I have little at 34 because mother insists I start life without inheritance

Reading a recent story by another reader about how their best friend is more industrious and intelligent than them, but has a much rougher life due to not having family wealth to inherit, I cannot help but feel empathy for the friend.

I have also struggled in life, not because my family lacked resources, but because my mother insisted that her daughter start life without any help. This was either due to her fear that I might squander her money or her belief in traditional gender roles.

My older brother, who was never particularly good at studying, went back to our rural hometown after finishing school, married, and received land from our mother to build a house and manage the farm. My brother once left for seven years without contacting any family members.

I, on the other hand, have always been more eager to learn. I worked to earn money to support my studies. Even when I just started my career, I never hesitated to give my mother anything. But I have come to realize that people often take things for granted.

I used to travel over 50 kilometers every weekend from my school or work to help my mother with household chores and the garden. Four years ago, I moved 300 kilometers away from my family, but I still made it a point to visit my mother once every one or two months.

I have been working for over ten years since graduating, and I still only make just enough to get by. At 34 years old, I still do not have much to my name because of the lack of family support.

On several occasions, I suggested that my mother lend me some money so I could buy a house or invest in a business. Each time, I received nothing but silence from her, even though she was willing to lend the title deed to her land to help someone outside our family.

Now, I remind myself not to expect much when it comes to inheritance. Even if my mother decides to distribute her wealth when I turn 50, it will not matter much to me. By then, I may have lost the drive to keep striving or missed any opportunities for growth.

Can people who start life without an inheritance ever catch up to those who have one?

*This opinion was translated into English by AI.Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.