My sister and I gave up our inheritance for our older brother

All three of us siblings received a proper education. More than ten years ago, an airport project was developed near our home, causing land prices to rise. Besides the house we lived in, my parents owned a rather large plot of land, valued at over VND10 billion (US$390,000) at the time. Its value is much higher now.

After my father passed away, we got married one by one. Our mother wanted to divide the family land equally among us, but my sister and I both agreed to transfer our share to our older brother, who has been the pillar of the family since our father fell ill and passed away.

Money can buy many things, but it cannot buy family bonds. It is family bonds that determine how relatives treat each other, not degrees or academic achievements.

My parents were both teachers. Since teachers earned very little back then, they also worked on the fields to avoid having to buy rice.

While farmers finished work at 5 p.m., my parents only began their farm work at that time after returning from their main job. Life was difficult in every way, but they were always gentle with us. They would give us stern looks when we made mistakes and praise us when we did something well.

My father liked to eat chicken heads, and my mother liked to eat chicken necks. They loved them. Throughout my childhood, I always wondered what made my parents prefer them so much. Whenever we had the chance to eat chicken, those were the only parts they ate.

Now, my siblings and I have achieved some success. We can buy our parents anything they want and take them anywhere. But my father is gone, and my mother only wants to stay at home, tend to her garden, prepare herbal medicine, and wait for her children and grandchildren to visit on weekends.

She does not like city life as she is used to living in the countryside.

"When I grow old and weak, I will follow whatever arrangements you make," she said.

I feel very fortunate to have grown up surrounded by my parents' kindness and love. That is why I now raise my children the same way they raised us.

*The opinions were translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.