Chapter 18 — When the Wind Crosses the Porch

The embankment repair fund opens an account at the cooperative bank, but no one can withdraw money alone. Seven households elected Ms. Lai and Mr. Dat to represent them; Hanh keeps house records; An independent attorney examines each item. The Wind Porch Room has an income and expenditure board hanging right next to the door.

It took Mai nearly two weeks to turn the house into a place that can accommodate people. She removed the wall between the wing and the living room, replaced the smooth tile floor, and installed a moisture-proof cabinet. Cost exceeded estimate because the rear foundation was weak. She did not borrow more; They reduced the decoration category, keeping the storage section.

Quan is in charge of structural measurements. Duy and his friends repaired the radio and installed a humidity sensor. Sau Luu records the loan schedule in both paper books and electronic boards, in case the power goes out.

Hanh no longer sits crouched at the sewing machine. She instructed people to read every line in the contract, although she always reminded that she was not a lawyer.

“I just know how to read slowly,” she said. “Read slowly so no one hides the small letters.”

A group of architecture students applied for an internship. Mai agreed on the condition that they work with the people and not take photos to turn the house into a backdrop. She wants people to see a system that is learning to operate on its own, not a decorated story.

Vinh came to ask for help. Seven households did not agree to let him touch the money, but allowed him to be in charge of designing the embankment under independent supervision. He agreed to sign a commitment not to accept personal benefits.

“You don't need to come back here every day,” Mai said.

"I need."

"For what?"

“To get used to people seeing me.”

Vinh started by removing the incorrectly marked stakes. Each pile he pulled up was photographed, recorded its location, and then placed in the evidence warehouse. The work was slow and heavy, but no one complained.

Khoi still hasn't returned. The investigation agency blocked some accounts, but most of the money was transferred through many layers. The letter said it could take years to recover. The temporary fund must operate with small amounts.

Hanh proposed opening a class to sew and repair raincoats for fishermen. Mrs. Lai sold dried fish to raise funds, Duy repaired the radio for a nominal fee. Activities that are not directly related to the land help people believe that the community can sustain itself.

Mai takes a remote job, returning to Da Nang two days a week. She felt like she didn't have to choose right away between going and staying. Quan reminded her not to turn compromise into exhaustion.

“I'm trying the third option,” she said.

“Try to remember to sleep too.”

The Wind Porch Room opens with a reading of the entire K-17 file. There is no stage. People sit in groups, each holding a copy. Mai read the part her father was wrong, Hanh read the part she was forced to sign, Thu read the legal part, Luu read his testimony.

Liu arrived in a weak state, using a cane. He apologized to each household, without asking for forgiveness. Mrs. Lai gave him a cup of water and told him to drink and continue listening.

After the reading, a boy asked why the adults signed the papers without reading them. Hanh replied: "Because sometimes people scare me. My job is to ask adults to read with me, not to believe that adults are always right."

Mai writes that sentence on the board.

A week later, the investigation agency sent a notice that Khoi agreed to return home. It is not voluntary; he was asked to explain. This news made Phuc more burdened, because Khoi's testimony could push him into serious crime.

Phuc sent a letter to Hanh, asking to meet once. Hanh agreed at the Wind Porch Room, with cameras and witnesses.

Phuc walked in and looked at the new porch. “My father once wanted to build a place like this.”

“He did not build.”

“I thought the project would work.”

“You think money can replace promises.”

Phuc bent down. He said his father once told him not to sell the beach, but after Phan got sick, he needed money for medical treatment. Khoi proposed investing, Phuc thought he only needed to sign temporarily and return it later.

“My father also thought it could be fixed later,” Mai said. “Everyone uses the same sentence to do the wrong thing.”

Phuc asked Hanh if she could ask for a reduced sentence. She replied: "I am not the judge. I can only say exactly what you did."

He nodded, accepting.

Khoi returned home a month later. The testimony session took place behind closed doors. He claimed that Phan Loc had approved the resort project, but documents showed that Phan wanted to protect the community first. Khoi said Phuc agreed to change the goal. Phuc objected, but the money transfers matched.

Khoi accepted partial responsibility and asked for bail investigation. The authorities did not immediately accept it.

Meanwhile, the old embankment was reinforced. People monitor the materials themselves and compare each trip. The army set up a water level measurement board. Vinh works from morning to night and no longer wears expensive shirts.

Mai designed a new guttered porch, keeping the wooden columns her father used to build. She didn't make it beautiful according to the promotional photos; She made it withstand the wind.

Hanh asked: "Do we need to re-engrave father's words?"

"No. Dad's letters are still on the old column."

“So what moment?”

Mai engraved a short sentence: "Read before signing."

On the day of acceptance of the first embankment, it did not rain. Seven households stood on the shore, each holding a small flag with the name of the house. No one said it was a big win. They only tested the discharge port, measured the water, checked the anchor rope.

When the water flow changes direction, it does not flood the yard like the old design. Mrs. Lai clapped her hands, then felt embarrassed. Sau Luu smiled and said no one could stop him from celebrating.

Quan gave Mai a complete drawing. “You sign the designer's name.”

Mai looked at her name. “What about the names of those who commented?”

He left one column blank. They recorded seven households, Duy, Hau, Tan, Khai, Nhi, Hanh, Vinh and a group of students.

“The drawing has too many names,” Mai said.

"Yes. Because the embankment does not belong to one person."

That evening, the Wind Porch Room opened to welcome people. Some came to read resumes, some came to learn how to repair radios. Hanh makes tea, Mai guides registration.

The first person to ask for a loan was a young family who was flooded. The process requires three signatures, but they are supported within the day. No one has to give a ring, power of attorney or vague promise.

Mai realizes the system works when it doesn't need anyone to play the hero.

Hanh placed an envelope on the table. "The scholarship money is still lacking. Mom wants to pay it."

“Mom paid with funds.”

“It's the people's money.”

Mai said she would use her salary to pay in installments, and the portion transferred to the fund was clearly stated as a refund. Hanh agreed, more relieved.

Nhi sent a photo of her grandmother, saying she would come back to attend the inauguration of the porch. Mai invited her to read the names of the record keepers.

That day, Nhi stood in front of the house, looking at the pillar with fish marks. “Grandma will be happy.”

“Do you regret keeping the paper for so long?”

“No. I regret that I thought I was too young to bring it out.”

Hanh said: "Everyone has thought so."

Mai opened the blue cover book and showed Nhi the first page. Nhi wrote her grandmother's name on the list of record keepers.

The wind passing through the porch in the afternoon is salty, but no longer cold. The house is registered as a community storage site, not for sale. The mother retains the right to live, and the foundation retains the right to use the porch for meetings.

Mai hasn't decided to move back yet. She rented a room nearby, went to work and came back according to schedule. Hanh no longer asked when her child was leaving, only asked if she had dinner.

One morning, the group leader called Mai to join another conservation project on the island. She accepted, but suggested making it according to the Wind Porch Room model. They agreed.

Quan asked: "Are you leaving again?"

“Go to bring this way to another place.”

“And then come back?”

“The main door is still here.”

He nodded.

In the storage room, father's clock runs steadily. It no longer stops at 9:17, but Mai keeps a photo of the old time next to it. Not to get stuck, but to remember things can be fixed if one doesn't look closely.

Phuc was indicted, Luu and Hao await trial, Khoi continues to investigate. No one can be completely evil or completely innocent. The profile records the correct part for each person.

The awning stood through the first rainy season. There was no sound of collapse, only the sound of water flowing in the new trench.

Hanh sat on the porch, sewing a bag for Duy. She asked Mai what she wanted to embroider.

“A fish facing the sea.”

“Aren't you going back into the house?”

“If you know the way back, you can turn in any direction.”

Hanh took another piece of fabric and embroidered the name of Hien Gio Room on the inside of the bag. She said the person holding the bag doesn't need to show it off, they just need to know they have a place to put the paper. Mai helped her cut the thread, then the two discussed how to send bag samples to other coastal groups.

Duy opens a free tutorial page on backing up records. He did not use real names in the title, but clearly cited the source as the people who kept K-17. A young person from another province sent a question about land contracts. Duy passed it on to Thu, not answering more than his own part. Hanh praised him for knowing his limits; Duy said that was something the adults in this case had learned too hard.

Vinh asked for permission to erect a water level measurement board next to the embankment. Seven households requested all data to be made public. He accepted, even when the data showed that his old design was wrong. Each time the water level warning sign rises, people have time to move their boats and property. Visible benefits do not require advertising.

Mai received a letter from the island group, inviting her to present the model. She agreed on the condition that the local representative made the final decision. Hanh listened and said: "When you go far, carry the way they helped you, don't carry the role of rescuer." Mai remembers that sentence.