Zhu Xin had delicate features, a small face, and fair skin. Amidst a crowd of undernourished, sallow-faced, and malnourished country folk who often looked rather unkempt, Zhu Xin stood out with her gentle and refined appearance. She was neither too tall nor too short, standing gracefully before Yan Man Ru, exuding the unique innocence and charm of an eighteen-year-old girl that naturally endeared her to others.
Especially since Zhu Xin was wearing thin cotton clothes, with a thick layer of snow covering her body and hair. Her pretty face was flushed red from the cold, and as she entered the warm room, the snow began to melt, soaking her hair and clothes. Drenched and shivering, she looked particularly pitiful.
This gentle appearance was quite different from Yan Man Ru’s own striking, vibrant looks, which gave off an intimidating impression. Zhu Xin, in contrast, evoked a sense of tenderness and compassion just by her presence.
A flicker of surprise crossed Yan Man Ru’s eyes as she set down her teacup and looked Zhu Xin up and down. “What’s your name? Why are you dressed so thinly? Don’t you have any warm clothes to wear?”
Just as Zhu Xin was about to speak, Wang Xin Feng cut in ahead of her. “Yan Yi, she’s a country girl from the Southwest. It’s probably her first time in our Sijiu City, so she doesn’t really understand the weather here. That’s why she’s dressed so lightly.”
So eager to jump in—afraid she’d complain, huh?
Zhu Xin found it amusing. She could already tell that this nanny in her twenties, likely seeing her as a newcomer, was trying to put her in her place.
She couldn’t stand people playing petty games in front of her. Wasn’t this just bullying her, a country girl, for being too shy to complain and having to swallow the injustice?
Well, she wasn’t going to take it. She had no idea what “shyness” even meant.
She had deliberately stayed outside for half an hour, not just to evoke pity from the hiring family so they’d keep her, but also to teach this scheming woman a lesson.
Zhu Xin reached up to smooth the damp hair on her forehead, wet from the melting snow, and looked at Yan Man Ru with utmost grievance. “This is my first time in Sijiu City, so I really don’t know much about it. As soon as I got off the train, I rushed to the Machinery Factory. On the way, a group of men on bicycles whistled and harassed me. I panicked and ran to the Machinery Factory for help. It was only with the assistance of two Liberation Army comrades that I managed to escape and make it here.
But this older sister told me to wait outside, saying you were busy and would see me when you had time.
I thought I’d only have to wait a few minutes at most before you’d see me. Who knew I’d be waiting outside for over half an hour, nearly frozen stiff, and you still didn’t come out.
I originally wanted to wear a thicker coat, but it had patches on it. I was afraid you’d look down on me and not hire me if I wore it, so I endured the cold without putting it on.
This outfit I’m wearing is the best one I have. It was made two years ago from fabric my mother borrowed money to buy. I’ve treasured it so much that I hardly ever wear it, keeping it stored away at home.”
The Sixties Era had brought three years of famine, adding to the hardships of a land already scarred by war.
It was common for people across the country to not have enough to eat. Wearing patched clothes, unable to afford a new set of clothing for a whole year, and in the bitter cold of winter, layering old garments that provided little warmth—such were the struggles. It was not uncommon for people to freeze to death in the winter.
However, people living in big cities like Sijiu City enjoyed better living conditions than those in the countryside. No matter how poor they were, they would wear clothes without patches when going out, hiding patched garments underneath to avoid being mocked.
The Zhu family was not well-off. Although Ye Sulan and her husband worked themselves to the bone in the fields to earn work points and support their children, the family had not yet divided the household. With everyone living and eating together, the purchase of fabric for clothes, shoes, and socks had to be discussed collectively, often prioritizing the older children.
Zhu Xin and her two siblings had grown up wearing the worn-out hand-me-downs of their older cousins, rarely getting new clothes. So what Zhu Xin said was indeed the truth.
Thud! Yan Manru slammed the teacup in her hand heavily onto the coffee table in front of her, casting a sharp glare at Wang Xinfeng. "Xiao Wang, your audacity is growing! You dare to speak on my behalf and engage in such bullying behavior! It seems I’ve been too lenient with you. I’ll have to consider having someone else take care of Wanli."
Wang Xinfeng’s face paled, and she hurriedly defended herself. "Yan Yi, don’t listen to this country girl’s nonsense! You were reading in your room earlier, and I didn’t want to disturb you, so I asked her to wait outside. How could I possibly bully her? I’ve been taking care of Wanli since he was born. His mother hired me as the nanny. Without me, little Wanli would cry nonstop, recognizing only me."
Zhu Xin pursed her lips and remained silent, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on Yan Manru, filled with a look of grievance.
Yan Manru observed Zhu Xin quietly listening to their exchange without hastily defending herself, and she nodded in satisfaction. "I know very well who is right and who is wrong. Considering you’ve been taking care of Wanli all along, I’ll let it slide this time. If there’s a next time, even mentioning Xiao Su won’t help you. Understood?"
"Understood!" Wang Xinfeng breathed a sigh of relief, found an excuse, and went upstairs to take care of the infant named Wanli.
After she left, Yan Manru asked Zhu Xin to sit down. She reviewed her letter of introduction and recommendation, inquired about her family and life in the countryside, and finally said, "Since you were referred by Xiao Qin, I assume you know a bit about our family situation. I’ll be straightforward. Your job is simple: you won’t be responsible for cleaning or laundry—those tasks, along with taking care of Wanli, are handled by Xiao Wang.
Your responsibility will be to prepare three meals a day for the household and tend to my son’s daily needs. There will be a one-month trial period. If you perform well and I’m satisfied, you can stay. If not, I’ll dismiss you, but you’ll still receive your full wages.
I’m from Shanghai City and am quite particular about food. My son can only consume liquids, and my eight-month-old grandson needs complementary foods. Their meals must be prepared separately. You can decide what to cook, just make sure it’s not too unpalatable."
Yan Manru, a native of Shanghai City and a military doctor, had always been meticulous and valued cleanliness. She couldn’t stand people who were dirty or untidy. Most of the nannies previously recommended to her were older women with little education—loud, unclean, and whose cooking didn’t suit her taste—so she had dismissed them.
Later, someone recommended younger, cleaner girls as nannies, but they often had ulterior motives. Upon discovering this, Yan Manru had also dismissed them without hesitation.
She had gone through over ten nannies without finding satisfaction, and outsiders said she was picky, but she didn't mind.
At fifty-five years old, she had experienced too many things and people; she could often tell at a glance whether someone was good or bad.
This young woman named Zhu Xin, from the moment she entered, hadn't been like the previous nannies who immediately looked around, their eyes gleaming with calculation at the sight of the furnishings. Nor did she act timid or overly reserved like many country girls meeting her for the first time. Instead, she spoke and acted openly and generously, daring to defend herself and unwilling to suffer in silence. This temperament and personality were completely at odds with her innocent, guileless face, but Yan Man Ru quite admired it.
Her broken family needed someone with a mind of their own and a bit of temper to hold things together when she wasn't home.
She wondered if this young woman could handle it.
What could Zhu Xin say? She had already traveled all the way from the Southwest region to Sijiu City—there was no turning back now. It was just about preparing three different meals each day and taking care of one person. She could do it.
Back in modern times, to save money for her mortgage, she had always cooked her own meals and brought them to work.
She was a foodie herself, having explored and studied cuisines from all over the country. She was determined to do this job well.
Without further ado, Yan Man Ru took her upstairs to a small room on the east side, telling her to leave her luggage there—that would be her room from now on.
After Zhu Xin changed into clean clothes, Yan Man Ru led her to a large bedroom next door. "My son's name is Shao Yan Shu. Half a year ago, on a business trip to Wu City, he was in a car accident. He survived, but suffered multiple fractures and injuries and has been unconscious ever since.
He lay in the hospital for over four months before the doctors declared him a Vegetative Person, likely never to wake up. I'm busy with work and don't have time to care for him, nor could I leave him in the hospital indefinitely, so I brought him home to recuperate.
The previous nanny and caregiver I hired slacked off behind my back, causing my son to develop bedsores. I fired them both.
Since you've taken this job as our nanny, you must devote yourself wholeheartedly to caring for my son. If I catch you slacking off or neglecting his hygiene, I'll dismiss you immediately. Do you understand?"
"I understand. I will take good care of Mr. Shao," Zhu Xin nodded.
Yan Man Ru smiled. "Familiarize yourself with the surroundings and look around. We've already eaten, but if you're hungry, you can go downstairs later and make something in the kitchen. The fridge is stocked with all kinds of ingredients—make whatever you like, no need to hold back.
After eating, remember to use a warm towel to wipe my son's body. Don't let him get dirty or develop bedsores.
Your room already has bedding, and I'll have Xiao Wang bring you a set of clean, warm clothes to wear."
"Alright, thank you, Auntie Yan." Zhu Xin watched Yan Man Ru leave, then turned to examine the room.
It was elegantly decorated in a classical style, fully furnished with everything she needed, primarily in a white and blue European aesthetic, looking very clean and tidy.
To the east of the room were two large glass windows, both tightly shut. Looking out through them, she could see the scenery of the courtyard and the snowflakes drifting down from the sky.
In the center of the room lay a large bed placed horizontally, on which a man lay with his eyes tightly shut.
The lighting in the room was somewhat dim, making it difficult to see the man’s features clearly. Zhu Xin walked to the bedside and finally got a clear look at his face.
It was an undeniably handsome face, different from the delicate, overly made-up pretty boys of modern times. This man had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips, with well-defined facial features that gave him a traditional, upright Chinese appearance, reminiscent of the scholarly temperament of the Republican era.
His face was gaunt, his body thin and frail, and his skin had an unhealthy pallor. An oxygen tube was inserted into his nose as he lay quietly on the bed, appearing like nothing more than a weak, unconscious patient.