The weather was not very good, the wind was strong, and the rain was heavy. But a pleasant surprise came rushing in.
Not long after lunch, Boss Chen called and asked Lu Chenchen if she was going back home for the May Day holiday. As soon as Lu Chenchen heard his tone, she knew he had a good job to recommend.
Sure enough, Boss Chen said there was a job taking care of an elderly person over the May Day holiday. The employer was a retired professor from a hospital who lived alone. His old caretaker's son was getting married over the holiday, so she had to go back, and the new caretaker who was going to fill in suddenly backed out saying she couldn't do it. The old professor couldn't be left unattended, so he was willing to pay quadruple wages to find a reliable caretaker to fill in for those five days.
"...As soon as I heard about it, I thought of you. You have a good temper, and you're capable. If you go, you definitely won't embarrass me..." Boss Chen had a very big advantage - for the housekeepers he was satisfied with, he was never stingy with his praise, making the young and old ladies bloom like flowers. Faced with his approval, even the most difficult jobs became bearable.
"Uh huh, go ahead, what's the catch with this job?" Lu Chenchen cut right to the key point. She didn't fall for his flattery.
Boss Chen gave an embarrassed laugh, and haltingly said, "It's said...the old man's temper is a bit...not so good. Back when he advised graduate students, he scolded someone so badly they nearly had a breakdown. And later, it was because of this character flaw that he never got promoted to Dean..."
Lu Chenchen heaved a big sigh of relief. She wasn't afraid of being scolded at all. She had once taken a job caring for an old lady who lived alone. Her daughter-in-law couldn't stand the old lady's fierce temper and moved out with her son, saying she'd rather pay for a housekeeper to bear the brunt of the scoldings than move back. The old lady really did scold everyone she saw - people, dogs, it didn't matter. She went through a whole string of housekeepers, all of whom couldn't take her temper and left. Before Lu Chenchen took the job, Boss Chen had said if she also left, the old lady would probably go on the blacklist.
But Lu Chenchen had gritted her teeth and endured for three whole months - the longest of any housekeeper the old lady had hired.
Because at that time, she desperately needed money. No matter what the job, if there was an opening, she was willing to take it, biting the bullet and weeping through it all.
Since the professor was willing to pay quadruple wages to find someone to fill in, what did it matter if he scolded her silly?
Lu Chenchen agreed readily and made an appointment with Boss Chen to have the professor video interview her that evening.
At the time, they both believed it would just be a formality.
After that, whenever she had a free moment she calculated figures - how much was quadruple wages for one day, and how much was that for five days? If she did a good job and left a good impression so the professor specifically asked for her in the future when he needed help, wouldn't that be perfect? Lu Chenchen's calculations put her in high spirits, and as for whether Mrs. Mao's family needed a housekeeper over the holiday...come, let's loudly recite in our hearts: a rare muddle-headed moment!
At 6:30 that evening, Lu Chenchen happily hummed a tune as she rinsed her bowl, softly singing the song "The Lone Hero" that Elder Mao had taught her while wielding a huge cleaver to chop pigeons.
"You seem very happy today, did you find some money on the road?" Mao Yuanning joked as he came in to pour some water.
Lu Chenchen giggled in response. This man no longer had his former innocent purity. His thoughts ran deep, and he acted fiercely and decisively. She had fallen into one of his traps before and was still smarting over it. Just seeing him made her want to hide away and not dare say much.
But Mao Yuanning didn't leave after pouring his water. Instead he stood interestedly watching her put two pigeons into separate slow cookers.
"Can't they both go in one pot?" he asked.
Lu Chenchen respectfully explained to him that one pot contained angelica and other herbs to make broth for Mrs. Mao and her mother-in-law to drink. The other one had yam to make wonton soup for Elder Mao the next morning.
Mao Yuanning raised a brow and generously praised, "I've discovered you're really not bad. You have patience, and you're attentive as well."
There he went again! Lu Chenchen continued with the silly giggles and didn't respond.
After he left the kitchen, Lu Chenchen used the back of her relatively clean hand to rub her stiff cheeks and sighed - next time, close the kitchen door before working.
At 7:30, with everything tidy, Lu Chenchen returned to her own small room.
She connected the video call with Boss Chen and Professor Qi.
Both Lu Chenchen and Boss Chen assumed Professor Qi would ask routine questions along the lines of "Where are you from", "How old are you", "Can you make medicinal soups", "How good are you at cooking", etc. But he asked none of that. Instead, he directly took out a pile of medications, showing each one briefly on the screen and having Lu Chenchen read out those tongue-twisting drug names printed on the packaging. Then he told Lu Chenchen which medications he needed to take in the morning, at noon, and evening.
After that, he looked at Lu Chenchen and had her repeat it back to him.
@#¥%&*
That string of symbols represented Lu Chenchen's feelings at the time.
In the small window, Boss Chen stared woodenly, not knowing if he was looking at her or the professor or both of them together.
Lu Chenchen thought for a bit before honestly saying: "Professor Qi, this is my first time seeing these medication names. You're suddenly asking me to recite them so precisely - I really can't manage that yet. But I know you took out five medications, one is taken before breakfast, three are taken after breakfast, lunch and dinner, and one is taken after breakfast and dinner. If you could teach me in person once more, I will definitely remember them."
"What if I suddenly faint at home, how would you provide emergency care?" Professor Qi asked next.
Lu Chenchen thought again before continuing to answer honestly: "Call 120 [emergency services]."
In the small window, Boss Chen covered his mouth.
"You have no medical common sense at all!" Professor Qi bellowed angrily as his brows shot up.
It seemed she had overestimated her abilities after all. Lu Chenchen felt extremely lucky she hadn't immediately told Mrs. Mao she wanted time off over the holiday as soon as Boss Chen mentioned a high paying job. Now she could still turn around and ask to stay and earn an extra day's wages, right?
"Professor Qi, I'm just a housekeeper, not a home nurse. And as I see it, you look very spirited and energetic - not at all like someone who would suddenly faint, much less someone who needs to take five medications three times a day. At the very least, you definitely won't need that over these five days of the holiday. Why don't you make do with me for now until your regular superb housekeeper returns?" Lu Chenchen looked at him earnestly as she made a final effort to win him over.
Professor Qi directly ended the video call.
Lu Chenchen curled her lip disdainfully - he was supposed to be a professor but had no grace at all.
Boss Chen spread his hands helplessly. He probably also knew this wasn't going to work out, but as usual said he'd communicate with the professor some more.
"But how did you know he doesn't actually take that many medications every day?" Boss Chen asked Lu Chenchen.
"Didn't you see how casual he was taking things from the medicine box?" Lu Chenchen impatiently answered. "Besides, medications you take every day wouldn't be mixed together with so many other drugs like that. Typical trying to test students out of habit - he probably tries to quiz everyone."
After ending the call, Lu Chenchen turned to see Mao Yuanning standing in the doorway with the door open about a third. Lu Chenchen suddenly remembered earlier when Er Mao [second son] had run in to hide while playing hide and seek. She had coaxed him back out but had forgotten to check that he properly closed the door.
It looked like the little rascal probably hadn't shut it for her after all.
Lu Chenchen felt a little awkward.
But Mao Yuanning acted as if he hadn't heard anything. He simply told her to make him a cup of coffee.
While brewing the coffee, Lu Chenchen considered how much Mao Yuanning had overheard and debated whether she should give him an explanation.
When she took the finished coffee to Mao Yuanning's room and was about to withdraw, she didn't plan on explaining anything. There was no need for explanations.
But Mao Yuanning called for her to stop. "You won't be going home over the holiday, right?"
"I'm not going back," Lu Chenchen answered, her heart suddenly ecstatic. Was talking to him about staying any different than talking to Mrs. Mao?
"Elder Mao, aren't you guys going anywhere for fun over the holiday? If not, can I also take time off?" She shamelessly pushed her luck.
Mao Yuanning was silent for four or five seconds before softly humming "Mm".
Lu Chenchen's heart bloomed happily.
But then he looked at her and solemnly added: "I'll think about it."
Lu Chenchen's brain replayed what had just happened - his "Mm" was answering her first question. Saying "I'll think about it" was directed at her second question. In other words, he still hadn't promised her anything? That break in between was purely to lead her on?
Mao Yuanning watched as the girl's expression changed in a flash from delight to looking like Li Li [pet dog] when she spies a can of dog food but only gets one small spoonful. He nearly broke out laughing.
The heartless employer! As Lu Chenchen fumed in her room, she saw Boss Chen's missed call and his WeChat message saying: "Professor Qi wants you to go to his house by 8am on the 30th and you can leave after old auntie comes back on the evening of the 4th. I won't call to notify you anymore."
"Wow!"
The words "quadruple pay" transformed from text into bright red RMB notes swirling over her head like colorful clouds. Without looking in the mirror, Lu Chenchen could feel a smile brighter than red roses blossoming on her face.
For some reason she couldn't explain, she knocked eagerly on Mao Yuanning's door and tried hard to restrain the excitement in her voice as she told him: "Mr. Mao, you don't need to consider anymore. The domestic help company has found a job for me during the May Day holidays and they've just notified me."
Instantly Mao Yuanning's face fell.
"What's going on? I already agreed to let you stay for May Day." Dissatisfaction filled his face and voice.
Puzzled, Lu Chenchen said, "What do you mean? You said you'd think about it. Since I had no solid plans I contacted the company to find another job..."
Seeing Mao Yuanning's face growing darker, Lu Chenchen changed her words: "Alright, I'm uneducated and misunderstood your intent. But I do have five statutory days off for the May Day holidays, and I did come in to work last Sunday per regulations. Can you approve my days off these five days as required?"
"You want to discuss regulations with me?" Mao Yuanning's brows lifted.
Lu Chenchen lowered her eyes and mumbled deferentially, "No no, I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."
Her two years as a domestic helper had taught her that her superiors would never accept explanations, arguments, or rebuttals. The more she tried to resolve things, the more she had to accommodate their moods — once they were happy, her issues would be resolved.
Sure enough, Mao Yuanning smiled. "Forget it. Seeing you're so docile, I won't tease you anymore. Go earn your high pay for a few days, and when you're back put more effort into your work. See, today's coffee had a whole packet of sugar."
Lu Chenchen had just curled her lip over his "docile" evaluation when her legs turned soft at the thought of the extra half-packet of sugar in the coffee.
