I was also worried, wondering if Peng Xiaomin was just a vase or someone who really rolled up her sleeves to work. I could only vaguely reply, "The housekeeping company introduced her, so she should be... not bad."
My mother didn't ask any more questions and went to clean up the unused guest room. Just after she made the bed, I saw Peng Xiaomin roll up her sleeves neatly, pick up the vacuum cleaner in the corner without waiting for anyone to call, and press the switch. The low humming sound instantly broke the silence in the room. She started to clean the floor with familiar movements, and her initiative and dexterity made me feel a little relieved.
I left the bedroom and met my father's scrutinizing eyes. He put his hands behind his back and looked me up and down carefully, frowning slightly, as if he was looking for some clues from my face. He cleared his throat and finally spoke with a bit of caution from an experienced person: "This child, he dresses like a nanny..." He paused, his eyes meaningful, "You are out again..."
"Dad!" My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly interrupted his guess, clarifying with a bit of urgency, "Don't wrongly accuse a good person! I was thinking that you two old people are getting older, and housework is hard, and Xixi also needs someone to take care of her. Finding a helper will make me feel more at ease, right?"
As he was talking, the door of the study was pushed open with a creak. A small figure rushed out like a cannonball. It was Xixi. The little girl's face was red and blue, just like a little cat. The little clothes on her body became a doodle board, covered with colorful oil paint pen marks. She giggled and rushed into my arms without caring about anything.
I picked her up, put on a stern face, and rubbed the paint on her cheek with my fingertips: "Oh my little ancestor, look at you, your whole body is like a palette, how can you still look like a little girl?"
Xixi didn't care about that. She hugged my neck and gave me a loud kiss on the face, leaving a rainbow-colored mark. Then she said in a baby voice, "Daddy, come and play with me!"
At this moment, the bedroom door was pushed open with a click. Peng Xiaomin leaned out, covering her mouth and nose with one hand, her delicate eyebrows slightly frowned, and her voice floated out in a muffled voice: "Guan Hongjun, there is too much dust in this room! It's choking! Don't you have a mask? Find me one?"
Her natural way of calling her by her name was like a pebble thrown into a calm water, instantly stirring ripples in my parents' eyes. They exchanged a meaningful look - which nanny would call the host family like this? The name was full of familiarity and awkwardness.
Peng Xiaomin probably also immediately noticed the strange feeling of solidification in the air. Her eyes flickered, and almost at the same time, her voice became a little lower and her tone became more polite, with a bit of urgency to make amends: "Ah, that... Mr. Guan, could you please help me find a mask?"
Without saying anything, my mother immediately turned around and went to look through the medicine cabinet in the living room. Xixi in my arms seemed to have discovered a new world. She stared at the stranger in front of her with her big eyes blinking, and said directly with a child's special way: "Who are you?"
"This is the new Aunt Xiao Min. She will help grandpa and grandma take care of Xixi in the future." I hurriedly explained.
Peng Xiaomin's eyes fell on Xixi in my arms. The awkwardness caused by her slip of the tongue was immediately replaced by pure love. A gentle smile appeared on her face, and her voice was especially gentle: "Little boy, you are so cute! Tell auntie, what is your name?"
"My name is Xixi!" The little girl answered loudly, not shy at all, and asked back, "What's your name?"
"My name is Xiao Min," she said with a smile as she leaned closer to Xixi, "You can call me Sister Xiao Min."
Xixi tilted her head, looked at me, then carefully examined the pretty face in front of her, and suddenly said something shocking: "You are not as pretty as my Aunt Xu Tong." The tender child's voice was particularly clear in the quiet living room.
The smile on Peng Xiaomin's face froze for a moment, and was immediately replaced by curiosity: "Aunt Xu Tong?" She subconsciously raised her eyes and looked at me.
My heart skipped a beat and I immediately changed the subject: "Are you cleaning by yourself? Would you like me to help?" I said in an anxious tone, trying to change the focus.
Unexpectedly, when Xixi heard the word "clean", she immediately twisted in my arms, like a slippery little fish, and slid out of my arms. She rushed to Peng Xiaomin's legs, raised her little face, and said enthusiastically: "Sister! Sister! Let me help you!"
Peng Xiaomin reluctantly took the ordinary mask handed over by her mother. She looked down at the little man beside her legs, eager to try, a sly look flashed in her eyes, and she shook her head seriously: "That's okay, Xixi. There are so many "Grey Princes" hidden in this room, and I have to defeat them all! They are so powerful, you are so young, you can beat them!"
The term "Grey Prince" immediately excited Xixi. She did not back down, but became more excited and puffed out her chest: "I'm not afraid! I'm brave! I'll help my sister fight the Grey Prince!" Seeing her charging forward, I frowned and was about to open my mouth to stop her -
"Okay!" Peng Xiaomin agreed first, with a smile in her voice, as if she was convinced by her "bravery". "Since Princess Xixi is so brave, let's fight together and drive away the 'Grey Prince'!" As she said that, she put the adult mask, which was obviously several sizes larger, on Xixi's little face.
My mother frowned as she watched. This girl was so reckless! She said quickly, "Oh, this mask is too big. The child can't breathe even if he wears it! Wait, it's for children only." Then she quickly squatted back to the medicine box and quickly took out a small cartoon children's mask and handed it over.
Peng Xiaomin didn't have the nerve to stick out her tongue, and quickly took the children's mask, carefully put it on Xixi, and adjusted the elastic band. She also put on the mask neatly. She looked up at me, caught the joy on my face that I hadn't had time to hide, and her eyes quickly turned around, and immediately threw out a solution: "It's okay, after cleaning, I can take Xixi to take a bath. Anyway, she is covered with oil paint, so let's wash it together!" The tone was relaxed and natural, as if this was a natural thing.
After that, she stretched out her hand to Xixi and lowered her voice, as if sharing a secret mission: "Are you ready, Princess Xixi? Our 'dust removal war' is about to begin!"
Xixi had been stuck in the rules of the kindergarten and her grandparents all day long. She had never met such a "sister" who accompanied her in her craziness and "fighting"? Her little face lit up with excitement, and she cheered. She tightly grasped Peng Xiaomin's fingers with her little hands, and eagerly pulled her to the bedroom where the "Grey Prince" was entrenched.
At the moment when the bedroom door was about to close, Peng Xiaomin quickly turned around and glanced at me. Where was the awkwardness or apology in her eyes? There was a little pride flashing, even a little provocation, clearly saying: "See? Done! Xixi likes me!"
The door closed with a click, leaving me and my parents in the living room with different expressions, as well as Xixi's excited screams and the hum of the vacuum cleaner faintly coming from behind the door.
In this way, Peng Xiaomin was like a stone thrown into the water, quickly integrating into this family, and the ripples that spread out were warm and real.
What she showed was far more than the duties of a "nanny". She served three meals a day on the table on time, and the dishes were innovative, delicious and tasty. What was even more rare was her meticulous care - the meals she carefully prepared not only took into account the light, soft and balanced nutrition required by my parents Mai, but also met the calories and protein required for Xixi's growth, and she also didn't forget to insert some flavors that children like.
In her spare time, her deft hands never stopped massaging my parents' shoulders and necks, dredging their meridians, or lighting moxa sticks to drive away the cold and dampness. Her thoughtfulness won the old people's praise. To Xixi, she poured her full patience and tenderness into her, taking care of her meticulously, becoming the most trusted playmate and guardian in the eyes of the child.
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