Chapter 2 — Don't Use The Two Words 'Filial Obedience' To Tie Me Down

The sentence just ended. The entire dining table fell into absolute silence. Even the female MC's voice on TV seemed to be turned down. Chu Ngon suddenly raised his head and looked at me with disbelief. His face was a bit pale, his lips moved, but he couldn't say a word. The spoon in Chu Manh's hand "clicked" and hit the bowl. She finally looked up at me, her eyes filled with surprise and annoyance. Trieu Can also turned his head, clearly stunned by this answer. Luong To Phan... for the first time, a crack appeared on her calm face. Her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her searching gaze flashed with surprise, then was quickly pressed down, becoming colder. Perhaps she had already imagined how I would answer. Maybe patiently saying “yes”. Maybe silence. Or feel sorry for yourself and explain a few sentences. But you absolutely don't think... I will gently kick this ball back to your son. Sounds simple. But so sharp that it cannot be avoided. One sentence, directly pulling the problem from "mother-in-law - daughter-in-law" back to the true nature of "mother - child". Aren't you asking me? But first and foremost, she is the mother of her son. When she gets old and weak, the first person to stand up... shouldn't it be her son? The air freezes for a few seconds. Very quickly, Luong To Phan regained his normal expression and even smiled. It's just that smile... doesn't reach the bottom of the eyes. She turned to Chu Ngon, her voice lowered:

"Ngon, what about you? In the future, if I can't walk anymore, will you take care of me?"

All eyes immediately turned to him. The pressure pressed down like an invisible net. Chu Ngon's forehead was covered in sweat. He opened his mouth, looked at his mother, then glanced quickly at me. I lowered my eyes and leisurely picked up the food, as if the last sentence was not something I said.

"Mom, what are you saying... you're still healthy, you'll definitely live to be a hundred years old, don't think so far ahead..."

Chu Ngon forced a smile, his voice a bit dry.

“Eat, the food is cold.”

He tried to use a joking tone to cover it up. But Luong To Phan clearly did not intend to let it go. She stared at her son, her voice harder:

"I'm asking you, Tieu Ngon. Tell me clearly, do you control it or not?"

The smile on Chu Ngon's face gradually couldn't be held anymore. His hand under the table clenched into a fist. I could feel his stiffness and awkwardness. On one side is the mother who gave birth and raised him, forcing him to take an attitude. On one side is the wife who has lived with him for ten years, given birth to his children, and just now directly pushed this question towards him. Stuck in the middle, unable to move forward, unable to retreat.

"Managing... of course we have to manage. I'm your mother, if you don't manage, who will."

Chu Ngon's voice became lower and lower as he spoke, clearly lacking confidence. This word... is empty. What kind of management? Is it spending money? Or on the care side? Or take it home and personally serve it? He didn't say a word clearly. And Luong To Phan doesn't seem to need a specific plan right now. What she wants is probably just an attitude. An attitude that proves that, in front of everyone, her son is still on her side. Hearing that sentence, her face softened a bit and she picked up her chopsticks again, as if the struggle just now had never happened.

“Okay, eat.”

On the surface, the storm seems to have temporarily subsided. But no The atmosphere on the dining table... has completely changed its taste. Under the calm water, the flow has begun to become chaotic. Everyone absentmindedly stuffed food into their mouths, chewing as if they were chewing paper. There was only the sound of the TV, ringing harshly and unpleasantly. My heart did not relax at all. I understand very well. The mother-in-law's words today... are not the end. Which is the beginning. This is the boundary that has just been drawn, from here on step by step reclaiming the "price you have to pay". Today is just testing my attitude. Next time... she will most likely say what she wants directly. Although my seemingly clever answer temporarily resolved the situation, it also put Chu Ngon in an even more awkward position, and at the same time made my mother-in-law even more dissatisfied with me. Sure enough, for the remaining half of the meal, no one said another word. There was only the sound of bowls and chopsticks clinking, inconsequential and cold. It was very difficult to finish eating. Chu Manh and Trieu Can quickly stood up to say hello and left, their steps were as fast as running away, afraid that if they were too late, they would be dragged into this murky puddle. Luong To Phan didn't hold back either, just stood up and picked up his bag. At the door, she turned her head and glanced at me standing there clearing the bowl and chopsticks, then looked at Chu Ngon following behind to see her off. Her voice was cold:

“Ngon, go down and see mom off.”

Chu Ngon immediately responded and followed her out. My hand paused for a moment, then continued to arrange each bowl neatly. She wanted to talk to her son privately. But the content... eight parts is not easy to listen to. In the kitchen, water flowed from the faucet. I mechanically washed the dishes, dish soap foam covering the back of my hand. The cold water continuously flowed across my skin, but could not extinguish the fire burning inside. And a feeling of helplessness that cannot be named. It's been seven years. In this house, I always seem to be an outsider. Mother-in-law is an outsider. My husband's brother is also an outsider. Even the man I thought was closest, of course had to stand on the same side as me... When it was important, he always backed away. Leave me alone to stand in front and bear it all. Chu Ngon's ambiguous "I will manage" sentence just now... Like a small thorn, silently penetrating deep into my heart. Obviously he could be more blunt. Be more responsible. Just one more sentence —

"Mom, don't worry, my wife and I will discuss it together. We will definitely not let you worry in your old age."

Just that... is enough. But he didn't. He chose the safest way... which also left me coldest. Only mentioning myself, but I was left out, so clean that it was as if I never existed. I dried my hands and returned to the living room. Niem Niem is lying face down on the table in her private room, attentively doing her homework. The living room is empty, only the monotonous sound of advertisements emanating from the TV. I sat down on the sofa, only to feel my whole body getting colder. About twenty minutes later, Chu Ngon pushed open the door and walked in. His face was not pleasing to the eye, and his movements of closing the door and changing shoes were all a bit heavy.

“What did your mother tell you?” I asked directly, my voice hoarse.

Chu Ngon walked over, sat down on the sofa, angrily ruffled his hair.

“What else can I say?” He replied, his voice filled with annoyance. "Say you don't understand, dare to argue with her. Say you forgot your mother after getting married, don't even dare say a word in defense of her!"

“What did I say that was an argument?” The fire inside me ignited anger flared up. "You ask so directly, how can I answer? Say 'okay'? And then what? Tomorrow you bring your things and come live? Or say 'no', and immediately become the family's sinner?"

"Don't you know how to say it better? Do you have to push back like that? You'll make my mother lose face right at the dinner table!" Chu Ngon also raised his voice.

“Chu Ngon!”

I jumped up, my chest heaving violently.

"Tell me clearly! It was your mother who embarrassed me first! She asked that way, right in front of the whole table! Have you ever thought about my feelings? Have you ever thought about the situation of this house?"

"She's my mother! She's old, so what's wrong with asking a few questions? Can't you hold back for a bit?" Chu Ngon also stood up, his face red.

"I have to endure her? So who can endure me?"

My tears finally flowed.

"Chu Ngon, ask your conscience! From the time we got married until now, has your mother, your family... ever really paid attention to my difficulties?"

“When I gave birth in confinement, my mother came to take care of me for twenty days, and then I took care of it myself!”

"Buying a house requires money. She won't give you a penny. Turn around and buy my sister a car!"

"Nim Niem is so big, have you ever babysat me for a day? Have you bought me something nice?"

"It's good now, you're old, you remember me? Come and ask me if I want to serve you? Is there such a calculation in this world?"

The more I talked, the more I couldn't hold back. The resentment that had accumulated over the years was like a dam bursting and rushing out.

"Yes, you have no obligation to take care of me, no obligation to look after your grandchildren, and no obligation to spend money on our small family! There are no laws!"

"But on the contrary, the law does not force a daughter-in-law to support her mother-in-law! So where do you get the confidence to ask me like that?"

"Just because she's your mother! Just because you're my husband!"