Chapter 6 — The Promise of a Demobilized Soldier

In the following days, Thanh Phong still regularly stopped by Bao Chau's house, sometimes bringing some fresh vegetables from the company, sometimes just stopping by for a few minutes to ask about the situation and then rushing back to the factory. He no longer hid his concern like before, but he also did not show it too much, always keeping a sufficient distance so that Bao Chau did not feel pressured or heavily indebted.

Initially, Bao Chau still maintained a cautious attitude. Every time Thanh Phong brings things, she tries to send money back, even if it's just a symbolic value, as a way to affirm the fair boundary between the two of them. One time, she spoke frankly to him, her voice somewhat tough: "Mr. Phong, I am grateful for what you have done for my mother and me, but I don't want people to look at and discuss the story of a widow receiving benefits from her husband's friends. I need to stand firm on my own strength, so that when An grows up, he will look at his mother with pride, not at a mother who lives on the pity of others."

Thanh Phong clearly understands that feeling, because he himself, in the first days of his discharge, also experienced a similar feeling, when people looked at a limping veteran with eyes that were both pitying and wary. He did not argue, just quietly adjusted the way he helped, switching from direct giving to more subtle ways.

"Miss Chau, my company is currently lacking someone to do seasonal bookkeeping, like reconciling debts and checking warehouse receipts at the end of the month. You are inherently an accountant, I wonder if you can help me with this job, I pay according to the market rate, there are no special favors." One afternoon, he proposed, his voice deliberately sounding nonchalant like a request for a normal job.

Bao Chau looked at him, a bit suspicious. "Mr. Phong, don't come up with something to help me in such a roundabout way. I understand your good intentions, but..."

"It's not a show off." Thanh Phong interrupted, his voice serious. "I've been complaining about this to the company's chief accountant for a month now. At the end of every month I have to work OT until late because there's no one to compare the books. Try it for a month and see, if the work doesn't suit you, just quit, I won't force you."

After a while of consideration, Bao Chau finally agreed to try the job, partly because she really needed more income to support her mother and daughter, partly because she also wanted to verify for herself whether this was really a decent job or just an excuse for Thanh Phong to secretly help her.

The first day she came to the company, Bao Chau was surprised by the scale and working atmosphere here. Different from what she imagined about a normal agricultural product company, Binh Minh is like a small community, where people treat each other with rare sincere camaraderie. She saw disabled workers working skillfully, confidently, without any self-consciousness. She saw how Thanh Phong treated each person, always asking questions, always remembering each employee's unique situation.

"Is that right, Ms. Chau? I heard Mr. Phong say you're very good at accounting." Tran Van Ben welcomed her with a friendly smile and led her to the prepared desk. "Here, we work with all our hearts. Don't be shy. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask directly."

Bao Chau got to work, and within just a few days, she discovered that although the company's bookkeeping system was operating quite well, there were still many points that could be optimized, especially in debt management with purchasing partners. She boldly proposed a few small changes, which were enthusiastically received by the company's chief accountant. Everyone was surprised at the new woman's sharpness and carefulness.

At noon, she often eats with fellow workers in the dormitory, listening to them talk about their days in the army, about the wounds they carried with them all their lives, and about how Thanh Phong reached out to each person, convincing them to leave their dead-end life to work in Binh Minh. The more she listened, the more clearly she understood the man her husband once called his life-saving benefactor, whom she now also began to have a deep respect for, mixed with an emotion that was difficult to name.

One late afternoon, when the company was finished, Bao Chau still lingered to complete the monthly debt reconciliation. Thanh Phong passed by the accounting office, saw the light was still on, and stopped in.

"Miss Chau, it's late, have you gone home to pick up baby An? Let me take you home, you work so hard, you need to keep your health."

"Thank you, but An was picked up by Ms. Suong near her house today, so I'll finish the job a little more." Bao Chau replied, without raising his head, still focusing on the data column in front of him.

Thanh Phong pulled out a chair and sat down opposite, was silent for a moment then spoke, his voice gentle. "Miss Chau, I really want to ask, do you feel comfortable working here? I don't want you to feel constrained or pressured at all."

Bao Chau stopped, looked up at him, this time his eyes were no longer as cautious as the first days. "Actually, I feel very comfortable, much more comfortable than I thought. Here, I don't feel like I'm a poor widow being blessed, I feel like I'm really contributing, really valuable. Thank you, Mr. Phong, for giving me this opportunity, even though at first I was somewhat skeptical of your goodwill."

Thanh Phong smiled lightly, his gentle eyes rarely revealed in front of others. "I just want you and baby An to have a stable life, just like I promised Khang. But honestly, now that I watch you work, I realize that you don't just need someone to help you, you can completely stand on your own, and even help this company a lot in return."

Bao Chau blushed slightly at that sincere compliment and quickly bent down to hide the emotions that suddenly rose in her heart. The two sat there for a long time in silence, with only the steady sound of the ceiling fan spinning and the warm yellow light covering the small room, a rare moment of peace amidst the storms that had just begun, but neither of them dared to name the feelings that were quietly growing between them.

That evening, after Thanh Phong insisted on driving her home, Bao Chau stopped by the small grocery store of Hoang Thi Suong, her close friend who had helped her pick up baby An for the past few days, to pick her up. Suong glanced at you as she rearranged the shelves, her mischievous eyes unable to hide her curiosity.

"Look at your face, it's brighter than it was a few months ago." Suong smiled and gently pushed your shoulder. "That Mr. Phong, I think he's really good. Everyone in this area knows his company. It always accepts disabled people. It's rare to have a boss like that."

"Don't talk nonsense." Bao Chau blushed and glanced towards the corner of the house where little An was playing with some neighbor children. "He's my husband's best friend, he's grateful for saving his life, he and I are just..."

"Just what?" Suong squinted her eyes, her voice full of meaning. "I see you often mention his name in your stories lately. It's not that I'm saying anything bad, it's just that you've been a widow for almost half a year, and An also needs a decent man by her side. There's nothing to be ashamed of if your heart is truly moved."

Bao Chau was silent, did not refute his friend's words, just lowered his head and looked down at his hands, his heart full of chaos. She thought of Thanh Phong's gentle eyes in the afternoon, thought of the strange feeling of peace of mind whenever he was around, then thought of Khang's face in old photos, a vague sense of guilt suddenly arose in her heart, as if allowing herself to feel anything other than the pain of losing her husband was an unforgivable betrayal.

"I'm not ready to think about that yet, Suong." She spoke softly, her voice a bit choked. "Mr. Khang just passed away not long ago. I still haven't calmed down. Thinking about having a relationship with someone else, I feel very guilty."

Suong grabbed your hand, her voice softened completely. "You're not at fault, Chau. Mr. Khang certainly only wants you and An to be happy. No one wants the person they love to continue living in pain because of them. Take it easy, no one is forcing you to decide anything right now, just let time answer."

Bao Chau nodded, but Suong's words still echoed in her heart on the way home, mixed with the image of Thanh Phong sitting quietly across from her in the office that afternoon, the yellow light covering his face with a gentleness that she had never noticed before.

That night, after lulling baby An to sleep, Bao Chau sat quietly in front of her husband's altar, lit a stick of incense, and whispered softly as if talking to the deceased. She didn't say much, just told Khang about her new job, about Thanh Phong's kindness, and about the confusion creeping into her heart that she hadn't dared to name. The candle swayed gently in the night wind, like a silent response, making her heart calm down a bit before she fell asleep.