Chapter 14 — Tailor Shop at the End of Third Alley

The inspection unit asked the team to stop further measurements to avoid disturbing the scene. Ngoc was a bit disappointed, but Ms. Thao said knowing how to stop is also a technique. Chau put away the ruler and looked at the red strip of fabric resting on the stake.

Tung gave three inspection quotes. Residents choose people with clear methods, not the cheapest price. Hanh wrote down the reason for her choice, so that people who didn't attend the meeting could still understand.

An tried a new meter, the error was 0.003 meters. He said 1.14 meters sounds smaller when written as a decimal. Chau replied that he would not make the land short; just help people call correctly.

Phuc sent word that he would hand over the annex at the meeting, with a lawyer. Hanh thanked him, but did not promise to protect him from any consequences. Phuc replied that he just needed to be heard without being turned into the only story.

Tung took the group to the company's temporary storage room, with an independent supervisor. They don't touch the records, just read the code and ask for a copy. One box containing the 2014 measurements was missing the lid. Hanh recognized the purple ink mark on the edge, similar to Mrs. Van's ink.

The manager said the box has been like that for a long time. Chau asked who did the final inventory. He said he didn't remember, but the book was signed by P.T. Tung looked at the signature and said it didn't look like him. They noted, not concluded.

Outside, An measured the new stake. The pile height is three centimeters different than the old pile because the soil was leveled. Ms. Thao asked the company to use the same standard surface. Tung agreed and put it in the minutes.

Chau realized that accreditation is not a contest of who is right first. It is the process of forcing everyone to use the same ruler. She told that to Mrs. Van, she said tailoring is the same; It is impossible to pull two edges of the fabric with two different forces and then call it fit.

Hanh sent news that Phuc accepted to hand over the appendix through a lawyer. Phuc requested no cameras. Khoa was a bit sorry, but wrote in his notebook that respecting the supplier is more important than a video.

To check the measurements, the team did not just use data. They set up markers with wooden stakes, tied cloth, and took photos from the same angle. Ngoc asked everyone to stand three steps away from the pole, because a tilted photo could turn a straight line into a curve. Khoa stood in the wrong position twice, and the third time Chau placed a piece of cloth on his shoe to remember.

People lent items that had been in the alley for many years: ladders, potted plants, mailboxes, door frames. Each object is a fixed point. An old lady remembered the pot being moved on the day the company conducted the survey, but didn't know who moved it. Ms. Thao wrote in the minutes with the word "telling", which did not make it the absolute truth.

An compared the drawing with old photos. In one photo, the walkway behind the store is wide enough for two bicycles to pass by. In the new version, that path is only as wide as a car. Chau stood in the middle of the alley, raised his hand to estimate, then realized that one meter was not an abstract distance; it is about enough for a person to avoid a car, for a child to run, and for a sick person to be taken out.

Tung said the inspector will ask about the right to use the walkway. Mrs. Van brought out a sewing book, which included the date and time of people's passing. An added the testimony of Ms. Sau and Mr. Bay. Hanh looked for the receipt to repair the back door. Each individual piece is small, but placed side by side represents a history of use.

Chau discovered that the new measurement used a different reference system, but did not specify it. Ms. Thao called a physics teacher, who explained how to convert units and datums. After listening, Khoa asked if he could use a sewing ruler to measure coordinates. The teacher said that if the error is clearly stated, it can be used for comparison. Do not replace professional equipment.

Ngoc wrote the error on the board: "±2 mm". Khoa asked why it wasn't written "very close". Ngoc said the word "very close" makes people argue all their lives.

The trial survey ended with an incident: the eastern wooden stake was tilted because of wet soil. One resident wanted to rebuild it immediately, but Tung stopped him. They took photos of the current situation, marked it, and then set up temporary stakes next to it. Chau saw how they didn't rush to fix things, which made her feel calmer.

That night, Hanh came to the shop with ink on her hands. She said she found Phuc, but he didn't want to meet her. He sent the addendum through an intermediary, asking for a promise not to be named in exchange.

Chau asked if it was acceptable. Ms. Thao said we must respect people who fear retaliation, but also need to ensure the documents are valid. Hanh agreed to request the original copy through a lawyer.

An looked at the purple cloth and asked if everyone wanted to remain anonymous, who would be responsible. Ms. Van replied that responsibility does not always need a name, but always needs an action that can be checked.

Nearly midnight, Phuc's text message arrived. He said the appendix does not belong to him; it was in the hem of a mended suit. The stitching around the edge of the vest is red, not purple.

The measurement is one meter short

Ngoc built a map on the classroom board using three colors of fabric. Blue is the old measurement, red is the new pile, purple is the point people confirmed. When connecting the pieces, the red line is not straight but curves through each house. Ms. Thao looked at it for a while and then said this was a sign that a map had been adjusted many times.

“Maybe they measured in the field,” Khoa said.

“If so, why is there no mold?”

“Maybe the mold is missing.”

“All lost on the same side?” Ngoc asked.

Khoa shut up.

Chau and An went to each alley door, asking for permission to measure again. People were hesitant at first, but when they heard the store was in danger of being cleaned out, many people brought out old photos. A wedding photo shows the salon wall behind a wide walkway. A car repair invoice shows the address "through the back door of Mong Van". One child said that in the past he used to take a shortcut through the store to get to school.

The stories are not enough to replace a map, but join together into a trace.

An used a laser measuring machine and Chau stretched purple cloth between the markers. He bent down to write down the number, she held the end of the line. At one point, the rope got caught on the wheel, and An almost fell. Chau pulled him back, the two collided.

“Are you saving me or saving the ruler?”

"Save the ruler first. You can stand on your own."

“Practical stuff.”

“Do you like liars better?”

Chau did not answer, but still held the rope for him.

At the end of the day, the total measurement was 1.14 meters short. Khang pointed to the new stake, saying the person who erected the stake had overlooked an old landmark at the foot of the almond tree. Ms. Thao took a photo of the landmark, recorded the date and time, and asked a resident to testify.

Tung appeared while they were cleaning up. He didn't carry a briefcase, just a helmet. He asked why the students measured, Chau said because the map had some mismatches.

“You do not have the right to enter the project area.”

"We stand on the land of the neighborhood, with permission from the people," Ngoc replied.

Tung looked at the strips of fabric. “Fabric is not a professional measuring device.”

“But it marks where people used to go,” Chau said.

Tung did not argue. I just asked if the shop still kept the old measurements. When Chau asked why, he said the company profile had a missing page.

“Is it missing because it was lost or because it never had it?”

He looked at her, not answering.

That night, Tung sent an email from the company address, attaching a scanned copy of the profile page. The page has purple ink marks in the corners, but the signature is covered. Tung wrote: **Me Do not endorse content. Just want you to know that the new version is not the first version.**

Chau printed the page and placed it next to Ms. Van's copy. Two different lines are in the right part of the shop. An looked at the document code and realized it matched the number on his father's contract.

An's father called at midnight. He said people from the company came to his house and asked him to sign an addendum. Otherwise, they will keep the wages and sue.

An asked his father if he would sign.

"Not yet."

"Why?"

“Because I saw Khai's name on the page they said was lost.”

Call off. Chau looked at the strip of purple cloth on the table and saw a drop of ink falling at the exact spot.

Tomorrow, Ms. Thao will have to decide whether to allow the students to continue the project or not.

The meeting took place in the staff room, where the ceiling fan rattled every time it was turned toward the window. Tung arrived late, his shirt had white dust stains on his shoulder. He did not sit next to the company representative but chose the last seat, next to Ms. Thao. Chau saw that and naturally relaxed.

The project representative explained that the early installation of piles was a "technical adjustment" and did not affect anyone's rights. Hanh opened the computer and showed an old map. Ms. Van placed the school's fire prevention report on the table. Each person gives a piece, no piece is strong enough on its own.

“Where did you get this map?” the representative asked.

“The school's public archive,” Ms. Thao answered for her. “But the more important question is why the handover map has no emergency exits since 2014.”

Tung looked at the paper. He realized his signature was below the pile-up schedule. He said he signed to check the current status and did not sign to change the schedule. The company representative interrupted, but Tung took out his phone and opened the email that had time to send. The calendar you received is different from the one you are using today.

In a few seconds, the meeting room was as silent as a tailor shop when the power went out. Chau heard the sound of scissors in her imagination. She understood that evidence was not a big statement; it's the little details standing next to each other, close enough that no one pretends not to see them.

Ms. Thao allowed the group to continue the project with two conditions: do not enter the construction area, send all copies to the school, and must be accompanied by an adult. Chau nodded. Tung looked at her and said he would lead them to the person who drew the old map.

“Where do you know that person?” An asked.

“I know. But she doesn't like being found unexpectedly.”

“Who is she?”

Tung did not answer. He just gave Chau a piece of purple fabric, the edge of the fabric had a V-shaped seam. "Bring this with you. If she still has her memory, she will recognize it."

After the meeting, Chau found that he no longer wanted to win against anyone. She just wants people to have the right to stand on a familiar alley without being told that they remembered it wrong.