Chapter 8 — Sunlight on the Red Book

Mr. Ba Dat's official testimony was held three days later, at the commune committee headquarters, with the participation of representatives of the district Department of Natural Resources and Environment, commune judicial officers, and the witnesses of Ha Vy and Mr. Tran Quoc Hung. The atmosphere in the small meeting room became more solemn than ever when Mr. Ba Dat, despite his old age, still sat up straight, preparing to face what he had tried to hide for more than twenty years.

"I would like to assure you that what I am about to present is the truth, exactly what happened," Mr. Ba Dat began, his voice trembling but clear and decisive. He recounted the entire incident, from Mr. Lam Van Duc asking for help, to the "thank you gift" money given, to the decision to arbitrarily adjust the land boundaries on the cadastral map, causing disadvantages for Mr. Sau Tam's family.

The representative of the district Department of Natural Resources and Environment, a serious middle-aged woman, carefully recorded every detail, occasionally asking additional questions to clarify ambiguous points. "Can you describe in more detail the boundary adjustment on the map? What did you change compared to the original actual measurement data?"

Mr. Ba Dat nodded, trying to remember the details even though it was many years ago. "He moved the western boundary line deeper into the land that should have belonged to Mr. Sau Tam, about a few meters wide, running along the entire length of the boundary between the two houses," he said, his voice sad. "He then adjusted the data in the index to match the altered map, so that no one would detect any irregularities."

The testimony session lasted nearly two hours, with a full range of technical and legal questions raised carefully. When it was over, Mr. Ba Dat signed the official record. His hands were shaking but his eyes showed a rare sense of relief, as if he had just relieved a burden that had weighed heavily on his soul for more than twenty years.

"Thank you for your full and honest cooperation," the representative of the district Department of Natural Resources and Environment said at the end of the meeting. "Based on this testimony, along with the technical evidence we have collected, we will take steps to officially verify and re-measure as soon as possible, as a basis for adjusting the land use right certificate in accordance with regulations."

After the work session, Ha Vy sent Mr. Ba Dat home, not forgetting to ask about his health after a stressful and emotional work session. "Are you very tired?" she asked, her voice kind.

"I'm tired, but my heart feels much lighter," Mr. Ba Dat replied, smiling slightly even though his face still looked tired. "Thank you, for being patient, for giving me the opportunity to correct my mistakes, even though it's late."

"I'm the one who should thank you, for being brave enough to tell the truth," Ha Vy replied, her voice sincere. "It's not easy, especially at his age."

On the way back to the office, Ha Vy received a call from Mr. Tran Quoc Hung, informing him of the next plan. "We will organize an official re-measurement, with the participation of both families, along with an independent measurement unit appointed by the District People's Committee, to ensure absolute objectivity," he said. "It's expected to happen within the next week."

"Yes, I will prepare everything necessary, sir," Ha Vy replied. She clearly feels that, although an important step has been achieved, there is still much work to be done on the journey ahead, especially officially notifying both families, as well as handling possible reactions from Dang Phong and Song Xanh company.

That evening, while drafting a detailed report about the testimony, Ha Vy received a text message from Dang Khoa. "Thank you for always steadfastly pursuing the truth. I know the road ahead is still difficult, but I believe, with your fairness, everything will be resolved satisfactorily."

Reading that message, Ha Vy smiled slightly, feeling a warmth spread in her heart. She texted back, her tone concise but sincere: "Thank you for always trusting and accompanying. We will go to the end of this truth together." Putting down the phone, she looked out the window, where the moonlight was shining gently on the Con Sen river, feeling a firm belief that justice, even though it might come late, would eventually be served.

The next morning, before the official information was widely announced, Ha Vy and Mr. Tran Quoc Hung decided to personally meet Mr. Sau Tam, to inform him in advance of the verification results, to avoid letting him hear news from unofficial sources that could cause unnecessary confusion.

When he heard the news, Mr. Sau Tam sat silently for a long time, his trembling hands placed down on the half-mended net. "So... all these years, part of my land has really been taken away?" he asked, his voice choked, mixed with indescribable shock.

"Yes, sir," Ha Vy replied, her voice was gentle but full of sincerity. "I'm sorry to have to bring this news. But I promise, we will do all necessary procedures to return the land that belongs to your family's legal use rights, in accordance with the law."

Mr. Sau Tam was silent for a long time, his eyes looking far into the small garden in front of the house, where old coconut trees had been with him all his life. "I'm not angry with anyone," he finally said, his voice surprisingly calm. "It's been a long time ago, blaming doesn't help. I'm just happy that finally, the truth has come to light. Whether I get the land back or not, it's no longer as important as knowing that I didn't remember wrongly, and I don't think I'm wronging anyone."

Mr. Tran Quoc Hung, touched by his grandfather's rare tolerance, gently added. "We will ensure your rights are fully implemented, sir. This is the responsibility of the state agency, to correct the mistakes that have occurred in the past."

"Thank you, thank you," Mr. Sau Tam said, his eyes turned towards Ha Vy with deep respect. "You are a good person, dare to speak the truth, even though it may cause difficulties for yourself at work."

Leaving Mr. Sau Tam's house, Ha Vy couldn't help but feel relieved by the old man's tolerant and generous response, but she also understood that the road ahead still had many challenges, especially when facing a reaction that could be much harsher from Dang Phong's side, along with unclear calculations from the Song Xanh Company, the parties whose interests were directly affected by the newly announced verification results.

On the way home, Mr. Tran Quoc Hung proactively shared more about his next plan. "We need to officially notify both families in writing in the next few days, and at the same time make the verification results public at the public meeting, to ensure absolute transparency," he said, his voice thoughtful. "I'm also concerned that Song Xanh company may try to apply more pressure when they know the whole truth, because this will certainly directly affect their land purchase plan."

"I also have the same concern, sir," Ha Vy replied. "But I think, we cannot delay the publication of the truth because of pressure from any side. The longer we wait, the greater the risk of more unpredictable variables arising, which can even affect the safety of the records and evidence that we have worked so hard to collect."

Mr. Hung nodded in agreement. "I will request additional forces to support the measurement and re-verification work, ensuring progress is accelerated as quickly as possible, to minimize the sensitive time period that parties can take advantage of to intervene, causing difficulties in the processing process, which is already complicated enough."

That afternoon, when returning to the office, Ha Vy spent time completing the official notice, preparing to send it to both the Lam family and Mr. Sau Tam's family next week. She carefully reviewed every word, ensuring the content was both legally accurate and showed respect and sympathy for all parties involved, who were about to face a major change in the life that had been familiar for over twenty years, even though that change, in the end, was simply the return of what belonged to each person from the beginning, and she believed, once everything was put back in its right place, true peace could be achieved. return to both families.