Chapter 28 — The 12th-Floor Kitchen Contract

Five years after Diem My was born, the street where the Zenith building is located has become one of the busiest culinary areas in the city, with Cam Luong restaurant and Diem Tram bakery chain becoming brands that are loved and trusted by a large number of diners. Both businesses have worked together to build a sustainable culinary ecosystem, harmoniously combining product quality and social responsibility.

The Diem Tram Scholarship Fund, after five years of operation, has successfully supported more than seventy students from difficult circumstances to pursue baking careers, many of whom have now become talented artisans, continuing to spread the spirit that the scholarship fund has sown.

"Do you remember the first day we established the scholarship fund?" Khang asked Diem Tram one evening, when they both reviewed the fund's five-year summary report. "At that time, we still couldn't believe it could grow so big."

"I still remember clearly," Diem Tram replied, her eyes filled with pride as she looked back on the past journey. "And I believe, my mother would be very proud if she witnessed what the scholarship fund has done for so many people and so many families."

***

Diem My, now eight years old, began to show a special interest in the family's baking profession, often hanging out with her mother every time she had the opportunity to visit the bakery, passionately observing each step with curious eyes, eager to learn. "Mom, can you teach me how to make passion fruit tart?" she asked one weekend afternoon, sitting next to her mother at the familiar kitchen table.

"Okay," Diem Tram replied, patiently guiding her child through the first basic techniques. "But you have to be patient, because this job requires a lot of meticulousness, you can't rush it, just like how my grandmother taught me."

Phuc Thinh, now four years old, also began to show curiosity about his father's business, often asking to visit Cam Luong restaurant, watching the chefs work with admiring eyes. "I want to be a chef like dad," the boy declared firmly, making Khang unable to hide his proud smile at his son's adorable dream.

***

In addition to stable business development, Diem Tram and Khang also actively participate in many community activities, sharing their experiences at seminars and forums on sustainable entrepreneurship across the country. The story of the journey from a fake marriage contract to sincere love and a successful career has become an inspiration for many young couples and start-up entrepreneurs.

"We often receive invitations to share our story," Khang shared in an interview with a prestigious business magazine. "What makes us most proud is not our economic achievements, but the fact that our story has inspired many people to dare to believe in sincere love and dare to pursue their own dreams."

Diem Tram, sitting next to her husband during the interview, could not hide her agreement. "We believe that our story is proof that, no matter how unusual the beginning, with sincerity and perseverance, everything can lead to a beautiful ending."

***

On a weekend afternoon, the whole family visited Mrs. Cam, who is now eighty-five years old but is still alert and full of joy whenever she is with her great-grandchildren. "Grandma, I just learned how to make cream puffs," Diem My boasted to her great-grandmother, her eyes filled with pride.

"Your granddaughter is so talented," Mrs. Cam replied, her eyes filled with love as she hugged her great-granddaughter. "I believe you will become a talented artisan, just like your mother and great-grandmother."

Looking at that warm scene, Khang couldn't help but be moved by the fullness of life he was having. From a lonely man who only knew how to bury himself in work to avoid the pain and loss of his childhood, he now has a family full of love, a proud career, and above all, a grandmother who is always by his side to witness every important moment of his life.

***

That evening, when the whole family gathered around the dinner table at Mrs. Cam's house, Mr. Bay - the loyal butler who had served the family for over thirty years, brought out an old wooden box that Mrs. Cam had asked him to keep for a long time. "I want to give you something," Mrs. Cam said, opening the box, inside was an old notebook, the leather cover worn over the years.

"What is this, ma'am?" Khang asked, curious about the antique that his grandmother had never mentioned before.

"This is your grandfather's first recipe book," Mrs. Cam explained, her voice filled with appreciation. "He handwrote every recipe and every secret he learned during the first years of building Cam Luong restaurant. I think it's time to hand it over to you, so you can continue to preserve and promote the values that our family has worked so hard to build."

Khang held the old notebook, unable to hide his deep emotion as he flipped through each yellowed page, showing the handwriting of his grandfather whom he had never had the chance to meet. "I'll cherish it, grandma," he said, his voice choked. "And I will teach Diem My and Phuc Thinh about these recipes, so they can understand their family's roots."

***

Diem My, curiously looking over her father's shoulder, could not hide her interest in the ancient handwritten formulas. "Dad, can we try making this?" the girl asked, pointing to a meticulously recorded traditional cake recipe.

"Sure," Khang replied, smiling at his daughter's excitement. "This weekend, dad and I will try to make this cake together, in memory of my great-grandfather."

Diem Tram, observing that warm scene, felt more deeply than ever the meaning of the connection between generations in the family - a bond woven from love, from appreciation for traditional values, which now continues to be passed on to the next generation, ensuring that the family story will continue to be written for many years to come, not only in the scope of business, but also in the deep human values that the whole family has always had. preserved and cherished for generations.

***

That weekend, as promised, Khang and Diem My spent the morning trying to make traditional cakes from their great-grandfather's recipe. The two meticulously measured each ingredient according to the faded handwritten instructions, occasionally having to rely on Diem Tram's help to decipher a few ancient cooking terms that modern technology no longer uses.

"Dad, why is this formula so difficult to understand?" Diem My asked, frowning at a vague instruction about "a pinch" or "just enough" without specific measurements.

"That's how the ancients cooked," Khang explained, smiling at his daughter's adorable confusion. "They relied on experience, on subtle feelings accumulated over many years, instead of exact numbers like we do now."

After many hours of meticulous preparation, the first batch of cakes according to the ancient recipe was finally completed, with a special flavor that the whole family had never tasted before. "So delicious," Diem My exclaimed, unable to hide her pride when she tasted her own achievement.

Khang brought a piece of cake to give to Mrs. Cam, unable to hide her emotions when she tasted the dish associated with her late husband's memory. "This is exactly the taste," Mrs. Cam said, her voice shaking with emotion, nostalgic tears rolling down her cheeks. "He will certainly be happy to know that his recipe is still treasured and preserved by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren until today."

Diem My, standing nearby, held her great-grandmother's hand tightly, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Can you tell me about my great-grandfather?" the girl asked, wanting to learn more about relatives she had never had the chance to meet.

Mrs. Cam smiled and pulled her great-granddaughter to sit next to her. "Your great-grandfather was a talented, dedicated man," she began, her voice filled with warm nostalgia. "He taught her and his whole family that cooking is not just a job, but a way to show love for the people you cherish." Diem My listened attentively to every word, her eyes lit up with admiration at the image of her great-grandfather whom she could only know through stories told, through an old recipe book that has now become a sacred bridge between generations in the family.