I Cried Upon Seeing the Bank Statement

Sending $1,000 to My Mother Every Month, Yet Her Bank Account Was Empty When She Passed Away: I Cried Upon Seeing the Bank Statement

The story of Aunt Tong and her son in China recently went viral on the Toutiao platform.

Everyone in the village admired Aunt Tong because her son was not only successful but also very devoted to her. The villagers affectionately called him Xiao Hang. He started his own business in his third year of university and founded a company at 27. Many villagers asked him for help in finding jobs for their children.

Aunt Tong’s husband passed away when Xiao Hang was just 15 years old. Despite being a single mother, she worked tirelessly to raise him. She made sure he had a good life and grew up to be successful. After many years of struggle, her hard work finally paid off.

With a thriving business, Xiao Hang bought a house and a car in the city. He invited his mother to live with him, but she refused, saying she preferred the peaceful countryside. When Xiao Hang turned 38, he married a kind, intelligent, and beautiful woman, which made Aunt Tong very happy.

However, after a few years of marriage, Xiao Hang visited his mother less often. Villagers noticed that Aunt Tong looked sad and not as cheerful as before. One day, she was seen sitting on her doorstep, staring into the distance. Some thought Xiao Hang might be having financial troubles and was too embarrassed to return, but that wasn’t true. He sent her $1,000 every month, sometimes even more, for household expenses.

When the villagers spoke to Aunt Tong, they learned that Xiao Hang was too busy with work to visit. She often called him just to hear his voice, but their conversations were short because of his meetings. Even during holidays, he couldn’t make it home for a meal with her. This was why she seemed lonely and sad.

One day, a neighbor saw Aunt Tong collapse on the ground, struggling to breathe. The villagers rushed her to the hospital and called Xiao Hang. Sadly, the doctor said she had suffered a brain hemorrhage and could not be saved. The entire village mourned her passing. Xiao Hang immediately returned home to arrange her funeral.

While going through his mother’s belongings, he was shocked to find that her bank account was empty. For over ten years, he had sent her $1,000 each month, so there should have been money left. Confused, he went to the bank for a statement.

When he saw the records, he was stunned. His mother had donated all the money to an orphanage near their home.

At the orphanage, the manager explained that Aunt Tong had spent her weekends there, playing with and caring for the children. She once said that being with the orphans made her feel less lonely. Every month, she donated the $1,000 she received from her son to buy food, toys, and sweets for the children.

Hearing this, Xiao Hang broke down in tears, realizing he had made a mistake—leaving his mother alone for so long.

For elderly parents, nothing is more valuable than spending time with their loved ones. Aunt Tong must have felt very lonely in her final years.

May this story serve as a reminder to cherish time with family, especially with parents.