Chapter 17 — Old Street Corner Gold Shop

Three days after the meeting with Mr. Dong, the official assessment from the museum was sent to Tan Phat gold shop via express delivery. Vy opened the envelope with both excitement and respect, reading each line of solemnly typed letters, stamped and signed by the city's fine arts museum.

The text confirms that the earring has a date consistent with the mid-twentieth century, the gold bean and perforation techniques are typical of the Southern school of jewelry, and notes high similarity with the description in the reference documents provided. This is not absolute evidence proving the exact origin of the item, but is a document with scientific value, confirmed by a reputable organization - something Vy's family absolutely did not have before.

"We already have three important pieces of evidence," Khoi said as he and Vy reviewed all the collected files, spread out on the workbench like a road map. "Your grandfather's handwritten receipt, my grandmother's detailed account as a direct witness, and now the scientific appraisal of the earring. Three independent sources, pointing towards a unified truth."

Vy nodded, but she was still a little confused. "But I'm still worried if Mr. Chi Thanh doesn't believe it, or deliberately doesn't want to believe it, because for him, admitting this truth means having to accept that his father has unjustly misunderstood a good person forty-five years."

She stood up, walked to the glass cabinet, and looked out at the lighted street. "I keep thinking about how he felt when he heard his father's last words before his deathbed. It was definitely a sacred, emotional moment for him. Now if I told him that those last words were not necessarily completely accurate, would he feel as if I were denying even the last memory he had of his father?"

"That's a very delicate perspective, Vy," Khoi replied, his eyes full of respect for her. "I think I need to present everything in a way that complements and completes his father's story, not denying it. Maybe Mr. Uong Khai Tuong at his deathbed only remembered the part where he sent the jewelry, but did not know everything that happened afterward, because how could he know that your grandfather was arrested and had his property confiscated, while he himself crossed the border that night. Mr. Chi Thanh's story is not wrong, it's just incomplete, and the rest That lack is the part that your family can supplement."

That explanation made Vy feel much lighter, as if an invisible burden had just been lifted. She returned to the table, sat down opposite Khoi, her eyes bright with hope. "Thank you, Khoi. You always have a way of looking at problems that makes me feel a lot lighter."

Khoi pondered, clearly understanding her worries. "That's the hardest part about this. Sometimes, people cling to a story that isn't completely true, just because letting go of it means having to face another pain — the pain of realizing your loved one may have gotten it wrong, too." He stopped, his eyes looking at Vy full of sympathy. "But I believe, if I present it with enough sincerity and valid evidence, he will have a chance to reconsider."

They continued working late into the night, rearranging all the documents in a logical order, preparing for the upcoming meeting that they both knew would be decisive. Khoi proposed dividing the file into three clear parts — the first part is the historical context and eyewitness accounts, the second part is the physical evidence including the receipt and the earring and the appraisal, the third part is the logical inferences that tie it all together, accompanied by a specific proposal for reconciliation instead of simply denying the allegations.

"I don't think I should just go there to prove your family's innocence," Khoi said, rearranging the pages in the order discussed. "We should come in the spirit of searching for the truth with Mr. Chi Thanh, as companions, not as two opposing sides. Only then will he be more open to accept it."

"You're right," Vy agreed, impressed by the sophistication of his thinking. "If I simply present evidence to 'win' an argument, I will probably make him even more defensive. The most important thing is to help him understand, and feel that his father, even though he suffered a loss, was treated kindly on that difficult night."

Thanh Tra had returned early, Mr. Thinh had also gone upstairs to rest after a tiring day, leaving only Vy and Khoi in the quiet shop space, the table lamp shining softly on the old pages. Outside, the sound of traffic on Ngan Lu street has gradually faded away, leaving only the chirping sound of insects echoing from the small yard behind the shop, creating a rare quiet space amid these turbulent days.

"Do you ever get tired of spending so much time on my family's affairs?" Vy asked, her voice soft, her eyes avoiding looking directly at Khoi because she was a bit shy.

Khoi looked up, looked at her for a long moment before answering, his voice sincere. "Not at all, Vy. Honestly, these are the days when I feel like my work is the most meaningful ever. It's not just about numbers and dry financial reports, but about helping something really important come to light, helping someone I..." he hesitated for a moment, "...someone I care about, find peace."

That unfinished sentence caused the atmosphere in the shop to weaken, both were silent, except for the sound of the wall clock ticking steadily. Vy felt her heart beat faster and her cheeks felt hot, but this time she no longer tried to avoid that feeling like before.

"Hey Khoi," she said, her voice soft, "thank you, for everything you've done. Not just for your work, but because... because you've been here, accompanying me through the most difficult days."

Khoi smiled, his eyes gently looking at her. "I also want to thank you, Vy. Thanks to you, I understand one thing - no matter how busy the job is, no matter how accurate the numbers are, it's not as meaningful as truly caring for someone, seeing the true value behind each item, each story, each person."

He reached out and gently touched Vy's hand that was placed on the table next to the documents. She did not withdraw her hand, letting the warmth from his hand spread, an unusual feeling of peace that she had never experienced during the past turbulent months.

"No matter how this ends," Khoi said, his voice deep, "I hope you know that I'm not just here for work, or for my grandmother. I'm here for you."

Vy looked up at him, her eyes watering with emotion. She said nothing, just nodded slightly, letting that moment say everything that words could not describe. Outside, Ngan Lu street has fallen asleep, only the light from the small gold shop shines a warm halo in the middle of the night, like a small but steadfast proof that, no matter how big the storm, there is always something peaceful and sincere that exists within it.

The next morning, when the first sunlight filtered through the window, Vy woke up with a different mood than the previous days - lighter, more stable, even though the difficulties ahead were still there. She went down to the shop earlier than usual, sat at the worker's table, and continued to complete the unfinished order, silently telling herself that, no matter what the outcome of the upcoming meeting with Mr. Chi Thanh was, she would no longer have to face it alone.

Mr. Thinh went downstairs later than usual. Seeing his daughter smiling alone while working, he couldn't help but be curious. "Today you seem happier than usual, is something good happening?"

Vy was a bit embarrassed, her cheeks were pink, but she still tried to keep her voice calm. "Yes, it's just that I think the documents I prepared for the meeting with Mr. Chi Thanh are quite complete, Dad. I have more faith in everything being resolved satisfactorily."

Mr. Thinh looked at his daughter for a moment, the delicate eyes of an experienced person seemed to realize something other than what Vy had just said, but he just smiled and did not ask further questions. "I believe in you, and I also find Uncle Khoi to be a trustworthy person. Your grandfather will probably be happy to see you find such a good companion during this difficult time."

Her father's casual but meaningful words made Vy even more confused, but also warmed her heart. She bent down and continued her work, but the corners of her lips still could not hide the gentle, spreading smile. In the midst of turbulent days, in the midst of financial pressure, in the midst of the risk of losing both family honor and three-generation inheritance, a new sprout of life - a sincere, warm affection - is still silently blooming, like a small flower resiliently rising in the middle of arid land, reminding her that, even in the darkest periods of life, there are always good things worth appreciating and preserving.