Not long after transferring money to my father, my phone rang continuously.
Every time I think back to my childhood, I always have a feeling of grayness, like the old black and white TVs with no color, which can’t be said to be sad but not very beautiful either. My biological mother passed away when I was only 6 years old. After that, I lived with my grandparents, and my father worked far away to make money.
Life was very difficult for me at that time. It wasn’t until the third year after my mother passed away that my father got married to a new wife. My stepmother had a broken marriage and had a stepson who was 1 year older than me, so I called that person my brother.
After the two got married, my father no longer worked far away. My father and stepmother do not have any more children together. Over the years, my family has been quite peaceful and rarely quarreled.
Actually, the relationship between me and my stepmother is not too deep, because we are not related by blood anyway. As for my stepmother, although she always prepares me what I need, she still treats her stepchild better than me.
There is one thing I always remember. That year, I failed the university entrance exam. I wanted to continue studying for the exam to retake the exam next year like my stepbrother, but my stepmother pushed me away. He told me I had poor academic performance and that even if I studied for the exam, it would be difficult to pass, so he advised me to get a job. Although I was very upset about this, thinking about what my stepmother said was quite reasonable, I myself was not confident enough to pass the exam next year, so I went to work.
However, from then on I became more indifferent to my family. I felt lost in my own home, so I decided to work far away, only returning to my hometown once a year.
Not long ago, my stepmother fell ill. Dad quickly called me to ask for money to treat her. At first, my father was hesitant to tell me how much it cost, but after asking again and again he said the number 100 million.
I’m not a cold-blooded person. This is the first time after all these years my dad asked me for money. Therefore, I quickly transferred the money to my father and promised to arrange a time to visit my stepmother.
Not long after transferring money to my father, my phone started ringing again. At first it was an unknown number calling, I picked up the phone but no one answered on the other end.
As soon as I hung up, the phone rang again. This time it was my father who called, but when I asked, the other end of the line didn’t say anything. About 2 minutes later, my dad called again and he said he dialed the wrong number. I was surprised, but didn’t think much about it.
But a moment later the phone rang again, this time it was my stepmother’s number. I quickly picked up the phone, and on the other end of the second slowly said:
– Lam, you don’t have to send money back, don’t listen to what your father says, it’s just a small surgery, it doesn’t cost much. Mom and Dad have money, so no matter what he says, don’t give it to him.
– You don’t have to worry about money, I already transferred money to my father earlier. Please rest assured to take care of your health.
Lam is my name. After asking about my stepmother’s condition, I heard my father’s voice from afar. He seemed to be blaming my stepmother for calling me. I can also guess the reason. Maybe my stepmother didn’t want to bother me, but my father had no choice but to ask his daughter, me.
Not long ago, my father called me to borrow money to treat my stepmother’s illness. (Illustration)
Early the next morning, I received a series of messages from my stepbrother: “Lam, thank you for spending money on my mother’s medical treatment. When I have the money later, I will definitely return it to you”, “Thank you very much, sister. It’s also because I really don’t have that much money right now that I have to bother you. But don’t worry, when I have the money I will return it to you”, “Lam, thank you very much, I will definitely be filial to my parents”.
He thanked me for every word and promised to pay. Reading those messages, I was stunned for a moment and then burst into tears. He never called my father dad, nor did he ever call me his sister, but often addressed him as “you – me”. He has never texted me like this. So this time when he texted me, he showed me that he considered us a family, which really touched me.
I just replied to you: “We are all a family. Don’t worry too much, brother.”
At this point, we, who were not related by blood, have truly become a family, and all the sadness and dissatisfaction of the past have disappeared. I just hope my stepmother recovers soon so we can reunite together.