisp laughter of youth. Mien Thu looked at Nguyen Vu, her heart filled with happiness at that unexpected but extremely meaningful suggestion.

"I want to." She replied, her voice choked with emotion. "I want you to be a part of this future, not just of the workshop, but of my entire life."

That night, after everyone had left, Mien Thu and Nguyen Vu sat down in the workshop, together making a preliminary plan for the upcoming changes. They talked about expanding an additional office, about investing in a specialized microscope that Mien Thu had long wanted but did not have enough financial capacity, about being able to accept one or two new students to share the increasing workload.

"I think, this is what your grandfather hoped for when he named the workshop Bach Nien." Nguyen Vu said, his hand gently caressing her fingers intertwined with his. "A hundred years is not only a time to wait for the truth, but also a long enough time for strangers to find each other, to build something more sustainable together."

Mien Thu nodded, resting her head on his shoulder, feeling the rare peace she had been searching for over the past many turbulent months. "I believe, from today, Bach Nien factory will enter a new chapter - not just existing, but truly developing, carrying both the legacy of the past and the hope of the future."