The cold winter wind made people shiver, and large, fluffy snowflakes fell one after another.

Looking at the diagnosis in her hand, Grandma Tao felt colder than the dead of winter, her mouth filled with bitterness.

She has cancer, breast cancer!

The doctor said her cancer cells had not metastasized and that surgery would not affect her lifespan.

However, the attitudes of her two sons and three daughters-in-law made Old Mrs. Tao Ying's heart colder than the coldest winter.

A forced, ugly smile appeared on his wrinkled face. "Oh well," he thought, "it's all my fault for being so useless. I divided up all the family property too early and put all my hopes on other people's consciences."

Not everyone has a conscience!

Grandma Tao's children stood in the heavy snow, arguing heatedly, their faces flushed, just like when Grandma Tao ate popping candy while she was pregnant with them, jumping up and down.

The flimsy corrugated steel roof had no real function, and the sound of several people arguing reached Old Mrs. Tao's ears like needles.

“Big brother, you’re the eldest son in the family. You spent so much money on your university education, and Mom helped you the most afterwards. She also gave you the most of the compensation money from the demolition of our house. Now that Mom is having surgery, you should take all of this money, big brother,” Wang Baoshan said to Wang Baojun.

The eldest son and his wife have benefited the most in this family, so if they don't give it back now, when will they?

“Baoshan, I’m the only one who went to university. Didn’t you go? Mom is everyone’s mom, so this money should be divided equally among the three families.” Wang Baojun pursed his lips, looking at Wang Baoshan with disdain.

They made no mention of the fact that Grandma Tao had given him most of the demolition compensation money.

"Impossible! Most of Mom's compensation for the demolition went to you. No matter what, you should be the one paying for the surgery." Wang Baoshan exploded instantly.

“I admit that my mother gave me the most, but that was what my parents wanted to give me. What does it have to do with you? I don’t think I owe you anything!”

"Baoshan, supporting one's parents is every child's obligation. The law doesn't say that whichever child receives more is obligated to cover the elderly person's living expenses and medical bills. It's not like you're not the mother's son and you don't get any money!" Zhao Shuangfeng's shrill voice rang out.

“Brother, sister-in-law, Baoshan, according to custom, it is the son’s responsibility to provide for his parents in their old age. We have not received any of the family’s property, and Baomin has passed away, so please do not involve me in these matters!” Li Caixia said from the side.

"Caixia, you're really funny. Baomin is your mother's son. Even if Baomin is gone, you two still have children. You have a responsibility. Besides, don't you know how Baomin died?" Zhao Shuangfeng started scolding Li Caixia.

“I’ll give you the money, but you can use the money you received from Mom to pay for her medical treatment first. If it’s not enough, we can split the rest,” Wang Baoshan said, ignoring Zhao Shuangfeng and looking at Wang Baojun.

Li Caixia also looked at Wang Baojun. Although she didn't know the exact amount, she was certain it would be a lot, and there was a possibility that she would even get some money after paying the fee.

"Why are you looking at me? First, not all the property is mine. Second, legally speaking, it's Mom's property. She can give it to whomever she wants, and it has nothing to do with anyone else. Whether you get the property or not, you all have an obligation to support her!" Wang Baojun brushed the snow off his clothes and said slowly.

Wang Baoshan and Li Caixia were not surprised by Wang Baojun's remarks, after all, Wang Baojun was not a shameless person.

They always take more and more, and never give back.

"Stop arguing, go back home," Grandma Tao said, unable to bear it any longer.

“Mom, it’s not that I’m unwilling to treat you, it’s just that our family isn’t well-off, and my older brother won’t contribute any money.” Wang Baoshan looked at Old Mrs. Tao’s gray hair and felt a pang of sadness.

I was thinking of just giving up my share.

"You all go back now, we're not going to treat you anymore," said Old Mrs. Tao, closing the door and ignoring the noisy crowd outside.

She lay alone on the kang (a heated brick bed), unaware of when the others had returned, reflecting on her life.

Thinking about his own favoritism, thinking about his deceased spouse, and how they argued outside...

Grandma Tao had never suffered much hardship in her life. Her parents only had her as their child, and her husband was a semi-married-in son-in-law. She had been strong-willed all her life, but she never expected her later years to be so desolate.

Grandma Tao wore a self-deprecating smile on her lips, her heart pounding erratically.

And so, on this cold winter night, Old Mrs. Tao ended her life, all alone!

When she opened her eyes again, Grandma Tao looked around blankly.

The house clearly showed signs of age, and in front of me stood a neighbor whose name I hadn't seen for years and whose mouth was opening and closing.

Grandma Tao couldn't even hear what the other person was saying.

"Sister Tao! Sister Tao! Are you crazy? Something's happened to your brother Dazhu!" the neighbor shouted.

It took Grandma Tao a while to realize what was happening, and she quickly followed them inside to the machinery factory.

They wailed and cried over Wang Dazhu's body. Why? Why this moment? Why couldn't it have happened sooner?

All her misery came after her husband's death.

If her husband were still alive, those wretched sons wouldn't have treated her like this.

Grandma Tao was in a daze and couldn't handle anything, so the leaders of the machinery factory contacted Wang Baojun.

The neighbors contacted Tao Ying's parents-in-law and brother-in-law in the countryside.

Wang Baojun didn't come over immediately; instead, Wang Dashuan and Li Guiying arrived first, along with Grandpa Wang and Zhou Daya.

Although he was heartbroken, Wang Dashuan still spoke with the factory about the subsequent compensation.

My older brother is gone, but my sister-in-law and child are still here. Some things need to be discussed more at this time.

Grandma Tao, in a daze, let Wang Dashuan help her with Wang Dazhu's funeral arrangements.

Watching Wang Baojun and Zhao Shuangfeng pacing back and forth in front of her, hinting that they wanted compensation from her husband.

Thinking about having to go through the same unpleasant experience again, and having not slept well for many days, I felt a rush of anger and blood to my head, and before I could catch my breath, it was over.

As she closed her eyes, Grandma Tao couldn't help but think, "It's fine if I just go like this, so I won't have to see that awful, annoying guy again."

Looking back on her life, Grandma Tao realized that she had been completely devoted to Wang Baojun, and although she hadn't given Wang Baoshan everything he asked for, she had still lived up to her conscience.

Although Wang Baomin wasn't treated very well, his wife did get the job and received tens of thousands of yuan in compensation for the demolition.

The only two people I feel sorry for are my two daughters. My eldest daughter died young in the countryside, and I didn't even get to see her one last time.

Despite her daughter Wang Chuntao being such a good student, the father didn't support her education, causing her child to start working at a young age and never contact her again.