Chapter 15 — Don't Use The Two Words 'Filial Obedience' To Tie Me Down

Two days before being discharged from the hospital, Luong To Phan's consciousness was clearer, his speech was less stumbling, he was still a little slurred. That afternoon, I brought rice to the hospital. There was only her alone in the room. Sunlight slanted through the window, falling onto the head of the bed. She leaned against the pillow, half of her face was still slightly askew, but her eyes were no longer dull, but began to regain the familiar alertness. Seeing me enter, she frowned and struggled to squeeze out the words:

“You… are here.”

“I brought some frugal food.” I placed the lunch box on the small table next to the bed and opened it.

“Lean meat porridge, the doctor said you can't eat oily foods now.”

She looked at the bowl of porridge, but did not reach out to receive it.

“Where is Chu Ngon?” she stammered, her tongue still stiff.

“Where is Chu Manh?”

“Chu Ngon went to do the procedures.” I held the spoon towards her, my voice calm.

“Chu Manh will be here soon.”

“What about you?” she stared at me.

“Are you… not busy?”

"Busy." I smiled softly.

“But someone still has to come by.”

Her eyes stopped on my face for a few seconds, then slowly moved away.

“I… don't want to go to a nursing home.” she said suddenly, her voice very quiet.

I paused a bit:

“Who said they would put her in a nursing home?”

“You… all said it.” Her eyes sparkled with tears.

"Afraid of trouble, criticism... blaming me for getting in the way."

“We say recovery facility.” I corrected it.

"There are doctors, nurses, and rehabilitation specialists. Only there can she have the opportunity to walk and eat on her own."

“I'm not going.” She shook her head, her face turning red from the force.

“My house is over there, you… you pick me up.”

“Which side is your house?” I asked.

“Old house.” she said immediately.

“When you got married, you already knew.”

“No one lives there now.” I speak very frankly.

“You lie paralyzed like that, who takes care of you?”

"Miss." she replied.

I burst out laughing, but I didn't mean to laugh.

“Chu Ngon has to go to work, Niem Niem needs me to take care of her, do you want me to quit my job, leave my child behind, and just stay at home to take care of you?”

"I raised...raised you guys to grow up, you..." she was so angry that her voice trembled.

“Do you have any filial piety?”

“She raised Chu Ngon and Chu Manh.” I looked straight at her.

“As for me, my parents raised me.”

The hospital room was immediately quiet. She looked at me stunned, as if seeing her daughter-in-law clearly for the first time.

"In the past, she spoke ill of my mother and criticized my family for not being able to help her. I endured those words."

"I used to think that if I married into this family, I would have to give it my all and endure everything."

“Now I understand, I was wrong.”

I put the spoon down in the bowl and looked at her clearly:

"Luong To Phan, I respect you as an elder. I will help to the best of my ability, I will give money, I will run the hospital, I will sign the papers, I am doing those things."

“But I'm not the nanny you hired.”

“I have my parents to be filial to, my children to raise, my job to keep.”

"You can't use the four words 'raise your children to prevent old age' and put all the responsibility on me."

Her lips trembled:

“So… who raises me?”

“She has a son and a daughter.” I speak clearly.

“The three of you discussed among yourself.”

“And the old house.” I stopped for a beat.

"If you want, you can sell it or mortgage it to pay for recovery costs. It's your property and it's natural to use it for your old age."

“What are you talking about?” She was agitated, her face was red.

"That house is for Chu Manh, later I will leave it to... my grandchild."

“Don't worry, I'm not interested in that house.” I said very calmly static.

“Whoever you want it for, it has nothing to do with me.”

I said, taking out a bank card from my pocket and placing it on the bedside table.

“Here is a statement of all the payments I have made, along with details of each hospital fee.”

"After you leave the hospital, let Chu Ngon compare clearly, even if you leave the entire house to Chu Manh, I will not take another penny."

“I only ask for one thing.”

She looked at me, her eyes filled with caution.

“Don't use 'old age' as an excuse, then try to tie me to you.” I said slowly.

“If you want to ask who raised you, go ask your son and daughter.”

“You asked me before, now I can answer very clearly.”

I looked straight at her, slowly saying each word:

“I will fulfill my responsibilities as a daughter-in-law, no more, no less.”

“But you want me to bear it all alone, that's… impossible.”

Outside the door came the sound of very soft footsteps. Chu Ngon stood there, hearing these words, his whole body shook slightly. He didn't step in, just leaned against the door frame, his hands gripping the edge of the door until they turned white. She was breathing rapidly, her chest rising and falling clearly.