At the hospital, Zhou Sheng had just called during mealtime, “Mom, it’s time to eat.”
Li Yuedan looked at her own abdomen, feeling no appetite.
“I came to help take care of the children, but I ended up injuring my own stomach. What about Meili and the others? You’re at the hospital—where are they?”
Since her daughter-in-law had passed away, she had no choice but to leave the countryside to care for her grandchildren.
But as an illiterate village woman, she was unfamiliar with the city, and ironically, her hospitalization became a burden to her son.
“They’re at relatives’ homes in the family hospital area.
I took leave from the unit; I came to take care of you for a few days,” Zhou Sheng said.
“That won’t do. Matters in the unit are more important. Besides, Meili and the others can’t be left indefinitely at neighbors’ houses. People can help you for a day or two, but living like that long-term makes one uncomfortable. And my leg won’t heal in just a day or two,” Li Yuedan replied.
Zhou Sheng had thought about this too.
“Meili’s eight years old. In a few days after you’re discharged, she can go to the cafeteria for meals. Living won’t be a problem.”
“That won’t do. Meili needs to study. Xiao Kang is only four years old.” Li Yuedan paused, wanting to go home.
“How about I go back to the old house to take care of things? You can send Xiao Kang to kindergarten.”
Zhou Sheng said no.
“Fang isn’t around, so you’d be alone at the old house. And with your fractured jawbone, I can’t bear to let you travel alone by train. Maybe I can find someone to help, and pay a bit every month.”
There was no other option.
A serious injury like this would take a hundred days to heal, and her abdominal injury would take at least two months to recover.
Li Yuedan shook her head repeatedly.
“No, no. Hiring a nanny is a capitalist act. It would affect your future.”
She couldn’t help, and she didn’t want to be a burden to her son.
She’d rather limp every day to the cafeteria than interfere with his work.
Zhou Sheng said, “That’s not like a few years ago. Our commander’s family even has a nanny. They say it’s a relative from the old home, but actually, she’s hired help. You’re like this now, Meili and Xiao Kang still need care. If I don’t hire someone, I just can’t rest easy.”
After deciding on this, Zhou Sheng planned to proceed accordingly.
He couldn’t keep taking leave forever, and having someone at home to help was always better.
He went to the hospital nurses to ask if there was anyone suitable.
The nurse saw he was military and immediately promised to help look.
The next morning, the nurse introduced a relative who came by.
Zhou Sheng called her Wang Jie.
Wang Jie was polite in front of Zhou Sheng, but once he left, she was far less considerate with Li Dandan.
“Old lady, I’m going now to pick up your grandchildren. Lunch is here—eat yourself. I’ll bring dinner back later.”
Li Dandan worried about the factory and didn’t get a chance to respond before Wang Jie turned and left.
Thinking about it, Wang Jie was going to pick up the grandchildren.
She was probably reluctant to be bothered.
After all, finding help wasn’t easy, so she endured silently.
But after two days like this, Li Dandan got into trouble—she fell at the factory.
It was only when Zeng Shuyue came to see her that a doctor was called.
Now Zhou Sheng had no choice but to come from the unit.
He rushed into the house, frowning deeply.
“How did you fall again?”
Li Yuedan looked at her son with guilt all over her face.
Thinking of the work he was missing, she couldn’t speak.
Wang Jie hurriedly defended herself, “I was picking up the two children. Auntie couldn’t resist going to the factory and fell.”
“Picking up the children?” Zhou Sheng checked his watch.
“Both children eat lunch at school. At this time, you’re not in the hospital to care, so where were you picking them up?” Zhou Sheng was logical.
“Wang Jie, I hired you to look after my mother. Now give me an explanation—where were you during this time?”
Naturally, Wang Jie didn’t dare say she went home.
She thought Li Dandan was just a simple village woman, and she had prepared food and drink for her.
She figured picking up the children and settling them down was enough.
Plus, she could handle housework while at it—killing two birds with one stone.
But she hadn’t counted on Li Dandan falling again.
It was a curse—the countryside just bred stupidity.
“Battalion Commander Zhou, it takes time to go from the hospital to school. I have to cook too. Going back and forth takes time. I’m not a top, I can’t be everywhere 24 hours a day. You can’t blame me,” Wang Jie said.
Before she finished, another patient in the ward couldn’t bear it any longer and spoke up for Li Dandan.
“They’re not asking you to be here all day, but you come only to drop off meals in the morning and then leave, coming back only in the evening. How do you have the conscience to take this kind of money?”
“Did I ask you for money? What’s it to you?” Wang Jie put her hands on her hips, ready to argue.
The other wasn’t weak either.
If not for their family holding them down, they would have gotten out of bed to fight.
“I just can’t watch it anymore. Saying a fair word is too much?”
“Like a cat chasing mice, minding other people’s business! Are our affairs your concern?” Wang Jie got more and more agitated until the doctor came in and they stopped arguing.
The doctor looked at Wang Jie, then Zhou Sheng. “Battalion Commander Zhou, elderly bones are hard to heal. You must take meticulous care; otherwise, many problems will remain.”
He didn’t say how Wang Jie had cared, only telling Zhou Sheng to be more attentive himself.
Hearing this, Zhou Sheng understood the situation.
Holding back his anger, he waited for the doctor to leave before calling Wang Jie out for a talk.
Zeng Shuyue, who had been in the ward all along, barely dared to breathe.
She had heard that the hospital might hire caregivers, so she came over to check on Aunt Li’s care but hadn’t expected this mess.
Now that Zhou Sheng and the others had left, Zeng Shuyue also planned to leave.
“Aunt Li, you rest well. I’ll take my leave.”
“I’m sorry to trouble you again today, Shuyue,” Li Dandan said, making Zeng Shuyue wait a moment as she gave her an apple from the fruit basket on the table.
Zeng Shuyue tried to refuse several times but finally took the apple and left.
On the first floor, Zeng Shuyue inquired about caregiver positions at the hospital, but the hospital said they didn’t accept applications.
“Caregivers are fixed posts, not just anyone can take the job. You should go home,” the nurse said irritably.
“I’m busy, don’t waste my time.”
Zeng Shuyue wasn’t one to argue.
She stood there for a long time, hesitating, then finally started walking out of the hospital.
Winter in Rongcheng rarely freezes, but on windy days, the chill cuts through.
Today the wind was strong, blowing so hard that Zeng Shuyue’s hands and feet felt cold.
Her money was running low—just enough for a month’s living expenses and nothing more.
If she didn’t find work soon, she would have to return to the countryside.
But Zeng Shuyue didn’t want to go back.
Before going down to the countryside, her family had faced a choice between her and her elder brother.
Her father had no hesitation in choosing to keep the older brother in the city.
Later, once she was down in the countryside, her soft personality made her easy to bully.
She hadn’t intended to marry at first, but someone at the Zhihu Point persistently pursued her, even attempting force.
After He Dong rescued her, she married him.
Zeng Shuyue was unwilling to give up.
She was willing to endure hardship and take on any dirty, tiring work, but she wanted to root herself in the city—to prove herself.
“Comrade Zeng!”
As Zeng Shuyue took a deep breath, a voice suddenly called behind her.
Turning around, she saw Zhou Sheng.
Thinking it was about Aunt Li, she asked, “What happened?”
“It’s indeed related to my mom. I just saw you asking if the hospital was recruiting caregivers. Are you looking for work?” Zhou Sheng asked.
Zeng Shuyue nodded.
“That’s great! I just fired Wang Jie. She didn’t take care of my mom properly.”
Zhou Sheng had just argued with Wang Jie.
Other patients in the ward could testify to Wang Jie’s negligence.
Plus, Wang Jie tried to extort money from him.
He’d grown wary of referrals and instead thought Zeng Shuyue was a good choice.
“You’ve seen my mom’s condition. It won’t get better in two or three months. If you’re willing, how about becoming a nanny at my house?”
“My family has two children: an eight-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son. The job is to care for my mom, escort the kids to and from school, and prepare meals. Once I get off work, you can go home.”
Seeing Zeng Shuyue stunned, Zhou Sheng quickly added, “The salary is thirty-five a month, including meals. How about it?”
He had asked others; this wage wasn’t low.
Also, other nannies lived in, but he could accept a live-out caregiver.
“Comrade Zeng, you… why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Ah? I can do it!” Zeng Shuyue was so happy she froze for a moment, feeling like a pie had dropped from the sky. “Comrade Zhou, I’m willing to be your nanny. When do I start?”
Now, no matter the work, she was willing.
As long as she had a job, she could stay in Rongcheng.
Zhou Sheng looked toward the hospital with difficulty.
“You see my mom’s state. Can you start today?”
Zeng Shuyue agreed.
“But I have to inform my family; otherwise, they’ll worry if I don’t go home.”
“Good. I’ll wait for you at the hospital.” Zhou Sheng went back and told his mother about the arrangement.
Li Dandan quite liked Zeng Shuyue, feeling she had a good temperament and was kind.
“She seems better than little Wang.”
Zhou Sheng: “I think so too.”
After getting off the bus, Zeng Shuyue ran all the way home happily.
Only her mother was there.
She tightly hugged her, “Mom, I found a job!”
“What kind of job?” Lin Jiazhen was happy for her daughter.
Hearing it was a nanny position, her frown gradually relaxed.
“But Shuyue, being a nanny means watching people’s moods. Can you manage?”
“Mom, I’ve been looking for work for half a year. The neighborhood committee never assigned me anything. Do you think I can still wait?” Saying this, Zeng Shuyue sighed. “They’ve said plenty behind my back about this. I don’t care, but Shengnan is sensible—I don’t want her listening to the eldest sister’s cold mockery all day.”
“Besides, what job doesn’t require dealing with people’s moods?”
Lin Jiazhen agreed.
Hearing it was a military family, she felt relieved.
“Then you work hard. Shengnan has her mother. I’ll help you take care of her.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Zeng Shuyue told her mother to hide the apples.
“Keep them for Dad and you.”
There were only four apples—too few for the whole family.
Lin Jiazhen wasn’t greedy.
“I won’t eat. When Yuling and Shengnan come home from school, I’ll give them some. Isn’t Comrade Zhou waiting for you at the hospital? Hurry and go. Don’t keep him waiting.”
She was glad her daughter had a job.
Although being a nanny wasn’t a glamorous title, with her younger daughter going into business, there was nothing worse.
After seeing off her second daughter, Lin Jiazhen went to kindergarten to pick up the two children.
Back home, she sliced apples for them and immediately busied herself preparing a big meal.
Before, with the second daughter’s help, chores were easier with two people working together.
Now she was a bit tired, but she still had energy, smiling quietly.
When Zeng Shuyi came home, seeing her second sister gone, she casually asked and learned that her sister had found a job.
That night, after coaxing her niece to sleep, she asked her younger brother to bring a small lamp and specifically waited for her eldest sister to return.
“Shh, Shengnan is asleep,” Zeng Shuyi pulled her second sister toward the kitchen.
“I left you some hot water to soak your feet. Why are you so late? Is the work okay?”
It was already eight o’clock.
At this hour, everyone else at home was asleep.
“All is well.” Zeng Shuyue had a job and didn’t feel tired at all.
“Just these few days I’m late because Aunt Li is hospitalized. After she’s discharged, I can come home an hour earlier.”
If her daughter were at her own home, she could be a live-in nanny, avoiding the daily commute.
“Are the Zhou family members easy to get along with?” Zeng Shuyi asked, showing concern.
Zeng Shuyue said they were all good.
“Comrade Zhou works during the day; the children go to school. Aunt Li is very easygoing, unlike most village grandmothers.”
She felt lucky to have met good people.
“That’s because you kindly helped Aunt Li first; that’s why their family thought of you. Second sister, I’m happy for you. Earning with our own skills makes us all proud!” Zeng Shuyi laughed.
“I’ll go to sleep now. You have to get up early tomorrow, right?”
Zeng Shuyue said yes, getting up at six to buy breakfast and send the children to school.
The next day, when Zeng Shuyi woke up, her second sister had already left.
Holding the soft little niece, she helped her dress and soothe her.
“Your mom came back. She even held you to sleep last night. Just a few more days of school, then you’ll be on holiday.”
He Shengnan held her third aunt’s hand and whispered, “I miss Mom.”
“But your mom has to earn money. Eating costs money; drinking water and electricity cost money. Our Shengnan is the best, right?” Zeng Shuyi kissed the little girl’s rosy cheek. “Just a few more days at school, then third aunt will take you to see Mom, okay?”
“Pinky swear.”
“Haha, pinky swear!”
After coaxing her niece, having breakfast, Zeng Shuyi was about to go out.
Near the end of the year, everyone’s demand for New Year’s goods was especially high, especially meat, eggs, and sugar.
But the city’s supply was limited.
In recent days, her mother had gone to queue at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative before breakfast to buy meat but could only get half a pound, not to mention other New Year goods.
So Zhao Fu and his brothers planned to go to the countryside to collect goods, and Zeng Shuyi decided to go with them.
Usually alone, Zeng Shuyi didn’t dare to go to the countryside by herself.
She wasn’t familiar with the area.
If anything happened, she wouldn’t be able to defend herself or run, and the unit wouldn’t arrive in time.
These days, she had grown close to Zhao Fu and his brothers.
With them going to the countryside together, she felt brave enough to join in selling goods.
They arranged to meet in the east of the city.
Zhao Fu and his brothers rode a tricycle, carrying salt, red dates, and other dry goods.
Zeng Shuyi was savvy; she never asked where Zhao Fu and his brothers got their goods.
She herself had brought sewing supplies and scraps.
Village people couldn’t buy things as conveniently as in the city, especially daily necessities.
Zeng Shuyi also brought a basin of malt sugar, weighing a full five pounds.
Near the end of the year, every household prepared some sugar-coated peanuts to serve guests during the first lunar month.
Her wish was to trade for some meat or maybe chickens and ducks.
After months of hard work, the New Year should be a time to eat well.
“Shuyi, we’re almost at Lianjiang Village. Just follow our lead. My uncle is the village party secretary,” Zhao Fu said as they approached.
Without that connection, the brothers wouldn’t dare to come here to exchange goods.
Zeng Shuyi understood.
“Okay, I’ll follow your lead.”
The three stopped under the big banyan tree at the village entrance.
Zhao Fu playfully pinched a child’s cheek.
“Go tell your mom and grandma that we’re here to exchange goods.”
“Okay, Uncle Fu, I’m going now!” The child was familiar with Zhao Fu, taking several red dates from his hand before running off.
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