Chapter 23 — The Alley Is No Longer On The Map

The presentation of the new plan to Tan Nguyen's board of directors and foreign investment fund representatives took place in the company's largest meeting room, with the attendance of nearly twenty people, including a group of financial experts invited specifically to evaluate the feasibility of the proposal.

Vy presented coherently and confidently, using data that Diem Quynh had diligently researched on added commercial value from heritage and community factors. She showed that although the initial investment cost for the common well square area will be about eight percent higher than the old plan, in the long term, the value of real estate around areas with cultural and community elements often grows more stably, attracting a customer segment willing to pay a high price for a living space with identity.

“This is a visionary proposal.” A foreign investment fund representative spoke through an interpreter, his tone was polite but could not hide his reservations. "But we need to see a clearer commitment number on the ability to recover capital within the agreed time frame. Eight percent of the additional cost, plus extending the negotiation time with the people, is a significant risk to our commitment to disbursement of phase two."

"We believe this option will help minimize the risk of prolonged lawsuits and protests, which often cause similar projects to stall for years." Vy replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite clearly feeling the pressure from the whole room's judgmental eyes.

In the middle of the meeting, the company's financial director stood up, presented a detailed cash flow chart, and pointed to the red columns showing the pressure to pay monthly loan interest. "We are incurring nearly seven billion VND in loan interest per month for this project alone. Each month of delay means that the expected profit is eroded by a significant amount. I do not object to the humanistic element in Ms. Vy's proposal, but we need a more realistic balance between the company's ideals and financial capacity."

The discussion lasted nearly three hours, with many conflicting opinions. Some members of the board of directors supported the new direction, appreciating Vy's long-term vision. But the opposition, led by the company's chief financial officer, raised a series of concerns about liquidity risks and the approaching pressure to repay bank debt.

In the end, Mr. Binh, as the final decision maker, came up with a compromise plan that no one in the room was completely satisfied with.

"We will keep the common well square area, but narrow the area to half of Ms. Vy's original proposal." He declared. "Regarding the on-site resettlement rate, it is reduced to forty percent instead of sixty percent. And most importantly, the time limit for completing site clearance must be shortened to two months, instead of three months as originally planned, to keep up with the disbursement schedule with the investment fund."

Vy stood speechless, the numbers he had just announced were like a bucket of cold water pouring straight into the efforts she had built up over the past several weeks.

"Sir, if we shorten the time limit to two months, we will not have enough time to hold a thorough dialogue with each household, especially those households who have not agreed with the compensation plan." She argued, trying to keep her tone professional even though her heart was churning.

"I understand your difficulty." Mr. Binh replied, his eyes also clearly showing guilt even though his voice still maintained the calmness of a leader. "But this is a collective decision by the board, based on an assessment of the company's overall financial risk. I have tried to protect the largest possible portion of your proposal, but I cannot single-handedly decide beyond the board's acceptable limits."

*

Leaving the meeting room, Vy sat absent-mindedly at the desk, looking at the new plan with the numbers that had been cut, with a heavy heart because she knew she was about to bring this news back to Khanh and her relatives - the people who had placed their trust in her after many convincing efforts.

She called Khanh that afternoon, not wanting to delay any longer, even though she knew full well how difficult this call would be.

"The plan has been cut down." She spoke frankly, without beating around the bush. "The area of the common well square was reduced by half, the on-site resettlement rate was reduced by forty percent, and the site clearance period was shortened to two months."

The other end of the line was silent for a long time, long enough for Vy to feel the disappointment rising in Khanh's heart even though she couldn't see his expression.

"So the efforts of the past few weeks have gone down the drain." Finally he spoke, his voice sounded more tired than angry, a tiredness that hurt Vy even more than the anger before.

"I tried my best." Vy said, her voice choked. "I know it's not enough, but it's the maximum I can negotiate in the current situation."

"I don't blame you." Khanh spoke, but his voice carried a new distance, different from the warmth of the previous evening at the popular restaurant. "I just feel... tired. Tired of hoping and then being disappointed. The people in the neighborhood are the same, they have started to believe in the new plan, what should I tell them now?"

"Give me more time." Vy said, her voice urgent. "I will find another way, I will not give up."

"The time your company thinks is two months, Vy." Khanh replied, his voice a bit bitter. "Two months to resolve the problems of forty-seven households, while it took you all a year to calculate profits. How much longer do you think I can trust your company?"

The call ended in heavy silence, with no goodbyes, only the sound of a sudden hang-up from the other end of the line. Vy sat silently, looking at the dark phone screen, clearly feeling that the efforts to heal over the past weeks were in danger of collapsing in just one afternoon, because of the cold numbers that she, no matter how hard she tried, could not completely change by herself.

Diem Quynh, seeing her superior's face turn pale after the call, gingerly walked over and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay? I vaguely heard that the plan was cut down."

"I'm fine." Vy replied, but her voice could not hide her exhaustion. "I just don't know how to face my relatives anymore. I made too many promises, and now I can't keep them fully."

"Don't blame yourself too much." Quynh consoled. "Forty percent is better than nothing, and at least the common well square will still be kept, even though it's smaller than expected. Maybe we still have a chance to negotiate more during the actual implementation process, it doesn't have to stop at today's decision."

Quynh's words of comfort partly helped Vy regain some calm, although in her heart she was still worried about the reaction of Khanh and her relatives when they heard the news.

*

The next morning, news of the reduced plan spread quickly throughout Gieng Chung alley. Khanh convened a small meeting with several resident representatives right at the car repair shop to announce the situation.

"So the company has gone back on its word." Uncle Bay Thoai spoke first, his voice full of frustration. "I told you before, doing business with a big company makes great promises, but when it comes to implementation, it's a mess."

"It's not like going back on your word completely." Khanh tried to keep his voice objective, although in his heart he could not help but feel disappointed. "Ms. Vy said she tried her best within her authority, but the company's management forced it to reduce due to financial pressure from foreign investors."

"Are you still defending her?" Another person spoke up, his voice a bit sarcastic.

"I'm not defending anyone." Khanh replied, his voice resolute. "I'm just telling the most objective truth possible. But I also agree, forty percent and two months is not enough, we need to act more strongly to protect our rights, instead of waiting for the company to voluntarily make further adjustments."

The atmosphere in the shop became tense, each person had an opinion, but everyone agreed on one point: they could not continue to passively wait, but needed a stronger, specific action to put pressure on the company to reconsider the decision they had just made.

Mrs. Nam Xoi, sitting quietly in the corner of the shop throughout the meeting, finally spoke up, her voice trembling with age but full of determination. "This old lady has lived here since she was a girl, and now she's ready to return to her grandparents. There's nothing to fear anymore. Whatever you guys plan to do, she fully supports it, as long as you don't get rash or destructive, keep it dignified and reasonable, so people don't have a reason to criticize you."

The old lady's words quieted the whole room, serving as a reminder of the limits that need to be kept in the upcoming struggle - fierce but not extreme, steadfast but still maintaining the love and reason that are characteristic of the people who have been attached to this small alley all their lives.