Chapter 1 is full of ingrates.

"Dad, Mom is already so old, it's no big deal if she passes away. This illness is incurable! It's just making us suffer! You should persuade Mom to stop treatment and let her go sooner rather than later!"

The eldest daughter-in-law, Li Qiaodi, leaned against the cold white wall, her hands on her hips.

Her voice was shrill and loud, echoing back and forth in the corridor, attracting the attention of passersby.

Sitting not far away, her youngest daughter, Zhou Lijuan, frowned and glanced at her coldly.

"Sister-in-law, how can you say such a thing! What has Mom ever done wrong to you? Have you ever lacked money? Now that Mom is sick, you just want her to die sooner? In my opinion, your family should bear the cost of Mom's medical expenses!"

Upon hearing this, Li Qiaodi became agitated and immediately jumped up to retort, "What nonsense are you talking about! Everyone knows that you're the one who's always trying to take advantage! Half of the money Mom saved up her whole life was used by you to open a shop. Do you think no one knows anything about that?"

Her finger almost poked Zhou Lijuan's face.

Zhou Lijuan, of course, refused to back down and retorted sharply.

"When your older brother was doing things for you, didn't you also ask for help? Didn't Mom still give you money?"

"That's just small change, nothing compared to what you're making! You're the one with the big money!"

The argument between the two intensified, with each raising their voice higher than the last.

Several people have now gathered in the hospital corridor.

Zhou Dajun, who had been silent all along, suddenly lowered his head and slowly spoke.

“Your mother’s illness is not yet incurable; she must continue treatment. The costs will be shared by the eldest and youngest children’s families.”

He took a breath, his nose tingled slightly, and he stomped out the cigarette butt with all his might.

The two women, who were still arguing fiercely, exclaimed in unison.

"dad!"

Zhou Lijuan jumped up suddenly, her face full of indignation: "You're biased! Mom has so many children, why only make those two families pay? My second and third brothers are also sons, they've spent Mom's money too, why can they stay away?"

Li Qiaodi was naturally unwilling to spend the extra money, so she quickly replied, "Dad, my eldest sister and fourth brother haven't arrived yet. Isn't it a bit hasty for you to make this decision?"

Zhou Dajun spat angrily on the ground, his voice hoarse.

"Haste my ass! If you really don't want to pay, then go and turn off your mother's oxygen, so your whole family won't cause a scene here!"

He practically shouted that sentence.

Li Qiaodi could only manage a dry laugh and remained silent.

This kind of thing can't happen to me.

If we really have to make this decision, we need everyone to work together.

After all, no one wants to be labeled as "unfilial." As long as everyone agrees, the responsibility is laid bare.

The second son, Zhou Hairong, and the third son, Zhou Hailiang, were looking up at the ceiling and down at the floor, respectively.

In the ward separated from them by only one wall was their mother, Zhou Shufen.

The argument outside grew increasingly heated, and could be clearly heard even through the crack in the door.

Even if she covered her ears, she couldn't escape.

Those familiar voices rose and fell.

Tears slowly slid down her cheeks, but she couldn't utter a single word.

She was a competitive and energetic person who lived her life to the fullest.

In his old age, he found himself lying in bed listening to his children arguing and bickering.

Lei used to work hard to make a living for his family.

Now he lies in a hospital bed and has become a burden on his children.

Late-stage cancer is incurable.

The elderly man, who had always been frugal, suddenly found himself spending money like water in the hospital, and his heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife.

The daily cost of every drop of fluids caused her great anxiety.

She would rather endure the pain and return home to walk her final journey on her own kang (heated brick bed).

Originally, I planned to discuss it with my children and give up treatment to return to my hometown.

But when all the children gathered together, no one asked her what her true wishes were.

They were only thinking about how to allocate the medical expenses, and even hoped to pull out her tubes so that she could stop breathing quickly.

Zhou Shufen was in great pain.

It wasn't until this moment that she finally understood something completely.

Those children who once fawned over her and made her proud didn't love her at all.

They are selfish and heartless!

She devoted her life to managing her household diligently, raising her children to adulthood with great hardship, and all her efforts were rewarded with this tragic end...

The area outside the door gradually quieted down.

Just then, the voice of the second son, Zhou Hairong, came from the doorway.

"Dad, to be honest, Mom scolds you every day! If I were you, I would have divorced her long ago! Why don't you find a young and beautiful girl to be your wife again?"

These flippant words seeped into the ward.

Zhou Shufen was so angry that she trembled all over.

To support her family, Zhou Shufen worked tirelessly for decades, sacrificing her health in the process.

If it weren't for her hard work and dedication outside, this whole family would probably be homeless by now!

Just as she was overwhelmed with grief and indignation, another cold voice rang out.

Zhou Hailiang gave a cold laugh, a hint of contempt curling at the corner of his mouth.

"You know nothing! What's Dad calling this again? It's called 'the red flag remains unchanged, while the colorful flags flutter'! I met that Aunt Wu once; she's gentle and charming, and speaks softly. She's nothing like Mom!"

Zhou Lijuan's lips trembled slightly as she cried out, "Dad, how...how could you do this? Did you really...really cheat on me?"

Her voice was already choked with emotion, and her eyes were beginning to redden.

Zhou Dajun's face looked very grim at that moment.

He silently took out a cigarette, lit it slowly, took a deep drag, and exhaled grayish-white smoke rings while muttering to himself.

"You're making this up! I'm just going out to do business and earn some money, all to find jobs for you guys! Otherwise, who would want to be out there in the wind and rain!"

What a loser Zhou!

Perhaps it was a fit of anger that triggered his condition.

Zhou Shufen instantly lost consciousness.

However, just as her consciousness was fading, she suddenly woke up and struggled to sit up in bed.

I was so blind.

She was so smitten with his looks that she hastily married Zhou Dajun in a moment of confusion.

She has indeed suffered a lot along the way.

I once thought that even though men are unambitious, lazy, and incompetent.

But as long as you're still willing to live your life, you might as well accept your fate.

We gritted our teeth, endured the pain, and got through it, didn't we?

Little did she know that he had already been secretly flirting with other women behind her back!

Despite the excruciating pain, Zhou Shufen staggered and tried to stand up.

But the moment I stood up, the world spun around me.

Her heart was throbbing with pain, making it almost impossible for her to stand.

My heart condition flared up again!

With trembling hands, he fumbled around on the bedside table for a long time.

She was extremely anxious and desperately wanted to find nitroglycerin.

"Mom, really, you've worked hard for most of your life. Wouldn't it be better if you left sooner? Why suffer in the hospital and make others suffer too?"

A cold voice rang out in the room.

Sadness and helplessness welled up in my heart instantly.

Large tears rolled down her cheeks, making a soft pattering sound as they hit the ground.

My vision was completely blurred, and I couldn't see anything around me.