—Border Town, Zhang Mansion
"Mom, look at how much I've been suffering from these past few days! My face is covered in sore spots."
Madam Zhang put down her teacup and comforted her.
"My son has been intelligent since childhood and is a kind-hearted person. Why should he care about the repetitive gossip of others?"
The greatest hardship Madam Zhang endured in her life was the difficult period she experienced when she first married into the Zhang family.
For the rest of her life, she was pampered at home when she was a child, and later by her mother-in-law and husband when the Zhang family became wealthy.
If there's any regret, it's that she doesn't have a son or daughter. She's anxious about it, and outsiders keep nagging, but her mother-in-law and husband act like nothing's wrong.
After taking her to see Dr. Gu and hearing the doctor say she was fine, we stopped caring about anything else.
Whether the child is willing or not, it's fine if they aren't.
But this matter remained a thorn in Mrs. Zhang's side.
As long as what outsiders said reached her ears, Mrs. Zhang would feel uneasy.
As a result, I haven't slept well for several days, and as a result, I've developed a lot of red pustules and pimples on my face.
"I just... I'm just not happy about it! Why does everyone else have it, but I don't! My husband and I are both fine, so why don't we have it!"
Mrs. Zhang's voice trembled with tears, her eyes red.
"If you don't have it, you don't have it. I'm not in a hurry. And you two don't seem to be either. Isn't our family doing just fine? Look at that old lady from the Wang family across the street. She's always taking care of the kids and can't do anything else. Look at me, how leisurely I am now! Nobody is as lucky as your mother. And isn't this good fortune all thanks to you?"
Old Mrs. Zhang was always good at making people happy, and she chuckled.
"Mom, you're just trying to comfort me."
The young maid behind the old woman handed her a handkerchief warmed with lukewarm water, and the old woman continued...
"Your face has been like this for days, have you taken any medicine?"
"I ate it, but it didn't help."
Mrs. Zhang, clutching her handkerchief, said with a hint of displeasure.
“This can’t go on like this. Last time when we went to the brothel, you praised Chunying’s delicate skin, didn’t you? Why don’t we go again today and ask her if she has any ideas?”
The old lady knew perfectly well that her daughter-in-law was overthinking things and taking the matter of having offspring too seriously.
Her intention was simply to make her daughter-in-law happy. If the brothel could make her happy, she would accompany her there again.
Old Madam Zhang would never reveal that she wanted to eat at the brothel.
"Then I'll trouble Mother to accompany me tonight? It's true, it's been so long since I've seen Chunying."
She felt a slight longing for the girl whose dance had captivated the city, and the old lady nodded.
That night, the Zhang family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law appeared again at Wangyuejian.
There were several new dishes and desserts on the table in front of them compared to last time, all made by Zhang's mother according to Huo Xiaolong's recipe.
"What's that coating on these prawns? They taste amazing, sis!"
Chunying smiled and placed another mantis shrimp on Madam Zhang's plate.
"The outside is coated with breadcrumbs, a layer of egg wash followed by a layer of breadcrumbs; that's how it gets its texture after frying."
Madam Zhang came with her maid this time. The maid was busy peeling one thing after another.
"I'd say your brothel is starting to look like it's competing with restaurants for business."
"Sister, you flatter me."
After eating a few bites, feeling slightly full, Madam Zhang started chatting with Chunying.
"Honey, do you still sell that sesame paste we had last time? I've been thinking about it for ages; nothing in other restaurants tastes as good as yours."
"Madam, there's no need to talk about selling or not selling. If you want to eat, just send a servant over. We have it anytime."
The old lady smiled and said to her daughter-in-law
"I knew this girl was straightforward; not only is she beautiful, but she also has a great personality."
Mrs. Zhang nodded in agreement.
"Hey, honey, how come your skin is so radiant?"
The old lady steered the conversation toward women and continued...
"Look at this, I've seen plenty of teenage girls and old ladies, but none of them have skin as good as yours. Even the daughters of wealthy families don't have yours."
When she said this, Madam Zhang lowered her voice slightly.
Chunying knew that her good skin was because the little dumpling had added a magical ingredient to the plum blossom cream they used. Ever since she had Cen's mother and He Yi try it last time, the two mothers had adjusted the proportion of the magical ingredient.
If you add that much every time, wouldn't it be like a magic trick every time, making it too conspicuous?
The plum blossom ointment is just right for them now.
Apply it once or twice every two weeks, and your skin will be as smooth as egg white.
“We have our own facial cream in our building. I’ve noticed that Madam has been a bit feverish lately. How about I apply some to my sister?”
Madam Zhang nodded quickly. Women generally wouldn't reveal their beauty secrets, especially in a brothel where the girls had even more sophisticated methods for maintaining their appearance.
"Ping'er, go get the plum blossom ointment, and also fetch a basin of water."
"yes"
Before applying face cream, you should cleanse your face, and women should also remove their clothes until they are only wearing their undergarments, otherwise they will get wet.
Chunying gave Ping'er a look.
The girl immediately locked the door.
The task of serving others should naturally not be left to the young lady.
Ping'er helped Madam Zhang remove her outer garments and wash her face before letting her lie down on a recliner.
"Please let me know if you feel unwell, Madam."
Mrs. Zhang nodded.
Chunying carefully applied the plum blossom ointment to the woman's face with a wooden flat spoon, then spread it out with her hands.
Her hands were very delicate, unlike those of the maids in the house.
Even her head maidservant's hands weren't as delicate as Chunying's.
Madam Zhang had no idea
Even her head maid had worked her way up from the lowest rank, so her skills were naturally incomparable to those of Chunying, who was pampered and spoiled in the brothel.
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