My uncle, who was also my father-in-law,
Left me his ration card after his death.
My uncle’s ration card was used by him, his wife and their children.
It’s especially helpful when buying bread.
My son and I took care of him.

He got very sick before his death.
He had been away from his wife for thirty years.
Instead of leaving him alone,
We convinced him to stay with his wife.
There was conflict between them,
But they made up.
We took him to live with her.
My son and I visited them every day.

She asked me about the ration card one day.
“I use it to buy bread.
I get you some every day,” I said.
“We don’t want bread.
I don’t eat it,” she replied.
“How about we share the supplies I buy with the card?” I asked.
“We want the ration card itself.”
“I applied for one myself.
I’ll give this one to you when I get mine.”

I was buying bread the following day when I found out that the card wasn’t working.
I was told at the supply bureau that my mother-in-law had come to the office with her sick husband,
And cancelled the card.
I was shocked.

It might not seem like a big deal,
But they’re my family.
I had a strong urge to go to their neighborhood,
And tell everyone what they had done to me.
What was I supposed to do now?

None of you ever thought of asking me how I provide for my son.
I try to make ends meet.
It’s not like you care about us.
How come this is when you decide to get involved in my life?

For thirty years, you were left to rot alone.
My son and I were the only ones who took care of you.
We were making it work together.
That day, I went home feeling like the world was ending.
How could the people closest to me do this?
I stopped talking to them.
I have three ration cards now.
An old lady gave me hers.
She consoled me and told me to use hers until mine was issued.
She left her card with me for three years.

I found out that my uncle was very sick from my neighbors.
She wouldn’t let me in to see him.
But I didn’t let her stop me,
And I took him to a hospital.
I stayed with him in the hospital for more than ten days.
They were unusually nice to me during that time.
His daughter would thank me for being helpful,
And my mother-in-law was like a completely different person.
Just because I was lending them a hand.
But I wasn’t doing it for them.
My mother-in-law went back to her old self during the funeral.
It was one of the most difficult experiences I ever went through.