Hospital corridor.
"Big brother, Mom always favored you the most, and all the savings were given to you. This money should be paid by your family," said the third brother, Song Anmin, glaring at the eldest brother, Song Guomin, who was dressed in a suit.
"Mom sold that house to pay off your gambling debts and pay for your surgery. Now that you're better, you've used the most money from the family, so you should pay for it." Song Guomin's wife, Liu Aimei, retorted directly with a dark face.
“Sister-in-law, that’s not how you put it! When my brother bought the house and got promoted, Mom had to sell her job to get the money. Your job has already earned back the money from selling the house! You should pay for the 60,000 yuan!” Zhang Qingli, the fifth brother’s wife, said shrilly.
The eldest son, Song Guomin, is now a mid-to-high-level manager at a state-owned bank. His mother, Xu Guiying, sold her job and left the money to Song Guomin to buy a house.
The house was bought from Song Guomin's boss. Song Guomin had won the boss's favor, and as soon as the boss stepped down, Song Guomin took over the position and got promoted.
The door wasn't closed properly, and Xu Guiying in the ward could hear everything clearly.
My husband passed away five years ago. He was killed in a drunk driving accident. We received 500,000 yuan in compensation. My eldest son, being the eldest son in the family, handled the matter. He said they wanted to buy a better school district for their youngest son, so without even asking, they had the money transferred to his bank account.
They haven't even mentioned paying it back, let alone giving Xu Guiying surgery.
Xu Guiying and her husband had raised a niece in their early years. However, in 1987, the niece was raped and became pregnant unexpectedly. Due to her poor health, she could not have an abortion and had no choice but to give birth to the child.
The child was a girl, but she was born with cerebral palsy. Later, the niece committed suicide by jumping into the river and died.
After selling her job at the supply and marketing cooperative, Xu Guiying worked odd jobs in a factory to earn money. She retired last year. If her children are to support her in her old age, it means they will also have to support her granddaughter Ruyu, who has cerebral palsy.
None of her children were willing to support her in her old age, so Xu Guiying had no choice but to sell dumplings at a stall while raising her granddaughter. When her granddaughter was bullied, Xu Guiying rushed to fight back and was severely injured. She was also unexpectedly diagnosed with lung cancer.
The surgery only costs 60,000 yuan, and none of their children are willing to pay it.
"Fifth son, Mom usually dotes on you the most, what do you suggest we do about this?"
The youngest son, Song Jianmin, said with a stern face, "I handled all the funeral arrangements for the child with cerebral palsy, and I paid for all the funeral expenses. I can't possibly pay for the surgery."
In the ward, Xu Guiying's eyes widened.
What?
Ruyu is gone...
Xu Guiying remembered that when she was being beaten that day, Ruyu had even taken a blow for her. Could it be that she died from that blow?
Cloudy tears slid down Xu Guiying's cheeks.
The arguing continues outside.
"Fifth brother, how dare you say that? All the money from Ruyu's funeral was in your hands, and you still have the nerve not to give money for her surgery? I've really spoiled you for nothing!"
"Song Guomin, how dare you talk to me like that? You're the only one in the whole family who's sucking my blood! Our entire Song family serves your eldest son's family, and now you're denying it!"
The second son, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
"Let's split the surgery costs. There are five siblings, so each of us will get 12,000 yuan."
The fourth sister, Song Rongrong, who rushed over, disagreed. "I don't agree. Mom didn't even give me a dowry back then. At most, I can share the cost of hiring a caregiver. I can't possibly pay for the surgery."
The second child covered his face and cried, "This is our mother."
The second son's wife arrived at this time. The second son's family lived in the countryside, and these two days were the busy time for rice planting. The couple were covered in mud, and the second son walked with a limp, which was a stark contrast to his four well-dressed siblings.
Seeing this, the second son's wife didn't know what to say, so she went into the ward to check on Xu Guiying.
"Mom, how are you feeling now?"
Upon closer inspection, they saw that Xu Guiying was crying. The second son's wife hadn't expected that Xu Guiying had overheard what was happening outside.
She said awkwardly, "Mom, don't listen to what people outside are saying, they're just saying it out of anger."
Xu Guiying opened her eyes slightly, "When did Ruyu die?"
The second son's wife said with tears in her eyes, "Two days ago."
Xu Guiying has been in a coma for two days, which means that Ruyu died on the same day.
Xu Guiying was panting. Now, only her second son and his wife had come to see her. Xu Guiying gestured for her second son's wife to come forward.
"I have three thousand yuan in my bedside dresser. Take it quietly and use it."
After saying this, Xu Guiying closed her eyes and passed away.
"mom!"
"Mom, wake up!"
...
"Damn it, the five siblings will split the pension equally!"
The second son roared, "Mom has no pension left! It's all gone to Ruyu's medical treatment! Mom's gone, and all you're thinking about are these things? You're worse than animals!"
"Second brother, how dare you speak like that!" said the eldest brother, Song Guomin, displeased.
Song Anmin looked at his eldest brother and said, "Big brother, you live in a villa, so you have plenty of space to hold a funeral. We'll have Mom's funeral there."
Song Guomin immediately refused, "No way, my little grandson was just born. You're really thinking of having this done in my house."
The second son's wife stamped her foot, "You're the eldest brother!"
The second brother then said to the third brother, Song Anmin, "Third brother, what do you think?"
Song Anmin looked away without saying a word.
His wife, Jiang Hong, said with a dark face, "No, my child still has to take the college entrance exam, and we can't be superstitious about these things."
The second brother then looked at Song Rongrong, "Fourth sister—"
Song Rongrong turned her face away. "Don't talk to me about these things. When I wanted to get married, my mother didn't give me a dowry. Now I'm still single. Have you ever thought about me? Anyway, it's impossible to hold the wedding at my home."
...
When a person dies, hearing is the last thing to disappear.
Xu Guiying was as shrewd and hardworking as an old ox her whole life, but only on her deathbed did she realize the true character of her children and see their true colors.
Outside, it was the height of summer heat, but inside, Xu Guiying felt like the dead of winter.
If she had known this would happen, Xu Guiying should have crushed those few char siu to death when they were born!
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