Chapter 1 — Don't Use The Two Words 'Filial Obedience' To Tie Me Down

At dinner, my mother-in-law - Mrs. Luong To Phan - suddenly spoke up, her tone blunt as if this were natural:

"I don't stay with you, I don't help you take care of the children, and I've never given you any money. When I get old, will you take care of me?"

The atmosphere at the dining table immediately slackened. My husband - Chu Ngon - lowered his head into his bowl of rice, only worrying about picking up food and putting it in his mouth, pretending he didn't hear anything. Her brother-in-law and her husband also hurriedly bowed their heads, one picked vegetables, the other drank water, everyone was so busy that it was... strange. I clenched the chopsticks in my hand, my frustration rising little by little, but I still tried to hold it back. The corners of my lips curled slightly, I looked straight at her:

“This… you should ask your son.”

At dinner, the chandelier in the living room was so bright that you could clearly see each layer of varnish on each dish. The smell of sweet and sour stir-fried ribs lingered in the air, which should have made people feel delicious, but at this moment it was overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling of awkwardness. I clenched the chopsticks in my hand, my fingertips unconsciously exerting force. My eyes stopped on the face of the woman with gray hair, sitting neatly opposite. That's my mother-in-law, Luong To Phan. The question just now, she used a calm tone as if she was just stating an obvious truth.

"I didn't take care of her, I didn't help her take care of the children, and I never supported the two of them financially."

“If I can't walk again in the future, will you take care of me?”

Her voice was neither high nor low, but just loud enough for everyone at the table to hear clearly. I reflexively turned to look at my husband, Chu Ngon. He was picking up a piece of ribs and bringing it to his mouth. When he heard that, he paused for a moment. Then, as if he had suddenly lost his hearing, he quietly put the ribs into the bowl, bowing his head and just focusing on eating. The angle of his face was tense. At the other end of the table was his sister, Chu Manh, and her husband Trieu Can. Chu Manh was ladling soup and blew twice, not even bothering to lift his eyelids. Trieu Can held the remote, increased the TV volume a notch, and stared intently at the news, as if what was on the screen was more important than anything. No one spoke up. Only the female MC's voice on the TV rang out clearly and evenly, filling the suffocating silence. I felt like my throat was stuffed with a wet cotton ball, choking and uncomfortable. I looked up at my mother-in-law. She was also looking at me. Her eyes were very pale, but deep inside there was a bit of scrutiny, as if she had prepared every scenario, just waiting to see how I would react. That look was like a small needle, gently pricking my heart. Old things couldn't be contained and surfaced. Seven years ago, I gave birth to my daughter, Niem Niem. I was in pain for a day and a night. When I was pushed out of the delivery room, my whole body felt exhausted. At that time, the person I wanted to meet the most was my biological mother. But my mother lives in Harbin and can't come right away. At that time, I still naively thought that... my mother-in-law would probably come to the hospital to help me. What about the results? It wasn't until the day I was discharged from the hospital that she leisurely appeared, carrying a bag of discounted apples from the supermarket. Standing in front of the hospital room door for less than ten minutes. Say three sentences correctly.

“Is it a girl?”

“At that time, Ngon was born more than four kilograms.”

“I have back pain and can't hold the baby child, take care of yourself.”

Having finished speaking, she placed the bag of apples on the head of the bed, turned and left. During the entire month of confinement, my mother asked for leave, rushed to Guangzhou from Harbin, and took care of me for more than twenty days. Only when the agency urged her did she return with tears in her eyes. For the remaining ten days, I gritted my teeth and endured it alone. The incision was as painful as a fire, the milk was engorged like a needle. In the middle of the night, the baby cried. I held the baby back and forth in the apartment of less than seventy square meters, tears also silently falling. During that time, Chu Ngon was busy with work, often coming home late at night. As soon as he lay down, he slept like the dead, no matter how much he called, he would not wake up. I once called my mother-in-law and asked if my child's mild jaundice was anything to worry about. On the other end of the line was the sound of shuffling cards. She replied uncomfortably:

“Ask your mother, what do I know about those things?”

Then hung up the phone with a "click". After that, Niem Niem grew up, reaching kindergarten age. My husband and I saved a little money, plus both families contributed twenty thousand, to barely have enough money for a deposit to buy a two-bedroom apartment in Guangzhou. On moving day, she came. Walking around the house, she pouted:

"This living room is not even as good as the room next door to my house. Doesn't it feel cramped to live like this?"

Later, Niem Niem is about to enter elementary school. The current building is not a school building, we are planning to change to a district school building. The deposit is still missing a large amount. I once tried to talk to her, asking if I could lend her a little first, charge interest, and later I would definitely pay it back. At that time, she was wearing old glasses, attentively looking at the newly purchased gold necklace. After listening, she just lifted her eyelids:

“What do I do with money? Pension is not enough to pay for medicine. Young people have arms and legs so they can take care of themselves.”

But not long after, I heard from some ladies in the area that she turned to buy Chu Manh a car worth more than 200,000, paying in one lump sum. That night was the biggest argument since Chu Ngon and I got married. I cried and asked him:

“Does your mother ever consider you family? Does she think I will climb high to marry you?”

Chu Ngon scratched his head, his voice full of frustration:

“Why are you comparing yourself with her? She was originally that type of person! The money is yours, you can give it to whoever you want!”

“What about me? What about Niem Niem? In your eyes, are we not your family?”

I asked urgently.

“Keep your voice down, don't wake me up!” Chu Ngon lowered his voice and shouted, then pushed the door open and left the living room.

That night, I hugged my daughter who was sleeping soundly, the pillow under her head was soaked with tears. I don't care about my mother-in-law's money. What I want… is just an attitude. A bit of justice, even if only in appearance. But I have never had those things. In Luong To Phan's eyes, I'm afraid I'm still just an outsider from beginning to end. A person "robbed" her son, and even had the illusion of sharing in the benefits. Over the years, her health has always been very good. Dancing in the square, traveling in groups, gathering to play cards with friends... her life is more comfortable than mine - someone who works and manages to take care of her children. She hardly took the initiative to come to my house. Once in a while, I have to scrutinize a few sentences. The floor hadn't been cleaned, the food was a bit salty, Niem Niem's toys were messy and unorganized... At first I was patient, smiling wryly and let it go. Over time, I get tired, too proactively reduce back and forth. Each person has their own life, which lasts for several years. I didn't expect that during a seemingly normal meal today, she would suddenly throw out such a sentence.

"I didn't take care of her, I didn't help her take care of the children, and I never gave you any money."

Every word is clear. It doesn't sound like asking... but like repeating. Recalling how she, as a mother-in-law, never fulfilled those "duties". Then very calmly, she continued:

“When I get old, will you take care of me?”

I just felt a stream of fire from my chest rushing straight to my head, my temples twitching every beat. Based on what? Where did she get the confidence to ask like that? I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, the small pain helping me keep a calm expression. I saw Chu Ngon bow his head even lower, almost sticking close to the bowl. Seeing the corner of Chu Manh's lips curl up slightly, then quickly retracted it, continuing to slowly drink the soup. Seeing Trieu Can attentively looking at the TV, acting unrelated. They are all dodging. Pushing that burning question, without any deviation, towards me. The living room light is too bright, so bright that it makes people dizzy. I took a deep breath. That breath was cold and heavy, squeezing the choking feeling in the throat. Then I heard myself speak. His voice was so calm that even I was surprised, even carrying a faint smile. I looked straight at Luong To Phan and said every word clearly:

“This… you should ask your son.”