Funeral Home Workers 35: Suffering in Wealth and Poverty
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In the hazy twilight, it seemed as if the silhouette of a graceful girl appeared faintly at the foot of my bed. Her hair was elegantly styled up, and she wore a luxurious pink gown that suited her perfectly. I couldn't see her face clearly, but I could hear her voice flowing gently: 0
 
"My name is Qiuya Zhuang. Ever since I can remember, my father has been very busy, so busy that I might only see him a few times a month. My family is wealthy—very wealthy. Since childhood, whatever I wanted, my parents would buy for me. We not only have a house in the center of Jiangcheng but also a standalone villa by the riverside, complete with a garden and a private swimming pool. We have not just a housekeeper but also a dedicated driver to serve my mother and me. 0
 
My mother doesn’t have to work; she spends her days reading books, sipping tea, and playing cards leisurely. When I started elementary school, my father sent me to the best boarding aristocratic school in the city. My tuition was eighty thousand a year, and with various fees, it totaled over a hundred thousand. 0
 
I live well, but I long for my father’s company like other classmates have. I once asked him, 'Dad, why can’t you be with me more often?' He replied, 'Sweetheart, your dad needs to earn money so that you and your mom can have a good life.' I thought that as long as my father was by my side, that would be a good life. 0
 
He also said, 'Even though I'm not home often, your mom is there with you... Listen to your mom and be good.' I understood the saying 'You can't have both fish and bear's paw' deeply: the comfortable material life I enjoy now comes at the cost of losing my father's companionship! 0
 
However, as I grew older, I began to dislike this lifestyle more and more. I wished that when I returned home on weekends, my father would come to pick me up—even if it wasn’t in our BMW 7 Series; just riding an electric scooter would satisfy me. Then I could boast to my classmates: 'Look! My dad came to pick me up too!' 0
 
I once shared my troubles with my best friend from kindergarten, Honghong Zhou. She couldn’t understand my complaints: 'Your dad isn’t around, but you still have your mom with you! Look at us; our family of four lives in a seventy-square-meter apartment. My dad comes home every day but just ends up arguing with my mom about how hard he works for money! And then she scolds him for not earning enough. 0
 
You live in a big house that looks like a park; your monthly allowance is higher than our entire family's living expenses! If you’re still not satisfied, how are families like ours supposed to get by? I dream of going to your school, but we don’t have the money for that!' 0
 
Perhaps everyone has their own troubles. 0
 
When I entered middle school, I became sensitive and felt abandoned by my father. I studied hard to distract myself from the loneliness, helplessness, and frustration inside me. My grades were among the best in the entire grade; classmates praised me and teachers liked me, but who knew what I was really thinking? 0
 
On Friday afternoons, Uncle He would drive me back home. I'd see my mother sitting at the card table while Aunt Qiu took care of my meals and drinks. When Uncle He took me back on Sunday, she was still at the card table with a group of idle aunties playing Mahjong. 0
 
The two days at home passed by as I played on my phone and watched TV. I missed my father. 0
 
I tried calling him, but he was either in meetings or seeing clients or on a business trip—his phone was simply unreachable." 0
 
 
In the eyes of my classmate Honghong, I am the happiest person, but deep down, I feel utterly unfortunate. Little did I know, my misfortune was only just beginning. 0
 
 
 
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