Chapter 4 — The end of filial piety is learning to let go

The second boy's mask finally fell off.

“Don't be an elephant asking for a fairy!”

“Do you believe I told your mother…”

I interrupted him.

“What are you going to tell my mother to do?”

“Make you kneel down and beg me?”

“Or tell her to come to my house, cry, make a fuss, and threaten to commit suicide?”

“Trieu Quoc Phu.”

“Stop all those calculations.”

“I'll make it clear today.”

“From now on…”

“Costs for taking care of grandmother.”

“I won't spend a dime.”

“I won't put in even a minute of effort.”

“You guys are on your own.”

I hung up. My mother went limp and sat down on the sofa. His face turned pale as he looked at me.

“Tieu Tinh…”

“How can you talk to your uncle like that?”

I conveniently threw the phone back onto the sofa.

“They don't deserve it.”

The phone vibrated again. It's a message in the family group. One by one, news continuously appeared. The eldest aunt sent a photo. In the photo... Next to my grandmother's bed is a puddle of yellow dirt. Accompanied by a comment:

"Some people are truly heartless. My biological grandmother goes to the bathroom right on the bed and doesn't care. Quoc Cuong is the only man in my family, so how can I ask him to clean up these things?"

The photo my eldest aunt sent to the family chat group... It's like a bomb. The group immediately rioted. Second aunt was the first to follow.

“That's right!”

"When there was Miss Ly, my mother was always clean and fragrant every day."

“It's great now, just one morning it turned out like this.”

Eldest cousin Trieu Vi also spoke up.

“It's just right.”

“We're all family, don't make things so unsightly.”

Second cousin sent a sigh emoji.

“Grandma is 80 years old.”

“I can't stand this kind of torment.”

This person has one sentence. The other person said a word. In the end... All responsibilities were pushed onto me. My grandmother's incontinence was caused by me. My mother looked at those messages. Both hands trembled.

“Tieu Tinh.”

“Say something.”

“Get in the water for a bit.”

“You look…”

“Now everyone sees me as an enemy.”

I didn't reply. Also do not reply to any messages in the group. I quietly exited the family chat group. Out of sight... It's less annoying. The phone is finally quiet. The play of the Trieu family. Just getting started. Afternoon. My mother couldn't sit still. The phone rings every few minutes. Every time she picked it up to look at it... Her face became a little more unsightly.

“The eldest brother and the second brother quarreled…”

She muttered.

“Just because... who's going to clean Mommy's body?”

"Eldest aunt said her back hurts and she can't stand the smell."

"Second aunt said she had to take her child to extra classes today and didn't have time."

I wear headphones. Continue processing work. Those arguments... Even though they only came from the phone. Still reeks of selfishness. It's time for dinner. Mom's phone suddenly rang. It's my second aunt calling. Mom turned on the speakerphone.

“Tu Lan, come here quickly!”

The second aunt's voice was both high-pitched and urgent.

“Mom refuses to eat dinner!”

“Everything I put in makes me vomit!”

“I choked just now, my face is turning purple!”

My mother immediately panicked.

“Why is that?”

“Wasn't Ms. Ly feeding you everything quite fine before?”

“How can I know!”

The second aunt replied angrily.

“Miss Ly cooks everything that is soft and easy to swallow.”

“Who among us knows how to make those dishes?”

“Just mixed some oatmeal this afternoon.”

“At night, reheat cold rice again."

“Mom refuses to eat!”

“I'll go quickly.”

“After all, I am a girl.”

“Mom still listens to me better.”

My mother hung up. Confused, he looked at me.

“Tieu Tinh…”

“Or... let's go take a look.”

“What if something happens to Grandma?”

I took off my headphones.

“What can I do if I go there?”

“Do you know how to cook food for the elderly who have difficulty swallowing?”

"Do you know what to do when an elderly person chokes or suffocates?"

“If mom goes there…”

“What if something really happened to Grandma?”

“Eldest aunt and second aunt will be the first to put all the responsibility on mother.”

My mother was stunned. Every word I said is the truth. Mom is a very soft-hearted person. But he is also a person without political opinions. In such a chaotic situation... She could only stand and cry along with everyone else.

“So what should we do?”

“Call an ambulance.”

“That's the fastest way.”

“It's also the most effective way.”