Chapter 20 — The Bookmobile Through the Mountains

Two weeks after Bao Yen's reportage was published, its influence far exceeded all initial predictions. A central television station, in a special program on highland education, contacted for permission to reuse the material and sent a group of reporters to Van Thac to make a short television report, scheduled to broadcast during prime time on the weekend.

News about the "Anh Duong" bookmobile program of Van Thac district spread at breakneck speed, not only stopping at those interested in education, but also attracting the attention of the wider public, thanks to the emotional story of father-son love, the continuation of a legacy, and the budding love between two people sharing the same ideal. The small donation fund that Nghi set up began to receive larger contributions, including from several small and medium-sized businesses in the province, wanting to contribute their part to support the program.

This sudden attention also brings new pressure. Mr. Luong Dac Uy, Chairman of the District Committee, realizing the level of public interest in the case, decided to increase the scale of the upcoming public hearing, no longer limited to the small meeting room of the District Committee, but moved to the large hall of the District Cultural Center, inviting more representatives of the Provincial Department of Culture - Sports - Tourism, press representatives, and opening the door for interested people to attend.

"This is both an opportunity and a bigger pressure," Nghi told Nam over the phone, her voice mixed with a bit of worry and excitement. "On the one hand, a larger hearing means my voice will be heard more widely. But on the other hand, if I fail, that failure will also be more public, and it will probably be harder to get a second chance."

"I understand the pressure," Nam replied, his voice still maintaining its familiar firmness. "But I think, because there are many people watching, because the digital library project is also under public pressure after the broken kiosk incident was exposed, perhaps this is a more favorable time for me to present it comprehensively, instead of being limited to a narrow framework like the last meeting."

In the following days, Nghi became even busier with preparations for the large-scale hearing. She, Nam, Ngan, and Yen sat down many times to review the entire presentation, making sure there were no weaknesses that could be exploited by the opponent. Yen, with her experience in journalism, guided Nghi on how to present in a way that is both rationally convincing and touches the listener's emotions, and how to answer difficult questions tactfully without avoiding the truth.

Meanwhile, the representative of the company providing digital library equipment also did not sit still. Nghi heard the news, through several acquaintances in the district, that they were urgently sending a technical team to repair the broken kiosk near Nam Cay, and at the same time prepare a new presentation, emphasizing the technical improvements they promised would overcome the problems encountered.

"They won't give up easily," Nam commented, as the group sat at a meeting at Nghi's mother's tea shop one evening. "For them, this is not just a project in Van Thac, but also a pilot model to expand to many other districts. If it fails here, it will affect their long-term business plan."

"So I have to prepare even more carefully," Ngan spoke up, her voice firm. "Not only presenting what the program has done, but also showing a long-term vision, a specific plan for the program to continue to develop sustainably, not just stopping at asking to keep the same budget."

Ngan's comments prompted the group to begin further discussions on a long-term development plan for the program - not simply maintaining the current four stops, but also considering the possibility of further expansion, a flexible combination of the traditional bookmobile model and some appropriate technology applications in areas with better infrastructure conditions, turning the hearing from a "defensive defense" into an opportunity to present a constructive, forward-looking vision.

Nghi wrote down all these ideas, feeling a new wave of energy empowering her. She realized that this fight was not simply about retaining what was already there, but also an opportunity for the program to develop to a new level, far beyond what her father could have imagined when he started with a motorbike sixteen years ago.

The last night before entering the sprint week of preparing for the hearing, the whole group - Nghi, Nam, Ngan, Yen, and Ms. Dung - gathered together at a small tea shop, reviewing all the documents and every possible scenario one last time. The atmosphere was both tense and warm, like a big family preparing for an important event together.

"Whatever the outcome," Mrs. Dung said, looking around at everyone, her voice filled with emotion, "I want to thank all of you, for not being afraid of hard work, joining hands with Nghi to protect what my husband left behind. Regardless of the outcome of the hearing, I believe, what you have done during the past eight weeks is in itself a great success."

Everyone was silent for a moment, touched by Ms. Dung's sincere words. Nghi looked around, saw Nam smiling at her, saw Ngan and Yen nodding in agreement, feeling more clearly than ever that, no matter what the outcome of the upcoming hearing, she was no longer alone on this path, and the love and solidarity she received was in itself a priceless gift that her father's bookmobile program had silently brought.

Before everyone left, Yen also announced another good news. "Ah, I forgot to mention, my editorial office received a call from a non-governmental organization working in the field of highland education. They read the article and asked to learn more about the program, to see if there was a possibility of long-term cooperation and support. I gave them your phone number, Nghi, they will probably contact you in a few days."

That news made the whole group more excited. Nam turned to look at Nghi, his eyes lit up. "If there is another professional organization accompanying, this will be an important card for the hearing, proving that the program does not just rely on temporary emotional support, but has the potential for sustainable development, attracting professional partners."

"I'll contact you as soon as they call," Nghi said, scribbling information in a notebook that was nearly full with notes over the past eight weeks. She flipped through the previous few pages, looking back at the entire journey she had gone through — from the initial scary announcement, to the tense meeting with Mr. Vinh, the sleepless nights preparing documents, the trips to collect signatures, and now a growing support network.

That night, after everyone had left, Nghi sat alone at the table, looking out the window where the moonlight was illuminating the small town. She felt a deep gratitude welling up in her heart - grateful to her father for sowing the first seeds, grateful to her mother for her silent sacrifice over the years, grateful to Nam for being a strong fulcrum, and grateful to the people she had never met but were willing to extend their support through just an article. She closed the notebook, preparing herself for the decisive journey ahead, the journey that would determine the fate of a sixteen-year legacy.

Her phone vibrated with the last text message of the night, from Nam: "Are you home yet? Remember to go to bed early, there's a lot of work to do tomorrow. And Nghi, no matter what happens at the hearing, I'm proud to have been with you for the past eight weeks." Nghi read the message, smiled, typed a few short thank you lines before turning off the light and going to bed. Lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling in the dark, she mentally recounted the remaining days before the hearing, both nervous and hopeful, knowing that no matter the final outcome, the past eight weeks of her journey had changed her, changed the way she saw herself, her father's legacy, and what she was truly capable of doing when she didn't have to walk alone. She fell asleep with a smile still on her lips, ready to welcome the most fierce days of the whole journey ahead.