Chapter 28 — The Lantern That Never Goes Out

Three days before the official festival night, Uyen Chi and Thien Vu decided to spend the remaining time together perfecting a special project that they had long cherished - a new version of the Cuu Lien lamp, combining the traditional techniques of the Pho family and the modern design features that Thien Vu has learned through many years of working in the design industry.

"I wanted this lamp," Uyen Chi explained as the two sat sketching ideas at the table, "to not just be a copied version of the original Cuu Lien lamp, but to symbolize the union between the two families, between past and present, between tradition and innovation."

Thien Vu nodded, his hand sketching a few more lines on the paper. "I think we can keep the nine-layer lotus petal structure, but apply the double helix frame technique that Ms. Tuyet Nga and my grandfather developed together, so that the lamp can be folded and easier to transport and preserve than the original."

"That's a great idea," Uyen Chi replied, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "So this lamp will truly be the crystallization of both techniques, just like what my grandmother and grandfather dreamed of together before everything happened."

They started working on it that afternoon, with the support of Mr. Khoan in checking the quality of bamboo slats, and also Mr. Bay Tuyen, who personally brought the best slats sharpened specifically for this special project. The process of knitting the frame using the double helix technique requires much more meticulousness and patience than conventional techniques. Thien Vu, although he has learned quite a lot in the past months, still has to rely on Uyen Chi's careful guidance in every step.

"The slats must be twisted in two opposite directions," she instructed, her hands gently bending each slat to illustrate, "the inner layer is twisted clockwise, the outer layer is twisted in the opposite direction. When pressing them together at the right angle, the frame will have enough elasticity to fold neatly without breaking the slats."

Thien Vu followed attentively, drops of sweat beaded on his forehead even though he was much more used to manual work than his first clumsy days. After many hours of hard work, the nine-layer lamp frame using the double helix technique was finally completed, and can be folded down to just one-third of its original size when not in use, something that no Cuu Lien lamp has ever been able to do before.

"So beautiful," Mr. Khoan admired when he saw the result, his trembling hand gently touched the lamp frame with an indescribable emotion. "This is exactly what my parents dreamed of, a technique that is both beautiful and practical, and can be applied more widely in everyday life, not just as decoration."

After completing the frame, Uyen Chi embarked on the process of backing the silk and drawing the patterns, a task that requires the highest level of skill that only she can fully undertake. She decided to keep the traditional color palette of the Cuu Lien lamp — from light pink to dark pink through nine layers of lotus petals — but added delicate gold borders at the edge of each petal, inspired by the modern motifs suggested by Thien Vu, creating a luxurious highlight without losing the inherent classic beauty.

"I think I should engrave the names of both families on the lamp base," Thien Vu proposed when he saw Uyen Chi completing the final touches. "Not to show off, but to remember, to remind all future generations of the story that happened, of the lessons of reconciliation and mutual respect."

Uyen Chi immediately agreed, and that evening, in the presence of Mr. Khoan, the two of them carefully carved small words into the wooden base of the lamp: "Pho Tuyet Nga - Han Ba Vinh, origin. Pho Uyen Chi - Han Thien Vu, continuation." The words are simple but contain a long story, a journey from separation to reunion, from enmity to reconciliation.

When the lamp was completed, all three people stood silently looking at it under the oil lamp light, no one said a word for a moment, just letting their emotions spread in the quiet space of the workshop. Nine layers of interlocking lotus petals, sparkling golden light surrounding each petal, create a beauty that is both familiar and new, like the story the two families went through.

"What shall we name it?" Uyen Chi asked, her voice was gentle as if afraid of breaking the surrounding solemn atmosphere.

Thien Vu thought for a moment, then smiled. "I think, the most suitable name is the name of our story - The Unextinguished Lantern. Because, despite many ups and downs, many years of separation, the fire of love for the profession, of tolerance, has never really gone out, just waiting for the right time to burn again."

Mr. Khoan nodded, his eyes filled with tears at that meaningful name. "A worthy name, for a worthy lamp, and for a story worthy of being told for many generations to come."

The next morning, Uyen Chi invited Ms. Dieu Hanh and Mr. Vuong to the workshop to admire the results before the lamp was taken to the official exhibition area. Mrs. Dieu Hanh, when she saw the words engraved on the lamp base, could not hold back her tears, she raised her hand to gently touch each letter as if she was touching the history that she had silently preserved for many years.

"Mrs. Tuyet Nga will definitely be happy to see this," she said, her voice choked up. "Finally, her name and my grandfather's name are solemnly placed next to each other, not in resentment, but in honor."

Mr. Vuong stood silently looking at the lamp for a long time, his eyes were complicated, mixed with regret for the past and pride in the present. "I wish I could turn back time so it wouldn't have been so painful," he said softly. "But seeing the results today, I believe, perhaps that arduous journey also has its own meaning, so that in the end, we all learn valuable lessons that if everything went smoothly from the beginning, perhaps no one would really understand."

Uyen Chi listened, a deep sympathy rose in her heart. She realized that sometimes, the difficulties and pain that people have to go through are the necessary catalysts to create more lasting values and more sincere relationships, without them, perhaps everything would just stop on the surface, not deep enough to last over time.

In the afternoon, the whole family carefully packed the new version of the Cuu Lien lamp, preparing to bring it to the exhibition area at the river wharf, where it will be displayed in the most solemn position in the upcoming festival night. Thien Vu personally drove the lamp, Uyen Chi sat next to him, clutching the wooden box as if holding a priceless treasure.

"Do you think," she asked on the way, her voice carrying a bit of nervousness, "how people will receive this lamp? I'm a bit worried, because it's quite different from the original Cuu Lien lamp that many people are familiar with."

"I believe everyone will love it," Thien Vu replied, his eyes still focused on the road ahead but his voice filled with certainty. "Because it is not only beautiful in form, but also contains a meaningful story behind it. People not only see the external beauty of a lamp, but also feel the hearts and stories of the people who created it. That is what makes the true value of handmade art."

Uyen Chi nodded, feeling more reassured by those sincere words of encouragement. She looked out the car window, watching the ancient town of Nguyet Giang gradually put on the most splendid clothes of the year, preparing for the festival that the whole community had been waiting for and working hard for.

Arriving at the exhibition area, they were personally welcomed by Mr. Dai Quang Minh and led to the most solemn position right in the middle of the main hall, where natural light from the glass dome above would shine down to highlight the beauty of the lamp all day and night. "This will be the central highlight of the entire exhibition area," Mr. Minh said, his voice filled with pride as he personally arranged the display space. "I made a separate sign to introduce the story behind this lamp, so that visitors can understand its profound meaning, not simply as a work of art."

Uyen Chi and Thien Vu carefully placed the lamp in the prepared position, adjusting every small detail to ensure it was displayed at the most beautiful angle. When everything was completed, the two took a step back, together looking at the results of so many sleepless nights, so much enthusiasm poured into every line, every stroke.

"We did it," Uyen Chi whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

"We did it," Thien Vu repeated, wrapping his arms around her from behind, both of them immersed in that sweet moment, under the sparkling light reflected from the new version of the Cuu Lien lamp, a vivid symbol of a journey full of hardships but in the end it bore full fruit.