02/18/25 - They’re good parents if their kids survives to adulthood, don’t abuse their kids, and don’t drag their kids down in their prime.
Another compilation of hospital stories:
“You have no idea. I have leukaemia, and it’s going to cost over a million RMB. My family sold everything we have. When I went in for my revisit, I saw a really pretty car in front of me, so I asked my dad about it, and my dad says it costs a million. I have no idea what happened then, but my heart just sank. Other people’s mode of transportation is my life.”
“Your family is so good to you! They’re willing to sell stuff off to save you! A lot of poor people would’ve chosen to give up.”
“I remember a middle-aged man who just got his prescription and is going to pick up his medicine. 14.8RMB. He took out a plastic bag, which had a bunch of change in it, nothing over 10RMB, and started counting them one by one. Nobody in line hurried him. Everyone was quiet. But what can we do? This is reality.”
“I hear that an epidural is only a couple grand, but some mothers will refuse it because it’s too expensive and just bear with the pain…I just hope they don’t pass on this “greatness” to their children, and talk about how much they had to go through to give birth to you or whatever.”
“One time, I went to get a checkup, and a mom was paying her fees with a kid with a bad leg. It was only a couple hundred bucks, but she had to dig around in her bag forever, and the kid kept fussing. I just ended up paying it for her, and she almost kowtow’d to me. I really didn’t know how to feel. The money I spend on a meal or on doing my nails could’ve saved somebody else’s life.”
“I’ve been procrastinating for two years on getting a wisdom tooth removed for 600RMB. It’s not that I don’t have the money, but there are so many other things I could do with 600RMB. Now it gets inflamed every month, and I just take some anti-inflammatories and call it a day.”
“Dude, what can you do with 600 bucks? Go get your teeth pulled.”
“I’m just a student. I only get 200RMB a month for living expenses. I can buy so many things with 600RMB.”
“A couple of years ago, there was a grandpa in the hospital who couldn’t put together enough money to save his wife. He was bawling his eyes out. I thought it would be some astronomical number, but it was actually just 20,000RMB. At the time, I was wearing a gold bracelet that was worth 30,000RMB. I just felt really bad. I walked away three times and went back. I double checked with a doctor, and he was telling the truth, so I just gave him my gold bracelet and told my parents that I’d lost it. But, but, but! I got in a car accident that year and got ran over by a car! The other guy hit and ran, but a nice person saved me and there wasn’t much wrong with me. I just had to get 7 stitches on my scalp and 3 stitches on my arm, and that’s all! I still think this is a blessing from giving my gold bracelet away!”
“Female Korean college student believes she’s being kidnapped and dies jumping out of taxi. Deaf, 80-year-old driver ruled innocent. “According to Korean YTN TV station news on the 18th of February, back in 2022, a female college student from Pohang-si mistakenly believed she was being kidnapped, jumped out of a taxi, and was ran over and killed. On the 18th, Korea’s Supreme Court ruled that the taxi driver is not guilty.
On the evening of the 4th of March, 2022, said student was getting a taxi back to her college dorm. Because the 80-year-old taxi driver was deaf, he misheard her destination. The student reminded him twice, but the driver didn’t hear. Thereafter, she opened the car door and jumped out, and was struck by an SUV and died.
The report says that both the initial hearing and the appeals court in Korea ruled the taxi driver was not guilty. They believe that he, “could not have possibly predicted that the victim would have jumped out of a taxi driving at over 80km/hr into an automobile only lane.”
Comments say, “How familiar.” [An almost identical case happened in China, but the rideshare driver was sentenced to 1 year in prison and 1 year parole.]
“This is a truly civilised country.”
“Where’s their bottom line? Where is justice!?” [followed by an irony emoji]
“This afternoon, I went to the store and bought a moisturiser and an eye mask. I brought it to the counter, and the worker scanned everything and got me to pay. After scanning the payment code and paying, my friend checked out next. I didn’t look at my phone during dinner so I missed a call. I get tons of scam calls anyways. My mom even got one today that said my name, “Are you blahblahblah’s parent?” (My sister is in high school, so I’m sure her informationg ot leaked everywhere). Then I got texts. I don’t get what the hell they’re doing. What does this even mean? Do I have to send proof of payment or something? To prove I paid for it? I’m a regular there. I don’t get why the merchant would do this.”
[OP shows texts from an unknown number which reads, “Sister, I’m [store name]. You bought a bottle of [brand] moisturiser this afternoon, but are you sure you paid for it? Could you send it over again? I tried calling but you didn’t pick up. This phone number is also my wechat account number. Please add me and send me the money, thanks.”
Op responds, “I don’t pick up calls I don’t know because of scams. I already paid. Didn’t you check it? You can look at your security cameras. If I hadn’t paid, you wouldn’t have let me leave the store, right?”]
Comments say, “She might’ve just been unsure or forgot or something. Just send her a screenshot of your payment confirmation. How is this such a big deal? This is so childish.”
“If you paid, you would have a record. Just give it to her.”
“There’s a record if you paid. Just send it over and be done with it. No matter what you say, she’s going to think you didn’t pay.”
“I got a comment from a man, 35-years-old, who left a comment accusing his mom. That growing up, she was always super stingy and very strict with him. Criticism-first education philosophy. Never encouraged him. And she never comes through when he needs her. For example, in middle school, he was an excellent sprinter. But just because his mom didn’t want to pay 360RMB a month in boarding costs, he didn’t get into the regional sports team. The kid that ran less well than him got to win medals in a national competition and has a great life now. And for example, he tried to get them to buy a house in 2013. At the time, the unit he wanted was only 2000RMB per square metre. He’d almost convinced his dad, but his mom refused to agree to it. Now that house is almost 20,000RMB per square metre…and lots of small stuff like this. His mom looks down on his girlfriend too. Basically, he feels like his mom ruined his whole life.
His dad passed away during covid. After that, he started renting on his own and going no-contact with his mom. He has a sister still living at home, 31-years-old this year, still single. Every time he would fight with his mom, his sister would be on his mom’s side and berate him, so he’s no-contact with her too.
He’s got a good job right now, makes just about 200K a year. He’s very happy, because this is very high income for a Third or Fourth Line City.
I asked him what he wants, and he said that he think his mom is in the wrong. Why would his sister be on his mom’s side? I asked him if he gives his mom money. He said no. I asked him if he gives his sister money. He said no. I asked him how he was any different from his mom. He said that he had better projections of the future than his mom. Even though he only went to technical school, he makes more money than college or postgrad students. I was like, “Why comment if your life is going so well?” And he said that he just couldn’t get over it. This has been bothering him for years. Why is his mom so narrow-minded and short-sighted?
I was like, “If you’re asking me to tell you whether you’re in the right, I can’t do that. I can’t say that your mom is in the right either. I think the reason you left me a comment is because you’re still a good, moral person at heart. Your morals are bothering you, because your heart can’t be at peace. If I had to be the judge, I think you’re worse than your mom. She acted the way she did because your family was poor. You didn’t have any money. And she had to carefully calculate where every cent was going. But you are rich now, and you’re refusing to spend money on your family, and you think that your success is entirely due to your own hard work.”
He said, “But it’s still true that my mom hurt me and my sister.”
And I was like, “Sure, but is it possible that she also protected you as best as she could? We’re talking about the difference between attitude and capability here. She’s only capable of so much, and she did her best to protect you, but there’s still a leak in the roof, and the rain still drips in. Your pants got wet, and you’re blaming her for not shielding you from the rain? Her entire back is soaked, you just can’t see it.”
He said that his dad died because of his mom’s procrastination. He’d tested positive, but she kept dragging her feet on taking him to the hospital because she was worried about getting sick herself. I told him that in those circumstances, with so many people dying left and right, there’s not much medical resources available anyways. There’s no telling what would’ve happened if they went.
In the end, he asked me what he should do. I told him to go back home. To go face the two closest family members he has in his life. Blood is thicker than water. There’s nothing they couldn’t get through together. He’s ignoring the problem that he’s the support beam of his family now, but he’s refusing to go home.
He said he was scared of going home, because his mom is going to berate him again if she sees him. I told him to get in touch with his sister first, give her some money, or buy her some stuff. There’s a generational gap between his mom and him, it should be easier to talk to his sister. Talk to her first, lower yourself. Your sister has been taking care of your mom all these years. You have to show your appreciation and gratitude. Then we can talk about the rest. As for marriage, put it on the back burner. Deal with your family first, and love will come naturally to you. You’d just be screwing over other people’s daughters if you brought them into this mess now.
He said he’d try!
I said just a couple of days ago that if an adult, especially a middle-aged adult, keeps going on about how shitty his family is and how it’s caused him to not do well, I think it’s a bit excessive! So long as you weren’t born disabled, nothing is truly a problem! Good luck! Work hard! It’s good enough to be a successful ordinary person!”
Comments say, “All of this is small stuff. Don’t put too high of expectations on your parents. They’re good parents if their kids survives to adulthood, don’t abuse their kids, and don’t drag their kids down in their prime.”
“I got sent to dance class when I was small, and the teacher said I was the most talented out of all the kids there. My mom said, and I quote, “Dance? Forget dance! No normal person does that shit!” I’m really good with languages. I rely on my Chinese and English exams to raise my general score in the Gaokao. My primary school English teacher had me be the class representative so I could learn more stuff. My mom told me, “You don’t even know how to speak anymore! What is that gibberish?” She went on and on like this until I just completely gave up.”
“What a saint you are. You didn’t have to go through the suffering so of course you’re on the mom’s side. After all, you don’t have to pay anything to put yourself on the moral high ground and accuse other people.”