For Xiang Yu's mother, there was some resentment in her heart, but she knew she had neglected Xiang Yu over the years and owed her a lot. Holding Xiang Yu's hand, she said, "Sweetheart, I know you've been wronged. You're my only child, and I do care about you. Please don't blame me, okay?"
Xiang Yu smiled slightly, "I don't feel wronged, nor do I blame you. Taking care of oneself is never wrong."
Her mother's heart was uneasy. Xiang Yu had always behaved like an adult, never showing a child's temperament, which made her seem less human, making her mother a bit afraid of her. Yes, she, as a mother, was somewhat afraid of her daughter. Xiang Yu was so indifferent and detached, speaking to her as if a teacher was instructing a student. After a while, her mother said, "Sweetheart, Mom is leaving soon. I have two apartments. I want to give one to you and one to your uncle. What do you think?"
"The apartments are yours. You don't need to ask me how to handle them."
"The one we bought together, the apartment for expatriates, I'll transfer to your name. Both are in the same place, so it'll be convenient for you to manage. I'll give the one I'm living in now to my brother,your uncle's family. They have a lot of people, and he has been helping me with the business all these years. They're still cramped in the old house."
Xiang Yu smiled lightly, "Mom, hasn't uncle earned any money all these years? Your business seems to be doing well."
"Sigh, he's made some money but doesn't manage it well. It all slips away," her mother sighed.
Xiang Yu sighed inwardly, then said, "Mom, if you go abroad, no one will be able to look after him, and no one can help him. Even when you were here, you couldn't stop him from spending all his money. If you leave and transfer the apartment to him, he might sell it, and then, where will his family live? What can you do from so far away? It's better to keep the apartment in your name and let Uncle's family live there. That way, you won't have to worry, and if you want to come back, you'll still have a place to stay."
Her mother nodded repeatedly, "That's a good idea. Your aunt in law suggested that I transfer the apartment to her name, but I wasn't comfortable with that. Keeping it in my name and letting them live there is better."
"Mom, you must insist on this. Don't let Uncle persuade you to transfer it. Think about what kind of person Uncle is. Doing this is a protection for him, for yourself, and even for Aunt in law."
Her mother felt touched by Xiang Yu's advice. She knew Xiang Yu still lived in the old house and didn't even have her own room. She had worried about what to say if Xiang Yu was dissatisfied and demanded her share, but she hadn't asked for anything and had given such comprehensive advice. Holding Xiang Yu's hand again, her mother asked, "Sweetheart, are you sure you don't want to come with me?"
Xiang Yu didn't say anything, just shook her head with a smile.
A week later, the transfer of the other apartment was completed, and Xiang Yu now had two properties under her name, both rented out and generating good income. When she went to the bank to inquire about a loan, she was initially told that as a student with no income, it would be difficult to get approval. However, when she mentioned using the apartments as collateral, the staff said they could consult with their superiors, and it was likely possible, asking her to come back in a week to discuss further.
Finding a part-time job wasn't going smoothly. She had found two weekend gigs as an exhibition hostess, which paid well but would reduce her time with her grandmother. For now, she had no better options. Xiang Yu hoped to find some basic clerical work, preferably in the evenings, such as processing documents or tutoring students, but so far, nothing had worked out.
Xiang Yu had already discussed the idea of hiring a live-in nanny with her grandmother at home. Her grandmother, of course, opposed it, fearing it would be too expensive. Xiang Yu explained her thoughts patiently, saying that her mother was actually paying for it and had transferred the apartment to her name, and the rental income would easily cover the nanny's salary. In the end, her grandmother, concerned that Xiang Yu might worry too much and neglect her studies, and knowing that Xiang Yu's mother was going abroad, reluctantly agreed to hire a nanny, with the monthly rent covering the cost. Xiang Yu registered with an agency and arranged for someone to start on a trial basis over the weekend.