I am 54 years old and work in a local business unit, my wife is Chen Jianming, two years older than me, and I am also in the same unit.
Chen Jianming and I are both retiring, and his health has been deteriorating recently, and he often suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure.
Last Wednesday night, Chen Jianming suddenly said that his chest hurt, and then he fainted to the ground. I saw him fall, frightened, and hurriedly called an ambulance, and then called my son Li Zhendong, who was hundreds of kilometers away.
"Hey, son, your dad suddenly fainted, I called an ambulance, you come back quickly!" I said to him anxiously.
"What? Dad had a stroke? Li Zhendong sounded surprised, "Mom, you go to the hospital first, I have important projects to have a meeting here, and I will rush over tomorrow."
After hanging up the phone, I was anxious, thinking that my son's work is also important, but health is the most important thing.
The ambulance soon came, and the doctor gave Chen Jianming emergency treatment, and then took him to the emergency room of the hospital.
At the hospital, Chen Jianming was taken to the emergency room for further examination. The doctor tried to save him, but Chen Jianming still did not wake up.
I was even more anxious and couldn't sleep all night. When the sky was dark, his son Li Zhendong arrived in a hurry. I told him about Chen Jianming and told him to go see his father quickly.
I saw my son in such a hurry, and I felt very uncomfortable. Chen Jianming's situation is critical, his son has just arrived and is about to leave, and he does not know how his father is doing.
After my son Li Zhendong left, I took care of Chen Jianming alone in the hospital. After another rescue by doctors, Chen Jianming finally passed the dangerous period and was transferred to the general ward.
Only then did I realize that a day and a night had passed since I called Li Zhendong to rush back, and it was supposed to take only 6 hours to drive from him, but he delayed until the next night.
I thought that when I heard that my father was critically ill, Li Zhendong would rush back. After all, his father's nurturing grace is so great, life is the most important.
Thinking of my love and dedication to my son over the years, but he was so cold and heartless, my heart immediately cooled by half.
After graduating from university, his son settled in a distant big city to work. Two years later, he found a girl in the city, Zhong Lili, to get married, and insisted that we buy a house in the city and pay the down payment for the wedding house in full.
We didn't want him too far away from us, but he insisted on living in the city, so we had to dig out our savings and buy him a wedding house in the city, and we had little left from the purchase to the wedding.
Two years after marriage, daughter-in-law Zhong Lili gave birth to a grandson. Because I was still working at the time, I couldn't take care of the children for a long time, so I could only take a temporary maternity leave for a month and returned to work.
Before leaving, I took out 20,000 yuan to give to my daughter-in-law, 10,000 for my grandson, and 10,000 for her to invite her sister-in-law to take care of the child.
So he proposed that Zhong Lili's mother take care of his grandson.
I was very happy to hear it, and I thought it was best for my grandson to have a grandmother to take care of. I thought that this matter would be settled like this, but a month later, Li Zhendong called and said that Zhong Lili's mother would directly stay in their house to take care of her grandson for a long time, and asked me to remit 4,000 yuan to Zhong Lili every month as her mother's labor fee.
I was a little puzzled, why did my grandmother charge for seeing her grandson? But Li Zhendong said that this should be done, and people should not be allowed to work in vain.
So she promised to transfer 4,000 yuan to Zhong Lili every month, and she would transfer it to her mother.
In this way, since then, I will transfer 4,000 yuan to my daughter-in-law Zhong Lili on time on the 1st every month, and it has been 6 years since then.
After a month in the hospital, Chen Jianming's condition stabilized somewhat and he was finally able to discharge home. However, this sudden cerebral infarction caused the sequelae of his semi-failure, which required my long-term care.
This month's hospitalization cost us a lot of savings. Chen Jianming and I's pension together is more than 7,000 yuan a month.
In addition, after Chen Jianming returned home, he needed long-term medication and strengthened nutrition, which required a large amount of money. As soon as I calculated the account, this month's deposit was no longer enough to transfer 4,000 yuan to my daughter-in-law Zhong Lili.
I thought of owing my daughter-in-law a month or two of money first, and then make up for it later. Unexpectedly, just after the 1st, Zhong Lili sent a message the next day to ask me why the maintenance fee for this month had not been transferred.
I had to patiently explain to her that due to my father-in-law's hospitalization, we were nervous and wanted to owe her another two months and make up for it later.
The two sides were arguing, so I had to call my son Li Zhendong, asking him to persuade his daughter-in-law to give us a little time.
My heart was cut like a knife after hearing this, and my son only thought about money.
After talking to my son on the phone, my heart could not calm down for a long time. It turned out that I was a money withdrawal machine in my son's heart, and he didn't even care about his father's condition, but just blindly asked me to quickly transfer the money to his mother.
It dawned on me that I had raised my son as an adult and fulfilled the responsibilities of a mother. It is time for him to take up his obligations, but not only does he not obey his parents, but he only takes and does not fulfill his responsibilities as a son at all.
So I immediately made a decision and sent a message to my son Li Zhendong:
"Son, as your mother, I have raised you as an adult, and my task with your father is complete. You asked your mother-in-law to take care of your grandson and asked us to send money every month, which should not have been the case, but we still silently undertook it.
From now on, I will not give you another penny, the child belongs to you and your daughter-in-law, and his affairs are your own.
After sending this message, I put down my mobile phone and went out to find a temporary worker to take care of the sick Chen Jianming at a price of 4,000 yuan per month.
After that, Li Zhendong called again to admit his mistake, but I firmly stated that I would not give him another penny.
It has been more than a year since he broke off financial ties with his son. Now my life is completely focused on taking care of Chen Jianming's body.
Li Zhendong and Zhong Lili rarely go home to visit. Occasionally when Li Zhendong came back, he just flashed with an indifferent hello, and did not take the initiative to mention the money.
Someone advised me, after all, just such a son, I still can't turn my face with him. It is said that in the future, birth, old age, illness and death still need to be taken care of by the son.
I've tried my best to give him the best, and he has to go his own way.
Although my relationship with Li Zhendong is no longer as close as it once was, I have no regrets about cutting off financial ties with him.
As long as Chen Jianming and I can support each other, waiting for today, it will be the greatest happiness.
Life in the world cannot be smooth sailing. But as long as we control our own destiny, we will not be led by others.
After I decided to break off my relationship with my son, many relatives and friends advised me to think twice. They said that after all, their son was in their own blood and would need him to take care of him when he fell ill in the future.
One day, the aunt next door saw me sad about this and told me about her story. She said she had a similar experience, but eventually chose to forgive her son.
The aunt said that she raised her son and daughter and gave them all her love. But as a result, after the children started a family, they rarely came back to see her, and they did not fulfill their filial piety during the New Year and festivals.
But one day, my aunt suddenly became seriously ill and needed surgery. At that time, the two children had already retired, and the children did not come back to see them, so the aunt had to bite the bullet and call the children to come back.
But she made dozens of phone calls, and her children refused to come back under the pretext of busy work. The aunt was so anxious to tears at that time, she really couldn't bear to let her husband bear it alone, so she could only ask for help from relatives and neighbors.
"I had a hard time, but it also made me understand a truth." The aunt said, "I can't cut off my children because they are not filial, because I still need them when I am sick and old."
I came home and looked at my wife on the hospital bed, who hadn't spoken for a long time. I knew that his time was running out and that I shouldn't turn my face with my son at this time.
Early the next morning, I called my son, Li Zhendong, and said I wanted to meet him. He was silent for a long time on the other end of the phone before saying that he had been busy with work recently and would find time to come back.
A week later, Li Zhendong came back to see me as promised, along with his wife, Zhong Lili, and grandson. They spent a day at home, and although it was quiet most of the time, the happy laughter of my grandson made me feel warm for a long time.
Before leaving, daughter-in-law Zhong Lili suddenly apologized to me, saying that I had worked hard all these years and had been sending money to her mother.
I listened, and my heart was excited. I knew it wasn't easy for her, but she chose to compromise anyway. I can see the changes in my son and daughter-in-law, they finally understand, and as a parent, I should not punish them anymore.
Since that day, I have been in touch with them again. Every week my son would call me to ask how I was doing, and if I needed help, I would tell him.
Our relationship is slowly being repaired.
I don't know what the future holds, but I believe that as long as both people are willing to take a step back, any rift can be repaired.
Although we couldn't make up for the lost time, I look forward to spending the rest of the day with him.
After a while, Chen Jianming's condition became more and more serious, often coughing and tossing in the middle of the night, and sometimes he couldn't even eat.
"This old bone of mine, I can't cure any disease in the hospital, I want to walk my way quietly at home." Chen Jianming said to me.
My suggestion to go to the hospital was rejected and I was very worried. Chen Jianming saw my anxiety, so he said to me gently: "Wife, don't worry, my life is predestined, and it doesn't hurt to be a few days in advance or later."
I listened to Chen Jianming's words, and tears welled up in my eyes. We have been married for more than 40 years, we have experienced the ups and downs of life, and now we are facing separation, and I can't imagine the future without him.
"Husband, what stupid thing are you saying! You'll be fine, we'll have a few more decades! I choked and said.
Chen Jianming smiled weakly and did not answer. I knew that his heart was ready to leave.
A few days later, Li Zhendong called and said he wanted to go home to see his father. I happily agreed and began to prepare food, clean the room, and wait for my son's arrival.
My wife's illness came so suddenly, there was still some gap between my son and me, and now I finally have the opportunity to reunite as a family, and I am looking forward to it.
Li Zhendong arrived as promised, and also brought his wife Zhong Lili and grandson. The family gathered together again for a meal, and the atmosphere was harmonious and warm.
At this time, Chen Jianming said to his son: "Son, dad, I don't have much time, you and Lili must live a good life in the future, don't let your mother be lonely."
Li Zhendong listened to his old father's instructions, his eyes immediately turned red, and he held Chen Jianming's hand and said: "Dad, don't worry, I will definitely take care of my mother, you can go with confidence."
I stood on the side and looked at the father and son, and I couldn't help but shed tears. Chen Jianming looked at us with a smile, as if he was ready to say goodbye to this world.
His wife's funeral was very simple, and Li Zhendong helped take care of the aftermath. At the farewell ceremony, many relatives and friends came to see off their wives.
On the day I saw off my wife, I returned to my empty home alone. Li Zhendong insisted on staying with me and not letting me face the mourning of the first night alone.
"Mom, you're mourning. Dad doesn't want to see you so sad, he wants you to live happily. "Li Zhendong saw that I was in a very low mood and kept comforting me.
I know, my son is right. Chen Jianming wants me to live happily, and I should not let myself be immersed in sadness.
As long as we remember our wife's instructions and live strongly, we can still be together every day.