Chapter 27 — Sunlight on the Red Book

The big day finally came, on a clear morning at the beginning of the dry season, when the sky of Con Sen was deep blue without a single cloud, soft golden sunlight spread across the green rice fields and tall coconut trees swaying in the wind. The area near the recently completed dyke project was splendidly decorated, with thousands of field flowers woven into brilliant wreaths, and soft white silk strips fluttering in the morning breeze.

From early morning, Ha Vy was present at the small house of Mrs. Ba Nhah, a close neighbor in the neighborhood, where she asked the aunts in the neighborhood to help her with makeup and wearing a traditional wedding ao dai. The red ao dai was meticulously hand-embroidered by local artisans of Con Sen, giving her a beauty that is both traditional and gorgeous, making anyone who sees it unable to help but admire it.

"You're so beautiful, Ha Vy," Mrs. Xuan said, her voice choked with emotion as she looked at her daughter in her complete wedding outfit. "I wish your father could see this day with his own eyes, but I believe he is always watching over you, from somewhere."

"I also believe so, mom," Ha Vy replied, smiling slightly even though the corners of her eyes were wet with emotion. "I believe, dad will be very proud to see me find my own happiness, right in the land that gave me a new family."

The ceremony was held according to traditional rituals harmoniously combined with modern elements, with the witness of hundreds of Con Sen people, who have followed Ha Vy's journey for more than a year as if witnessing their own child's story. Mr. Tran Quoc Hung, as a representative of the local government, was honored to be invited to speak and bless the couple.

When it came to the ring exchange ceremony, Dang Khoa looked deeply into Ha Vy's eyes, his voice trembling with emotion as he recited the vows. "I promise to always be by your side, in all the ups and downs of life, just like what we've been through together since the first day we met," he said. "I promise to always be a solid fulcrum, so that you can confidently pursue the values you believe in, the same way you have steadfastly pursued justice for Mr. Sau Tam's family."

Ha Vy, tears rolling down her cheeks but still smiling brightly, responded to his vow with all sincerity. "I promise to always trust and accompany you on every journey ahead," she said. "Just like you have always believed and accompanied me, even in the most difficult moments of my life."

When the two shared their first kiss as husband and wife, applause and congratulations echoed throughout the wedding square, blending with the chirping of birds on the green coconut trees. The sky at Con Sen that day was incredibly blue, as if nature itself was blessing the couple's happiness.

The wedding party was held right in the area near the dyke project, with the participation of all the townspeople, the families who accompanied Ha Vy on her journey to find justice, and friends and colleagues from all over who have followed her story all the time. The atmosphere was filled with joy, bustling laughter, mixed with traditional dances and folk songs of the Western river region.

In the middle of the party, Ha Vy spent time going to each table, thanking each guest for accompanying her throughout the arduous journey. When she arrived at Mr. Sau Tam's table, she couldn't help but be moved by the sincere blessings he gave her.

"Your happiness is also a great consolation for this entire old life," Mr. Sau Tam said, his voice full of sincerity. "Seeing you find happiness, after everything you went through for justice, I feel like somehow, my losses in the past were not completely meaningless."

Mr. Ba Dat, even though his health was still weak, still tried to be present to congratulate the young officer who gave him the opportunity to redeem himself. “Thank you, dear, for all you have done,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "I believe, this happiness is something you completely deserve to have."

Mai Anh, sitting at a table with a few colleagues at the commune land office, raised a glass of soft drink to congratulate when Ha Vy stopped by. "I knew you'd have this day for a long time," she said, her eyes shining with sincere joy. "From the day you clumsily took the cadastral map and asked around the neighborhood, I guessed that people like you would find the happiness they deserved." Ha Vy laughed, hugged her colleague who had been by her side since the first days of confusion, and thanked Mai Anh for always trusting and supporting her throughout her arduous journey.

Dang Phong, standing up toast his brother and new sister-in-law, could not hide the rare emotion on his face, which was used to being calm and somewhat cold before. "I spent a long time living selfishly, only thinking about my own immediate benefits," he said in front of all the guests, his voice low and filled with sincerity. "But it was you, Ha Vy, along with my younger brother's steadfastness, who helped me realize that there are values that are much more precious than money. I wish you both complete and lasting happiness like this land of Con Sen." Applause rang out again, mixed with emotional tears from many people present, who had witnessed the Lam family's entire journey of change over the past year.

The afternoon gradually fell, when the sunset dyed the sky orange in Con Sen, the invited folk band began to sing the bustling, melodious melodies of Western amateur music. The bride and groom held hands and walked out into the middle of the yard, immersing themselves in their first dance as husband and wife, under the affectionate and proud eyes of all the guests. Mr. Sau Tam, even though his legs were weak, could not help but stand up and clap to the music, smiling brightly as if he were several decades younger.

Children in the neighborhood ran and played around the rows of banquet tables, holding candies and small fruits given to them by aunts and uncles, their crisp laughter blending into the bustling, warm atmosphere of the whole party. The old people sat together, sipping a cup of tea, whispering to each other about the turbulent journey that the young officer named Ha Vy had gone through since the day she set foot in this land, considering it a real-life fairy tale that they had witnessed with their own eyes.

As the party gradually ended, lanterns were lit throughout the dyke area, casting shimmering shadows on the river's surface that was silently drifting in the night. Mrs. Xuan and Mrs. Gam stood side by side, looking at the figure of the young couple seeing off each guest, and could not help but exchange a look of satisfaction. "Looking at those two, I remember the day I returned to my husband's house," Mrs. Gam said softly, her voice nostalgic. "Hopefully, the two of them will be able to keep this happiness as long-lasting as the love our whole neighborhood has given them today."

"You're right," Mrs. Xuan replied, her eyes also red with emotion. "I believe, with the hearts of both of them, and the love and care of the people here, they will go a long, completely happy journey."

After seeing off the last guest, Ha Vy and Dang Khoa walked hand in hand along the newly reinforced dike, where the moonlight was shining gently on the Con Sen river. The two stopped at the exact place where Dang Khoa had knelt down to propose to her not long ago, quietly admiring the familiar scene that had witnessed so many ups and downs in their journey. "Thank you, for choosing to stay here, choosing to build a home with me, right in the land that has given us all the most precious things," Dang Khoa said, his voice warm, his hand squeezing her hand tightly.

"I'm the one who should thank you," Ha Vy replied, leaning her head on her husband's shoulder, her eyes following the sparkling water under the moonlight. "For giving me a reason to believe that homeland does not have to be the place where you were born, but can be the place where you choose to stay, choose to love, choose to stick with for the rest of your life." The two stood silently together for a long time, amidst the sound of the wind gently shaking the coconut trees, the gurgling sound of water flowing at the foot of the dike, and the clear night sky of Con Sen, dotted with countless sparkling stars, like a silent blessing that heaven and earth reserved for the young couple, at the threshold of a new chapter of life opening wide ahead.