Chapter 43 — Shrimp Street Without Name

Minh Khang's long-term investigative article was published as expected, after the editorial board carefully considered the level of legal risks for many days. The article, although not naming Mr. Vinh's role in the Kenh Ba case due to lack of direct evidence, still paints a clear picture of the repeated operating model of coastal real estate projects he is behind, accompanied by accounts of families who were affected in the Central region many years ago.

The article created a wave of reaction stronger than anyone in Hai Yen's group expected. Within just twenty-four hours, it was widely shared on many forums, attracting the attention of a number of congressional representatives interested in coastal land management issues, and also a few non-governmental organizations working in the field of environmental protection and farmer rights.

“I have never seen one of my articles spread so quickly,” Minh Khang said on the phone to Hai Yen, his voice both excited and somewhat worried. "But that also means that I am becoming a more direct target of attack than ever. This morning the editor received a call from the lawyer's office of one of the companies I mentioned, threatening to sue for libel."

“Are you okay?” Hai Yen asked, her voice full of worry.

“I'm fine,” Minh Khang replied, although his voice couldn't hide the tension. "The editorial board supports me, because all information in the article has authentic sources and is thoroughly verified before posting. But you know, even if you win the lawsuit, the process of dealing with such lawsuits is enough to exhaust anyone."

In the afternoon, an unexpected development occurred: a delegate of the Provincial People's Council, who had questioned the status of coastal land management in a meeting not long ago, proactively contacted lawyer Hoang, expressing his desire to provide more information about the case to have a basis to make an official question at the upcoming meeting.

“This is an important opportunity,” lawyer Hoang commented in an emergency meeting with Hai Yen and Kien that evening. “If the case is questioned publicly at the People's Council, it will create official political pressure, forcing the authorities to speed up the handling process, instead of letting it fade over time like many other similar cases.”

“What do we need to prepare?” Hai Yen asked.

“I will prepare a summary of the case, including only information that has been reliably verified, to send to that delegate,” said lawyer Hoang. "We need to be careful not to reveal sensitive details that could affect the criminal investigation process that is taking place in parallel."

Kien, listening to the exchange, spoke up with another worry. "If the case is brought out publicly at such a political level, I think the other side will react even more strongly. They cannot let a case related to them be questioned publicly before an elected council."

“I know,” Hai Yen replied, her voice serious. "But I think, this is exactly what we need — a pressure big enough, public enough, so that they can no longer use covert tactics like before. Public light, although it brings risks, is also the most powerful weapon against what they have tried to hide. for a decade.”

The meeting ended with a specific action plan for the coming days, but also left all three people with a clear feeling that they were entering a new phase of the war - no longer just a silent investigation between a few individuals, but had become a public issue, attracting the attention of public opinion and those with official power in the state apparatus, bringing with it both great opportunities and corresponding risks.

A few days later, Hai Yen received an invitation to meet directly with the representative of the People's Council, a woman named Lan, over fifty years old, who had worked in the agricultural industry for many years before moving to elected office. The meeting took place in her private office, the atmosphere was formal but no less close.

“I read Mr. Khang's article, and I also received a summary from lawyer Hoang,” Ms. Lan said, her voice calm but full of weight. “I have to be honest, this is not the first time I have heard stories about unjust coastal land collection. But this is the first time I have seen a dossier that is detailed enough, with enough evidence, to be able to officially question it without fear of being rejected for lack of basis."

“We look forward to receiving your support,” Hai Yen said, her voice sincere. “My family, and many other families in the area, have been waiting for such an official voice for many years.”

"I will raise this issue for questioning at the next meeting," Ms. Lan affirmed. “But I also have to say first, this road will not be easy. There will be pressure from many sides, including from within the Council, wanting me to withdraw the question or downplay the seriousness of the problem. I need you to prepare yourself mentally, and also have the most solid evidence, so that I can stand up to that pressure."

Hai Yen nodded, clearly feeling the weight of the promise that had just been made, as well as the new challenges that were gradually revealing themselves on the road ahead. Leaving Mrs. Lan's office, she felt a mixture of hope and anxiety, realizing that this war had now officially entered a new arena, where there was not only evidence and truth, but also complex political calculations that she had never had experience dealing with.

She immediately called lawyer Hoang to tell her the news, and they both agreed that they needed to prepare a set of concise but complete summary documents, easy to understand for those who are not experts in testing or legal techniques, so that Ms. Lan could use them effectively in the upcoming questioning session. This is a completely new type of job for Hai Yen, requiring her to learn how to present a complex story, full of technical details, into a clear, convincing message to an elected council.

In the evening, when telling Kien about the meeting with Mrs. Lan, he appeared both optimistic and cautious. “This is a big step forward,” he said. “But remember what Ms. Lan said, there will be pressure from many sides wanting her to withdraw her questioning. I think, Ocean and the people behind it will definitely find a way to approach her, or find a way to put pressure on the People's Council."

“I'm also worried about that,” Hai Yen admitted. “But I believe that Ms. Lan is a person with courage and is not easily shaken. Article them What we need to do is make sure our evidence is solid enough, so that no matter how great the pressure, the truth cannot be distorted or denied.”

They spent another hour reviewing the entire plan, dividing the work of preparing documents for the upcoming questioning session, each person having a specific responsibility. When Kien left, Hai Yen stood and watched until his shadow disappeared behind the corner of the alley. Her heart was filled with a new faith, even though she knew clearly that the road ahead still had many obstacles waiting for her.

Before entering the house, she stood for a moment in the yard, looking up at the night sky, thinking about the journey she had gone through since the first day she set foot in Nam Can port container yard. From a silent inspector carrying personal secrets, she has now become part of a large network of lawyers, journalists, elected representatives, and many other ordinary people who have chosen to stand up for the truth. She never imagined her journey would go this far, but now, looking back, she has no regrets about any of the steps she took.

She entered the house, closing the door behind her, carrying both the burden of responsibility and the hope that was growing day by day, ready for what was still waiting ahead, whether it was victory or new challenges, she knew she would no longer have to face them alone. That was the only thing she could be sure of when she fell asleep that night, and for her, right now, that alone was enough to give her strength for tomorrow, for all the remaining days on the road ahead, no matter how long or short, whether easy or arduous, no matter what the final result was. Outside, the late moonlight still quietly illuminates the small alley, like a silent witness to all that is happening in the heart of this coastal town.