Chapter 22 — Pottery Kiln Fire Keeper

Three days after that tense meeting, Van Khe received a surprise call from the Tan Tho company office, informing them that the company had decided to withdraw their application to organize a promotional event on the same day as the village festival, and at the same time move their event location to another area away from the village communal house. Although there was no official explanation as to the reason for the change, Van Khe understood that her frank conversation with Mr. Nguyen had somewhat had an effect.

However, that joy did not last long. Just a few days later, another more serious problem appeared - the regional power supply unit announced that it would carry out maintenance on the power line system exactly three days before the festival, causing the Van Khe ceramic workshop area to have alternating power cuts, seriously affecting the operation of the air blower system to support the kiln and lighting equipment for event preparation.

— This can't be a coincidence, — Khang said, his voice filled with doubt when he heard the news. — I will find out who is behind this maintenance schedule.

After a few days of searching through old relationships, Khang discovered that it was a subsidiary of Tan Tho that proposed this maintenance schedule with the reason of "upgrading to serve the newly expanded industrial park" - a reason that sounded reasonable on paper, but the timing was suspiciously coincidental, making no one in the group believe that this was just a coincidence.

— It seems that Uncle Nguyen did not directly give the order, — Khang commented, after investigating further. — Maybe this is the decision of my subordinates, who are still used to the old way of doing things, wanting to please my father by continuing to make things difficult for your family, even though he himself has begun to show signs of wavering.

*

Faced with the risk of a power outage at the most important time, Van Khe and the group had to quickly find an alternative solution. Mr. Toai helped borrow two backup generators from the commune committee, while Khac Ben and several young people in the village volunteered to help install a backup manual air fan system, ensuring the furnace could still operate stably even when the grid was completely out of power.

- My grandfather always used to say, in the past, there was no electricity but the furnace kept burning steadily for many generations, - Van Khe said, trying to stay optimistic amid the stressful days of preparation. — I just need to go back to a little more traditional methods, I'm sure I can still manage.

Along with preparing to deal with technical obstacles, event organization is also being urgently completed. Ms. Thuy worked tirelessly to complete procedures to welcome the heritage survey team, and at the same time coordinated with Mr. Toai to prepare a display area, a small stage to introduce the history of the craft village, and a private area for visitors to directly observe the traditional ceramic and enameling processes.

Khang, with experience and sophisticated aesthetic taste learned from Japan, is responsible for designing the exhibition space so that it retains traditional rustic features and is sophisticated enough to impress demanding guests from the art and media world.

— I think I should display the broken pieces of pottery from the previous failed firing, — he proposed one evening, when the group was rearranging the display area. — Put perfect products next to them, so people can see the arduous journey, not just the final result. The story of perseverance through failure is sometimes more touching than the story of success.

Van Khe looked at Khang, impressed by his profound vision. She immediately agreed, and they set aside a small corner in the exhibition area to place broken pieces of pottery from the fateful firing in the storm, accompanied by a small board telling the true story of the difficulties her family had gone through.

*

A week before the event, Chiem Vinh Truong suddenly called Khang. His voice was weak but full of determination.

— I want to attend Khe's event, — he said. — He wanted to be personally present, standing before everyone, to clearly state the truth about what happened thirty-five years ago. He thought, it was time for him to do it, even though his health might not allow it anymore.

Khang was stunned by his grandfather's bold decision, worried about his health, and touched by that late but sincere courage.

— Are you sure? — he asked, his voice full of concern. — This will cause him to face a lot of stares and gossip, which could affect his health.

— You've been waiting thirty-five years to do this, Khang, — Mr. Truong replied, his voice unusually firm compared to his usual weakness. — He did not want to close his eyes and give up while still carrying an unpaid debt of gratitude to his deceased friend. This could be his last chance, and he won't let it pass.

Khang hung up the phone, his heart filled with emotions, and hurriedly went to Van Khe to share this important news - a decision that could become a pivotal moment, not only for the upcoming event, but also for the entire journey of reconciliation between the two families that has lasted for many generations.

When she heard the news, Van Khe could not hide her emotions and worries.

— Can your health handle it? — she asked, her voice filled with sincere concern. — Standing in front of a crowd, saying such painful things, will certainly take a lot of energy, both physically and mentally.

— I'm also worried like that, — Khang admitted. — But I understand, this is something you have cherished for a long time. Perhaps being able to tell the truth publicly, being freed from the burden of hiding it for so many years, is more important than the health risk to him at this time.

Van Khe nodded, clearly understanding what Khang wanted to say. She remembered Mr. Truong's tormented eyes the first time he visited the furnace, remembered his trembling voice when he confessed the truth to his son, and she believed that, for a person who had carried his sins for thirty-five years, to publicly apologize, to be freed from the shackles of the past, was perhaps the most precious medicine that no nursing home or doctor could give him.

— I need to prepare carefully for this part, — she said, her voice regaining calm and calculating reality. — There needs to be a comfortable chair for you, drinking water, and someone on duty in case of need. I will ask the commune health station to send someone to support during the event.

In the following days, the atmosphere of preparation became even more hectic. Van Khe spends most of her time at the workshop, both supervising the preparation of the firing batch and coordinating with Ms. Thuy to complete the final details for the display area. Mr. Vong, although he still needs to be careful with his health, cannot sit still. He often goes to the factory to give suggestions and encourage everyone's spirit. His eyes shine with a hope that the whole family has not seen for a long time.

The night before the opening day of the festival, Van Khe stood alone in front of the Vong Nguyet furnace filled with products, ready for the decisive batch that would be lit on the opening morning. She placed her hand on the edge of the stove, feeling the calm before the storm of an important event, her heart filled with an indescribable mixture of emotions - both nervousness and anxiety, but above all a strong belief that, after everything her family had gone through, this fire deserved to be lit again, brighter than ever.

Khang came to her side, brought two cups of hot tea, and quietly sat down next to her.

— Are you afraid? — he asked softly, giving her a cup of tea.

— I do, — Van Khe admitted, taking a sip of warm tea, letting the warmth spread to ease some of the tension in her heart. — But I think the biggest fear is not the fear of failure, but the fear of not having the courage to try again if that happens.

— You won't have to fear that alone, — Khang said, squeezing her hand. — No matter what tomorrow brings, I will still be here, watching every hour and every minute by this fire with you, like all the times before.

They sat together until late at night, looking at the silent gourd kiln under the moonlight, mentally preparing for an important tomorrow - the day when not only the fate of Vong Nguyet kiln, but also the future of an entire traditional craft village, would be placed on the scale before the eyes of so many people.