Chapter 14 White Makeup Liquid, Now Available

In the afternoon, Song Li dug a pit next to her bed, built a frame over the pit, hung a ceramic pot with ears and thin ropes on it, and then lit a fire in the pit, intending to cook a pot of clam soup.

She imitated Aunt Zhao's cooking method, pouring water into a jar, and after the water boiled, adding clams and salt.

The cooking method is similar to boiling instant noodles, and she mastered it quickly.

As evening fell, the delicious aroma of clams wafted from the jar, just as Zhao Youchang entered the house, coinciding with dinnertime.

Song Li was very proud of her successful cooking for the first time.

So he ladled out a bowl of clam and meat soup and took it to the front yard to share with someone.

Zhao Youchang was sitting and drinking water when he heard someone come in and looked up.

She wore a veil, revealing a pair of captivating, star-like eyes. Her brows resembled distant mountains shrouded in mist and rain, and her face had soft contours, radiating a relaxed vitality. She was slender and not yet fully grown, but it was clear she was a beauty in the making.

However, while she was beautiful, his first impression of her was that she was cunning.

But this morning, when he saw Song Li being chased by wild boars, and knowing she couldn't escape, she immediately stuffed her younger sister into a crevice in the rocks, fighting a desperate battle, he felt even more that she was not simple.

Zhao Youchang looked at the veiled face in front of him, lost in thought.

Mingyue smiled and took the clam soup from Song Li's hand. She took out her own ceramic bowl, poured the soup out, and then returned the bowl to Song Li.

Song Li picked up the bowl and was about to leave when she suddenly heard a crisp sound, and a bag of money was placed on the table in front of her.

"Here you go," Zhao Youchang said.

Song Li was confused: "?"

Zhao Youchang said calmly, "That wild boar sold for a good price today, here's your share."

So it turns out she made money selling wild boars, and this is a reward for her for luring wild boars?

Song Li didn't understand what Zhao Youchang meant, but since he was someone who had feigned poverty to the core, and was willing to give her money, she didn't need to be polite.

He reached out and picked up the money bag, smiling, "Thanks then."

She was poised and graceful, without the affectation of an ordinary young lady.

She possesses the valiant spirit of a descendant of a military family, yet she is clearly an orphan, unlike a true daughter of a military family who has a powerful backer. How did she manage to maintain such composure?

Zhao Youchang narrowed his eyes.

...

The next day, Song Li got up early as usual and took Song Xiaoxiao to set up a stall in town.

She carried a basket filled with some whitening foundation.

Most of the rest is stored in the storage space, and then taken out together with the basket when we arrive at the destination, which saves some effort.

After drinking the spiritual spring water, she became incredibly strong, but this strength was limited to the force she could exert; her physical strength remained as weak as that of an ordinary woman.

Qingliu Village is four or five miles away from the town. They were afraid of not finding a good spot if they arrived late, so they set off early after breakfast.

Song Li carried a bamboo basket in one hand and held Song Xiaoxiao's hand in the other, walking on the official road. Above them was the barely bright sky, and all around were deserted fields.

In the past life in modern times, people often complained that there were people everywhere and they could not see natural scenery. But after actually being there, they realized how terrifying it was to be alone in the wild, as if danger was lurking everywhere.

Therefore, even if it meant taking a longer route, Song Li chose to take the official road.

However, the journey was indeed quite long. Song Li set off from home before dawn and arrived in the town when it was already broad daylight, which meant it had taken him about two hours.

She had initially worried that they would arrive too early and stand in the cold wind waiting for the city gates to open, but now it seemed that her worry was ridiculously unnecessary.

Upon arriving at the city gate, Song Li was stopped by guards with knives who demanded forty coins in taxes before allowing her to pass.

Song Li was completely baffled.

The day before yesterday, she went to town to find a doctor for Zhao Youchang, even though it was supposed to be free.

"The town has built a new stone-paved road, which opened today. The new road is smoother and easier to walk on than the old one, so there is a toll."

"If each person pays twenty coins, then the two of you would pay forty coins."

Seeing Song Li standing there in a daze, the guard loudly laughed at her for not knowing arithmetic.

Song Li: ...

However, she couldn't fight city hall, so she had no choice but to pay.

"Little girl, I didn't expect you to be quite wealthy." The guard chuckled, weighing the forty copper coins in his hand.

Song Li's face immediately darkened, and she said, "If you think it's too much, then give me my money back!"

Taking money and then harassing people, what kind of character is that!

The guards realized that Song Li was not someone to be trifled with, so they quickly composed themselves and said respectfully, "Please, young lady, please."

We headed straight to the market upon entering the town.

In the original owner's memories, people from the town and nearby villages would set up stalls here to sell things.

The market is crowded and close to the residences of wealthy people, so business is usually good.

Song Li found a suitable street corner.

There are handkerchiefs and sachets for sale here, as well as hairpins and hair ornaments, all of which are women's items, but no rouge is sold.

She was selling whitening foundation, which falls under the category of rouge. With these stalls, she faced less competition and found it easier to attract customers.

Song Li set up her stall.

Instead of squatting on the ground to set up a stall, she had woven a basket in advance to hang around her neck.

She stacked the bamboo tubes from the basket into the wicker basket one by one.

The bright green bamboo tubes are neatly arranged, looking like a basket full of life from a distance. They appear even more novel and interesting on the desolate streets in late autumn.

"Young lady, what are you selling here?"

People were coming and going on the street, and many of them looked over curiously.

"Whitening liquid," Song Li said with a smile.

The name "whitening foundation" is too un-traditional and takes too much effort to understand.

In ancient times, lead powder and rice powder used for wiping the face were collectively called "white makeup powder," so she simply renamed it "white makeup liquid."

"It's refreshing and doesn't feel stuffy or sweaty. It's lightweight and absorbs quickly. The whitening effect is good and natural, and the color is even and doesn't smudge. Ladies, would you like to buy a bottle and try it?"

Song Li greeted customers with a graceful and generous demeanor. Seeing that the people surrounding her were all young women, she asked them questions with great enthusiasm.

A young woman in the crowd, her hair adorned with a jade hairpin, asked, "How much is a bottle?"

"Eighty coins a bottle, one bottle can last about thirty days."

Yu Zan Hua was slightly surprised: "So expensive?"

She picked up a bamboo tube and looked at it.

The opening of the tube was sealed with yellow mud, so you couldn't tell what it was.

A box of the finest lead powder from the time-honored brand Xiangrongzhai costs only forty coins; if used sparingly, it can last for two months.

This bottle is enough to buy two boxes of lead powder, and it can only last for a month.

"Sisters, you may not know this, but my whitening lotion is made from natural plant extracts such as centella asiatica, aloe vera, coriander, and jujube, and is blended with morning wildflower dew. It not only whitens but also moisturizes and firms the skin. It's gentle and non-irritating, and it can even repair damaged skin. Eighty dollars a bottle is definitely worth it!"

Yu Zan Hua hesitated, "But it's still expensive."

"Besides, how do I know if what you're saying is true or false?"

Despite being repeatedly haggled over, Song Li remained unperturbed and handed over a seashell with a smile, saying, "This is a small sample, given to you for free. You can try it on the back of your hand first."

Yu Zanhua was surprised, "There are trial sizes?"

so good?

She took it and opened the shell. Inside was a thick, milky-pink liquid. She brought it to her nose and smelled it. Sure enough, it had a faint floral and fruity fragrance. Just smelling it was refreshing.