Chapter 18 — Sunlight on the Red Book

After the slander case was exposed, Song Xanh Co., Ltd.'s activities in the Con Sen area almost completely stagnated, when the District People's Committee officially refused to consider any investment documents related to this company until there was an official inspection conclusion from the provincial level. For Ha Vy, this is a great relief, allowing her to focus all her energy on the extensive review, which is still progressing with many other important discoveries.

In the commune where Mr. Tran Dinh Thang used to work, the verification process finally produced official results. Unlike the case at Con Sen, where there was a clear boundary discrepancy, here, the working group discovered another form of violation - the duplicate allocation of a portion of public land to two different households, due to errors in the process of updating records, leading to a smoldering dispute that lasted for many years without ever being completely resolved.

"This is another type of error, not necessarily stemming from personal profiteering motives like Mr. Ba Dat's case, but may simply be carelessness and lack of care in record management," Ha Vy commented when reporting the results to the working group. "But whatever the cause, the consequences for the people are the same — they have to live in a state of insecurity and prolonged conflict without satisfactory answers."

Handling this new case requires a different approach, focusing on reconciliation between two disputing households, while accurately redefining boundaries based on preserved historical documents. Ha Vy spent many consecutive days working in this commune, organizing meetings and dialogues between the two families to find the most fair and reasonable solution.

While busy with work, Ha Vy still maintains regular contact with Dang Khoa, although the time to meet in person is becoming less and less. One evening, when she was preparing to end a long working day in a remote commune, she received a video call from him, bringing with her a picture of the familiar coconut garden at Con Sen.

"I miss you," Dang Khoa said through the phone screen, his voice sincere. "The garden has been missing you lately. It's not as bustling as the days you often visit."

"I miss you too, I miss Con Sen very much," Ha Vy replied, smiling slightly at that concern. "But the review work here still has a lot to do. I think it will take at least another week to complete."

"You can rest assured to complete the work," Dang Khoa said, his voice unable to hide his support. "I will always be here waiting for you, no matter how long it takes."

That short but warm conversation became a valuable source of motivation, helping Ha Vy maintain an optimistic and steadfast spirit throughout stressful working days away from home. She understands that no matter how busy work is, the sincere love that she and Dang Khoa have for each other is always a solid fulcrum, giving her more strength to continue pursuing the mission she has chosen.

At the weekend, when work in a remote commune could be temporarily put aside, Ha Vy took advantage of the opportunity to return to Con Sen to rest, and at the same time check on the health status of Mr. Ba Dat, who had just been discharged from the hospital after treatment. When people in the neighborhood saw her return, they all gave her warm, friendly greetings, like welcoming a child of this land back after a long trip.

"Con Sen always welcomes you back," Mrs. Ut, an elderly neighbor living near where Ha Vy temporarily resides, said when she saw her appear. "I'm working far away and it's so hard, remember to take care of your health."

"Yes, thank you," Ha Vy replied, her voice warm at that sincere concern. She realized that after more than half a year of being with Con Sen, this land was no longer simply a place of work, but had truly become a second home, where she felt the love and deep connection from the surrounding community.

That afternoon, Dang Khoa took Ha Vy around the garden, where the longan trees were starting to bloom, signaling a promising new season. "This year's longan crop seems to be a good one," he said, his eyes filled with pride as he looked at the fruits of his labor. "If the weather is favorable, there will definitely be a good harvest."

"I look forward to witnessing the harvest day," Ha Vy replied, her voice filled with excitement. "I believe, it will be a beautiful scene, the whole garden is filled with the yellow color of ripe fruit."

Dang Khoa smiled, took her hand and led her deeper into the garden, where he was testing a model of intercropping fruit trees with some short-term vegetables, following the direction of sustainable ecological agriculture that he had long cherished. “This is the area where I'm testing the new model,” he explained, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "If successful, he plans to expand to the entire garden, incorporating experiential tourism activities for tourists who want to learn about Western ecological agriculture."

"This idea is wonderful," Ha Vy said, her voice filled with admiration. "It not only helps increase the economic value of the garden, but also contributes to protecting the environment and preserving the traditional cultural values of this land."

"I hope, one day, we can develop this model into reality together," Dang Khoa said, his eyes looking at her meaningfully. "It's not just my job anymore, it's a joint project for both of us."

Ha Vy blushed slightly at those words containing many hidden meanings, feeling a warmth spread in her heart when thinking of a future that the two could build together, not only in love, but also in common plans and dreams. "I hope that too," she replied, her voice gentle but sincere.

That evening, when the whole Lam family gathered around the dinner table, Mrs. Gam could not hide her joy when she saw Ha Vy present. "Please stay and have dinner with my family," she said, her voice warm as if welcoming a close family member. "It's been a long time since our house was this full."

Dang Phong, whose attitude has now completely changed compared to the tense early days, also entertained with humorous stories about the new business he is starting to rebuild after terminating the agreement with Song Xanh company. "I'm trying my hand at selling clean agricultural products, combining online sales," he shared. "Thanks to Dang Khoa's support and advice on farming techniques, I hope to find a new, more sustainable direction for myself."

That cozy family meal, with bustling laughter and simple everyday stories, made Ha Vy feel more deeply than ever about the true meaning of the journey she went through in Con Sen - not only the resolution of a land dispute, but also the process of healing the rifts in people's hearts, restoring the connection and love between members of the community.

After the meal, when Ha Vy was about to leave, Mrs. Gam pulled her close, holding her hands tightly with affectionate eyes. "I already consider you a daughter in the family," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "Thank you, for bringing peace and happiness to my whole family, after so many troubles."

"I also consider your family as my own relatives," Ha Vy replied, her voice choked with emotion. "I really appreciate the love everyone has given me."

On the way back to the temporary shelter, Dang Khoa volunteered to take her home. They both walked slowly under the rising moonlight, enjoying the rare peaceful time between busy days. "Do you think, after completing the extensive review work, you will continue to stay at Con Sen?" Dang Khoa asked, his voice was somewhat reserved, as if he was probing something important.

Ha Vy pondered for a moment, her eyes looking far away at the river sparkling under the moonlight. "I'm not sure where my next job will take me," she answered honestly. "But I know one thing for sure, no matter where I am, my heart will always go to Con Sen, the people, and the beautiful memories I have had here."

Dang Khoa nodded, although there was still a hint of worry in his eyes that he couldn't completely hide. "I understand," he said. "No matter what the future holds, I hope we will always find a way to be together, no matter what distance we have to overcome."