Chapter 11 — Don't Use The Two Words 'Filial Obedience' To Tie Me Down

As soon as the sentence ended, the atmosphere in the hallway seemed to drop a few degrees. Chu Manh's eyes widened, he couldn't believe it.

“What do you mean… you pushed mom for me?”

Her voice trembled.

“Not pushing.” I looked straight at her.

“That is your responsibility as a daughter.”

"I can contribute money, I can also take turns taking care of things, when it's my turn I won't run away."

“But bringing me home for a long time, changing my life and my daughter's, I don't take that step.”

Chu Ngon finally couldn't bear it anymore:

“Can you not say such a cruel thing? Mom just got out of the ICU. If she knew how painful it would be if you said that?”

“It was you who opened this topic first.” I looked at him.

“I'm just the one doing the talking.”

“Chu Ngon, I don't want to play a warm family drama with you in this matter.”

"You want to be a filial son, I won't stop you."

“But before being a filial son, you should think about it, you are also a husband and a father.”

"Your filial piety cannot be built on sacrificing my life and my child's."

“If you still want to do that…”

“Then don't blame me for preparing myself in advance.”

The meaning in the sentence is very clear. Chu Ngon's heart tightened and his mind exploded.

“What are you going to do?” His voice changed completely.

“Are you going to use divorce to scare me?”

“I'm not threatening.” I calmly looked at him.

“I'm just making it clear, if you choose to side with your mother, then I'll have to take myself and my child in a different direction.”

"I don't want one day when my daughter grows up and looks back and sees her mother's whole life revolved around taking care of her grandmother, and in the end she doesn't have a decent job and has to ask for help."

Chu Ngon stood still. Like the first time I realized it, the woman was still silently taking care of everything... but was able to calmly say the words "leave". Chu Manh was stunned to the point of being scared. After a while, he reacted with a high-pitched voice:

"Sister-in-law, you are too cruel. Just because you don't want to take care of my mother, you want to take your child away from me. Do you still have a conscience?"

I looked at her, my eyes unwavering.

“Chu Manh, if you have the courage, don't criticize others based on morality.”

“If you are truly filial, now you can completely discuss it with your husband and take your mother home to take care of you for a while.”

“I can help once a week, and I can also transfer money to you every month.”

“Can you do it?”

Chu Manh was speechless, his lips trembled. After a while, he stammered:

"My house's conditions are not good... and my mother doesn't want to crowd into my small house..."

“Then don't use the word 'filial piety' to pressure me.” I said.

The air froze to the extreme. At that moment, a nurse's voice was heard in the hallway:

“Family, come here and sign the papers.”

Chu Ngon reflexively tried to step forward, but I pulled him back. The days in the ICU, signing test papers, signing surgery papers... I was so used to it. Many times, the person who really takes charge of everything is not the one who talks the most, but the one who quietly steps up first. I took the pen and signed firmly. When he turned back, Chu Ngon was still standing there, his expression confused and distorted. I walked closer to him, lowered my voice, just loud enough for him to hear:

"Just stay with your mother these few days, don't let her know what just happened."

“I will contribute money and will also take care of things.”

“But we still haven't agreed on welcoming my mother to my house.” I speak clearly.

“Before mom left the hospital, the four of us had to sit Again, clearly calculate money and assign care.”

“You go back and tell your mother and sister clearly, or let me tell you.”

I leave no ambiguous lines. Chu Ngon moved his lips, and in the end he could only say a weak sentence:

“Can you…can you not be so tough?”

“You have to remember, your mother is your only son.”

He tried to hold back with familiar arguments.

“My daughter only has one mother.” I replied, without wavering.

The two of us looked at each other for a few seconds, no one said more. That night, when I got home, it was almost ten o'clock. The living room light was still on, Niem Niem fell asleep on the sofa, still holding an unfinished comic book in her hand. The TV was still on, the volume low, with a repeat of the weather news on the screen. My heart softened a beat. I walked slowly, carefully pulled the book out of my child's hand, then bent down to pick it up. She rubbed her head on my shoulder and drowsily called out: "Mom..."

“It's mom.” I replied softly, carried my child into the room, and covered him carefully with a blanket.

By the time I stepped out, my shoulders were sore. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes for a moment. These days, my life only revolves around three points: company, hospital and home. It's not that I never thought I wouldn't be able to stand it. But I know, if I let go a little, someone else will immediately press on me.