Chapter 29 — Pottery Kiln Fire Keeper

Van Khe and Khang's wedding was held on an early spring day, when rice flowers began to bloom bright red along the banks of the Boi Giang River, signaling a new season full of vitality. This is not a lavish city-style wedding that many people still imagine for the son of a wealthy business family, but a wedding with a strong village identity, held right in the pottery factory yard, under the shade of the Vong Nguyet gourd tree that has become a witness to so many important moments in their lives.

All of the dishes and tea cups used at the wedding were hand-crafted wood-fired ceramic products by Van Khe and the artisans in the cooperative specifically for this important occasion. Each dish had a unique glaze, no two were alike, as a symbol of their marriage - forged through challenges, carrying within it unique marks that could not be mixed.

Mr. Vong, in the role of the bride's family's wedding master, stood next to his daughter with bright, happy eyes mixed with a bit of trepidation like that of a father about to marry his daughter off. Mr. Chiem Vinh Truong, although his health had weakened over time, was still determined to be present, sitting in the most solemn position. His eyes could not hide his happiness when witnessing the complete connection between the two families that he thought would be forever separated.

*

In his speech at the wedding, Mr. Chiem Dac Nguyen, as a representative of the groom's family, shared words that made many attendees shed tears.

— Thirty-five years ago, my family and today's in-laws were sworn enemies, — he said, his voice warm but full of emotion. — If someone had told me then that, one day, my son would marry the niece of the person I had resented all my life, I would have thought it was a myth. But today, standing here, I realize that this is the most beautiful thing that life can give - the opportunity to correct the mistakes of the past, to turn pain into love, to let hatred give way to connection.

He turned to look at Mr. Vong and bowed solemnly.

— I would like to thank my family for their generosity in forgiving, for accepting my son, and most of all, for giving me the opportunity to start over, to make amends with the soul of my father's friend whom I never had the chance to meet to apologize in person.

The whole hall was silent for an emotional moment, before the applause erupted continuously, mixed with the bustling wedding music from the national orchestra invited to perform for this special ceremony.

*

The most special ritual in the wedding, as suggested by Van Khe and Khang themselves, is the "exchanging yeast" ceremony - a ritual created by the two themselves to commemorate the story that connected them. In the presence of all the guests, Van Khe and Khang together held a small Nguyet Bach enameled vase, placing in it bright red rice flower petals just picked from the riverbank, symbolizing unwavering, faithful love.

- This vase, - Van Khe said in front of all the guests, her voice was completely confident, no longer any timidity of the girl who had stood before the anxious people's meeting that year, - was fired from the clay of Doi Sanh village, coated with Nguyet Bach enamel that my grandfather and grandfather Khang once dreamed of together, and now, we complete it together, as a promise that our love will be as lasting and beautiful as ourselves. This enamel layer will never fade over the years.

Mr. Truong, sitting in a wheelchair, wiped away the tears of happiness, while Mr. Vong stood next to him, one hand on the shoulder of the new in-law, both looking at the young couple exchanging eyes full of love, as a living symbol of complete reconciliation between the two families.

*

After the official ceremonies ended, the wedding party took place in a warm atmosphere, filled with the laughter of both families and many people of Doi Sanh village. Khac Ben, as the best man, was constantly busy taking care of everything, occasionally stopping to look at Van Khe in her gorgeous wedding dress, his heart filled with joy for his close friend who had found perfect happiness.

Ms. Uong Bich Thuy, also present as a special guest, did not forget to record every precious moment of the ceremony to add to the documentary record of Doi Sanh pottery, which has now become one of the most complete and touching heritage records she has ever made in her career.

As the sunset fell, dyeing the sky orange above the Vong Nguyet gourd tree, Van Khe stood next to her husband, looking back at the entire happy scene around her - her father was happily chatting with Mr. Nguyen, Mr. Truong was surrounded by his grandchildren, Khac Ben was raising a toast with the young people in the village, and the whole community was celebrating her big day together. She knew that this was the most complete image of the dream that her grandfather had cherished all his life — not just a perfect strain of yeast, but a united community, a healed family, and a love strong enough to overcome all barriers of the past.

*

In the middle of the wedding party, Mr. Hua Dinh Toai also gave a short speech as a representative of the local government, announcing another good news that made the whole hall once again burst into happiness.

— On this important occasion, I would like to announce that the application to nominate Doi Sanh village's wood-fired pottery as a national intangible cultural heritage has been officially received by the Ministry of Culture and put on the priority consideration list, — he said, his voice full of pride. — This is the result of so much effort and so much heart built together, and I believe, soon, the name Doi Sanh will be known throughout the country as a symbol of perseverance in preserving traditional culture.

The applause once again rang out endlessly, mixing the joy of the wedding with the pride of another important milestone on the village's journey to preserving the pottery profession. Van Khe held Khang's hand tightly. They both looked at each other, their eyes sparkling with indescribable happiness at the continuous good news that happened on the same important day.

— We did it, — Khang whispered in his wife's ear, his voice full of pride and love.

— No, — Van Khe replied, smiling and looking around at the loving faces surrounding her, — we did it together, with everyone here. This is not just one person's story, but the story of an entire community that never gave up hope.

As night falls, lanterns are lit all over the factory yard, the warm light mixed with the glimmering fire from a small batch being tested right on the wedding night - a new tradition that Van Khe and Khang decided to initiate, so that each important milestone in their lives is associated with the connected fire and witnesses the entire story of love, family, and an entire craft village revived together.

*

Late that night, when the guests had left one by one, only the closest family members remained gathered around a small fire in the front yard. Van Khe sat between her father and her newlywed husband, her heart filled with an unprecedented peace.

— Daughter, — Mr. Vong said, his voice deep and warm in the flickering firelight, — I want to give you something, a wedding gift I kept for a long time.

He took out from his pocket a small ceramic necklace, delicately crafted, coated with classic cracked enamel in a warm deep brown color.

— This is something your grandfather made for your mother on our wedding day, — he explained, his voice choked with nostalgia. — Dad has kept it for many years, waiting for the day to give it back to you, like a connecting link between generations in his family.

Van Khe received the necklace, tears once again fell, but this time they were tears of the most complete happiness. She wore it around her neck, feeling the fragile but lasting warmth of the old enamel, as if she were feeling the presence of both her grandfather and her deceased mother, joining in the joy of the most important day of her life.

Khang put his arm around his wife's shoulder, both sat quietly looking at the small fire in the front yard, the warm light reflected in their eyes, like a promise for a long, happy future, built on a solid foundation of love, truth, and unwavering perseverance.