Chapter 17 — The Sweet Taste After Criticism

While waiting for the investigation article to be completed, Mai came up with another idea to both raise funds for legal support for the whole neighborhood and create a positive spillover large enough to make it difficult for Dat Long's company to continue acting silently.

"Let's organize a food festival right in the alley," she proposed in the group meeting that night, her eyes shining with excitement, "invite all the businesses in the neighborhood to participate, sell food, display products, invite the press and followers of Kien's channel to attend. While raising funds, I also show everyone the true value of this alley, which is not something that can be easily exchanged for money."

“Great idea,” Kien immediately nodded in agreement, “the more public attention it gets, the harder it will be for Dat Long's company to continue its shady tactics without being scrutinized.”

Tung immediately began planning the media, using the channel "Vi Giac That" to promote the event, while Linh was in charge of contacting other businesses in the neighborhood to invite them to participate.

The following days passed in a busy but exciting atmosphere like never before in the small alley. Each house began to prepare their signature dishes - the vermicelli seller prepared a pot of rich heirloom broth, Mr. Tu volunteered to fix his car and set up a theater, and the tea seller contributed a few types of specialty sweet soup. The whole alley seemed to awaken after gloomy days because the fear of being relieved was replaced by a spirit of solidarity and determination to protect what they had built together.

Together, Mai and Kien redesigned the special menu for the festival, combining the traditional recipe of Banh Nang shop with the improvements that Kien had suggested during the past time, creating a new product line called "Banh Doan Ket" - symbolizing the spirit of the whole event.

“What do you think should be a suitable name?” Mai asked, while the two were testing a new recipe in the kitchen.

“'Unity Cake' sounds good,” Kien commented, taking a bite, “it's both simple and conveys the true spirit of the festival.”

“So it's decided,” Mai smiled, writing down the name in the recipe book, feeling an indescribable pride when seeing her mother's family heirloom recipe now harmoniously combined with Kien's methodical knowledge, creating a new product that has a meaning far beyond an ordinary cake.

The evening before the event, the whole group gathered at Banh Nang shop to review all preparations one last time. An atmosphere of excitement spread throughout the small space, mixed with a bit of nervousness before the largest-scale event the alley had ever organized.

“Everything is ready,” Tung reported, checking the job list again, “the promotional post has reached more than fifty thousand interactions, it is expected that quite a few people from outside the area will attend.”

“What about the journalists?” Kien asked.

"He confirmed that he will come directly," Tung replied, "both to report on the event and to take the opportunity to interview a few more households for the upcoming investigation."

Mai looked around the shop space, which was decorated more splendidly than usual with small lanterns, new signs, and a display corner telling the story of three generations of Sun Cake shop. Her heart was filled with an indescribable emotion - both nervous, proud, and full of hope for a brighter tomorrow for the whole alley.

“Thank you everyone,” she said, her voice she choked with emotion, "for turning a small idea into such a big event together."

“Thank you is the right one,” Kien replied, taking her hand, “for giving all of us a reason to stand up together, instead of resigning ourselves to injustice.”

That night, after everyone had left, Mai and Kien stayed at the shop a little longer to complete the final details — re-gluing a few peeling decorative decals, checking the quantity of ingredients stored for tomorrow. The quiet atmosphere after a long, busy day creates a rare, warm silence between the two.

“Are you worried?” Kien asked, sitting down next to her after finishing his work.

"Yes," Mai admitted, "I'm afraid that the event won't be as successful as expected, afraid that all the efforts of the whole neighborhood will go to waste. But I also believe that, no matter the outcome, at least we tried our best."

"That's right," Kien nodded, putting his arm around her shoulder, "and no matter the outcome, I believe tomorrow's event will leave an important mark, not only in terms of fundraising or communication, but also in the spirit of solidarity that the whole neighborhood has built over the past weeks. That is something no one can take away, even if something happens to the premises."

Mai leaned her head on his shoulder, clearly feeling the comfort from those sincere words. She looked out the window, where the late moonlight shone down on the peaceful sleeping alley, preparing to wait for a new day full of hope and even unpredictable challenges.

“Thank you for always being there for me through everything,” she whispered, closing her eyes to enjoy this rare moment of peace.

“Always,” Kien replied, kissing her lightly on the forehead, “no matter what happens tomorrow, you will not be alone.”

They sat together for a while longer before Kien left, leaving Mai alone to close the shop, filled with determination for the upcoming important festival - a day that she believed would mark a major turning point in the battle to protect her beloved alley.

Early the next morning, when it was not yet fully dawn, the whole alley was bustling with the sounds of people passing by preparing for the festival. Mai woke up at four o'clock in the morning, along with Linh and Ms. Nga, they were busy preparing the first batch of cakes, while outside, other households were also setting up tents, setting up tables and chairs, and redecorating the front of their houses to welcome guests.

“Look,” Ms. Nga said, standing at the shop looking out at the alley that was gradually taking on a new look, bright with flags, flowers and lanterns, “I have never seen my alley so bustling since I was young.”

“Me too,” Mai replied, her hands still quickly arranging the cakes on the tray, her eyes shining with pride as she looked at the bustling scene before her eyes. “Hope everything goes smoothly.”

At 7:00 a.m., Kien and Tung arrived early to do a final check on the filming equipment and prepare to livestream the event for channel followers who could not attend live. The atmosphere of hustle and bustle but full of excitement spreads throughout every corner of the alley, everyone is eagerly waiting for the official opening moment, marking the joint effort of a whole community determined to protect their home from the evil plans lurking from the outside.

Kien took the opportunity to visit each small stall along the alley, checking to see if any additional assistance was needed before the official opening time. He stopped there Car repair shop owned by Mr. Tu, who was struggling with the skewed sunshade.

“Let me help you,” Kien said, rolling up his sleeve to help straighten the canvas.

“Thank you,” Uncle Tu said, wiping the sweat from his forehead, “by the way, today is so important, aren't you worried?”

“I'm worried,” Kien admitted, smiling, “but seeing our whole neighborhood unite and prepare like that, I believe everything will be okay.”

Returning to Banh Nang shop, Kien saw Mai standing in front of the mirror adjusting her new apron, her face showing a mixture of nervousness and excitement. He moved closer and gently adjusted the apron strap that was askew behind her back.

“Ready?” he asked, his voice gentle.

“Ready,” Mai replied, turning to look at him, her eyes shining with determination, “today, we will show everyone how much this alley deserves to be preserved.”

Exactly at eight o'clock, the opening drum rang out, marking the official start of the Sunny Cake Festival - the biggest event this small alley has ever held, carrying not only the hope of raising legal funds, but also the spirit of solidarity that has been forged through the past many turbulent days.

Waves of customers started pouring in right from the first minutes, some were regular customers of the stalls, others were followers of Kien's channel, curious to see with their own eyes the story they had been following for the past few weeks. Laughter, sales calls, and music emanating from the small speakers blended together, creating a festive atmosphere unprecedented in the history of this small alley, completely dispelling the gloomy, anxious atmosphere that had covered the past weeks, replaced by a brilliant pride that everyone could clearly feel right from the first steps in the alley.