Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Judgment Day — Where the Sun Returns

Đồi Thông village cultural house was filled with people early. Not only households in the village, but also a few households in neighboring villages also came, because news of the purchase of the entire Đá Bàn valley had spread throughout the region in recent days. The atmosphere in the hall was thick with tension, mixed with endless whispers.

At the front of the hall, representatives of Việt Xanh Group were present: Mr. Dat and several other employees, and especially the appearance of an older man wearing a luxurious black suit that Miên immediately recognized as Chairman Dinh, who personally flew down from Saigon to supervise this important deal.

In the back corner of the hall, journalist Kiên sat quietly in the crowd, his camera hidden in his jacket pocket, ready to record every moment of this fateful meeting. He told Miên last night that, no matter what happens, the truth needs to be fully recorded, so that if necessary, it will become irrefutable evidence in the newspaper.

Uncle Bảy stood up on the podium to speak first, his voice echoing throughout the hall. "Today we will gather in large numbers to hear both sides present, then we will vote publicly. This is a decision that will affect the lives of our children and grandchildren in the future. We hope you will think carefully."

Mr. Dat stood up first and presented an elaborately prepared presentation with shimmering 3D images of "Việt Xanh Ecological Agricultural Village": rows of modern greenhouses, clean and beautiful paved roads, and groups of foreign tourists taking photos among the flower fields. He emphasized the generous compensation price, the job opportunities for children in the area, and the prosperous prospects that the project will bring.

Many people in the hall began to whisper excitedly at those flashy images. Some people even mentally calculate the amount of compensation they can receive, their eyes sparkling with plans to change their lives.

It's Miên's turn. She stepped onto the podium, her hands shaking slightly but her eyes remained steadfast. She doesn't start with figures or charts, but with a story.

"Not long ago, I used to believe in flashy paintings like this," Miên said, her voice coming through clearly and slowly. "I used to do marketing in the city, I know how to paint beautiful dreams to sell products. I know, a shimmering 3D photo can make people forget the most important question: what's behind it?"

She turned on the projector, and what appeared was not shimmering images, but pages of documents that Kiên had painstakingly collected from a similar project in Bình Thuận: actual images of the agricultural product processing industrial park with exhaust chimneys, turbid water canals, and complaints from local people about water pollution after the project went into operation.

"This is an actual image from another project of the same corporation, just one year after going into operation," Miên said, her voice not shaking at all. "The 'eco-village' area, which was heavily promoted in the early stages, only accounts for less than one-tenth of the total project area, the rest is a large-scale industrial farming area, using maximum chemicals to ensure export output."

The hall began to stir violently. Mr. Dat stood up, his face changed color. "This is false, unfounded information! You are deliberately defaming the reputation of our corporation!"

At that moment, a voice rang out from the end of the hall, causing all eyes to turn towards the door.

"It's not wrong, Mr. Dat."

Ms. Hà walked in, holding a thick file of documents, and walked straight to the front of the hall before the stunned eyes of everyone, including Chairman Dinh who was sitting in the front row.

"I am Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà, Project Development Director of Việt Xanh Group," Ms. Hà said, her voice clear but also trembling because she also knew that this was the decisive moment of her entire career. "I would like to announce to everyone that this is the actual implementation plan of the project in Đá Bàn valley, completely different from the presentation that my colleague just presented."

She held up the documents, her voice rang out decisively. "According to the approved internal plan, seventy-five percent of the valley area will be leveled and converted into an industrial farming area using chemicals, with only a small area remaining to serve as a demonstration model to serve the media and welcome visitors. The wastewater treatment system is only invested at the minimum level according to regulations, posing a potential risk of groundwater pollution for the entire area, including households who do not participate in selling land."

Chairman Dinh stood up, his face red with anger. "Miss Hà! What are you doing? Do you know what you are violating?"

"I know very well, Mr. Chairman," Ms. Hà turned to look straight at him, her voice not shaking at all. "I know I will lose my job, possibly be sued for breach of confidentiality contract. But I cannot continue to stay silent and watch a community be deceived by my own hands. I have lost a talented employee because of my own cruelty in the past, I do not want to continue to lose my conscience again."

The hall was silent for a moment, then exploded into angry whispers. Mrs. Tu stood up from the middle row, her shrill voice resounding throughout the hall.

"Have you heard? They plan to turn this whole valley into a disguised chemical factory! I'm old, but I'm still clear-headed enough to know what's real and what's fake. I object to selling land to this lying corporation!"

Uncle Bảy held up the notebook recording the income from the experimental plot of land, his voice resounding with determination. "Do you remember the thirty percent profit figure I announced last month? That's the truth, recorded by my own hand every day. We can get rich on our own land without having to sell it to anyone!"

A series of hands were raised in agreement, voices of support echoed throughout the hall. Mr. Dat and Việt Xanh's team stood dumbfounded, with no words left to justify in the face of clear evidence and the consensus of the entire community.

Chairman Dinh gritted his teeth and looked at Ms. Hà, his voice cold as ice. "You will pay for this, Miss Hà."

"I accept," Ms. Hà replied, her voice strangely calm, as if a huge burden had just been lifted from her shoulders. "But at least tonight I'll sleep well for the first time in months."

Chairman Dinh looked around the hall, realizing there was no way to save the situation in the face of the people's angry eyes. He gritted his teeth, trying to salvage the last bit of dignity. "Okay, our group will withdraw this offer. But I warn you, you will regret refusing such a great development opportunity."

"We would rather be poor and keep the land, keep clean water for our children and grandchildren, than become rich by selling our conscience," Uncle Bảy responded loudly, receiving a round of applause from throughout the hall.

The Việt Xanh representatives quietly packed their things and left the hall amid Chairman Dinh's helpless and angry eyes. The vote then took place quickly: almost all households in the village raised their hands to refuse Việt Xanh's proposal to buy land.

Miên stood on the podium, looking at that scene, tears rolling down her eyes because of happiness and relief. She turned to look for Phong in the crowd, and saw him standing there, his eyes also red, looking at her with undisguised pride and love.

He stepped onto the podium, stood next to her in front of the whole hall, no longer afraid of anything. "I'm sorry for doubting you," Phong said softly, just loud enough for her to hear over the surrounding noise. "I understand everything clearly. You never betrayed me, you were just shouldering a huge war alone, and I wasn't by your side when you needed it most."

"It's okay," Miên smiled through her tears. "The important thing is that now, we are standing here together."

Uncle Bảy walked over and patted both of their shoulders, his voice filled with emotion. "Thanks to you, this entire Đá Bàn valley can keep its ancestral land. From tomorrow, I will hold a meeting with people to officially expand the organic model to the entire village."

Mrs. Tu also came forward, holding Miên's hand tightly, her voice trembling with emotion. "That city girl has now saved an entire land. I'm sorry for my harsh words the other day."

Miên hugged Mrs. Tu, tears of happiness mixed together. Outside, the sunset is falling over Đá Bàn valley, dyeing the entire sky yellow, like a gentle blessing from heaven and earth to the people who have just won the war to protect their homeland.