The Toutiao website published a story about Mr. Ly Hai Dao, a 74-year-old man living in Beijing, China. I have 3 sons named Ly Cuong, Ly Cuong, Ly Dung, all of them are doctors. Each month, each son gives me 1,000 yuan (about 3.4 million VND) for my living expenses.
At first, I thought my sons were very filial. I received the money and felt very happy.
“Dad, I sent you the living expenses for this month. Please check if you have received it,” every month, my eldest son Ly Cuong would send me that message. “The money has arrived Dad. I have been working hard. Are you busy?” I always replied and asked my son like that.
“I’m busy with a new project, maybe I won’t have time to visit you at the end of this month,” Ly Cuong messaged.
I smiled: “Good boy, you have to work hard. I can do everything on my own, so you don’t have to worry,”
My second son, Ly Cuong, currently lives with his foreign wife in England. Every month, he also sends money to me on time. I often brag to my neighbors that I have a very filial son living abroad, who gives me money every month.
In old age, Ly is always supported by his sons with monthly living expenses. (Illustrative image: Sohu)
My youngest son, Ly Dung, lives alone in Beijing. Although the distance is not far, every day he has to work in the laboratory and rarely comes to visit me. But he also sends me monthly living expenses on time and always texts me to ask if I have received them.
At first, I was very happy about this and felt that I had raised 3 very good children who could support me for a comfortable retirement. Until one day, I realized that the amount of money my sons gave me was always 1,000 yuan and there was no change.
That was when I got seriously ill and had to be hospitalized for a week. My three sons still sent the monthly living expenses on time, 1,000 yuan each, but didn’t ask any more questions. I angrily called my eldest son Ly Cuong: “I am sick and hospitalized, and you just send money without asking if I need more or if I’m okay?”
“Dad, my work requires a lot of expenses. I really don’t have extra money. How did you end up in the hospital? The hospital expenses and staying in the hospital are not too high. You also have savings,” Ly Cuong explained.
I didn’t know what to say, I could only stay silent and hung up the phone. I suddenly realized that in the eyes of my sons, the living expenses they gave me were just a duty, a responsibility, not a sincere desire to take care of me better. From then on, I no longer felt as happy as before, and I was no longer enthusiastic about the living expenses my sons sent.
Afterwards, I called and asked to meet my sons. I said to my eldest son Ly Cuong: “Son, can you take some time to come home and visit your dad? It has been a long time since I saw you.”
“This month, I can’t come home, Dad. I’m busy with the project, in the crucial phase, and I really can’t take time off,” Ly Cuong replied.
I called my second son Ly Cuong: “Can you come back to China during the holidays? Dad misses you and wants to see you.”
“I’m really sorry, Dad. My wife and I have booked tickets to Australia. This time we can’t postpone it,” Ly Cuong replied.
I called my third son Ly Dung: “Can you come home tonight to have dinner with me? I cooked some dishes that you liked when you were a child.”
“This month, I’m very busy in the laboratory. I have to work overtime in the evenings, so I can’t come home for dinner,” Ly Dung replied.
But when I got sick, I longed for my sons to come and visit. (Illustrative image: Sina)
My heart tightened when I heard my sons’ answers. It turns out, in the eyes of my children, the existence of this old father has faded so much. Even when I suggested meeting them, they found excuses to reject it.
Then I got sick again and had to be hospitalized for sudden pneumonia. I called all 3 of my sons, hoping they could put their work aside to come and visit me. But the answers remained the same. They all used excuses like “I’m busy,” “I’m overseas and can’t come back” to avoid coming.
I lay in the hospital bed, tears streaming down my face. I was seriously ill, but my 3 sons refused to take the time to visit their father. I felt a sense of loneliness enveloping this 74-year-old man.
Afterwards, I returned home and lived alone for a while. My children occasionally called and sent me monthly living expenses. But I knew that their hearts were no longer with me.
One day, I suddenly got sick again. The doctor informed me that my condition was extremely critical and my children needed to be prepared early. So, the hospital contacted them.
“You need to come to the hospital immediately. Your father is in critical condition. I hope you can come as soon as possible to be prepared for any unexpected events,” the doctor called.
At this point, my 3 children left their work behind to come to me. Hearing their reactions, I understood that finally they realized that their father didn’t have much time left, so they hurried to come and visit. A few hours later, Ly Cuong arrived at the hospital, looking tired with messy hair and wrinkled clothes, as if he had been working all night. My second son arrived at the airport and came to the hospital immediately. My youngest son came to the hospital with a worried expression, sweating and holding my hand: “Dad, don’t worry. We will take good care of you.”
Looking at the worried faces of my children, I felt a pang in my heart. I understood that in their eyes, the living expenses they gave me were just a duty, a responsibility, not a love that came from the heart.
Afterwards, I got worse and had to be admitted to the hospital for end-stage lung cancer. My children reluctantly came to visit me.
My eldest son Ly Cuong came to the hospital very early, wearing a neat suit, with flowers in his hand. I thought that finally my son valued me. But when he entered the hospital room, Ly Cuong suddenly took out his mobile phone and said, “Dad, wait a moment. I will capture this moment on my phone.”
At that moment, I felt so heartbroken. Perhaps my son just wanted to show off his actions on social media?
Tears streamed down my face, my heart felt stabbed. Throughout my life, I had worked hard to raise my 3 children. But now, when I was about to leave this world, what I received was so pale.
Have my successful children found no place for this old father in their hearts?
I suddenly remembered the time when I just got married. I happily told my father: “Dad, I have a son now. I will definitely raise them to be well-behaved and filial children.”
My father smiled and said: “The responsibility of parents is to educate their children well, but the maturity of the children ultimately depends on themselves. When they grow up and have their own world, we have to learn to let go and not force them too much.”
At that time, because I was still young, I confidently said: “I will definitely educate my children well so that they don’t forget their roots and become filial children. That is the greatest dream in my life.”
Now looking back, I don’t know if I was wrong or if my children were wrong?
Finally, he also learned to accept and let go. (Illustrative image: Sohu)
“Old Ly, in this world, nothing can be perfect. You should learn to accept reality,” an old neighbor sighed in front of my hospital bed.
I lay on the bed, tears streaming down my face. Yes, I should not force my children. Since that day, I started the final journey of my life, arranging my belongings, saying goodbye to my neighbors. I also didn’t expect my children to visit me every day and let them do their work as they wished.
When the day comes for me to leave, perhaps my children will be very sad and in pain. Yes, in this world, which child doesn’t love their father, and which father doesn’t love their children? Maybe I should be glad that my children have achieved success…
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