No, absolutely not!
When Jin thought about these things, her face was full of resistance.
“Jiaojiao, if you want to learn, I will teach you in the future. I will not only know how to knead and massage, but also how to whiten and moisturize the skin,” Jiang Nuan’s eyes flashed with smugness. “After a while, when I have some free time, I will teach you how to make face masks and floral lip balm. At that time, we, mother and daughter, will be the most beautiful women in Huangjiakou.”
Although her family members are currently covered in dust and look like mud-covered wild ducks, given time, they will surely transform into magnificent white swans.
Moreover, it doesn't matter if you have a poor foundation.
People in this era are thin and frail, and because of years of hard work, their skin is rough and dark. In such cases, even the most ordinary face can stand out if one is well-fed, plump, and radiant.
"Mother, you know so many things?" Xie clicked her tongue twice and immediately pounced on Jiang Nuan. "Mother, you must teach me!"
The love of beauty is a universal trait among women, regardless of time.
Given the Huang family's circumstances, it was impossible for them to spend money on cosmetics. Every year, Madam Xie would grow a few balsam plants in the corner of the wall and use them to dye her nails when they bloomed.
When I first heard that Jiang Nuan could make so many things, I was overjoyed.
“Mother,” Jin wanted to cry. She had just thought she was in a superior position, but in the blink of an eye, a mountain had been pressed down on her. She took a deep breath, forced a very faint smile, and said softly, “I want to learn too.”
“I will teach you,” Jiang Nuan readily agreed. “We women can’t live as carelessly as mistresses. These things don’t cost much, they just take some effort, but they are very effective.”
Otherwise, would skincare products have become so popular in later generations?
Back then, in order to buy a bottle of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, she ate rice mixed with Lao Gan Ma chili sauce in the cafeteria for a whole month.
After speaking, I put my feet into the basin of water. Instantly, a warm current flowed into the soles of my feet, and my whole feet felt relaxed.
"That feels good!" Jiang Nuan sighed contentedly.
“It really feels good,” Xie said with a contented expression. “My sister-in-law is so thoughtful. Soaking my feet in dried mugwort really helped a lot. After soaking for a while, all the coldness in my body dissipated.”
"Second sister-in-law," Jin lowered her head shyly, "I learned it from the people in the mansion. They said it's good for people."
Her parents had influence in the household, so they didn't make things difficult for her, arranging easy tasks for her and giving her plenty of free time.
She grew up in the mansion, and most of the servants there watched her grow up and were willing to teach her any skills they had.
“It’s always good to learn more skills to have something to rely on,” Jiang Nuan nodded with a smile. “Gold can be lost, silver can be lost, but what you learn can never be lost. No matter what it is, it will always be useful.”
She now deeply regrets not having learned enough; it's not enough.
Her biggest regret is not learning how to make cement, and now she can only live in a house where dirt keeps falling out.
“Mother is right,” Xie’s eyes darkened, “but this skill is not something you can learn just by wanting to.”
She wasn't skilled in needlework or anything like that, and her family wouldn't let her do any of those delicate and easy tasks.
The bamboo weaving skill was something I learned by cleverly stealing techniques from my father and brothers.
Although she had always looked down on her sister-in-law, who was as soft-hearted as a lump of mud, she was extremely envious of her needlework skills.
“It’s alright,” Jiang Nuan patted Xie’s head. “I will teach you everything I know. Any one of these skills will be enough for you to protect yourself.”
Jiang Nuan always felt that although her daughter-in-law seemed very lively, she had a lot on her mind, and the numbness that occasionally showed in her eyes made Jiang Nuan feel uneasy.
A young girl not even twenty should live carefree and happy, how can she be like an old man stepping into a grave, having seen the coldness of the world and having no hope at all?
“Mother,” Xie’s eyes curved into a smile, her clear eyes shining brightly, and she chuckled, “I’m your own daughter, who else would you teach if not me?”
“Mother,” Jin Shi gently rubbed Jiang Nuan’s fingers, “I’m here too.”
I envy my second sister-in-law and mother's relationship. It's so natural and intimate, like a real mother and daughter. When will I be able to be like that?
Because I've never had it, I crave it especially.
"Don't worry, you won't be shortchanged." To show fairness, Jiang Nuan patted Jin's head.
These daughters-in-law are all clever and quick-witted, but they seem to lack affection.
Xie Jiao's family's excessive preference for sons over daughters was understandable, but Jin Shi's situation was something she couldn't quite understand.
Based on her understanding of Manager Jin, that old fox would never let his daughter suffer a loss.
Jiang Nuan did not expect that no matter how much thought Jin had, he was just a servant and was powerless in many situations. Even the most important matter, marriage, was just a matter of a word from the master.
Manager Jin's wife was valued by the master even more than he was, and there were many things he could do about it, even if he knew them.
Jin was indeed wronged, but how could a person not suffer any grievances? At home, he could protect her a little, but after marriage, she would have to suffer alone. It would be better to let her daughter get used to it in advance.
"Thank you, Mother!" Jin was stunned, having never been so close to an elder.
After realizing what had happened, her cheeks turned bright red, but fortunately, the yellowish light made it difficult to see clearly.
After soaking their feet, Jin massaged Jiang Nuan from head to toe, and then she and Xie massaged each other's feet before the three of them turned off the lights and went to sleep.
As soon as Jiang Nuan lay down, she felt her blanket being pulled back over her face. Opening her eyes, she saw Xie Shi's bright eyes in the moonlight.
"Mom, the bed is too cold, let me warm it for you."
Without waiting for Jiang Nuan's reply, he crawled into bed.
Feeling an icy lump, colder than herself, pressed against her side, Jiang Nuan shivered and shifted to the side, giving up half of the warm bed.
"Go to sleep, you have things to do tomorrow."
"Mmm~" Xie Jiao took advantage of the situation and leaned closer to Jiang Nuan.
Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and the warmth of the blankets, as sweet as a ripe peach.
Helpless, Jiang Nuan had no choice but to hold the person in her arms, close her eyes, and fall into a deep sleep.
Hearing the even breathing sounds, Xie also fell asleep.
In the other bed, Jin was all alone, feeling somewhat aggrieved.
Why does she want to sleep alone? She wants to squeeze in too.
Why couldn't her second sister-in-law take her with her? She didn't want to lie alone in the cold bed.
Next time, I'm definitely going to snuggle up in bed with you.
Kim, who had never slept with her elders before, closed her eyes and fell asleep with a mix of joy and shyness.
The next day, the three were awakened by knocking on the door.
Jiang Nuan has no regularity when she wakes up; she usually sleeps until she naturally wakes up.
Xie woke up once, but the bed was too warm, so she fell asleep again.
Although Jin was awake, she was afraid of waking the two of them, so she stayed quietly in bed.
Huang Xiaosan stood at the door, staring at the door that remained closed for a long time, his doubts growing stronger.
"Could they still be in bed?"
He looked up at the sun hanging on the treetops and quickly shook his head in denial.
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