Chapter 17 — The City Behind the Mist

During the process of reviewing all material procurement records of the project, Khanh Linh and Viet Hoang discovered that the subcontractor providing drainage pipes for the project - a company named Dai Phat Materials - was the same unit that they had suspected was indirectly related to Tan Phat Company, which ceased operations fifteen years ago.

"We need to investigate this company further," Viet Hoang said as they reviewed Dai Phat Materials' bidding documents together. "If it is true that there is a direct connection to the old network, this will be important evidence that the problem is not just in the past, but is still ongoing in the present."

Through research, they discovered that the founder and current manager of Dai Phat Materials is the son-in-law of Mr. Dang Huu Loc - the head of the construction management department who swapped the records fifteen years ago. "This is not a coincidence," Khanh Linh commented, her voice filled with determination. "This network of interests has been maintained, passed down through generations, continuing to profit from the same mistakes they made in the past."

Khanh Linh decided to personally check the quality of materials that Dai Phat Materials provided to the construction site, bringing with her an independent quality inspection team. Test results show that, although the products have complete certifications and valid documents, when performing intensive pressure and load-bearing tests, the actual quality of the drainage pipes is significantly lower than the standards published on the documents.

"This is clearly a fraudulent act in product quality certification," the inspection team leader commented, his tone serious as he presented the results. "If these pipes are installed and used in practice, especially in areas with high geological risk like Van Son old town, the risk of incidents will increase significantly compared to what we once feared."

Before making the final decision, Khanh Linh and Viet Hoang decided to personally meet directly with the head of Dai Phat Materials, Mr. Dang Quoc Huy, son-in-law of Mr. Dang Huu Loc, to learn more about the motive behind the product quality fraud. Mr. Huy, when asked directly, initially appeared to completely deny all accusations.

"Our products are completely standard, with full legal certificates," he said, his voice hard and defensive. "I don't understand why you doubt the quality of my company's products."

"Our independent inspection results clearly show the difference between the actual quality and what is declared on the certificate," Khanh Linh replied, placing the inspection report on the table in front of him. "I also know about the relationship between you and Mr. Dang Huu Loc, who was directly involved in the file swap fifteen years ago."

Hearing this, Mr. Huy's face flashed with a barely concealed panic, before he tried to regain his composure. "My father-in-law has passed away, what he did in the past has nothing to do with my current business," he said, his voice somewhat awkward.

"Maybe so," Viet Hoang interjected, his voice calm but filled with pressure. "But the scientific evidence of product quality is irrefutable, Mr. Huy. We will transfer this entire file to the authorities to investigate quality certification fraud, regardless of the motive behind it."

Under the pressure of irrefutable evidence, Mr. Huy finally admitted part of the truth, although he tried to reduce his responsibility. "We were just trying to cut costs to compete in the bidding, with no intention of endangering anyone," he defended, his voice filled with belated regret. "I didn't think the consequences could be this serious."

"Ignorance or indifference to consequences is not a valid excuse, Mr. Huy," Khanh Linh replied, her voice stern. "Especially when the lessons from the past are too clear, too painful to be forgotten so easily."

Khanh Linh immediately requested to suspend the entire contract with Dai Phat Materials, and reported the incident to the authorities to investigate the fraud on construction product quality. This decision faced strong opposition from Mr. Luong Dinh Khai, who said that the sudden suspension of the contract would cause serious delays to the project's progress.

"You're acting too hastily, Ms. Linh," Mr. Khai said in a tense meeting, his voice filled with frustration. "We need more solid evidence before making such decisions that could cause major financial and progress damage."

"I have full scientific evidence from the independent testing team, Mr. Khai," Khanh Linh replied, her voice unyielding. "I will not trade the safety of my people for anyone's progress or financial gain, under any circumstances."

Khanh Linh's steadfastness, although causing a lot of tension within the project management board, also received strong support from Mr. Bui Quoc Bao and a large number of people, who now completely believe in her integrity and dedication after everything they have witnessed.

That evening, when Khanh Linh and Viet Hoang reviewed the entire situation together, they both realized that the battle for the safety of the project was not over yet, even though the main conspirators of the past had been brought to light.

"I think we need to find a new, more reliable material supplier as soon as possible," Viet Hoang suggested, his tone matter-of-fact. "At the same time, we also need to strengthen construction quality monitoring more closely throughout the remaining process of the project, to ensure that no errors can slip through."

"I agree," Khanh Linh replied, her voice determined even though she couldn't hide her fatigue after a long and stressful day. "We have gone too far, sacrificed too much to get to this point. I will not let anything shake my determination to ensure absolute safety for this project, no matter how many difficulties and obstacles we face."

In the following week, Khanh Linh and her team conducted a new, much more transparent and rigorous bidding process to find alternative material suppliers. She personally participated in the evaluation process, requiring every potential bidder to undergo independent quality tests before being considered, a process that had never before been applied so rigorously in the history of Van Son town's public projects.

"This will be the new standard for all future public projects in the town," Khanh Linh announced at a meeting to announce the new bidding process, in the presence of the press and local people. "We cannot let history repeat itself just because of subjectivity and lack of strict supervision."

Mr. Bui Quoc Bao, present at the meeting, could not hide his pride when witnessing the positive changes that Khanh Linh is bringing. "I believe, what you are building is not just an urban beautification project, but also a more transparent, accountable governance system for this entire town," he told her after the meeting. "This is the real legacy that Van Son needs, after everything he has been through."

A few days later, a reputable construction materials company from a neighboring city, with a transparent profile and clear commitment to quality, won the bid to provide replacement materials for the project. Khanh Linh, although somewhat relieved by this step, still did not allow herself to relax her vigilance, continuing to maintain strict supervision over every stage of the construction process, from importing materials to each stage of actual installation on the construction site.

"We cannot be subjective, not even for a moment," she reminded her supervisory team during the weekly briefing. "Lessons from the past have taught us that even a small mistake can lead to irreversible consequences."

Viet Hoang, always working side by side with her in all stages of technical supervision, could not help but feel proud of the dedication and seriousness that Khanh Linh devoted to her work. "You're building a new standard for the construction industry here, Linh," he told her one evening, as they both checked on the progress of the construction site under the soft yellow light of late sunset. "I believe, in the future, people will mention this project not only because of its painful past, but also because of the way it has been rebuilt, more properly and safely than ever."