Chapter 41 — Summer After the Rain

The late-season storm arrived earlier than forecast and was stronger than anything the meteorological station had previously warned. Tan called to report that the river water level was rising unusually fast, and the district rescue team urgently needed a gathering place with enough electricity and spacious space. The theater was supposed to be closed for a scheduled break, but Linh immediately reopened it completely, moving all the seats to high places and making a priority list for the elderly and children in the area. Her mother immediately put on a large pot of porridge, Mrs. Nam checked the medicine cabinet, and Minh pulled the main power cord higher than the water could reach.

Water started pouring through the small alley leading to the theater near midnight. Everyone quickly brought sandbags to block each door. Hau wore an oversized life jacket and waddled like a duck, forcing Linh to force him to sit still at the registration desk instead of running back and forth, so he could still help others without putting himself in danger.

A stranded family on the other side of the street called for help in panic. Minh reflexively tried to rush out, but Linh promptly held his hand tightly. Tan instructed the rescue team to use specialized rubber boats for safer access. Minh just stood holding a flashlight to light the way from afar, watching every development from the theater door. This was the first time he did not put himself in the position of having to rush in first in every emergency situation.

As soon as it was dawn, the water began to recede, leaving a thick layer of mud covering the entire theater yard. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and cleaned up without a word of complaint. Ha Vang, without any promotion, has naturally become a reliable second shelter for the whole town in times of trouble. An elderly woman said that this place had given them back exactly what Linh's father had tried to preserve for many years: a room that still had light even when outside it was no longer clear to see the path.

Linh recorded the entire incident that night honestly, without embellishing anything. She understood that the theater still had many weaknesses that needed to be overcome, but she also realized that the response system they had worked so hard to build for so long had truly saved flesh and blood people. When Minh woke up from a nap in the lobby, the first thing he asked was if he had dropped any projectors. Linh said no, but he lost some of his self-esteem because he snored too loudly all night last night.

After the storm, the district's inspection team came to the site to assess the actual situation. They not only looked at the roof and electrical system, but also asked carefully about the number of people who had been accommodated, who was on duty that night, and how the registration process was carried out. Linh showed them the notebook covered in mud but the words were still clear and easy to read. The inspection team could not hide their surprise when they saw that they had meticulously recorded both the time of porridge distribution and the number of children who needed to be given medicine promptly.

Tan suggested turning this entire incident report into a model training document for other localities to refer to. Linh agreed, but insisted on remaining anonymous to those who did not want their names to appear publicly. She clearly understands that a successful rescue story can help others learn, but one person's fear should absolutely not be turned into a free lesson for the benefit of others without consent.

The inspection team asked directly who would be responsible if the river level continued to rise in future storms. Linh showed them the list of shifts assigned to each person, clearly stating the backup phone number for each person. She affirmed that responsibility is always shared equally, but the right to make decisions in emergency situations is clearly stated from the beginning. An officer in the delegation nodded and said this was the first time he witnessed a private movie theater with a methodical operating procedure like a professional rescue station.

Minh started repairing the outdoor cinema wall damaged after the storm. This time he chose to use a more water-resistant paint than before. The little girl who used to wear a yellow raincoat stood next to her and read the instructions out loud, wondering why she had to wait so long for the paint to dry completely. Minh explains that everything needs enough time to stick together. Linh stood and watched him work, thinking that his statement was not simply about painting the wall.

That evening, the theater reopened normally. No new movies were released, they just showed a short film recording the whole scene of the recent storm and how everyone sheltered together and helped each other all night long. When the lights turned back on, an elderly man stood up to speak, saying that this was the first time in his life that he no longer felt like he was just being passively saved, but actually contributed to helping others in need.

Linh recorded that statement carefully in her private notebook. Ha Vang is now not simply a second shelter for the whole town when there is a natural disaster. It has become a place where people learn to flexibly switch roles, between needing help and proactively reaching out to help others.

A few days later, the rain came again, not heavy but persistent all afternoon. The electricity in the area flickered right when Hau was single-handedly coordinating the first movie screening he took on entirely by himself. He looked up at the procedure board, took a deep breath, then followed every step he had learned correctly: turn on the backup lights, clearly notify the audience, turn off the projector safely and immediately call Tuan to report the situation. No one in the theater ran away in panic. One audience member even proactively stood up and asked if he needed help repositioning the chair.

When the power was restored, Hau was in no hurry to continue the movie. He asked the entire audience for their opinion by raising their hands to vote on whether they wanted to continue watching or want their ticket money refunded. Most of the audience chose to continue watching, only one family with young children asked for permission to leave early and had their tickets immediately refunded without asking any further reasons. Hau carefully recorded each specific case in the notebook. Linh, when reviewing the video Minh recorded and sent to her later, clearly realized that her cousin no longer needed to check other people's eyes before making his own decision.

At the end of the screening that day, Hau stood in front of the entire audience and sincerely apologized for previously thinking that being a manager meant having the right to give orders to others. He said he now understands that it is essentially a job that requires always remembering the names of people who may be affected by any decision he makes. Mrs. Nam was the first to applaud, then did not forget to remind him that he needed to learn how to write reports with correct spelling. Hau bowed her head, happily accepting both the compliment and the straightforward feedback.

But that small joy didn't last long. The next morning, when the group had not yet had time to clear all the mud after the storm, Mai called to report unpleasant news: the application for recognition of a community cultural space, although confirmed in principle by the district, still had an unresolved financial clause from the bank loan in Linh's father's name in the past. If it is not completed before a certain time, the bank still has the legal right to recover part of the assets, regardless of whether the cultural recognition decision is effective or not. When Linh heard the news, the feeling of relief she had just felt after the storm suddenly cooled.

She called the group together for an urgent meeting that morning, her voice trying to stay calm even though her heart was in turmoil. Minh thoughtfully looked at the fund board hanging on the wall, mentally calculating the missing numbers, his jaw clenched as if trying to suppress an invisible anger. Hau, this time no longer panicking like before, sat up straight and proactively proposed a new emergency fundraising plan. Linh looked around the room and saw that everyone was ready to embark on another battle, even though the recent storm had left everyone exhausted. She understands that the road ahead is still very long, and Ha Vang, even though it has stood firm through a truly stormy night, can still lose everything just because of a line on a bank loan note, another type of storm that does not come with rain or wind but is no less devastating, a type of storm that this time they will have to find a way to overcome together in the coming days.