Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Where the sun returns — Where the Sun Returns

Kiên's investigative article was published just three days after the village meeting, with the title "The truth behind million-dollar 'eco-villages'", exposing the entire plan of Việt Xanh Group along with the documents Ms. Hà provided. The article quickly shocked public opinion, forcing the group to officially announce the cancellation of the entire project in Đá Bàn valley, while also subjecting other ongoing projects to stricter supervision from the authorities.

Ms. Hà, as expected, was fired from Việt Xanh Group immediately afterwards. But contrary to many people's imagination, she did not appear depressed. In a call with Miên a few weeks later, she told me that she had decided to take time off, rethink her career path, and was considering opening a small communications consulting company, specializing in supporting sustainable agricultural models, projects that are truly kind instead of just beautiful on the surface.

"Thank you, Miên," Ms. Hà said over the phone, her voice lighter than ever. "Thanks to you, I have found a reason to believe in the work I do."

The story of Mộc Trại, about the fight to protect Đá Bàn valley against a large corporation, also spread widely across newspapers and social networks. Orders poured in, not only because of the quality of agricultural products, but also because of the inspirational stories of people who dare to stand up to protect true values amid the temptation of money. The bank, after seeing the reputation and public attention for Mộc Trại Farm, proactively contacted again, proposing a preferential loan package with a much lower interest rate than the original proposal, enough for Phong and Miên to rebuild the entire greenhouse area and expand the organic model throughout Đồi Thông village.

Mrs. Tám also gradually recovered her health. Under Miên's dedicated care and traditional herbal remedies, she prepared it herself. Every afternoon, she uses her cane to go out to the porch to sit and chew betel, watching Miên and Phong busy in the garden, which has now been completely renovated and is lush and green, stretching to the foot of the hill.

Ms. Tu became one of the most active people in mobilizing hesitant households to convert to the organic model. She often visits the farm, no longer to be sarcastic, but to learn more about composting and how to effectively arrange natural enemies. Once she even joked with Miên that if someone had told her in the past that she would voluntarily go to school following the "crazy games" of the children, she would definitely not have believed it, but now she is the most enthusiastic person.

Three months after the fateful village meeting, Đồi Thông village held a harvest festival to celebrate the first harvest of the entire expanded organic model. The communal house's yard was brightly decorated, flags and flowers were spread across the streets. People from all over the neighboring villages also came to join in the fun, tasting the first products of the season: sweet strawberries, succulent cherry tomatoes, and even the holey vegetables that have become typical symbols of the whole region.

Uncle Bảy stood on a makeshift stage, announcing the official establishment of Đồi Thông Organic Agricultural Cooperative, with Phong as a technical advisor and Miên in charge of all branding and communications. The sound of applause and cheers echoed throughout the courtyard, mixed with the bustling sound of festival drums.

At night, when the festival gradually subsided, Phong held Miên's hand and led her to the shore of the lotus lake at the end of the village, where eight months ago, his confession of love was interrupted by the flood.

The lake surface is quiet tonight, reflecting the bright full moon, without a single ripple. The lotus flowers at the end of the season still have a few remaining flowers, radiating a gentle fragrance in the chilly air of the plateau.

"Do you remember this night eight months ago?" Phong asked, his voice soft.

"How could I forget," Miên smiled, her eyes shining with gentleness. "That night, one unfinished sentence, then a flood came."

Phong smiled softly, put his hand into his pocket, took out a small object wrapped in a silk scarf that he had carefully hidden before. He knelt on one knee on the lakeside grass, opened the towel, revealing a simple silver ring, delicately engraved with the image of a small sprout growing up, exactly like the Mộc Farm logo.

Miên's heart was pounding, she covered her mouth with her hand, tears suddenly flowing out of her eyes.

"Mộc Miên," Phong said, his voice shaking with emotion but still steadfast as he always showed through every blow of the hoe, every important decision throughout the journey they went through together. "Eight months ago, I wanted to ask you a question that I couldn't fully complete until now. You've been with me in digging the ground, sheltering from the rain with me, facing insects, floods, and even the biggest conspiracies we've ever had to fight. You've proven to me that true peace is not a place, but a person with whom we can go through every storm. Mộc Miên, do you agree to be my wife, and join me in building what's left unfinished? bad in this land?"

Miên burst into tears, tears of happiness rolling down her cheeks. She nodded repeatedly, unable to utter a word for a moment before chokingly replied: "I agree. I agree, Hoàng Phong."

Phong stood up, put the ring on Miên's finger, then hugged her amidst the magical lotus lake scene under the full moonlight. In the distance, the sound of festival drums still echoed from the communal house yard, mixed with the bustling laughter of the villagers, like a blessing background music for this sacred moment.

A few weeks later, Miên and Phong's simple wedding was held right in the garden of Trại Mộc, under the shade of an ancient star apple tree. There are no lavish ceremonies, no elaborate and expensive menus, just simple feasts prepared by the villagers themselves, neatly trimmed pots of wildflowers decorating the yard, and the warm laughter of all those who have gone through many ups and downs together.

Mrs. Tám, in a traditional ao dai, sat in the most solemn position, her eyes filled with tears as she watched her granddaughter walk out into the middle of the yard holding the groom's arm, the brightest smile she had ever seen on Miên's face since the day he returned from the city with a broken heart.

Mai from Saigon also quickly took the bus down to attend, carrying a large bouquet of flowers and constantly sniffling throughout the ceremony, constantly mumbling that "this girl is happier than me now". Ms. Hà also sent a congratulatory flower basket along with a handwritten card, setting a date to visit the farm when her new consulting company is in stable operation.

Uncle Bảy stood up to give his blessing, his voice full of pride. "This young couple not only brought Đồi Thông village a new business model, but also taught this old village a lesson: land is only truly profitable when we sow honesty and love into it."

At night, after the guests had left, Miên and Phong sat together on the familiar bamboo cot, looking up at the plateau sky sparkling with thousands of stars. Mộc Miên leaned her head on her husband's shoulder, her hand clasped tightly in his calloused but steady hand.

"Do you remember, the first day we met, I asked you what you were studying agriculture for when you could get rich faster?" Miên asked softly, her voice dreamy.

"Remember," Phong smiled, gently squeezing her hand. "At that time I said, I don't need to be rich, I just need peace."

"Have you found it now?" Miên looked up at him, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

Phong bent down, placed a gentle kiss on his wife's forehead, his warm voice rang out in the quiet highland night.

"Found it. Right here, right now, next to you."

In the distance, at the end of the garden, the scarecrows with the face of "Boss Hà" are still standing there, now worn out by the rain and sun but still kept by Miên as a souvenir, a charming reminder of the first days of confusion when she first returned from the city. She smiled slightly when thinking about how long and bumpy the road from an exhausted girl holding a cardboard box out of the office to the woman sitting here, in the middle of a windy plateau, wearing a wedding ring, heart full of love, but every step was worth it.

The highland night wind gently blows through the green garden, carrying with it the scent of mother earth and the sprouts that were growing day by day. Where the land was once barren and abandoned, it had now been revived into a prosperous farm, sheltering many dreams and loves that had taken root here. And in Mộc Miên's heart, the warm sunshine that she had lost amid the exhausted days of prosperity had finally truly returned.