Chapter 29 — Old Painting Restoration Workshop

Three months after that tumultuous opening night, Hong Lam Fine Arts Museum held a small but meaningful ceremony, marking the official installation of a new bronze plaque for "Vong Nguyet" — "Started by Tu Binh Son, completed by To Bach Nien, 1963-1965" — in a separate solemn display corner, specially designed to tell the entire story behind the work, from the friendship between teacher and student to the long-lasting silent sacrifice. for sixty years.

The new exhibition space, different from the splendid main hall of the previous retrospective, has a much warmer, more intimate atmosphere - documentary photos of Tu Binh Son and To Bach Nien in their youth are hung side by side, a copy of Chau Boi Long's letter is solemnly displayed in a small glass cabinet, and in the middle, "Vong Nguyet" shines brightly under specialized lights, every layer of color perfectly restored, with no trace of the secret left behind. buried.

Mien Thu stood in front of that space, wearing a light blue traditional ao dai - the color of the factory's name Bach Nien - holding tightly the hand of Ms. Dieu Lan who was sitting in a wheelchair next to her, escorted by Bao Tran and Thuy Chi. Mr. Le stood behind, his face beaming with undisguised pride.

"I didn't think I would live to see this day." Ms. Dieu Lan spoke, her voice trembling with emotion, her eyes following the new bronze sign with a deep happiness. "My father and Bach Nien were, at last, standing side by side, recognized for what they truly were."

Ms. Kim stepped up to give a brief speech, emphasizing the significance of the museum officially applying a new standard in verifying and presenting the origin of works - a standard that promotes transparency and empathy, directly inspired by the story of "Vong Nguyet".

At the end of the ceremony, a surprise guest appeared - Chau Vinh Thinh, wearing a more simple outfit than usual, carrying a large bouquet of flowers, approached Ms. Dieu Lan, bowing to her with sincere respect.

"Mrs. Dieu Lan," he said, his voice lacking any of the cold authority it once had, "I bring this bouquet of flowers on behalf of my father, who didn't have the chance to apologize to you himself while he was alive."

Ms. Dieu Lan received the bouquet of flowers, her eyes full of tolerance. "Thank you, Vinh Thinh. I believe, somewhere, my father and your father are both smiling when they see us standing here, together, instead of continuing to carry the grudges of the past."

Chau Vinh Thinh turned to Mien Thu and nodded slightly. "Ms. Mien Thu, the conservation fund named after the two artists officially went into operation last week. The first student course of the program will open next month. I look forward to attending as a guest, if you allow."

"We are honored to welcome you." Mien Thu replied, smiling sincerely. The distance between them, once filled with suspicion and threats, has now been narrowed by a new mutual respect formed through months of reconciliation.

After the ceremony, when the guests gradually left, Mien Thu and Nguyen Vu stood in front of "Vong Nguyet" for a long time, looking at the new bronze sign under the soft light.

"Do you remember the first day you saw this painting?" Nguyen Vu asked, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "I was shaking when I told you about my first discovery."

"I remember." Mien Thu replied, smiling in remembrance. "At that time I could not have imagined how far this journey would take me — not only discovering the truth about my grandfather, but also finding a new family, a new love, and a new purpose in life."

They stood there, hand in hand, looking at the painting that now no longer carried any heavy secrets, only the pure beauty of moonlight, of the friendship between teacher and student, and of a story that had been completely told, with all the empathy it deserved.

"I have something to ask you." Nguyen Vu said, his voice suddenly became unusually serious, causing Mien Thu to turn to look at him with curious eyes.

He knelt down on one knee right in the middle of the exhibition space, in the silent witness of "Vong Nguyet", Ms. Dieu Lan who was smiling from afar, and Thuy Chi who was covering her mouth with emotion, taking out a small box from her pocket.

"To Mien Thu, from the day I first met you at that little coffee shop, I knew I was in the presence of an extraordinary person - not only because of his talent, but because of his heart that always puts truth and honesty above everything else. I want to spend the rest of my life building with you, healing with you, and continuing to write the story of Bach Nien workshop with you. Do you agree to be my wife?"

Mien Thu stood still for a moment, tears rolling down her cheeks from happiness, before nodding, her voice choked but full of certainty. "I agree. I agree, Nguyen Vu."

Applause and congratulations rang out from loved ones witnessing that moment, mixed with the gentle light shining on "Vong Nguyet", as if the painting itself was smiling as it witnessed a new, brighter chapter beginning.

Thuy Chi was the first person to run to hug them both, tears and smiles mixed on her youthful face. "I knew from the beginning that you two would end up together! From the time Mr. Vu first came to the factory, his eyes were glued to Ms. Thu the whole time!"

"Thuy Chi!" Mien Thu blushed, both amused and embarrassed, while Nguyen Vu just smiled, not denying that lovely accusation.

Ms. Dieu Lan was pushed closer in a wheelchair, her old eyes filled with happy tears. "You know, seeing this scene, I feel like I see myself and Bach Nien in my youth - two young people, full of enthusiasm, building good things together amid the difficulties of life." She held Mien Thu's hand, her voice trembling with emotion. "I wish you and Nguyen Vu to have a happier, more fulfilling life than what my father and Bach Nien ever had the opportunity to enjoy."

Mr. Le, standing nearby, quickly wiped away his tears with his sleeve, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Mrs. Bach Nien must be smiling up there, seeing his granddaughter so happy."

Mrs. Kim also came forward to congratulate, the smile on her lips was rare and radiant. "I think this is the perfect way to close today's ceremony — not only a recognition of the past, but also a promise for a bright future."

Even Chau Vinh Thinh, standing a little further away, also nodded in congratulations, his eyes carrying a warmth that Mien Thu had never thought she could see from that man. "Congratulations to both of you. I hope this love story will be a bright chapter continuing the tearful story we just rewrote together."

Mien Thu looked around, saw all the dear faces surrounding her - those who had accompanied, trusted, and accompanied her through every arduous step of the journey to find the truth - and felt a complete happiness, a happiness that came not only from the unexpected marriage proposal, but from the very feeling of belonging to a community, a family much larger than what she had ever dared to dream of.

"Thank you everyone," she said, her voice shaking with emotion, "for going through this journey with me, with me, with me. Without any of you, I don't think I could be standing here today."

That evening, after the ceremony ended and everyone had left, Mien Thu and Nguyen Vu took Ms. Dieu Lan home, sat down to drink tea, and reviewed the most beautiful memories of the day. She took out an old silk scarf, delicately hand-embroidered, from the closet and gave it to Mien Thu.

"This is the scarf my mother left behind. She wanted to give it to you as a gift to celebrate your upcoming marriage." She said, her voice filled with emotion. "She doesn't have many precious things left to give back, but she believes that this scarf, along with the story behind it, will be more meaningful than any other material gift."

Mien Thu received the towel, tears once again rolling down her cheeks. "I will cherish it for the rest of my life, grandma. And I promise, I will tell your story, your father's story, my grandfather's story, to future generations of children and grandchildren, so that none of them will forget the valuable lesson of love and sacrifice that we have learned."

On the way back to the factory that night, Mien Thu sat leaning on Nguyen Vu's shoulder in the car, her hand still clutching the old silk scarf, her heart filled with a fulfillment that she had never felt so completely in her entire life.