Chapter 48 — Shrimp Street Without Name

News of the questioning session spread quickly throughout the province in the afternoon of the same day, reported by many local newspapers and some central newspapers, although most still maintained a cautious attitude, only quoting the official content from the meeting minutes without daring to draw any conclusions before receiving a verdict from the investigation agency.

Minh Khang, taking advantage of this opportunity, immediately published an article closely following the progress of the questioning session, combined with the documents he had quietly prepared in advance, creating a comprehensive article that attracted a record number of readers for his newspaper. The article, although still maintaining an objective and neutral tone in accordance with journalistic standards, cannot hide its implicit support for the journey to find justice of Hai Yen and his companions.

In Nam Can market, news about the questioning session became a topic of constant discussion for many days. Ms. Sau, when going out to sell the next morning, received many looks and inquiries from old acquaintances, some expressed sincere support, but there were also many people who still remained cautious, worried about the possible consequences if Dai Duong, the company that is creating jobs for many families in the area, really got into serious legal trouble.

“Miss Sau, if that company really closes down, what will we and our husbands do to make a living,” a young woman, the wife of an Ocean factory worker, asked Mrs. Sau with a worried look when she stopped by to buy dried shrimp.

That question, when told to Hai Yen by Mrs. Sau in the evening, made her wonder. She realized that her fight, although aimed at the goal of justice and truth, also had real consequences, directly affecting the livelihoods of hundreds of families depending on this company, people who were completely innocent in the whole story.

“I don't want to push the company into bankruptcy, causing hundreds of people to lose their jobs,” she shared with lawyer Hoang in a call that night, her voice filled with concern. “I just want those who are truly guilty to be held responsible, and the company, if restructured, can still continue to operate, creating jobs for people.”

“That is a very mature thought,” commented lawyer Hoang, her voice filled with approval. "In many similar cases, the final solution is often not to completely close the business, but to force the responsible individuals to pay the price, and to restructure the company under stricter supervision, ensuring that similar violations cannot reoccur. I think, when the time is right, we should publicly clarify this goal, to reassure worried people like the woman Uncle Sau just mentioned."

That idea gradually formed in Hai Yen's mind a new vision for what she wanted to achieve, not just to exonerate her father or punish the guilty, but also to rebuild a fairer, more sustainable model for the whole community, where violations are dealt with strictly but not at the expense of the livelihoods of innocent people.

The next morning, she decided to go to the market herself, find the young woman her mother had told her about, wanting to listen directly and explain more clearly what she was really pursuing. People The woman, named Thao, was initially reserved when she saw Hai Yen, but gradually became more open when she heard her explanation.

“Miss Yen, I don't blame you,” Thao said, still quickly rearranging the vegetable stall. "I'm just afraid, if the company closes, how will my family survive? My husband has been a worker for five years, his salary is not high but steady, enough to support two children in school."

“I understand your worry,” Hai Yen replied, sitting down next to the stall, her voice sincere. "I don't want the company to close, causing people like your husband to lose their jobs. What I want is for those who actually caused the mistakes to be held accountable, and the company can continue to operate, under stricter supervision, to ensure that things like what happened to my family never happen again."

Thao was silent for a moment, her eyes thoughtful. “So if this is successful, the company will still operate normally, only the people above will be responsible, right?”

“That's what I hope,” Hai Yen replied. "But I can't promise anything for sure, because this depends on the conclusions of the investigation agency and the law. What I can promise is that I will always try to find the fairest solution for everyone, not just my family."

Thao nodded, her face gradually relaxing. "Thank you for coming to tell me clearly. Before, I only heard people saying this and that, but now hearing you say it yourself, I feel much more secure."

That short conversation, although small, left an important lesson in Hai Yen's heart: the war she was pursuing, even though it was just, needed to be communicated clearly and thoroughly to ordinary people who could be directly affected by its results, so that they could understand and accompany, instead of fear and doubt.

On the way home, she thought about perhaps holding a more public meeting with the people in the area, to clearly explain the goals and progress of the entire case, an idea she decided to discuss with lawyer Hoang and Ms. Lan in the coming days, when everything has had more time to settle after the dramatic questioning session.

In the afternoon, she called Mr. Duc to update the situation, and by the way asked about the progress of the official audit report, which had been delayed for a long time due to the rapid developments of the case. Mr. Duc said that the report is almost complete, only waiting for final confirmation from an independent appraisal agency before official publication.

“I think we should publish this report in parallel with other legal developments,” Mr. Duc proposed. “An independent, objective technical report will strengthen the authenticity of the entire story, especially in the context of public opinion having many mixed opinions after the questioning session.”

“I agree,” Hai Yen replied. "You just keep completing it on schedule, ensuring absolute professionalism. This may be one of the most important pieces of the puzzle, because it is completely independent, unrelated to personal or political factors."

That evening, when sitting down to summarize a tumultuous week with Kien, Hai Yen shared about the conversation with Thao at the market this morning, and the idea of a public meeting with people in the area.

“I think it's a good idea,” Kien said, nodding approved. "But we need to prepare carefully, because there will certainly be many difficult questions, and there may even be people installed by the Ocean side to cause trouble and discredit the meeting."

“I know,” Hai Yen replied. “But I think, that risk is worth the exchange for transparency and trust from the people living right here, the people whose lives will be most directly affected by the outcome of this war.”

They spent a little more time discussing how to organize the meeting, location, time, and how to invite people's participation in a natural way, without imposing or staging. Both understood that this would be an important step, not only strategically, but also morally, affirming that the war they were pursuing was truly for the common good of the community, not simply a personal revenge disguised in the name of justice.

Before Kien left, he reminded her of something that she had gradually realized during the past journey. “You know, I think it's the way you always consider ordinary people like Thao, like factory workers, and not just aim to take down the enemy at all costs, that's what sets you apart from a lot of people who have tried to fight against great forces like Ocean in the past.”

Hai Yen smiled, touched by that sincere comment. “Maybe that's also what my father taught me, even if he didn't say it out loud — that true justice is not about punishing anger, but about righting what's wrong, in the fairest way possible for everyone involved.”

That night, before going to sleep, she wrote down in her notebook the idea for a community meeting, along with a list of difficult questions that would likely be asked, preparing the most honest and considered answers she could give, for a new path that was gradually opening up ahead.