After a day and night of ideological struggle, Lu Chenchen finally chose to stay. The reason was of course Boss Chen's persuasion, but the deeper deciding factor was that being penniless was even more terrifying than a dog.
Speaking of which, the dog was called "Li Li." Big Mao told her that the origin of this name was because Grandma thought it was a beautiful pastoral dog.
No matter how Lu Chenchen thought about it, she could not imagine how a sturdy, huge dog, with aggression flowing from eyes to mouth, could be called "beautiful" for whatever reason.
When Mrs. Mao took Grandma and the children out, she did not leave any instructions for Lu Chenchen. In the corner of the yard's tool room, she found cleaning supplies and cleaned up the public areas. Having just arrived, without the owners at home, she did not dare to enter personal rooms without permission, even under the pretext of cleaning.
However, as she passed by the master bedroom, she recalled the man in the wedding photo. Lu Chenchen's sweeping motions paused. She could hardly believe that in such a big world and big city, two people could meet in such a coincidental way. She felt she must have recognized the wrong person and wanted to go back in for a closer look and clear identification. Her hand was already on the door handle, but in the end, she did not turn it open.
Mrs. Mao said there were cameras everywhere in the house. She did not want to displease her employer for these unfounded reasons.
Moreover, even if she had not recognized the wrong person, what meaning would it have?
She turned her head to familiarize herself with the kitchen.
The kitchen was fully equipped for roasting, stewing, pan-frying, stir-frying, and other cooking methods. Apart from regular appliances like the oven, microwave oven, and blender, she also saw an electric steamer, a full set of cookware, an imported electric steamer, all very clean and seemingly brand new.
Lu Chenchen suddenly felt the pressure brought by the previous housekeeper. She was so capable, not only at cleaning but also maintenance.
Why did she leave?
The Mao family did not return until after 9 pm.
Big Mao washed up by himself while Second Mao and Little Ming were attended to by Lu Chenchen. It was then that Lu Chenchen learned Big Mao was already 10 years old, and Second Mao and Little Ming were 6-year-old twins.
Lu Chenchen thought of Mrs. Mao's emaciated appearance and deeply admired her for actually giving birth to twins and recovering her devilish figure.
After sending the little masters to bed, Lu Chenchen knocked on Mrs. Mao's door to ask about breakfast arrangements for the next day.
Mrs. Mao pondered for a moment and said, "Tomorrow the holiday will be over. Big Mao has school, Second Mao and Little Ming have preschool. If you make breakfast... will you have time?"
Before Lu Chenchen could reply, Mrs. Mao rejected her own suggestion, "Forget it, just wait until you get familiar. I bought bread today, tomorrow morning you can toast some for Big Mao, pan-fry a sausage, and boil an egg. Second Mao and Little Ming will eat at preschool. For me, just peel an apple."
Mrs. Mao answered very smoothly, as if this was her family's regular breakfast.
Lu Chenchen thought back to the fully equipped kitchen and contrasted it with Mrs. Mao's simple tastes...
She always felt something was off.
"What about Grandma?" she followed the children's address. She remembered the old lady had mentioned bird's nest before, which should have been soaked by now if they were to stew it.
Mrs. Mao paused for a moment, then lightly said, "Boil an egg for her too."
Lu Chenchen reflected on herself as a naive housekeeper, especially unskilled in handling the intricacies between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
The next morning she got up at 6 am and by 7 am, had breakfast on the table for the little masters as Mrs. Mao had requested.
As Lu Chenchen came out of the kitchen with warmed milk, Grandma slowly came downstairs, with Li Li following behind her. Seeing Lu Chenchen, Li Li immediately rushed forward and barked around her.
"Don't be scared, don't be scared, Grandma said it doesn't bite," Lu Chenchen desperately reassured herself inwardly while feigning calm on the surface. She was so flustered that she even forgot to say good morning to Grandma.
Grandma stared at the food on the table for a full minute, then pursed her lips and slowly sat down.
Lu Chenchen was truly afraid of dogs, especially this one that seemed hostile towards her. Its barking made her heart thump erratically. In her panic, she randomly pushed a plate towards Grandma.
"Didn't Sha Li tell you I hate eating bread?" Grandma enunciated each word heavily.
Only then did Lu Chenchen come to her senses and hurriedly put the egg dish in front of her, softly apologizing, "I'm so sorry, Grandma, I got it wrong. Mrs. Mao told me to prepare a boiled egg for you."
Grandma still did not speak or touch the egg.
She was clearly adept at expressing anger through silence.
Lu Chenchen felt her displeasure and regretted inwardly for not taking an extra step last night to knock on her door and ask for instructions.
But Grandma did not articulate her grievances, so Lu Chenchen had no way to explicitly apologize either.
Dealing with upper class people really was painfully difficult.
Fortunately, Mrs. Mao came out from her room at this time and called Lu Chenchen to help wake up the children.
The morning tummy tussle had left Lu Chenchen somewhat weary, and Li Li was still chasing and barking at her. Grandma did not restrain it and Mrs. Mao acted oblivious. Of course, Lu Chenchen was certain she actually knew everything.
After sending Second Mao and Little Ming neatly to the kindergarten in the residential area, on her way back, Lu Chenchen approached every dog walker she saw to ask for advice on getting along amicably with dogs. She wasted some time but did harvest a basketful of tips. Some said to give treats, some said to pet them, and one grandfather with an official aura actually told her that dogs were just like some people - the more you tried to curry favor, the more they would bully you. On the contrary, if you ignored them and always looked at them with eyes that could kill, that you despised them, they would grovel at your feet wagging their tail.
Lu Chenchen decided to use the old gentleman's method, because she had once seen a book in an employer's home. It was some time ago so she only remembered the title seemed to be "The Big Character," which mentioned the grassroots spirit - that is, although insignificant, one lives strongly and with dignity.
She did not know what other levels existed below the grassroots, but she knew that if even Li Li could defeat her, then she need not mention the word "human" anymore.
Hardship and disdain were nothing new to her after working in many wealthy households these past two years. After all, everyone was made up of a few strokes. Differing recognition could not change their fundamental sameness. Therefore, Lu Chenchen believed people were born equal. If someone insisted on dividing chasms, then let them! No matter how others divided, in her heart she did not feel herself to be of a lower grade.
Only Li Li was different. Li Li was a dog. She must triumph over it to become a housekeeper whom nothing could ever trouble again...
As for being dragged into the intricacies between Grandma and Mrs. Mao regarding their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship?
She believed just doing her own job well would suffice, without taking sides or participating. Being misunderstood, she need not explain, because they knew clearly in their hearts who the instigator was, who the real opponent was.
In Lu Chenchen's two years in this line of work, she had served in many wealthy households and understood clearly that no matter how mother-in-law and daughter-in-law fought, the family would still appear harmonious and loving when the doors opened.
If the housekeeper picked sides and got involved... the eventual outcome would just be ashes scattered into the air, right?
