Chapter 35 — Shrimp Street Without Name

News of Ms. Sau's testimony, although kept confidential in the investigation file, still inevitably leaked to Mr. Bao's ears after just a few days, perhaps through a certain relationship in the local administrative apparatus that he has maintained for many years. His reaction did not come directly, but through a series of indirect moves that made both Hai Yen and her family clearly feel the tightening pressure.

First of all, Ms. Sau's dried shrimp stall at Nam Can market was suddenly visited by the district's food hygiene and safety inspection team, making a record of a few minor errors that had never been mentioned before, along with a large fine for a small stall like hers.

“They said to check periodically,” Ms. Sau told Hai Yen over the phone, her voice trying to stay calm but unable to hide her worry. "But I've been selling here for twenty years, and I've never been inspected that closely. They look at every label, every production date, and fine me for missing some paperwork that no one asked for before."

After listening, Hai Yen squeezed the phone in her hand, immediately understanding that this was not a coincidence. "Don't worry, Mom, I will find lawyer Hoang to help complain if necessary. This is clearly a form of retaliation."

At the same time, Kien also gave her some unpleasant news: his leave application, which had always been easily approved in the past, was suddenly rejected by Team Leader Hung on the grounds of lack of staff, despite the fact that there were no unusual changes to his work schedule.

“I think someone is putting pressure on my superiors,” Kien said over the phone, his voice heavy. "Mr. Hung was already worried, but now he is probably even more pressured when he sees the incident getting bigger and bigger."

In the afternoon, another official document from the lawyer's office representing Dai Duong was sent not only to the Certification Center but also to Ms. Sau's home address, with a warning about the possibility of suing for slander, if "unfounded accusations" related to Mr. Dang Quoc Bao personally continue to be spread.

Lawyer Hoang, when informed by Hai Yen, analyzed the situation with the calmness of someone used to dealing with pressure tactics of this type. "This is a common tactic of parties with strong financial potential: using legal threats to frighten witnesses and withdraw their testimony. But the aunt's testimony is officially in the criminal investigation file, not a public accusation, so legally, it is difficult for them to sue for slander in this case."

“So does my mother need to worry?” Hai Yen asked.

“Legally, no,” lawyer Hoang replied. "But I understand that actions such as a surprise check of the booth, or this threatening document, the main purpose is not to win the case, but to cause psychological pressure, making your family feel tired, scared, and consider withdrawing. The important thing is that your family needs to maintain their spirit and not let these tactics achieve their goal."

That evening, Hai Yen gathered everyone — Kien, Ms. Sau, and even Mr. Duc via video call — to reassess the situation and strengthen each other's spirit in the face of increasing pressure day by day. Mrs. Sau, although tired after a day full of troubles, still maintained her determination.

“I won't retract my statement,” she said, her voice firm determined. "The more evil they did, the more I felt like I was right in deciding to tell the truth. People who have nothing to hide don't need to react so violently."

Ms. Sau's words, simple but powerful, made the whole group feel like they were given a new source of energy. Hai Yen looked around, from her mother's steadfast face, to Kien's determined eyes, to Mr. Duc's calm professionalism displayed on the screen, she clearly felt that, no matter how great the financial potential and power the other side was, they could not easily defeat a network of people who were determined to go to the end for the truth.

“We will not back down,” she said, her voice ringing with determination in the small room. "If they want to apply pressure, we will respond with steadfastness. If they want to threaten, we will respond with solidarity. We have come this far, there is no reason to stop now."

In the middle of the meeting, Kien's phone rang with a call, which he immediately asked permission to answer because he recognized the number of the provincial police investigation agency. He walked out onto the porch to talk, and when he returned, his face had an expression that Hai Yen had never seen on him in the past month — a mixture of shock and an emotion that was hard to name.

“They just announced,” he said, his voice shaking. "Khai's accident records were officially reviewed. Based on the evidence we provided, combined with Mr. Son's initial testimony about the illegal human trafficking ring, the investigation agency determined there were enough grounds to reopen the case, considering the possibility that Khai's death was not simply an occupational accident as previously concluded."

The whole room fell silent for a while, giving Kien time to calm down his emotions. Mrs. Sau was the first to stand up and hug Kien like she was hugging her own son. “So finally, Khai is about to be exonerated,” she said, her voice choked up.

“Seven years,” Kien said, his voice breaking in Mrs. Sau's arms. “I've been waiting for this day for seven years, never daring to hope that it would come.”

Hai Yen looked at that scene and her heart was filled with emotion. Amidst all the pressures, threats, and losses surrounding them, this is a rare moment that shows that the journey they are pursuing, no matter how arduous, is starting to bring about real results, changing the lives of people who have silently endured pain for many years in silence.

“This is just the beginning,” Mr. Duc spoke through the screen, his voice unable to hide his emotion even though he had only recently participated in this story. "But it proves that what we are doing is not in vain. Justice, although delayed, is still gradually being implemented."

After the meeting ended, Kien asked permission to leave early, saying that he needed to immediately inform his mother, who still lived alone in the old house in the fishing village, and had never stopped missing her deceased youngest son. Hai Yen offered to go along, and Kien nodded in agreement without hesitation.

Kien's mother, a woman in her sixties, with a small figure due to years of hard work, was sitting mending nets under the light of an oil lamp when the two of them arrived. When she heard Kien's news, she dropped the needle she was holding, her trembling hands covered her face, tears rolling down endlessly.

“So Finally, people are willing to look back at Khai's story," she said, her voice choking between sobs. "I thought, I would have to carry this injustice to the grave, no one would listen, no one would believe."

Kien knelt down next to his mother, hugged her, mother and child cried together in each other's arms, allowing many years of repression to finally be released. Hai Yen stood silently looking at that scene, her heart was also filled with emotion, feeling more clearly than ever the true weight and meaning of the journey she had been pursuing for more than a month - not only for herself, but for all the other families who had silently endured the same pain in the darkness of silence.

On the way back, Kien held Hai Yen's hand, his voice still a little choked. “Thank you, Yen. If it weren't for her returning to this land, perhaps my mother would never have had a moment like tonight."

“We can do it together,” Hai Yen replied, squeezing his hand. “It's not just me.”

They walked slowly along the road along the fishing village, the full moonlight illuminated the entire sky, shimmering reflections on the water surface of the small canal running parallel to the road. No one is in a hurry to end this rare moment of peace, in the middle of a day filled with both anxiety and hope. Although there is still a long and difficult road ahead, tonight, the two allowed themselves to fully enjoy the small but extremely meaningful achievement that they had built together.

When she got home, Hai Yen texted the good news to Mr. Duc and lawyer Hoang, both of whom sent sincere congratulations. Lawyer Hoang added that she will record this development as additional evidence, showing that the investigation agency is seriously considering the entire chain of events related to Ocean, not just stopping at the single case of Ms. Ut Phuong.