Of course, she didn't really mean it. To secure a long-term benefactor, it wasn't about how much work she did for him. Doing too much would make it seem expected, so Aunt Su never overdid it.
She knew better than to waste effort. What mattered was to step up at critical moments, like when he was sick and vulnerable, and show her dedication, no matter how dirty or difficult the task. Patients were already fragile; this would surely leave a lasting impression. With a few such instances, she was confident she could keep him under her control.
Old Man Bai's wife had been dead for over twenty years. With his steady job and house, could he really not find a partner? Of course, he could. But she wouldn't let that happen.
If Old Man Bai remarried, he wouldn't help her anymore.
So from the start, she had to secure him. Now, after twenty years, she was sure her strategy worked.
She said, "What would you like to eat for lunch? I'll go home and make it for you."
