Let's try Chapter 15; it won't cost much anyway.
Using her pinky fingernail painted with henna, she dabbed some hairpin flowers on the back of her hand. The whitening effect was indeed good and natural, without the stickiness of lead powder, and it was more breathable and easier to apply than rice powder.
After applying the product, there's a light fragrance left on your hands, so you can even skip the face powder.
In contrast, the rouge and face powder she used before were all from her younger sister!
No, those are not things for human use at all!
But it's still too expensive.
Never mind, she should just go back to using lead powder.
"Young lady, this sample only has a tiny bit, not enough to apply. Look, I just applied a little to the back of my hand and it's all gone. Could you give me a few more?"
If you take a few more, you can use them more often when you get back.
There are still people like this who, upon hearing that the trial packs are free, will keep asking for them endlessly.
Song Li said with a smile, "It's a small business, please understand. Each person can only take one. Besides, this is all the small size trial packs we have. You have two other customers waiting behind you."
Unable to reason with someone who never stops taking advantage, she shifted the blame to the customers queuing behind her.
"That's right, it's your problem if you don't have enough to apply. Move aside, we've been waiting in line for ages."
Seeing how well the jade hairpin flower worked, the women behind were all eager to try it themselves.
Seeing this, Song Xiaoxiao chimed in, "My sister does all this with great difficulty. Every day before dawn, she risks her life to go up the mountain to collect fresh flower dew, and then carries it back from twenty miles away after she finishes it."
Yu Zan Hua then walked away sheepishly, muttering, "What's so great about it? I don't care."
Song Li was furious. "I'm just using you for free, and you treat me like this!"
However, her experience as a live streamer in her past life has allowed her to maintain her sweet smile.
“She doesn’t care to use it, but I do. Little girl, give me a bottle.” The first customer took out eighty coins.
Song Li was delighted; it seemed the people in town were willing to spend money.
After receiving the money, Song Li enthusiastically handed over a bottle of whitening liquid and also gave the other party eight samples.
"Thank you for your patronage. We'll give you a few extra as a bonus for our opening business."
She said that on purpose to prevent other customers from wanting to take more samples.
Unfortunately—
Ideals are lofty, but reality is harsh.
Apart from the first customer who bought her whitening liquid, everyone else in line was there for the samples, and none of them were willing to spend money.
She was being too optimistic.
"Sister, nobody's buying anything, what should we do?"
As the number of trial packs in the basket dwindled, Song Xiaoxiao grew increasingly anxious.
...
Tang Shaoyao has been very irritable lately.
She always used the most expensive and best lead powder from Xiangrongzhai to apply to her face. Her skin did become whiter and it could perfectly cover the freckles on her face. However, after removing her makeup, her skin turned a sickly bluish color and her pores became larger and larger.
If she wears makeup normally, it's fine, but in a few days she's going to a pajama party with her best friends. How can she face people with a weird face after removing her makeup?
In an effort to save her face, she took a sedan chair and planned to visit Xiangrongzhai to see what new evening makeup products they had.
The streets were bustling with people.
Tang Shaoyao lifted the sedan curtain a crack to admire the street scenery.
She lived in a large, secluded mansion, where her mother was very strict. A female tutor taught her to read and write, and the mother also said that women should "never leave the inner courtyard." Therefore, she rarely went out. Today, she was taking advantage of the rare opportunity to go out, so she wanted to see as much of the scenery as possible.
Tang Shaoyao spotted the lush green basket by the roadside at a glance.
"What is that? It's so beautiful!" she asked the maidservant accompanying her in the sedan chair.
The maid Ying'er scratched her head.
She saw it too, and she also found it strange.
Winter is almost here, and there's hardly any greenery outside. They have several pots of lucky bamboo carefully tended to in their greenhouse, but they've turned a bit yellow from the cold weather and aren't as vibrant as the basket of green bamboo.
"Miss, I'll go take a look."
Knowing that her young mistress was curious, Ying'er quickly said.
"No need, I'll go myself."
Having finally managed to get out of the manor for a stroll, how could she possibly let such a good opportunity pass by?
Tang Shaoyao took out a veil, put it on, called for the sedan chair to stop, and stepped out, supported by Ying'er's hand.
As you approach the stall, you'll find that the stall owner is also a young girl with her face veiled in white, graceful and elegant, holding a basket of lush green bamboo. Just looking at her is a delight to behold.
The girl and her younger sister were selling something called "whitening liquid".
"What is White Makeup Liquid?" Tang Shaoyao asked.
She knew about white makeup powder; she often used the most expensive, top-grade white makeup powder from Xiangrongzhai. But what was this white makeup liquid?
Song Li explained enthusiastically, "It's a whitening makeup liquid. It whitens without damaging the skin, and it's light and easy to apply. Miss, would you like to try a bottle?"
As he spoke, he first presented the sample with both hands.
However, Tang Shaoyao did not accept it, but instead said to the maid beside her, "Ying'er".
"Yes, Miss." Ying'er quickly reached out to take the sample from her mistress and, imitating others, applied it to the back of her hand.
Miss is a precious young lady; she always wants others to try out new things before she uses them.
Song Li was speechless. Who is this person?
But the customer is the Jade Emperor. She thought to herself, but didn't say anything on the surface and maintained a business smile.
The white makeup liquid quickly spread on Ying'er's hand. The delicate texture felt very comfortable, and Ying'er couldn't help but squint her eyes. As the white makeup liquid was spread evenly, the back of her hand became visibly whiter, and a black mole on her wrist was also well covered up. The color was natural, and it was impossible to tell that she had been wearing makeup.
Most importantly, the whitening liquid doesn't leave any residue or settle; it's finer and gentler than lead powder, and more refreshing and breathable than rice powder.
Ying'er was overjoyed.
"Miss, look at my hands."
Seeing that even a maid's rough hands had acquired some of the delicate skin of a young lady, she was overjoyed.
As women, who doesn't love beauty?
Tang Shaoyao stared intently at Ying'er's hand, her previously depressed expression gradually brightening.
But she still asked with concern, "How does your hand feel?"
Ying'er replied, "Miss, it feels very comfortable, and I don't feel like I'm wearing makeup at all."
Her young lady had a dark complexion since childhood, and from the age of twelve, she wore more face powder than others. Unfortunately, her husband had many social engagements, and his wife often had her wear heavy makeup to various occasions. Over time, her skin became increasingly sensitive and fragile, so whenever she saw a new product, she had to try it before giving it to her young lady.
"This servant feels that it is more comfortable to apply than the finest lead powder from Xiangrongzhai."
Ying'er boldly added a sentence.
Hearing her say that, Tang Shaoyao immediately made a decision, "Okay, let's buy two bottles to try first."
She was worried about her bluish complexion. Since the whitening liquid was better than the whitening powder, she decided to give it a try, since it wouldn't cost much anyway.
Ying'er took out her purse to pay.
Song Li beamed and handed over two bottles of white makeup liquid.
Including the first bottle, she has already sold three bottles.
Moreover, this young lady was clearly the daughter of an official, with the character "Tang" hanging from the four corners of the sedan chair, clearly belonging to the head of the town—the village head.
Congratulations on making business at the Pavilion Chief's residence on the very first day of business!
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than a chilling laugh suddenly came from the side.
"The things sold by street vendors are not clean, Miss Tang, don't be fooled."
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