Chapter 13 A box of egg tarts made the entire military compound drool!
On the third day after Lu Zhanting left, Su Wanqing received a letter that he had sent back through someone else.
A thin sheet of paper, with a man's flamboyant handwriting on it.
"Everything is fine, don't worry. The mission went smoothly, and I expect to return in a week. Wait for me at home."
Like him, he is domineering yet concise.
Su Wanqing gently stroked the pen tip that penetrated the paper with his fingertips, as if he could feel the strength and warmth of the pen when it was written, even through the paper.
She brought the letter to her nose; it seemed to still carry the scent of gunpowder and his unique, cool masculine aroma.
She looked at it repeatedly until she could close her eyes and visualize the outline of each word in her mind.
The heart that had been hanging in suspense because of his departure finally settled back into place.
People are safe.
That's enough.
But after she felt at ease, a huge emptiness and longing overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.
This small home is filled with traces of his presence.
The water bucket he had carried was in the yard.
The bowls and chopsticks he used in the kitchen.
On his side of the large bed in the bedroom, it seemed as if his burning body temperature still lingered.
He had only been gone for three days.
Su Wanqing, however, felt that she was getting used to eating and sleeping alone.
That afternoon, she was watering the vegetable patch in the yard when Aunt Liu came in carrying a winnowing basket containing half-finished shoe soles.
"Wanqing, are you bored being all alone?" Aunt Liu sat down on a small stool, her hands moving swiftly with needle and thread.
Su Wanqing put down the water ladle, sat down beside him, and forced a smile: "It's alright."
"What do you mean 'okay'? Look at your face, you've lost all your spirits." Aunt Liu saw right through her.
"When men go on missions, they feel empty inside, right? We military wives all go through that." Her tone carried the wisdom and comfort of someone who had been through it all.
Su Wanqing remained silent for a moment, then couldn't help but ask softly, "Sister-in-law... will the mission be dangerous?"
Aunt Liu paused in her work, then patted the back of her hand, her voice lowered but firm.
"Silly girl, soldiers are always in danger, they get paid for their service. But we have to trust them."
"That Zhan Ting kid is the most formidable soldier in our division. Even the King of Hell would avoid him. Just relax and stay home, and wait for him to come back triumphantly."
Aunt Liu's words were simple, yet they possessed a convincing power.
Su Wanqing's heart was indeed soothed a lot.
“Perfect timing,” Aunt Liu said, her face breaking into a warm smile. “Tomorrow afternoon, a few of us sisters-in-law have arranged to go to Political Commissar Zhang’s house. You should come along too, so you can get to know people and avoid overthinking things.”
Attending a gathering of military wives?
Su Wanqing hesitated for a moment.
Although she had been there for a while, she was not familiar with anyone except for Aunt Liu.
In their eyes, she was probably still "the beautiful wife that Battalion Commander Lu married from the countryside," a vague label with a touch of curiosity.
"Go on, go on!" Aunt Liu grabbed her hand without saying a word. "Ever since you showed off your skills in the mess hall last time, everyone's been curious about you. They all want to see which clever girl managed to melt the ice block that is our Battalion Commander Lu."
Unable to refuse such hospitality, Su Wanqing knew it was Liu Sao's good intention.
"Well... okay. Thank you, Aunt Liu."
"No need to thank me! It's a promise, I'll come and call you at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon."
After seeing Liu Sao off, Su Wanqing's mind began to wander.
It would be inappropriate to attend such a "housewives' tea party" empty-handed for the first time.
She recalled the snacks that were popular in the streets and alleys of her previous life, which were absolutely rare in this era.
Perfect, I can use it as a stepping stone.
The next afternoon, Aunt Liu knocked on the door right on time.
Su Wanqing was ready. She wore a clean white shirt, blue trousers, and her long hair was braided into a shiny black plait that hung down her back. She looked neat and tidy.
She was carrying a bamboo basket covered with a brand-new white cloth.
"Oh, you even brought things? Just the person is enough, you're too kind," Aunt Liu said with a smile.
"These are little trinkets I made myself, they're not worth much, just letting my sisters-in-law have a taste," Su Wanqing said with a smile.
Commissar Zhang's house is on the second floor, and it's more spacious than Lu Zhanting's.
As soon as you enter, a warm, bustling sound of voices greets you.
Five or six military wives were already sitting in the room, gathered in a circle, some knitting sweaters, some sewing shoe soles, chatting animatedly.
As they entered, the sounds in the room suddenly ceased.
Several pairs of eyes, filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and inquiry, all fixed on Su Wanqing.
"Come, come, let me introduce you!" Aunt Liu enthusiastically broke the brief silence. "This is Su Wanqing, the wife of our Fierce Tiger Battalion Commander Lu!"
"Wanqing, this is Political Commissar Zhang's wife, Wang Xiuying. This is Logistics Section Chief Zhou's wife, Li..."
Following Liu Sao's introduction, Su Wanqing smiled and nodded to each person, neither humble nor arrogant, and behaved with grace.
The hostess, Wang Xiuying, was around forty years old, wore glasses, and had a refined demeanor. She warmly took Su Wanqing's hand and said, "Welcome, Wanqing, please have a seat. Old Liu has mentioned you to me quite a bit, and seeing you today, you're even more beautiful than she described."
"Sister Wang, you flatter me." Su Wanqing was a little embarrassed, and handed over the bamboo basket in her hand. "It's my first time visiting, so I brought some homemade snacks for you sisters to try."
As she spoke, she lifted the white cloth.
A strong, sweet, milky aroma instantly filled the noses of everyone in the room!
Inside the bamboo basket, a dozen or so golden, round little things were neatly arranged, their outer skin baked to a golden brown and crispy, while the filling inside trembled with a tender yellow color, like solidified sunlight.
"Oh my goodness, what is this? It smells so good!" A young military wife couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes wide with amazement.
"These are called egg tarts," Su Wanqing said with a smile as she placed the basket on the table. "They're baked with flour, eggs, and sugar. Everyone, please have a taste."
The military wives looked at each other in disbelief. They had never seen such exquisite and beautiful pastries before, which seemed even more precious than the peach shortbread locked in the counter of the supply and marketing cooperative.
As the hostess, Wang Xiuying was the first to pick one up.
She took a small bite.
"Crack—"
The flaky crust crumbled in my mouth, followed by an exquisite warmth and smoothness on my tongue.
That filling was simply otherworldly!
It's even more tender than tofu pudding and smoother than steamed egg custard. The rich aroma of milk and egg explodes in your mouth, and the sweetness is just right, not cloying at all.
"Mmm...so good...so delicious!" Wang Xiuying's eyes lit up instantly, and all her composure was thrown to the back of her mind. "This...this is even better than the pastries at the state-run restaurant!"
With her taking the lead, the others immediately swarmed in.
"My goodness! How is this smooth filling made? It melts in your mouth!"
"It smells so good and it tastes so sweet! If my little rascal could have just one bite, his tail would be wagging like crazy!"
"Wanqing, who taught you your cooking skills? Was it a chef from the city?"
For a moment, the room was filled with gasps of amazement and praise.
All that scrutiny and aloofness crumbled instantly in the face of such exquisite food.
Su Wanqing smiled and said that she learned it from reading books.
Women's conversations always revolve around their husbands, children, and trivial matters.
As the conversation progressed, the topic turned to clothing and appearance.
"Sigh, this garment of mine has three patches already," a woman sighed, tugging at her sleeve. "There are only so many cloth coupons left, how can they be enough?"
"That's right, the fabrics at the service store are always the same blue, gray, and green, so lifeless."
“And this face,” another woman said, touching her rough cheeks with a worried expression. “The wind in the northern frontier is like a knife. Snow cream is precious; how can we afford to apply it every day?”
To Su Wanqing, these complaints were all business opportunities.
She listened quietly, but her mind was racing.
During the lull in their complaints, Su Wanqing spoke up, seemingly unintentionally.
"Actually, you don't necessarily have to use cold cream to have good skin."
One sentence instantly drew everyone's attention.
"Mix some flour with honey and apply it to your face. Wash it off when it dries, and your face will be smooth and tender," Su Wanqing said with a smile. "If you think honey is too expensive, you can use egg white instead. Also, save rice water to wash your face; over time, it will make your skin whiter."
These simple pieces of knowledge, at this moment, are like a thunderclap from a clear sky.
"Really? You can wash your face with rice water?"
"Honey is so precious, using it as a face mask? That's such a waste!"
Su Wanqing smiled calmly: "Sisters-in-law, you'll know once you try it. It's all food that you put in your mouth, so it won't hurt your face."
Then, she looked at her sister-in-law who was complaining about her patched clothes and borrowed paper and pen from Wang Xiuying.
She didn't say much, but simply picked up her pen and quickly drew a unique plum blossom on the paper.
“Sister-in-law, look, on the patch, there’s a flower embroidered with red thread. It not only covers up the blemish, but also becomes a unique decoration.”
She then turned to another sister-in-law who was worried about her child's short pants, and her pen flew across the paper.
"Add a piece of plaid fabric to the cuffs of the trousers, and use the same fabric to trim the pockets. It's a matching look, even more fashionable than new trousers!"
She was a top designer in her previous life, so this basic skill came naturally to her.
With just a few strokes, cleverly designed children's clothing pieces come to life on the paper.
The military wives all crowded around, craning their necks, staring at the unheard-of and wonderful ideas on the paper, their jaws nearly dropping in astonishment.
So... clothes can be altered like this?
So patches... can turn into flowers?
"My God, Wanqing, how did you even get your brain working like that?!"
"This is brilliant! How come I didn't think of that!"
Even the usually composed Wang Xiuying looked at those drawings over and over, her eyes filled with amazement: "Wanqing, you're a real gem! With your ideas and skills, you could easily open a clothing store!"
clothing store!
These three words, like a thunderclap, shattered the chaos in Su Wanqing's mind!
yes!
Why can't she do something herself?
She has a space with an inexhaustible supply of spiritual spring water, honey, and various beauty herbs, which are the best raw materials for making all-natural skin care products!
She has the aesthetic sense and design experience from her past life, as well as a brand-new sewing machine, which is the capital to create unique clothing!
The most basic needs of these military spouses are the biggest business opportunities of this era!
She didn't want to be just a parasitic plant, living off Lu Zhanting's protection.
She also wants to have her own career, and in this vibrant era, she wants to make a name for herself with her own hands and brain!
Once this idea took root, it grew wildly and uncontrollably.
A surge of scalding heat washed over her limbs and bones, making her blood boil.
"Sister Wang, you're joking. I was just thinking about it randomly." She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and maintained a humble smile on her face.
But her next question had a clear purpose.
"Sisters, if there were a face cream that wasn't oily and could prevent your skin from cracking and peeling, would you want one?"
"Of course! I'd dream of having that!"
"When making clothes for children, is it more important for them to be sturdy and durable, or to look good and fashionable?"
"Of course, it should be both sturdy and good-looking!"
In one afternoon, Su Wan-qing completed her initial market research amidst a lively discussion.
When she was about to leave, all the military wives saw her off to the door with reluctance, warmly inviting her to come again next time.
She used a box of egg tarts to open the door to this circle, and with her talent and knowledge, she won their heartfelt respect.
On her way home, the setting sun cast a long shadow of her.
Su Wanqing's steps were so light that she almost floated.
A clear business blueprint is slowly unfolding in her mind.
The first step is to develop a pure natural moisturizing face cream called "Wanqing Yurong Cream". We will make samples first and open up the market through word of mouth.
The second step is to design several trendy children's clothing items, targeting mothers in the compound who are willing to spend money on their children.
Back home, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the empty house.
The usual sense of loss and loneliness was completely ignited by a flame called "career," burning it all away.
She strode into the study, sat down at the desk, and took out paper and pen.
The moment the pen touched the paper, her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, more dazzling than the sunset outside the window.
She is not only Lu Zhanting's wife.
She is Su Wanqing.
A woman who is about to create her own legend in this era.
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