Chapter 21 — The Promise of a Demobilized Soldier

Just as journalist Pham Thi Nhan announced in front of the entire hall, less than an hour after the event ended, a series of detailed investigations into the Dong Thinh Group's system of oppressing farmers was officially published in the newspaper, accompanied by a video recording all the tense developments at the group's twentieth anniversary celebration. In just a few hours, the information spread rapidly across social networking platforms, becoming a hot topic of discussion not only in the business world but also in public opinion in general.

Public pressure created an unprecedentedly powerful effect. That very night, the economic police agency of Tan Hoa city, based on the official denunciation and a full set of evidence that lawyer Doan Bao Nghia had previously submitted, decided to prosecute the case and conduct an emergency search of the headquarters of Dong Thinh Group and the Tan Thoi wholesale market management office of Diep Chan Long. A series of documents, accounting books, and original contracts were sealed to serve the investigation.

In the following days, many other victims of the oppressive system, after seeing Mr. Tu and Mr. Ca Duong bravely testify without suffering any bad consequences, also began to boldly speak up, providing more evidence to the investigation agency. The number of confirmed victims increased rapidly, from sixty-three initial cases to more than one hundred farming households across the region, suggesting that the scale of the suppression system was much larger than Thanh Phong and Bao Chau initially estimated.

As for the fake debt that was used to threaten Bao Chau's family, the official investigation results confirmed that this was completely fake evidence, staged by Chan Long's juniors under his direct instructions, with the aim of usurping the house and mentally threatening a lonely widow. Diep Chan Long was prosecuted for many crimes, including fraudulent appropriation of property, and threatening to mentally intimidate others.

Although Diep Chan Vi tried to hire a team of top lawyers to reduce his responsibility, justifying that he only followed normal business principles, but with the massive and clear amount of evidence and consistent testimony from hundreds of victims, he could not avoid criminal liability for organized fraud in drafting offtake contracts to appropriate farmers' land.

The business community in the Tan Hoa area, which once feared the power of the Diep brothers, now turned their backs. Partners, banks, and even agencies that have awarded certificates of merit and typical businessmen titles to Chan Vi over the years have all spoken out in turn to withdraw all forms of recognition and announce the end of cooperation. Dong Thinh Group, once the most powerful business empire in the region, in less than a month, collapsed almost completely in terms of reputation, many major partners withdrew capital, and subsidiary stocks listed on the local exchange plummeted.

During the investigation and trial process that lasted many months afterward, Thanh Phong, Bao Chau and lawyer Vu persistently accompanied and fully supported Mr. Tu, Mr. Ca Duong and all other victims in providing testimony and confrontation in court. Mr. Le Hoang Vinh, who courageously stood for the right side at the ceremony that day, also actively mobilized many other partners to voice their support, contributing to creating a strong wave of solidarity in the local business world, together boycotting illegal business practices.

One afternoon, when the first instance court announced the verdict, Diep Chan Vi and Diep Chan Long were both subjected to strict sentences in accordance with the law, and were forced to compensate all damages to the victims, including returning the appropriated land or compensating an equivalent value at the current market price. Mr. Tu, standing in front of the court gate after hearing the verdict, could not hold back his tears, holding Thanh Phong and Bao Chau's hands tightly, his voice choked.

"Thank you both, thank you everyone." He said, his voice shaking with emotion. "I thought my life would forever be filled with resentment. I never expected that at this age I would see true justice being served. The land my ancestors left behind will finally be returned."

Mr. Duong was equally moved, turning to speak to Thanh Phong in a respectful voice. "Mr. Phong, it's not just my family or Mr. Tu who is grateful to you, but also many other farming families in this area. You have done something that many people do not dare to think of, which is to dare to stand up against a seemingly unshakable force."

Thanh Phong humbly shook his head and held the two old farmers' hands tightly. "This is not just my effort, but everyone's effort, Ms. Chau's, lawyer Vu's, journalist Nhan's, and especially those of you who courageously came forward to testify despite knowing the risks. Today's justice is possible thanks to the solidarity of all of us."

Bao Chau stood next to him, looking at Thanh Phong, his heart filled with an indescribable pride. She knows that the arduous journey over the past few months, although full of ups and downs, has finally brought a worthy result, not only for her family, but also for countless other people who have silently endured injustice for many long years.

News of the trial was quickly transmitted to Binh Minh company, where all workers eagerly waited for the results all morning. When hearing the news that Chan Vi and Chan Long were officially responsible before the law, the whole factory erupted in cheers of joy, many people hugged each other, some could not hold back their emotional tears. Ben stood on a wooden crate and shouted loudly to announce the good news for everyone to hear clearly, his voice echoing throughout the factory.

"Brothers, justice has been served! Our company, the honor of Mr. Phong, of Uncle Khang, have finally been completely vindicated!" Ben shouted loudly, his voice choked with emotion.

Toan, from his wheelchair, could not hide his joy, laughing loudly among the crowd. "I told you, Phong will never give up, just believe!"

That evening, the entire company held a small celebration right at the factory yard, simply with just a few trays of meals prepared by the workers together, but the atmosphere was filled with rare sincere happiness. Mr. Phuc and the veterans who came from distant provinces to support during the most difficult days were also invited to stay at the party, as a sincere thank you from the entire company for their unshakable team spirit.

Thanh Phong stood up in the middle of the party, raised his glass of water, with an emotional voice looking around at the familiar faces that had gone through many ups and downs with him in recent months. "I want to thank everyone, those who did not leave me even in the most difficult times, those who believed in me even when I had to be humiliated in front of many people. Today's victory is not mine alone, but all of us, of the teamwork that has been forged through many hardships."

The whole factory yard echoed with endless applause, many people chanted the company's name, Thanh Phong's name, and the names of deceased teammates like Dinh Khang, who everyone believed was watching from somewhere, smiling with satisfaction at what his closest friend had done to fully protect the small family he left behind.

Baby Bao An, brought by her mother to the party with everyone, ran around the factory yard playing with the other workers' children, her clear laughter resounding in the warm air of that evening, a sound that Bao Chau had not heard so completely since the day her husband passed away. She stood and watched her daughter play, then turned to look at Thanh Phong who was surrounded by close comrades. Her heart was filled with a deep sense of peace and gratitude for what life had brought after so many storms, as if spring had finally returned after a long winter of loss and pain, opening a new, brighter chapter for the whole small family and for the entire community of veterans who had gone through the storm together, so that from now on, no one of them would be left alone. We no longer have to live in the fear or guilt of the past, but we can hold our heads high and continue on the path forward with full faith in justice and human love.