Chapter 1: Wu Zhiqiu  

The biting wind of midwinter made her whole body tremble, and heavy snowflakes, like goose feathers, drifted down from the sky.

At this moment, Wu Zhiqiu—Old Madam Wu—held a medical diagnosis in her hand, her heart colder than the dead of winter, a bitter taste filling her mouth.

She had cancer. Breast cancer.

Though the physician had said the cancer cells hadn’t metastasized, that surgery would suffice and her life expectancy wouldn’t be affected—

But judging by the attitude of her sons and daughters waiting outside…

Wu Zhiqiu glanced down at the diagnosis paper in her hand. A forced, ugly smile crept across her deeply wrinkled face. Forget it. She had no one to blame but herself. She had been foolish enough to hand over all the family property too early, placing all her hopes in the goodness of others’ hearts.

 Not everyone is born with a conscience.

Old Madam Wu’s sons and daughters stood out in the heavy snow, their faces flushed red as they argued noisily. Each one of them looked like they’d been fed jumping candy while still in her womb—leaping and shouting without pause.

“Big Brother, you’re the eldest. The family spent so much money sending you to university and then abroad. Now that Mom needs surgery, you should cover the costs!” said Old Madam Wu’s youngest son, Li Xing’an, directing his words at the eldest, who had cost the family the most over the years.

“Third Brother, I got into university and studied abroad based on my own merit. The family could’ve supported you too—if you had the ability. Mom is everyone’s mother; this expense should be shared by all,” the eldest retorted with a sneer, casting a mocking glance at the younger brother who lacked any real accomplishments.

“No way!” Li Xing’an objected immediately.

“Sure, I didn’t have the ability to get into university or go overseas, but I didn’t drain the family’s funds like you did either. The family invested the most in you. You took half of the compensation from the previous demolition—when it comes to paying for the surgery, you’re the one who should take responsibility!”

“I admit the family spent the most on me, but that was Father’s duty as a parent. What does that have to do with any of you? I don’t feel I owe you anything!”

“Third Brother, supporting one’s parents is every child’s obligation. The law doesn’t say that just because one sibling cost more growing up, they should also bear the full burden of their parent’s medical and living expenses. And besides, it wasn’t just Big Brother who studied abroad—didn’t our Little Sister go overseas too? Stop fixating on Big Brother alone,” said Sister-in-law Wang Yue, finally speaking up.

“Big Sister-in-law, according to traditional customs, it’s the sons who are responsible for supporting their parents in old age. I haven’t received a penny of the family’s assets, so don’t drag me into this,” said the youngest sister, Li Fengchun, calmly as she took off her glasses and wiped away the snow.

“You’re hilarious, Little Sister. You’ve been living overseas for so many years, and now you want to lecture us about traditional customs? This is a society governed by law. You’re Mother’s daughter, so you also have a duty to support her,” Sister-in-law Wang Yue replied, with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m fine with contributing,” Li Fengchun said, ignoring her Sister-in-law and turning to look at her Big Brother. “But first, take out the share of the family property you received from Father and Mother and use that to pay for the surgery. If it’s not enough, then we can split the rest.”

The others turned to look at their Big Brother, Li Xingguo.

“Why are you all looking at me?” Li Xingguo brushed the snow off his coat and spoke slowly. “First of all, I didn’t get all the property. Second, from a legal standpoint, that property belonged to our Mother. She had every right to give it to whomever she wanted—it’s nobody else’s business. Regardless of whether you received any inheritance, each of you is still obligated to support her.”

None of the siblings were surprised by this kind of response from their eldest brother. He and his wife had never cared about appearances. No matter what was said, as long as they didn’t have to fork out more money, they couldn’t care less how others talked.

“How much is the surgery going to cost?” asked the second son, Li Xingye, who had remained silent until now.

 “All in all, it’ll cost around two hundred thousand yuan,” Wang Yue quickly replied. “And that doesn’t include the follow-up treatment expenses.”

“So we’re talking about forty thousand each, split among the five of us?” Li Xingye asked in response.

“Second Brother, I didn’t—”

“Shut up!”

Li Fengchun had just started to say she hadn’t received any inheritance and shouldn’t have to pay, but Li Xingye cut her off with a sharp bark.

Fuming, Li Fengchun stomped her foot and turned her back on the group.

“Second Brother, I don’t have that much money. You all know what my situation is,” said the eldest daughter, Li Fenglan, her face lined with hardship. Her hands were covered in chilblains, and she wore a tattered military coat that looked like it had seen decades of wear.

Compared to her younger siblings, she was the very picture of poverty and desolation.

As soon as she finished speaking, Wang Yue shot a glance at Li Xingguo.

Li Xingguo returned her look with a silent signal—

Let Second Brother’s Wife and Third Brother’s Wife speak. They couldn’t be the only ones talking, or it would make him, the eldest son, seem stingy and unfeeling.

 The Second Brother’s Wife kept her head down the entire time, showing no intention of speaking.

Third Brother’s Wife, He Meina, curled her lips in disdain. “Big Sister, everyone’s going through tough times. If you don’t pay your share, it means the rest of us have to cover it. I don’t know about the others, but our family has no money. Even this forty thousand—we’ll have to borrow it from my mother’s family.”

Li Fenglan’s tears froze on her cheeks before they could fall completely.

“Mother, even if we have to sell everything we own, we’ll find a way to get the money for Grandmother’s surgery!” said her daughter, Yu Manman, who had been standing silently behind her.

“But we really don’t have anything…” Li Fenglan covered her face in anguish.

“Mom, if it comes to it, I’ll take out a loan. There’s no way we’re going to delay Grandmother’s treatment just because of us!” Yu Manman’s expression was firm. No matter what, she wouldn’t allow her family to become the reason Grandmother’s surgery got delayed. Her mother couldn’t carry that kind of blame.

 Hearing this, the expressions on everyone’s faces grew slightly awkward, but no one said anything further.

“Since we’ve settled the surgery costs, now we need to discuss the issue of support,” Li Xingguo continued.

At present, Old Madam Wu lived in a rented single-story house, and she was the only one living there.

However, after the surgery, she would need someone to take care of her, meaning she couldn’t stay there alone anymore.

“Didn’t Big Sister just say she could take care of her?” He Meina muttered under her breath.

Everyone turned their gaze toward Li Fenglan.

Yu Manman’s face grew cold. “Aunt, don’t push your luck!”

He Meina immediately bristled at her words. “How have I been bullying you? Didn’t your mother just say it herself?”

Yu Manman’s lips curled into a cold smile. “My mom said we don’t have any money. Why didn’t you hear that? You only heard what you wanted to hear! My mom may be honest and naive, but I’m not!”

He Meina glared at Yu Manman, but was pulled back by Third Brother, not continuing the argument.

“Big Brother, what do you mean? Just say it directly,” Li Xingguo said, looking off into the distance, his gaze lost in thought.

 Wang Yue gave the eldest brother a slight nudge, and he nodded in response. He cleared his throat.

“Well, both your big sister and I have jobs and are quite busy, so maybe the rest of you can take turns looking after her. Of course, we won’t expect you to do this for free—we’ll pay.”

Wang Yue’s lips curled into a slight smile as she glanced at Li Fenglan.

Li Xingguo also looked at Li Fenglan.

Yu Manman’s heart grew colder, her lips curling into a sneer. This couple was truly revolting—taking all the benefits and still scheming to take advantage of others.

Li Fenglan, however, was too preoccupied with the issue of the forty thousand yuan to care about what they were saying.

After Li Xingguo finished speaking, no one responded.

He coughed awkwardly, realizing the situation was uncomfortable. “Big Sister…”

“Uncle, don’t bother!” Yu Manman shot back immediately.

Li Xingguo…

“Let’s rotate taking care of her—each family will take one month! Big Brother, you’ll go first,” said Third Brother, Li Xing’an.

Wang Yue shot a glare at Li Fenglan but remained silent.

 The matter seemed to be settled, and the sons, along with their wives, left with a sense of finality. No one even bothered to go into the house and check on Old Madam Wu.

Only the two daughters remained behind.

Li Fengchun glanced at Old Madam Wu’s door, then turned and walked away.

Li Fenglan sighed, wiped the frost that had formed from her tears, and entered the house.

“Mom, what would you like to eat tonight? I’ll make it for you!”

Yu Manman looked out at the heavy snow falling, contemplating how she could gather the forty thousand yuan.

Old Madam Wu didn’t answer her eldest daughter’s question. Instead, she reached into the bed’s alcove and pulled out a bundle wrapped in newspaper.

She shoved it into her eldest daughter’s hands. “Go back.”

Li Fenglan glanced at the newspaper and immediately knew what it was. “Mom, I don’t want it. You keep it for yourself. I have money!”

 “Take it, it’s for you. Fenglan, you’ve worked hard these years, I’ve let you down,” Old Madam Wu said.

“Mom! What are you saying?” Li Fenglan’s tears streamed down her face as she collapsed by her mother’s side.

“Fenglan, be smarter. Stop being so foolish,” Old Madam Wu said, stroking her eldest daughter’s graying hair. This daughter would immediately open her heart to you with just a few words—it was truly too naive!

“Mom! I understand!” Li Fenglan cried, her tears falling freely.

After they finished eating, Old Madam Wu didn’t let Li Fenglan or Manman stay to keep her company.

She lay alone on the bed, thinking about each of her children, from when they were small to how they had grown.

She thought about her own biases, about her late husband, and about the scenes of her children fighting outside…

She thought about how she, Wu Zhiqiu, had been strong all her life, only to face such a desolate old age!

A mocking smile lingered at the corner of Wu Zhiqiu’s lips, her heart thumping erratically.

And so, on this cold winter night, Old Madam Wu ended her life, all alone, in silence.