Mother Yun wore a distressed look, âAhao, he only comes home once a year, and the thought of him taking care of others unto death pierces my heart. Heâs my son, how could he be attending othersâ funerals?â
Father Yun sighed deeply, âIf Ahao hadnât woken up, would you still think the same? My wife, we must let our conscience be clear in everything we do. Initially, the in-laws didnât know Ahao would wake up so quickly, and were fully prepared to support him for a lifetime. Are you suggesting they should continue to care for Ahao for the rest of his life?â
âDonât we have three sons? Why do you insist that the youngest must fulfill these obligations? Why not the eldest or the second child? Is it because our youngest child has been sending money home all these years, so itâs his duty?â
Father Yun honestly didnât know how to persuade his stubborn wife.
âSo youâre taking advantage of the fact that our youngest hasnât made a fuss about this all these years?â
Mother Yun refuted, âI didnât, I didnât.â
âI donât want to talk to you anymore. Whatever you want to do, just do it, but I hope you wonât regret it.â Father Yun didnât want to persuade her anymore, because all his persuasions were in vain, failing to convince the other party.
âI donât know, I really donât know. I just canât accept that my son is taking care of others in their old age.â
Father Yun shook his head helplessly, his wife simply didnât understand.
âAhao also said, the filial piety given by eldest and second child, he would only give more, never less. Isnât that enough? Do you want to force Ahao to send his monthly allowance back home, neglecting his wife and child?â
Why donât you measure the eldest and second sonâs family in the same way?
Worried about what troubles the eldest and second sonâs families might cause.
Isnât my wife satisfied? Isnât she satisfied?
âIâm notâ¦..â
âWife, you know in your heart whether itâs true or not. If you really think this way, go ask Ahao how he reacts. Iâm going to see Little Huzi and then head to work.â
Father Yun exited his room and arrived at Meng Yunhanâs door. Knowing his youngest sonâs family was inside, he remembered to knock. Hearing the knocking sound, Meng Yunhan got up to open the door.
âDad, come in quickly.â
âHas Little Huzi not woken up yet?â Father Yun asked while his gaze turned towards the bed where Little Huzi was still sleeping. Ahao was gently fanning him with a straw fan.
âHe hasnât woken up yet,â replied Meng Yunhan to Father Yunâs question.
Looking at Little Huzi, a two-month-old baby, well taken care of by her daughter-in-law, he looked older than his age, as if he had passed a hundred days already.
âLet me tell you this. Wait until the sun goes down before returning home. Donât listen to your motherâs words. Sheâs getting old and muddled. Donât argue with her. Just listen to what she says and donât promise her anything. I have to get to work.â
Meng Yunhan saw Ahao staying quiet and hastily replied, âDad, donât worry. Mother is our elder, whatever she says, we juniors just listen.â
Father Yun surely trusted his daughter-in-law. Despite previous disagreements, he was confident in her character.
He looked at his youngest son again, worried that this incident would leave an indelible mark on his heart, an event that couldnât easily be dismissed as if nothing happened.
Once they pushed their son away.
They had even come to terms with him becoming a stay-at-home son-in-law.
Because his sonâs in-laws had a job in town, his daughter-in-law and Little Huziâs residence registration could move to the town. They would have grain ration too. In time, perhaps they could help find a job for the daughter-in-law, reducing the burden on their family.