Chapter 17 — Don't Use The Two Words 'Filial Obedience' To Tie Me Down

She looked at her, her eyes filled with disbelief:

“Are you also on their side?”

Chu Manh turned away, both guilty and frustrated:

"Mom, don't say I don't want to be on your side, I want to too, but I'm tired to death from working all day. It's not that I don't want to care, but I really can't care."

“Everyone is busy, what about me?” her voice trembled.

“In your eyes, am I only worth a few thousand a month?”

“Mom, don't say that.” Her husband rarely proactively spoke up.

"Bringing mom there is because it's good for her health. If she's not comfortable, we'll still come visit and not leave her alone."

She was silent for a moment. The self-pity in his eyes was gradually replaced by a more complex emotion. She looked at her three children and suddenly saw that they had all changed. It's no longer like before, if she just cries, everyone complies. That feeling... made her a little scared, also a little empty.

“What about you?” Her eyes stopped on me.

“Are you coming to visit me?”

I looked straight at her and smiled softly:

“If I don't have to go to work that day and Niem Niem finishes her homework, I will come visit her.”

“If I'm busy, let Chu Ngon send my regards for me.”

My voice is very normal, not cold, but also not at all ingratiating like before. She looked at me, as if looking for some guilt. But nothing. Just… calm down.

“You are so gentle as a daughter-in-law.” she grinded every word.

“Aren't you willing to put in a little more effort?”

“The mind is not something to be spent until exhaustion.” I replied.

“What I could do, I did, one more step and I would collapse, and that wouldn't be good for anyone.”

“Knowing Nghien…” Chu Ngon suddenly grabbed her mother's still moving hand, her eyes turned red.

"This time, she's really having a hard time. I don't believe you can ask the doctor, ask the nurse, these nights here, how many times has she changed you."

“If you want to scold me for being unfilial, then scold me.”

“It's because I don't have the courage to let her bear too much.”

The room... became completely silent. Even the recovery specialist standing next to him slightly averted his eyes and quietly walked out.

"In the past, my mother always said that a married woman belongs to her husband's family and must take care of her mother for the rest of her life."

Chu Ngon held his mother's hand, his voice very low.

“But have you ever thought, she also has her parents.”

“What she is doing for her mother… is beyond measure.”

“If mom still feels it's not enough, it's because she's asking for too much.”

Her throat moved slightly. Until now, she had never heard her son talk to her like that. The things she used to take for granted were now taken apart little by little by him... then placed back in front of her. Forcing her to look straight. After a long time, she closed her eyes and her voice was hoarse:

“What about you?”

“Child?” Chu Ngon took a deep breath.

“You are my son.”

“Mom is old, I will take care of her.”

"How to raise it... I'll figure it out myself."

After saying that, he felt like a burden had been lifted from him. For many years, he has always been stuck between his mother and his wife, not daring to offend anyone, not daring to yield to anyone. As a result, both sides suffered losses... and the one who was the most tired was me. Now, he finally admitted… Can't use the "awkward" excuse anymore. You must choose. Her eyes turned slightly red. She lowered her head to look at her hands, the joints were large, the skin was wrinkled, and the veins were prominent. These hands, when she was young, did so many things... even she couldn't remember. At that time, she thought, I was struggling because of it children will have a good life in the future. But at some point, she began to think that... Everything about them had to revolve around her.

“If you take me there…” she said softly.

“Later… what if no one comes to visit?”

“So you keep scolding us for being heartless.” Chu Ngon said half jokingly and half seriously.

“Anyway, I will definitely come.”

“I will come too.” Chu Manh spoke softly.

"Don't worry mom, I just say that often, I still love you in my heart."

Her husband nodded:

“Me too, if you want something to eat, just call me and I'll bring it.”

“I may not come as often as they do.” I added.

“But every time I come, I will help you make the bed tidy in every corner.”

I smiled softly:

“Anyway, I do these things more carefully than they do.”

She looked at me, wanting to be angry... but couldn't. Suddenly she felt a bit tired.

“Okay.” she sighed.

“You guys decide.”

“Who said… I'm lying here like this.”

Chu Ngon breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, everything has a clear direction.