Chapter 18 — Don't Use The Two Words 'Filial Obedience' To Tie Me Down

The day I left the hospital, the weather was beautiful. The recovery center sent a specialized vehicle. Nurses and nurses coordinated and carefully transferred her onto the stretcher, then from the stretcher to the wheelchair. Throughout the entire process, she kept grimacing and mumbling, but no longer mentioned the matter of "going back to her old home". Arriving at the center, after completing the procedures, the nurse took them to tour the room and common area. Room for two people, window overlooking a small garden, a few tall sycamore trees, clean stone walkway. Next to the bed was a woman in her sixties, smiling gently:

“You just arrived, you will have friends later.”

She was placed next to the window. The nurse spread the blanket back and patiently taught her how to ring the call bell.

“Miss, if you have anything to do, just press this, we will be there right away.” The nurse smiled gently.

“Don't be shy.”

“I clicked… do you guys mind?” she asked softly.

“No way.” The nurse smiled even lighter.

“That's our job.”

That sentence... made her suddenly feel bitter. It turns out there is still someone taking care of her... not out of love. It's because of work. That feeling is very strange. It's strange... yet reassuring. After cleaning up, everyone sat for a while. Chu Manh brought blankets and pillowcases from home, arranged them neatly, and then placed a few family photos on the head of the bed.

“Mom, look, this is a picture of mom taking Niem Niem to West Lake to feed the birds.”

"Put it here so it can stand out. Later, the nurse will know that mom has a grandchild."

She glanced, the corners of her lips suddenly softened.

“I will come Wednesday afternoon.” Chu Manh said.

“You can leave work early that day.”

“I'll come over the weekend.” her husband continued.

“By the way, bring your favorite food.”

“I'm on duty a lot this week.” Chu Ngon looked at his mother.

"But I'll stop by if I have time. If there's an emergency, I'll call you."

The room… finally had some of the warmth of a family. Chu Ngon looked at me again:

“I see the situation.” I replied.

"But I remember that after each recovery session, I'm the most tired. At that time, having no one around will be very uncomfortable. I will try to come around that time."

“You don't need to come.” She still hasn't let go.

“Seeing you makes me angry.”

“So just close your eyes and pretend to sleep.” I laughed.

Everyone laughed lightly. In that laugh, there was fatigue, there was forcedness... but there was also a bit of warmth that just appeared. When she was about to leave, she suddenly reached out her still moving hand and grabbed Chu Ngon's sleeve.

“Don't forget mom.” she said very softly.

"No." Chu Ngon grabbed her hand and nodded strongly.

“Every time you come, you bring me new fruit.”

“Don't forget me either.” She turned to me and said one more sentence.

“I… only have this mouth.”

Clumsy statement. But for the first time in her life... she proactively admitted her mistake to me. I paused for a moment, then smiled softly:

“I remember.”

“The most powerful thing in your life is your mouth.”

“I will remind Niem Niem, don't follow suit in the future.”

She let out a "hiss" sound, but there was a flash of water in her eyes. The car left the recovery center campus, the sunlight slantedly shining through the windshield. I leaned back in the chair and let out a long breath. That breath... seems to have been suppressed from the year of marriage until now.

“Know Nghien.” Chu Ngon spoke softly while driving.

“Thank you.”

“I just told you to worry about your mother later.” I turned.

“Then I will return this ‘thank you’ to you first.”

He smiled bitterly:

“I mean you don't have to carry the heavy stuff anymore, but I'll help you think of a way, I still need it.”

“Are you really thinking this through?” I asked.

"After Mom, if you make a fuss and say I'm unfilial, can you handle it?"

Chu Ngon tightened his grip on the steering wheel and looked straight ahead:

“Tolerable.”

“If she leaves the house to Chu Manh, won't you be upset?” I asked again.

He was silent for a moment, then shook his head:

"It's definitely uncomfortable, but it's her choice, I accept it."

"At least I'm not ashamed of her care for her old age."

After speaking, he smiled again:

"What's more, now I have a house to live in, you, Niem Niem, the old house... even though it's important, it's just bricks and stones."

I don't say anything more. The sentence "with you, there is Niem Niem"... is truer than any promise. Looking at the scenery outside the window, I suddenly felt that this city was no longer stuffy. Here, I have a job, a daughter… and a husband who is finally learning how to be an adult. As for the turmoil in my husband's family... Just a part of life. Not all. Time passes quickly until the end of the year. The weather is getting colder, the sycamore tree along the road has lost all its leaves, leaving only dry branches moving in the wind. But it was very warm in the rehabilitation center. She is now able to take a few slow steps under the support of nurses. The right hand can also be raised a little, although it is still clumsy, but it is far different from when it first appeared as a powerless mass. Every week, Chu Ngon comes at least twice. Sometimes they bring fruit, sometimes they bring paintings drawn by Niem Niem. Chu Manh decided to come on Wednesday afternoon, and on weekends her husband would sometimes bring food, some of which she liked like braised meat or chicken feet. As for me... I don't have a fixed schedule.