In the end, the price remained unchanged, and Yang PeiMin threw in formulas for cleanser, toner, and face mask on top of lipstick, rouge (in two color ranges), eyeshadow (in three color ranges), eyebrow pencil, foundation, lip balm, and face cream.
Over here, she found a few clusters of wild aloe vera outside the courtyard wall, which was a huge surprise. This stuff could sterilize, clear acne, moisturize, and provide sun protection—excellent raw material for skincare products. She immediately had Shen Yiguang grab a couple of broken pots to transplant some back to the dormitory to grow. Although the wild ones didn’t look too good, being rather small and less fleshy, they were already very decent without a better option available.
She planned to bring a few back to her hometown when the time came to return.
The only issue was that she hadn’t brought some of her production tools with her. If she were to make them here, she’d have to order new tools and find raw materials. However, if she waited until she got back home to do it, she’d face the hassle of shipping;
Although Qiao Ying said there was no hurry.
After Qiao Ying left satisfied, Yang PeiMin quickly changed her clothes, slipping into that dress and tidying herself up again. The Red Army wife then came over to call her.
Checking the time, it was already six o’clock. But Shen Yiguang had said he would come back and take her, so she could only politely decline the Red Army wife.
The Red Army wife understood her reason and looked a bit envious, "Your man is even coming back especially to accompany you there; he’s so good to you."
Yang PeiMin smiled, "Sister, don’t just look at mine—Brother Zhao is also very good to you. Just the other day, he let you tear apart a bolt of cloth to make clothes." This she had learned from the Red Army wife herself during casual chatter; her man, seeing that she had slimmed down from their two boys’ racket and her clothes had gotten loose and baggy, didn’t make her alter them. Instead, he told her to take some money and make herself a new outfit. It’s known that usually, everyone saves that for the New Year, when they can hardly wait to make a new garment, and some even give their cloth to the elders and kids, not minding their own needs.
And here, out of the blue, her man was suggesting she make clothes—imagine her happiness. Normally scrimping and saving just to feed the family, using money on clothes would usually invite a scolding from her husband for squandering. But now, since it was his suggestion, even if extravagant and she was reluctant to spend the money, his attitude made her heart sweet. Normally, they would vent domestic trivialities and grievances outside, let alone brag about good things. So, the news of her man letting her buy clothes spread almost throughout the entire courtyard.
Now that Yang PeiMin brought it up, the Red Army wife’s eyes crinkled with a smile. Even though she felt her own man wasn’t as attentive and sensitive as Shen Yiguang, in her heart, he was a kind man who was affectionate towards the kids and considerate of his wife.
Thus, the Red Army wife wasn’t envious anymore and waved her off, "Alright then, we’ll go ahead. We’ll save a spot for you two."
Yang PeiMin smiled and agreed.
After she left, Shen Yiguang returned just in time, bringing her dinner.
Perhaps worried that she’d been too busy to remember to eat in the afternoon, he had taken the liberty to bring his lunchbox to the cafeteria. So now, when he came back, he had also brought some for her.
Shen Yiguang asked her if she’d had a hard day.
Yang PeiMin shook her head with a smile, "I was a bit tired after finishing up, but later, I felt a sense of achievement. Besides, Qiao Ying even placed an order with me."
"Placed an order?" Shen Yiguang raised an eyebrow.
Yang PeiMin laughed, "I’ll tell you about it when we get back. The performance is about to start, we should hurry."
Shen Yiguang laughed and looked at her, "You’re learning how to keep people in suspense now."
After eating, they hurried to the auditorium. She was worried that if they were late, they really might not get seats. She didn’t mind, but she feared Shen Yiguang might have an inescapable duty to attend—as this was a morale-boosting performance, it would be unreasonable not to show up.
Shen Yiguang seemed unbothered and told her not to rush, deliberately slowing his pace so she could catch her breath.
The auditorium wasn’t in sight yet, but the buzz of activity inside could already be heard. A guard stood at the entrance, and upon seeing Shen Yiguang, he even specifically led him to a spot. It turned out that names were already placed on the chairs, arranging the seating, and the leaders could just stand up to see who had arrived and who hadn’t. Yang PeiMin couldn’t help but glance at Shen Yiguang, realizing that everything had been arranged beforehand—including her seat—and she hadn’t been informed, which had caused her unnecessary worry.
Shen Yiguang pulled her to a seat, cleared his throat, and whispered, "I wasn’t quite sure before we came..."
Yang PeiMin quietly pinched him.
With an air of serene indifference, Shen Yiguang squeezed her hand and turned to respond to a greeting from a comrade.
To their side and slightly behind sat Du Juanjuan and her husband, Shao Hui, who was chatting warmly with Shen Yiguang. Du Juanjuan, on the other hand, wore a scowl, while Yang PeiMin pretended not to notice and turned to greet a Military Wife sitting beside her.
Seeing her act this way, Du Juanjuan’s face soured even more, and her husband sent her a sideways glance, signaling her to exchange a few words with Yang PeiMin.
Du Juanjuan turned her face away, and Shao Hui’s expression darkened. He could only offer a helpless smile to Shen Yiguang and then apologize to Yang PeiMin, "My apologies, sister-in-law. The issues that arose earlier and affected you were due to my lack of control over my wife."
Seeing her husband say this, Du Juanjuan spun her head around, looking at him incredulously. "Shao Hui!" How could her husband apologize to Yang PeiMin? He was a man of steel, who wouldn’t bow his head even when bloodied.
However, Shao Hui just gave her a faint glance, and she immediately dared not speak again, knowing he was angry.
Shen Yiguang continued, "I hope you don’t have to step in yourself next time."
These words made Shao Hui feel ashamed, and he gave Shen Yiguang a helpless look. "Yiguang, I’m sorry."
Du Juanjuan watched her own man lower himself to this ’country bumpkin’ and was so enraged that she glared at Shen Yiguang, her chest heaving with fury. If it were not for Shao Hui turning to warn her, she might have lost her temper on the spot.
Yang PeiMin and her husband didn’t bother with the drama behind them and turned their attention to the stage, where the host was about to announce the next act.
Immediately, Du Juanjuan also straightened up, anticipating Wen Qing’s performance.
She said to Shao Hui with some pride, "My cousin is the second to perform, and she’s presenting a big breakthrough this time. It’s different from her previous roles. You’d better watch closely, so when the leaders praise her later, you’re not clueless about what my cousin performed."
Shao Hui just reminded her to keep her voice down.
Du Juanjuan quieted down, but soon started talking again, disregarding those around her.
Yang PeiMin was speechless, finding it ridiculous that someone so uncultured would dare to look down on rural folk.
After the performers came on stage, one of the Military Wives commented softly, "Those actors look so dashing."
"They’re all as beautiful as flowers, quite different from the ones I saw last time."
Du Juanjuan jumped in, "Of course it’s different. My cousin did her own makeup."