Chapter 30 — Secret Explosive Burning of Cow Dung

“The boy from the Luc family is more difficult to deal with than your grandfather.”

My heart sank. It turns out that the pile of draft documents that grandfather Luc Van Da left behind was not a coincidence. It's because his grandfather also had this old story weighing heavily on his heart for many years. Luong Hac Nien continued: "It's a pity that you guys made so much noise tonight."

“Whether it's a livestream or a film, if I say just one sentence, tomorrow the whole world will say this is the script of a staged show.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Tham Kieu's voice rang out from the back row of the theater.

“Sorry, Mr. Luong.”

“From the moment he appeared, the entire process was being broadcast live.”

Luong Hac Nien's expression finally changed. Tham Kieu raised the phone, her face was pale but she stood very firmly.

“Every word and sentence he said, the audience heard it all.”

The theater fell silent for a second. The next second, I heard a sound coming from the police radio.

“The position of Luong Hac Nien has been locked.”

“The action team is going upstairs.”

Luong Hac Nien immediately stood up. The screen shook violently. He seemed to want to cut off the connection, but it was a step too late. On the screen came the sounds of breaking doors, shouting, along with the sound of tables and chairs crashing. His face was pressed against the conference table, but he still glared at the camera.

“Van Duong, do you think you won?”

I looked at him.

"I'm still alive, which means you've lost."

The projection screen turns off. In the theater, only the sound of the wind remained. Bach Nhiem knelt on the edge of the stage, half of the video in her hand was confiscated by the police. She looked at me, her eyes terrifyingly empty.

“If I had returned the lock to you sooner, would things have been different?”

I replied: “It will be different.” Her eyes flashed with hope. I continued: “At least you won't have to go to this point today.” Her tears finally fell. But I don't want to look any more. * Everything after that passed as quickly as pressing the fast-forward button. Luong Hac Nien was arrested. Niu Dai Dung was summoned. Evidence that Bach Nhiem's studio bought defamatory articles, falsified documents, and intentionally led public opinion was also submitted by the program team and the police at the same time. After that roll of film was restored, inside were photos taken by Giang Chieu Lam in the past. There is a scene where Duong Thuy Phuong holds a diaper bag and walks into the back door of the medical station. There is a scene where Niu Vinh Phuc and Luong Hac Nien deliver and receive envelopes on a rainy night. And the search papers that Lam Van Thu posted on electric poles all over the city when looking for her daughter. That was the first time I saw Giang Chieu Lam's face. He was very young, with thick eyebrows and bright eyes, holding the camera and smiling brightly like the spring breeze. Lam Van Thu handed the photo to me, her hands still shaking.

“He gave me the name Duong An.”

“He said, Hai Duong is not afraid of wind and rain, just stay safe and grow up.”

I lowered my head to look at the photo, tears falling on the plastic film. I choked up: "I'm grown up." Lam Van Thu sobbed and nodded.

“I saw it.”

When the Van family's parents rushed over, it was already past midnight. As soon as my mother saw me, she hugged me, cried and scolded me, making her worried. Lam Van Thu stood next to her, her eyes red, not daring to move forward. I took her hand, then grabbed Van's mother's hand again.

“I have not lost a family.”

"But I have another person who loves me."

The two mothers burst into tears at the same time. Luc Van Da stood outside the door, his right arm wrapped in a white bandage, his face even whiter than the wall. I walked forward.

“Does it hurt?”

He said: "Still tolerable." I reached out and gently pressed the edge of his wound. He took a deep breath. I laughed.

“Can you still stand it?”

He lowered his eyes and looked at me.