How to resolve resentment? Only through diligence.
When Lu Chenchen returned to the Maos' house, she learned that Mrs. Mao was very unhappy with Lu Chenchen's "arbitrary decision" to rest on the May 1st holiday, even though she had been represented by Mao Yuanning. With that one "allowed" word, plus Lu Chenchen's previous childish behavior of being blinded by money between her and Mao Yuanning, as soon as Lu Chenchen walked in the door, Mrs. Mao gave her a cold look of "I don't like you anymore".
Fortunately, the children seemed very happy to see Lu Chenchen.
Big Mao rushed over. Lu Chenchen thought he was going to give her a big hug, but the first thing he said was, "I want egg custard! Now, immediately, right away!"
Following his cue, Second Mao and Little Ming also started shouting. Second Mao said he also wanted some, and Little Ming, swinging her ponytail that was almost coming apart, said in a soft voice, "Potato crackers, potato crackers, potato crackers."
Compared to Mrs. Mao's expression, which seemed to say that she would ask Lu Chenchen to settle the bill and leave at any moment, Lu Chenchen was truly grateful to the little masters for saving her.
Not only to repay the three children, but also to guard against Mrs. Mao firing her, Lu Chenchen put down her bag and went into the kitchen to make the snacks the children wanted, soak bird's nests for Granny Mao and Mrs. Mao, and, despite the late hour, cleaned all the public areas again.
Early the next morning, after preparing breakfast for everyone, while Mrs. Mao was still there, Lu Chenchen took out all the door mats from each room and spread them out in the yard, setting up a stand to wash them after taking Second Mao and Little Ming to kindergarten.
That rascal Mao Yuanning deliberately smiled and amiably asked her what was the big deal with such a large setup so early in the morning. Fortunately, Lu Chenchen was prepared and pointed to the barely-risen sun with an honest, guileless look, saying, "Washing early means they'll be dry and can be taken in by the afternoon. Also, people won't get harmed by the sun."
He clicked his tongue appreciatively and praised Lu Chenchen for being capable, saying that if she kept this up she would certainly have unlimited prospects in the future.
Lu Chenchen giggled foolishly and let out some flattery, saying her prospects all depended on their family - if they did well and had great success, with a nanny for each person, she could then rely on her seniority to become the housekeeper.
Mao Yuanning laughed heartily, leaving in very good spirits in his "bright black" car.
When Mrs. Mao took Big Mao to school, although she still didn't give Lu Chenchen a kind look, at least she didn't say anything about letting Lu Chenchen go.
In the evening Lu Chenchen made a plate of sour soup fish without Sichuan peppercorns. She had learned to make this dish when working for an employer from Guizhou - it was supposed to have Sichuan peppercorns to be authentic, but last time when Mrs. Mao frowned slightly after drinking the soup, Lu Chenchen figured that all the other seasonings were still common, except the Sichuan peppercorns, so this time she left them out. Sure enough, after drinking a spoonful, Mrs. Mao ladled half a bowl for herself and also picked out some pickled bamboo shoots to eat.
This morning, after the usual polite yet aloof greeting to Lu Chenchen, the anxiety that had gripped Lu Chenchen's heart for a day and two nights finally settled back to its original place.
She was so happy to have cleverly made it through this hurdle.
Only now could she think about what to do next.
Professor Qi, this gem of a neurologist, was someone Lu Chenchen would never give up on no matter what.
But Lu Chenchen couldn't, and had no way to, continue approaching him.
Granny Mao?
Lu Chenchen felt that Granny Mao's attitude towards her, which had always been indifferent, neither warm nor cold, neither resentful nor kind, was actually a complete ignoring of her existence.
Who would help someone they considered as invisible? What good would it do to help invisible air?
Mrs. Mao even more so needn't be mentioned. If Lu Chenchen asked her for help, she would most likely first scold Lu Chenchen for being a silly nanny who "kept working until she truly became part of the family", and then settle the bill and directly tell her to hit the road. Besides, who was she? Given Professor Qi's memory, she was probably just a passerby.
It seemed to Lu Chenchen that the only person who could completely gain Professor Qi's trust, speak on her behalf in front of him, and also, hold a certain approval of Lu Chenchen without malice, was Mao Yuanning.
Going through him to move Professor Qi to lend a helping hand was probably the only feasible method right now.
Before this, Lu Chenchen had to move him first.
Lu Chenchen had to first move a member of the upper class who had been forged by society into a titan of steel? Oh no, he wasn't just a titan of society, he was also full of slyness, holding slyness towards his wife and the woman who raised him.
Hmm, and very quirky.
As the labels stuck on one by one, Lu Chenchen's confidence trickled away bit by bit.
Oh well, she couldn't keep analyzing. The more rational thought, the less determination. A flock of wild geese flew over her head; she either had to keep aiming, or let loose an arrow.
Lu Chenchen chose to loose an arrow.
She would continue making this mind map.
As a nanny with an accurate understanding of herself, Lu Chenchen believed there were only two ways to move someone of the upper class like Mao Yuanning.
One was to appeal to his sympathy. She could tell him everything about her and Le Hai's situation, moving him to lend a helping hand.
But this method also had a problem - Lu Chenchen wasn't sure if this story could move Mao Yuanning. He... okay, he wasn't who he used to be anymore. The current him was a famous lawyer who had emerged victorious from many lawsuits. He had probably even heard stories involving loss of life, let alone Lu Chenchen's situation which didn't have any casualties. After being immersed for many years in cases where he extracted benefits from stories, if he heard Lu Chenchen's story, would he analyze it one two three four, and then, with the word "stop loss" represent the extent of his goodwill?
The second tactic was... The second tactic was to give, give, and give some more - to be his most loyal and dedicated nanny, only focusing on giving without seeking anything in return. When all of her giving accumulated to a height that Lu Chenchen was unwilling to be repaid for, perhaps he would have no choice but to satisfy a wish of hers that wasn't difficult for him to grant. This was the "willingness to give" principle that Lu Chenchen's kind were used to hearing - with giving, there was gaining. It was also called the "scale" principle.
Many people had probably heard of this before, it was just that people willing to give first and gain later were truly few.
Lu Chenchen just so happened to be one of the willing.
She hadn't seen how kind Mao Yuanning's character was, but at least he wasn't malicious or heartless. There was clearly some estrangement between him and Granny Mao, and he also wasn't very intimate with his wife, but he was obviously providing for the two women who lived luxuriously but had no source of income. For someone like him, perhaps he wouldn't listen to Lu Chenchen's story, but when Lu Chenchen wholeheartedly worked for him to a certain degree, he should give equivalent recompense.
The branches and leaves of Lu Chenchen's mental map were just about full enough. Connecting back to the main trunk, her finger heavily dotted once - done!
There was a very classic line in *No Asking East or West*: "Ask only for freedom, ask only for blossoming, ask only for passion, ask only for original aspirations, ask only for courage. No asking east or west."
She had made up her mind - she would do it this way, exerting all her effort to save herself and Le Hai from desperation. If she failed...
It would be just as Le Hai said - calmly sitting down, watching the swirling clouds, letting the affairs of the world come and go naturally.
