Chapter 14 — Sunlight on the Red Book

The expansion of the scope of review that Ha Vy proposed finally received approval from the District People's Committee, after Mr. Tran Quoc Hung fully presented the seriousness of the problem. An interdisciplinary working group was established, with the participation of representatives of the district Department of Natural Resources and Environment, along with cadastral officials from neighboring communes, in which Ha Vy was assigned the main coordinating role, thanks to the practical experience she had accumulated through the incident at Con Sen.

"This is a big responsibility, but I believe she completely deserves it," Mr. Hung said when announcing his decision to appoint Ha Vy. "Her experience and dedication in the recent incident are the clearest proof of her ability."

"I will try my best to complete this mission well, sir," Ha Vy replied, her voice both honored and feeling the heavy pressure of responsibility being placed on her shoulders.

The large-scale review requires a huge amount of work, with hundreds of sets of documents needing to be checked and compared in many different communes in the district. Ha Vy spends most of her time traveling between localities, coordinating closely with local officials to ensure the review is carried out systematically and effectively.

During her work, she discovered three other cases with signs of deviation similar to the incident at Con Sen, although the severity was different. Each case carries its own story, reflecting the difficulties and inadequacies in land management in a period when the legal and technical system still had many limitations.

"I didn't expect this situation to be so common," Ha Vy shared with Mr. Hung after completing the first round of reviews in three neighboring communes. "This further confirms that the decision to expand the scope of investigation is absolutely necessary."

While busy with their new jobs, the relationship between Ha Vy and Dang Khoa continues to develop naturally, even though the two do not have as much time to meet as before. Evening phone calls and short but regular text messages have become an indispensable part of both of their busy schedules.

"Is the new job very difficult?" Dang Khoa asked during a rare evening call when both were free.

"It's quite hard, but I feel this job is really meaningful," Ha Vy replied, her voice was tired but still full of enthusiasm. "Every case I discover, I think that somewhere there is a family that is silently suffering without knowing it, like Mr. Sau Tam's family before."

"I'm very proud of you," Dang Khoa said, his voice sincere. "The work she is doing is not simply an administrative task, but is actually bringing justice to many people who may have silently suffered injustice for many years without knowing who to call."

That weekend, Dang Khoa proactively arranged a time to go to the commune where Ha Vy was conducting the review, traveling quite a distance just to meet her, bringing with him a bag of fresh fruit picked from his own garden, and an invitation for her to have dinner after a stressful week of work. "I think you need to rest a little, even if it's just for one evening," he said when he met her at the commune headquarters where she was temporarily working.

Ha Vy, although initially a bit shy because of unfinished work, eventually agreed to put aside all the paperwork, feeling the sincere concern behind that simple gesture. Dinner took place at a small restaurant along the river, where the two could enjoy rustic dishes while watching the sunset fall on the sparkling water.

"Thank you for always caring and encouraging me during the past time," Ha Vy said, her voice warm. "With you by my side, I feel like all difficulties seem to become much easier."

Dang Khoa looked at her, his eyes filled with tenderness under the sunset that dyed the sky orange. "I've felt the same way since the day you appeared in my life," he said, his voice holding a rare hesitation. "Ha Vy, I think it's time for me to tell you clearly about my true feelings."

Ha Vy's heart beat faster at those words. She looked at him silently, waiting for what he was about to say next. Dang Khoa took a deep breath, as if trying to muster up all his remaining courage. "Since the day you set foot in my garden, everything in my life seems to have changed," he said, his voice sincere, without concealment. "I have witnessed you steadfastly pursue the truth, no matter how much pressure and difficulty you face. I have seen you treat Mr. Sau Tam, my family, and everyone with rare fairness and kindness. And I realized, I have loved you ever since I knew it."

Ha Vy's tears slightly welled up at that sincere confession, even though they were tears of happiness. "I... I feel the same way," she replied, her voice shaky but filled with sincerity. "Since the first day I met you in that garden, I have felt a special harmony. The more we work together, the more I realize that you are the person I have always been looking for - calm, fair-minded, and always ready to stand on the right side, even if it may be disadvantageous for your own family."

Dang Khoa gently held her hand, his eyes full of hope. "So, do you agree to let me officially pursue you, Ha Vy?" he asked, his voice both nervous and sincere.

"I agree," Ha Vy replied, a bright smile clearly appearing on her face under the sunset that was gradually giving way to the first stars appearing in the sky. They both smiled, a smile of happiness and relief after many days of hiding their true feelings for fear of affecting their work and the land dispute that they were both participating in resolving.

"I promise, I will always support and accompany you in every job, every decision you make, even though sometimes those decisions may not be easy," Dang Khoa said, squeezing her hand tighter. "Even though the road ahead may still have many challenges, I believe we will overcome them all together."

The dinner ended in overwhelming happiness, as the two walked together along the riverbank under the rising moonlight, their hands clasped tightly together as a silent promise for a new chapter opening between both of them, amidst meaningful days where work and love are both developing naturally and sincerely.

"I will let my mother know about this," Ha Vy said, her voice a rare cheerful one. "Mom always asks if I've found anyone. She'll probably be very happy."

"As for me, I think my mother will also be very happy to hear this news," Dang Khoa replied, smiling slightly. "She often reminds me that she hopes I will soon find a suitable partner, so that she can have some peace of mind after the family's recent events."

They stopped at a small bend in the river, where they could see the panorama of flickering oil lamps from riverside houses, blending with the moonlight shimmering on the water, creating a rare peaceful scene amid busy days. "I think, this place is so beautiful," Ha Vy said, her voice full of emotion. "Perhaps, this will be a memory I will always remember forever."

"Me too," Dang Khoa replied, wrapping his arms gently around her shoulders. "And I hope we will have many more beautiful memories like this, throughout the long road ahead that we will walk together."

On the way back, the two were still holding hands, neither one wanting to let go anytime soon. When arriving in front of the door where Ha Vy was temporarily staying, Dang Khoa stopped and looked at her with affectionate eyes. “Good night,” he said. "And thank you, for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to enter your life and continue the journey forward with you."

"Thank you, for patiently waiting for me to open up, even though I know it's not always easy to express my feelings," Ha Vy replied, smiling slightly before returning to the house. Standing in the small room, she looked out the window, where the moonlight still sparkled in the night sky, feeling a rare, complete happiness, knowing that the journey back to the land of her childhood had now brought her not only meaning in her work, but also a sincere, respectful love, something she never dared to dream of when she first stepped off the first ferry to Con Sen.