Chapter 5 — Three Houses for My Cousin, I Took My Mother Abroad to Live a Worthy Life

I open the banking app. Review the transfer history of the previous two years. Recipient: Hangzhou City First People's Hospital. There are two transfers. An amount of 42,000 yuan. An amount of 58,000 yuan. My mother looked at the numbers on the screen, her lips trembling.

“How could she... The money was paid by me, yet she said she paid it?”

“Because the eldest aunt knows who grandmother believes.”

“If you let grandma know that you pay, she will treat you a little better.”

“Eldest aunt doesn't want that to happen.”

My mother seemed to have lost all her strength and sat down on the sofa. After a long time, she asked in a hoarse voice:

“Over the years... how much work have you done for this house?”

“It doesn't matter anymore.”

“It's all old stories.”

I put my phone away.

“This time, I won't pay the 150,000 yuan surgery fee.”

“Dao Dao...”

“Three houses worth 6,000,000 yuan.”

"Eldest aunt and cousin have received three houses worth 6,000,000 yuan, can't they afford 150,000 yuan for surgery?"

My mother didn't say anything more. That night, my eldest aunt called me three more times. All of them were rejected by me. Two o'clock in the morning. I received a WeChat message. The eldest aunt texted:

“Dao Dao, is your grandmother's life important or is your reputation important?”

I looked at that text. Then type a reply.

"Eldest aunt, the three houses combined are worth 6,000,000 yuan. Selling one house is enough."

After that she didn't text back anymore. Grandma's surgery is finally underway. That money was due to the eldest aunt running everywhere to collect enough. She sold her gold necklace. Again, I borrowed money from relatives. Chu Man could not get a single penny from the other three houses. Trieu Bang's debt is like a bottomless pit. Even she herself has begun to tighten her belt. All this news was told to me by Luc Dien. He has several friends who are lawyers in Hangzhou. The relationship circle is not large. News travels very quickly.

"My eldest aunt now meets everyone and says I'm unfilial."

I'm peeling apples.

“What did she say?”

"Say you earned more than 100,000,000 yuan, but your grandmother is hospitalized and won't spend a penny."

“Say you're blinded by money.”

“Tell your mother to teach you bad things.”

She blamed it all on my mother.

"And say you hold a grudge."

"Just because the three houses that were cleared were in tatters, we cut off relations with our relatives."

“Calling me stingy.”

I took a bite of the apple.

“That's all?”

“She can say whatever she wants.”

“After my grandmother was discharged from the hospital, she even sent a recording to a group of relatives.”

Luc Dien was silent for a few seconds.

"She said: 'I'm raising this grandchild in vain. Raising a dog can still keep the house.'"

The piece of apple in my hand paused for a second. Then I continued eating.

“Is there anything else?”

“Are you okay?”

"No problem."

I hung up. Then go out to the balcony. Stand there for a long time.

"Raising a dog also knows how to guard the house."

If this sentence was said three years ago. Maybe I'll cry. If it was a year ago. Maybe I'll be angry. But now. I don't feel anything anymore. The place that once hurt the most was soon calloused. One person had been burned countless times. You will no longer be afraid of hot water. I returned to the living room. Mom is sitting on the sofa knitting a sweater. She doesn't know these things. And I don't intend to tell her either.

“Mom, where do you want to go tomorrow?”

“What do you think?”

“Or let's go to a newly opened Chinese restaurant on Queen Street?”

“Okay.”

Days passed like that. Peaceful days. No sarcasm. No cold eyes. Early July. A letter arrived from Hangzhou. On the envelope was my grandmother's handwriting. Shattered, trembling. The outside says my address in Auckland. I don't know how she got that address. Maybe she went through her mother's old contact book. I stood at the door holding the letter. Hesitate for about ten seconds. Then open it. On the paper there was only one line of text.

“Dao Dao, grandma is wrong. Go home, grandma will give you a house."

I looked at that text. Then fold the letter. Put it in a drawer. A house. When I gave all three apartments to my cousin. She didn't even hesitate. Now it's happened. Also give me an alms room. Grandma. She still hasn't changed a bit. She thinks everyone is like her. My whole life I only lived for those houses. Mid-July. Trieu Bang was sued. The amount owed to the supplier is due. The opponent directly initiates legal proceedings. Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court officially accepted the case. Chu Man's circle of friends completely disappeared. Even the profile picture has changed to the default gray image. The eldest aunt started texting in the relative group. Call on everyone for help. Second Uncle contributed 20,000 yuan. Third Aunt contributed 10,000 yuan. Some distant relatives contributed 3,000 yuan, some contributed 5,000 yuan.