Chapter 5 — A Debt of Filial Duty

Not a single word could pass my lips. My mother stood frozen for two whole seconds before her voice suddenly pitched upward.

You provide for us?

You merely wire a bit of money each month!

I looked straight at her.

Fifteen thousand yuan every month, paid without fail for sixteen years.

Father was hospitalized three times, and I covered every single surgical bill.

When your gallbladder was removed, mother, I hired the private nurse.

The utility bills, the apartment maintenance fees, the New Year red envelopes, the monetary gifts for relatives' celebrations—which of those did you pay for?

I swept my gaze across the table of assembled relatives.

Last year, second uncle’s son got married, and the twenty thousand yuan wedding gift that father and mother sent was also wired by me.

Second uncle’s expression stiffened. He lowered his head to sip his tea, not daring to utter a sound. A flicker of panic crossed my mother’s eyes. She had never expected me to lay out the ledger so openly in front of everyone. But almost immediately, she hardened her resolve again.

That was only your duty!

We gave birth to you and raised you; showing filial piety to your parents is a matter of course!

I nodded.

Showing filial piety to parents does not mean taking over their responsibility to raise a son.

Finally, father spoke up.

Little Bang is not an outsider.

To you, perhaps, I said.

To me, he certainly is.

Father was so enraged that his chest heaved violently.

How can you be so cold-hearted?

He is only seven years old.

My own daughter Nyan is ten, merely ten years old.

I stared at them.

When you both came pounding on my door demanding properties, did anyone ever bother to ask if she was afraid?

Mother waved her hand in disgust.

Nyan has you.

Little Bang only has us.

Then that is the crux of the issue, I said.

If you both know that he only has you, why are you attempting to press his future onto my shoulders?

Father fell silent. Mother clenched her teeth. At that moment, Little Bang abruptly hurled his chopsticks onto the table.

I want a big house!

Grandma said elder sister has six houses.

What is wrong with giving three to me?

Someone in the private room drew in a sharp breath. Mother rushed to cover his mouth. But it was already too late. I looked at her.

You teach him fast, don't you?

Her face flicked between pale white and flushed red. Father slammed his palm hard against the table.

Enough!

He is just a child who knows no better, stop hounding this matter relentlessly.

He may not know better, I said, but you two certainly do.

So tell me, did you come here today to have dinner, or to carve up my assets?

Father looked as though he no longer wished to pretend. He picked up a kraft paper bag sitting beside his chair and shoved it across the table toward me.

Since you have laid everything bare, sign this then.

I did not move. Mother stared at me intently.

Inside is an agreement.

You voluntarily pledge to secure at least three houses for Little Bang in the future.

All our relatives are present here to serve as witnesses.

I looked at that paper bag, suddenly finding the entire situation absurd to the extreme. What if I refuse to sign? I asked. Father’s voice dropped to a frosty chill.

Then from this day forward, this family will consider that we never had a daughter like you.

Before I could reply, the door to the private dining room was suddenly pushed open. The server stood in the doorway with an expression of profound awkwardness.

Which one of you is Ms. Man?

I raised my head.

That is me.

She handed me an express delivery envelope.

Someone downstairs asked me to deliver this to you, saying it contains urgent documents.

I took the envelope. Across the sealed flap was the stamp of the Tan Law Firm.

I clutched the envelope tightly in my hand, in no rush to open it. Mother stared intently at what I was holding, the fury on her face still lingering.

What document is that?

I said, Didn’t you both want me to sign an agreement?

It just so happens I also have something I would like you to see.

Father’s eyelids twitched. He reached out as if to take it. I pulled the envelope back.

This was sent to me.

I tore open the envelope right there in front of the entire table of relatives. Inside were several sheets of paper. The topmost sheet was a legal letter issued by the Tan Law Firm. Beneath it were copies of six real estate registration receipts, alongside a signed declaration bearing my signature. The contents of the declaration were crystal clear. Regarding the underage child adopted by my parents, all future expenses for his upbringing, education, medical care, daily living, debts, and marriage bore no relation to me whatsoever. I assumed no legal or moral obligation for surrogate repayment. At first, my mother did not quite understand. She merely caught sight of the crimson seals, and her complexion paled slightly. Father grasped the situation much faster than she did. He picked up one of the receipts, his eyes locked onto the recipient field of the gift transfer. Nyan Man. All six documents bore the name Nyan Man. His fingers began to tremble.

You gave the houses to Nyan?

I nodded.

Yes.

The private room fell utterly silent, as if all sound had been sucked out of the air. Eldest aunt’s chopsticks, holding a piece of beef, froze midway in the air. Second uncle’s teacup, already brought to his lips, remained undrunk. Mother abruptly leapt to her feet, her chair scraping against the floor with a harsh, grating screech.

Have you lost your mind?

Six houses!

You are giving all of them to that child?

I raised my gaze to look at her.

That child is my child.

Her chest heaved violently.

But his surname is Man, and in the future, he will belong to another family's household!

I burst out laughing.

His surname is Man because my surname is Man.

He does not belong to another family's household.

He belongs to my family.

Struck as though pierced by those words, mother’s face instantly flushed crimson.

Then what about Little Bang?

What is Little Bang to you?

You must ask yourselves that question, I said.

He is your adopted son.

He is not a son born from my womb.

And certainly not a debt I am saddled with.

Little Bang could not comprehend the full conversation, but he understood well enough that the houses were gone. He instantly scrambled down from his chair.