Chapter 24 — The Promise of a Demobilized Soldier

Exactly one year since Bao An dialed the fateful phone number to call Thanh Phong on that panicky, rainy night, Binh Minh Agricultural Products Company has developed dramatically, becoming one of the leading reputable agricultural enterprises in the region, not only in terms of business scale but also in terms of ethical reputation in the way it treats workers and farmer partners. The lives of Thanh Phong, Bao Chau and baby An are also stable and happier than ever, a living proof that the best things often come after the most difficult challenges.

On the first anniversary of Dinh Khang's death, Thanh Phong decided that this would be the time for him to officially carry out a long-cherished plan, something he believed would be the most complete way to close the old promise and open a completely new chapter for his small family.

That morning, Thanh Phong, Bao Chau and little An went to the martyrs' cemetery to burn incense for Khang as usual every year. But this time, instead of simply coming to burn incense and then leave as usual, Thanh Phong quietly prepared something special, with the secret help of Ben, Toan, Suong and even baby An, the only person in the family whom he trusted to share this plan in advance.

After burning incense, when Bao Chau was still standing quietly in front of her husband's grave, whispering the usual words of confidence, little An gently pulled her mother's hand, her voice somewhat unusually mysterious. "Mom, look up there."

Bao Chau looked up and was surprised to see that in the distance, on a small hill near the cemetery, where he could see the entire peaceful scene of the whole region, was decorated with hundreds of white chrysanthemums, the flower that Khang loved so much during his time, arranged in the shape of a large heart. Standing in the middle, Thanh Phong, in his old military uniform that he had carefully kept for many years, was waiting, surrounded by all the company's veterans, including those who had come from distant provinces to support during the most difficult times, all dressed neatly, standing in dignified rows.

"Mr. Phong..." Bao Chau exclaimed, his voice choked up, unable to hide his emotions as he slowly walked up the hill, still holding his daughter's hand tightly.

When she approached, Thanh Phong stepped out of the line, knelt down on one knee in front of her, with trembling hands he took out a small box containing a ring. His eyes were filled with sincere emotions accumulated throughout the long and arduous journey that the two had gone through together.

"Bao Chau." He spoke, his voice was deep but unable to hide his emotions. "One year ago, I received a call that changed my whole life. The call brought me to you and An, giving me the opportunity to fully fulfill my promise to the friend and teammate to whom I am forever grateful. But that journey, was not simply fulfilling another promise, but became the journey of me finding the true love of my life."

He stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, then continued, his voice resounding with determination in the quiet space of the morning on the white chrysanthemum hill. "I promised Khang that I would protect you and child An, and would not let mother and child suffer from any need or self-pity. Today, I want to ask Khang's permission, and ask you, to let me fulfill that promise to the fullest, not only as a friend, but as a husband, a father, who will be with you and child An for the rest of their lives. Bao Chau, do you agree to be my wife?"

Bao Chau stood silently, tears falling endlessly, not because of sadness, but because of a burst of happiness after so many months of waiting, after so many hardships that the two of them had overcome together. She looked towards Khang's grave, as if asking permission from her deceased husband one last time, then looked back at Thanh Phong, nodded, her voice choked but full of certainty.

"I agree, Thanh Phong. I agree to be your wife."

Applause and congratulations rang out loudly from all the veterans standing around, many people could not hide their emotional tears at that beautiful moment. Ben, standing at the head of the line, shouted a familiar command, the whole group simultaneously stood at attention, raising their hands to salute according to military protocol, as the most solemn blessing that soldiers could give to their comrades.

Baby An ran over, hugged both Thanh Phong and Bao Chau, her voice was joyful. "I have enough of both mom and dad! I'm so happy!"

Thanh Phong picked her up, one hand still holding Bao Chau's hand tightly, the three of them stood in the middle of a hill of white chrysanthemums filled with sunlight, surrounded by the love of teammates who had gone through many ups and downs together. In the distance, Dinh Khang's grave seemed to quietly witness that sacred moment, like a silent but warm response to everything Thanh Phong had done to keep his promise as a soldier.

The good news about the proposal spread quickly throughout the company that afternoon. Bao Chau returned home in a happy mood, still not taking off the simple but meaningful engagement ring that Thanh Phong gave him. Suong, upon hearing the news, immediately ran over and hugged her friend. They both laughed and cried in unspeakable joy.

"I told you you'd be happy, Chau." Suong said, her voice choked with emotion. "Looking at you now, I'm so happy I'm crying."

Mr. Phuc, along with many other veterans who came to support during the most difficult period, also specially arranged to return to Tan Hoa to attend the wedding, seeing this as a meaningful reunion of a community that had gone through many hardships together. For them, Thanh Phong's wedding is not simply an individual's happiness, but a symbol of the belief that, no matter how cruel life is, no matter how many things war takes away, love and happiness can always flourish, as long as people still maintain integrity and affection for each other.

The wedding of Thanh Phong and Bao Chau took place simply but warmly at the yard of Binh Minh Agricultural Products Company a few months later, with the witness of all veterans, families of both sides, and friends and partners who have accompanied throughout the difficult journey, including Mr. Tu, Mr. Ca Duong, lawyer Vu, journalist Nhan and Mr. Le Hoang Vinh. Baby An, in a pure white dress, proudly held flowers in front of the bridal procession, a bright smile on the innocent face of a child who now truly has a complete family.

Standing in front of all the guests at the ceremony, Thanh Phong looked at Bao Chau in a simple but gorgeous wedding dress, at baby An smiling brightly next to him, then looked into the distance, at the familiar wooden sign still hanging at the entrance to the company with the words "Binh Minh leaves no one behind", his heart was filled with the most complete happiness and satisfaction in his entire life.

After the ceremony, when the sunset gradually fell, dyeing the whole company yard in a warm orange-yellow color, Thanh Phong led Bao Chau and little An to stand in front of the wooden board at the company gate, where he had personally written those words ten years ago, when the company was just a temporary rented warehouse. He placed his hand on his wife's shoulder, the other hand tightly holding his daughter's hand, and the three of them looked at the familiar words, which now had an even deeper meaning than what he had ever imagined when writing it.

"Dawn leaves no one behind." He read it again softly, his voice was warm. "In the past, I only wrote this sentence thinking about my fellow veterans. Now, I realize that it is true for my whole family. None of us are left behind, whether Khang is in a far away place, whether it is our comrades who are working here every day, or ourselves, you and An."

Bao Chau leaned her head on her husband's shoulder, her eyes looking into the distance, where the sunset finally disappeared behind the trees, giving way to the first stars that began to sparkle in the Tan Hoa night sky. "I believe, wherever he is, Mr. Khang is smiling seeing us happy like this."

The promise of a discharged soldier, after many ups and downs and hardships, was finally fully fulfilled, not only with protection and shelter, but with a new home, full of love, built from integrity, eternal camaraderie, and a sincere love that silently blossomed amid the hardships of life, then blossomed into a lasting happiness, worthy of all the sacrifices that both of them, along with so many comrades, had made. around, we've been through it together.