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The Poisonous Waters of Filial Piety
墨書 Inktalez
On the day of Grandpa's funeral, everyone praised my father, who was forcing my mother to drink the water used to clean Grandpa's body.
"Drink! Not drinking is unfilial!"
My father gripped my mother's neck with both hands, prying her mouth open with the edge of the bowl and pouring the water down her throat.
My mother coughed violently, splattering water everywhere.
Disgusted, my father kicked her and turned to comfort my weeping grandmother.
People around us praised my father as a devoted son, while they criticized my mother as a heartless woman.
"Look at your husband, how considerate he is! What was that attitude you just had?"
"Exactly, so inconsiderate!"
My father glared at my mother. "Why don't you go over and apologize to your mother-in-law?"
Trembling, my mother crawled to her feet.
Grandma glared at her with hatred. "My son has worked hard for you for ten years. Not only did you prevent him from getting promoted, but you also can't even handle his father's funeral properly. You're truly worthless."
My mother hung her head in silence.
Whispers filled the air around us.
"I heard that before the old man died, he wanted to eat the dumplings made by Chu Family Daughter-in-Law, but she refused to make them. The old man was so angry he coughed up blood."
"Tsk tsk, how malicious."
My father wore a pained expression. "Dad, don't worry. I will take good care of Mom."
"You are unfilial; there are plenty of people who are filial."
Everyone felt sympathy for my father.
Only I could see the fleeting glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
My father had always been known for his filial piety.
When Grandma had surgery back then, he eagerly took on the medical expenses.
But his salary from the government job was just over three thousand a month, and he couldn't save up five thousand a year.
Mom worked late into the night at her stall, barely earning three to five hundred each day.
Yet he not only ignored household chores but also left the care of me and Grandma entirely to Mom.
Moreover, he even took it upon himself to handle all three meals for Grandpa and Grandma.
Mom had to juggle her stall while also preparing meals to deliver to the two elderly people.
My father called it: we mustn't let the elderly feel wronged.
Later, he brought my grandfather, who was suffering from dementia, to live with us.
At that time, I had only three months left before the college entrance examination.
My mother was busy trying to earn money by setting up a stall while also taking care of the three of us.
She could only sleep four hours a day.
My mother broke down in tears, saying, "The exam is just around the corner. Why did you bring him back?"
My father replied with righteous indignation, "My parents raised me; I can't abandon them."
"Yin Yin's grades are so good that sleeping less won't affect her college entrance exam," he added.
"Besides, if you were more filial, I wouldn't have to sacrifice my promotion to take care of Dad."
His reputation as a Filial Son spread throughout the neighborhood.
Meanwhile, my mother and I became the Unfilial Mother and Daughter whom everyone pointed fingers at and scolded.
Later, my grandfather passed away.
Then my father forced my mother to drink his Corpse-Wiping Water.
She ended up vomiting and having diarrhea and was sent to the hospital.
Grandma cried and wailed, "This is a sin! This is retribution!"
Dad remained expressionless, "Mom, this is what she deserves!"
Mom was suffering from a viral infection and had a persistent high fever.
Dad locked her in the old house, leaving her to fend for herself.
It wasn't until after the college entrance exams that I returned to discover everything.
Mom had been dead for three days.
Dad held her lifeless body, crying inconsolably, "My dear, this is all your retribution!"
His words were laced with bitterness.
Everyone claimed he was filial, yet it was Mom who ended up tortured to death.
Half a month later, Dad used the money Mom had saved all her life to marry his First Love.
He told me, "Only a woman as obedient and dutiful as her deserves to be with me."
I was filled with disdain for her hypocrisy and pretentiousness and wanted to confront her violently.
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