The Price of Family

My cousin earns $500k a year at a top international firm, yet she constantly treats me like her free personal assistant.

From picking up her parents' prescriptions to changing lightbulbs in her house, one call from her and I'm expected to drop everything.

Afterward, she sends me a measly Venmo of $6.66 or $8.88, calling it a "labor fee" because she "doesn't want me running errands for free."

It wasn't even enough for gas. But for the sake of family, I endured it for three whole years.

Until Thanksgiving dinner. My uncle praised me for being sensible, but my cousin chimed in with a passive-aggressive tone:

"Young people these days only care about money. Family ties mean nothing to them."

"Take my cousin Mia, for example. I ask her to check on my parents, and without a red envelope, she won't even budge."

The elders at the table instantly looked at me differently. My mom pinched my leg under the table in anger.

I looked at her smug face and laughed.

Two days later, her mom fainted in the middle of the night. She called me frantically:

"Quick! Take my mom to the ER! I'm booking a flight back right now!"

I went, but when it came time to pay the hospital bills, I didn't front the money like I used to.

Instead, I posted the payment QR code directly into the family group chat of over 50 people and tagged her:

"Cousin, you said it yourself. Family shouldn't talk about money. You can pay for your own mother's medical bills."

I posted the QR code in the family group chat. No one spoke.

A few minutes later, my cousin Chloe Lin called me.

"Mia Lin! What is the meaning of this!" Her voice was sharp, carrying her usual arrogance. The background noise was an airport announcement.

"Literal meaning." My tone was calm.

"Didn't I say I'm booking a flight back immediately? Venmo transfers have delays. Would it kill you to pay first?"

"Cousin, sorry. My paycheck hasn't come in this month. My card is empty."

Of course, it was an excuse.

Over the past three years, the medical bills, utilities, and various miscellaneous expenses I fronted for her family amounted to at least ten thousand dollars.

She always waited days or weeks before remembering to pay me back.

And she always rounded down, saying, "We're family, why be so calculating?"

"You have no money? You're lying to a ghost! Didn't you just get your year-end bonus? My mom is waiting in the hospital. Pay the bill now! Don't play games with me!" She roared on the other end, hurting my ears.

I moved the phone away and looked at the long line at the payment window. I whispered, "Cousin, you said it yourself. Family shouldn't talk about money."

"Since we don't talk about money, isn't it only right for you to pay your own mother's medical bills?"

"You!" She was speechless with anger, finally spitting out a vicious sentence, "Just you wait!"

The call ended.

In the family group chat, someone carefully posted a question mark.

Then, my uncle sent a voice message, his tone full of authority: [Mia, stop throwing a tantrum with your cousin. Pay the money quickly. Your aunt's health is what matters.]

[Your cousin is busy with work and under a lot of pressure. She didn't mean it like that.]

Following that, the elders in the family group started taking turns.

Aunt Carol: [Yeah, Mia. Your cousin makes $500k a year. Would she stiff you on that little money? It must be a transfer delay.]

Uncle Bob: [Young people shouldn't be so petty. We are all family.]

My own mother also sent me a private message, scolding me fiercely: [Are you crazy? Making a scene with your cousin in the family group? If you don't want face, we do!]

[Pay the money quickly, then apologize to your cousin in the group. Say you were joking!]

I looked at the messages popping up on my screen, my heart turning cold.

Look, this is my family.

Right or wrong, they will only stand by Chloe.

Just because she's successful, earning $500k a year, the pride of the entire family.

While I, earning $4k a month, am the one who can be sacrificed for the "greater good" at any time.

I didn't reply to anyone. I just silenced my phone and put it back in my pocket.

The nurse shouted: "Next, family of Susan Liu!"

I stepped forward and handed over the payment slip. "Hello, we'll pay when someone else arrives."

About twenty minutes later, a notification of successful payment popped up in the group.

Chloe paid the money.

She didn't private message me again. Instead, she posted a screenshot of her flight ticket in the group with the caption:

[Landed. Rushing to the hospital. Some people really treat family affection as a transaction. For a little money, they ignore the safety of their elders. Fortunately, I, the daughter, can still be counted on.]

With a few light words, she portrayed herself as a filial daughter, while I became the ungrateful wretch who ignored my aunt's life for money.

People in the group immediately agreed.

[Chloe is truly filial. Flying back overnight despite being so busy with work.]

[Unlike some young people nowadays, calculating everything so clearly.]

My mom called again. This time her voice was choked with tears:

"Mia Lin, what exactly do you want to do! Must you make our family unable to lift our heads in front of relatives?"

"Do you know your uncle just called and scolded me!"

I leaned against the cold wall of the hospital, listening to my mom sobbing on the other end.

"Mom, on Thanksgiving, when Chloe said in front of everyone that I wouldn't move without a red envelope, why didn't you feel our family couldn't lift our heads then? Did you ask her to apologize to me?"

"That was..." My mom choked, then said after a while, "She's your cousin. She speaks without thinking. Why are you so petty with her?"

"I'm not being petty. I'm just tired." With that, I hung up.

Not long after, my uncle appeared at the end of the corridor with a dark face.

He walked straight up to me, his eyes devoid of gratitude, full of suppressed anger.

"Mia Lin, you think you're capable now? Daring to play tricks on your cousin like this?"

I looked at him without speaking.

"Your aunt is lying inside, and you're causing trouble for your cousin outside, not giving her a moment of peace even on the plane! What is your intention?"

His voice grew louder, attracting side-eyes from passing patients and families.

I didn't want to argue with him in the hospital.

"Uncle, is Auntie better? I'll go see her."

"See what!"

He suddenly raised his voice, raised his hand, and slapped me across the face without warning.

Slap! Crisp and loud.

My face went numb instantly, burning with pain.

Everyone in the corridor looked over.

"If I don't teach you a lesson, you really think your wings have hardened!"

My uncle pointed at my nose and scolded, spit almost spraying on my face.

"For a few lousy bucks, you've embarrassed the family completely! I tell you, when Chloe gets here, you must kneel and apologize to her!"

A passing nurse couldn't stand it anymore and whispered: "Sir, this is a hospital. Please keep it down."

My uncle glared at her but finally lowered his voice.

He turned to check on his wife, leaving me a cold, hard back.

I covered my face, humiliation and anger filling my heart.

The little nurse walked over and handed me a tissue, with a small packet of wet wipes on top.

"Wipe it. It's all red." Her eyes held sympathy.

I took it and whispered thank you.

Tears finally couldn't be held back and fell.

When Chloe arrived, she was imposing.

She wore a well-tailored designer trench coat, high heels, not a hair out of place, exquisite makeup on her face.

She didn't look like a worried daughter, but more like an executive on inspection.

She didn't go to the ward to see her mom first but blocked me in the corridor.

"Mia Lin, you've got some nerve."

She crossed her arms, scrutinizing me condescendingly.

I ignored her, trying to walk around.

She grabbed my arm with surprising strength.

"Did you hear what my dad told you? Giving you one last chance. Now, immediately, kneel and apologize to me!" Her voice wasn't loud but full of threat.

I shook off her hand, looking at her coldly: "Keep dreaming."

"Heh." She sneered, her eyes turning vicious. "Seems like I need to teach you a lesson. You don't know your place."

She suddenly reached out and shoved my shoulder hard.

Caught off guard, my back slammed into the wall with a dull thud.

My uncle also walked out of the ward, blocking my way left and right.

"Ungrateful thing!"

He scolded, reaching to grab my hair, trying to force me down.

"What are you doing!"

I struggled desperately, the humiliation almost driving me crazy.

This is a public corridor in a hospital. People coming and going.

They actually dared to lay hands on me here.

Chloe had a cruel smile on her face: "Today I'll let you know the consequences of offending Chloe Lin!"

She increased her strength, knee pressing against the back of my leg, trying to make me kneel.

I held on grimly, nails digging into my palms.

Just as I was about to collapse, a roar came from the other end of the corridor.

"Stop! What are you doing!"

It was my dad.

He and my mom had arrived.

My dad rushed forward, shoved my uncle away, and shielded me behind him.

"Brother! Chloe! You've gone too far!" My dad was shaking with anger.

My mom also rushed up, seeing my swollen face and messy clothes, tears falling instantly.

"How can you hit someone! What did Mia do wrong for you to treat her like this!"

Seeing my parents, Chloe didn't restrain herself but became more self-righteous.

"Uncle, Aunt, perfect timing! Look at your good daughter. For a little money, she wouldn't even pay for my mom's life-saving treatment, and she ruined my reputation in the family group! Was I wrong to ask her to apologize?"

"Is that asking for an apology? You're trying to force her to death!" My dad roared.

Hospital security arrived, dispersing the onlookers.

"Stop arguing! This is a hospital! Take your issues outside!"

A family farce ended embarrassingly under the intervention of security.

Our two families were invited to a hospital conference room.

It was called mediation, but it was really a struggle session against me.

The family authority, my grandmother in her eighties, was also summoned by my uncle with a phone call.

As soon as she arrived, she held Chloe's hand, asking painfully: "Chloe, did you suffer?"

Then she turned to me, her face sinking: "Mia, why are you becoming less and less sensible!"

Chloe immediately squeezed out a few tears, leaning aggrievedly into Grandma's arms.

"Grandma, I'm really heartbroken. I work so hard outside, just wanting our family to live a little better."

"I helped Uncle with connections, thinking we are all family, help if I can."

"But my cousin, she took care of my parents for a bit, I even gave her a labor fee, yet she thought it was too little and embarrassed me in front of the whole family."

Her words stung my parents' hearts.

Especially the "helped Uncle with connections" part.

My dad was currently running for a deputy director position at his unit. The competition was fierce.

Chloe had said before that a relative of her friend was a leader in my dad's unit and could put in a good word.

My parents treated this as a huge favor, repeatedly telling me never to offend Chloe.

Sure enough, my dad's face changed.

He looked at me, eyes full of pleading and difficulty.

My mom tugged at my clothes directly, whispering: "Mia, forget it. Your cousin didn't mean it. Just soften up, don't affect your dad's job."

Looking at them, I felt suffocated.

Seeing this, the smile on Chloe's lips deepened.

She straightened up from Grandma's arms, walked up to me, and issued an ultimatum.

"Mia Lin, I don't want to be ruthless."

"Now, bow and apologize to my parents, and to me. Then write a long post in the family group admitting you were petty and misunderstood me."

"As long as you do it, I guarantee your dad's job will be settled properly."

"I have a flight tomorrow night. Before that, I want to see your sincerity."

Everyone's eyes focused on me.

Pressure surged from all sides.

My parents, grandmother, uncle, and Chloe.

They were certain that in face of my father's future, I would compromise.

Chloe crossed her arms, wearing the arrogance and pride only a winner possesses.

I looked at her determined face, then at my parents' anxious and expectant eyes.

I slowly took out my phone.

Chloe's smile widened, thinking I was going to type an apology.

Without looking at her, I found a number in my contacts and dialed.