Chapter 122

Compared to the bustling noise on the first floor of the beauty salon, the second floor was much quieter. Five or six women, all appearing to be in their fifties but still elegant and charming, sat comfortably on sofas. Some held cups of freshly squeezed juice, others sipped freshly brewed coffee, and a few savored a rare high-end tea that was hard to find on the market. On the tea table between them were various exquisite snacks and fruits.

“I was wondering what Xiulan has been busy with for the past six months—never seeing her around. Turns out she quietly set up such a large beauty salon. That’s really impressive,” said a woman with her hair in a bun, her eyes shining with envy as she looked at Ling Xiulan. “Being a few years younger really makes a difference. If it were me running a business, I wouldn’t have the energy or the ability.”

“My daughter-in-law invested in the beauty salon. She’s too busy to manage it, and I was idle at home, so I thought it’s better to have something to do,” Ling Xiulan said with a smile, holding a cup of fruit tea. “Look at you, talking as if you’re much older than me. I’m only two years younger than you, or just a bit more if we go by birthdays.”

“The main thing is Ling Xiulan looks so young, she seems much younger than us. Actually, if you do the math, we were basically classmates,” another woman said, her interest piqued by Ling Xiulan’s smooth skin. “Xiulan, do you think beauty treatments can really make skin look like yours?”

Ling Xiulan touched her face and smiled. “That’s because I used to go regularly to beauty salons in France. Do you remember when I first came back? You all said my skin was as tender as a young girl’s. It’s only in the past few years, without a place to do maintenance, that I’ve gotten a few fine lines around my eyes. The air in Imperial Capital is too dry; just applying skincare products isn’t enough.”

“Then we should try it too. It’s so dull staying at home anyway. Coming here, we can chat and have some tea,” said the women, all well-off, with husbands in high positions and children they didn’t have to worry about. Compared to Ling Xiulan, they all seemed to lack some vitality.

Seeing their interest, Ling Xiulan smiled. “This time, I’ll treat you so you can experience it properly. If you ever need makeup or beauty treatments for events in the future, just come to the salon. I’ve taken some girls to France for training, so I guarantee your money will be well spent.”

“Then we’ll enjoy it properly. If it’s really as good as you say, we’ll not only get the annual cards you mentioned but also bring customers for you,” they laughed and followed the staff to the changing rooms.

Those who came to the second floor to spend money were people with status and face to save, so the changing rooms were private. Besides dedicated wardrobes and sofas, there was also a TV and a bed, making it a small living room.

After changing into bathrobes, the staff guided the customers to an essential oil rack to pick their favorite scent. Just three drops in the water would fill the entire bathroom with a faint, pleasant fragrance.

The second-floor lounge quieted down. Ling Xiulan ate two pieces of cake, finished her fruit tea, and closed her eyes to rest for a while before slowly opening them. She walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and watched the queue downstairs for beauty treatments grow longer and longer, feeling a sigh of relief in her heart. As the first to take the risk, Ling Xiulan and Zhenzhen had ventured boldly. Moreover, Ling Xiulan had chosen the best equipment abroad for rebuilding the salon, investing over a hundred thousand even before opening. If the public didn’t accept it, the initial investment would have been wasted. Although Ling Xiulan had some private savings to cover her daughter-in-law’s investment, all the effort over the past six months would have been a joke. Now, seeing the bustling crowd downstairs, a confident smile appeared on Ling Xiulan’s face—she had made the right move.

Just as she was about to go downstairs to check the first floor, the elevator door opened, and a staff member led in Chen Xue, an actress often seen on TV.

Ling Xiulan stepped forward to shake hands, wearing a polite smile. “Ms. Chen, welcome to Yiren Beauty Salon. How may I assist you?”

Seeing Ling Xiulan’s outstanding temperament and the tailored uniform different from other staff, Chen Xue smiled and asked, “You’re the manager, right?” When Ling Xiulan nodded, Chen Xue immediately explained her request. “This afternoon, I’m attending a rather important banquet and need to dress up—not so… um… old-fashioned.” Looking at her blue jacket, Chen Xue seemed a bit helpless. “Besides putting on lipstick, I don’t really know how to do makeup. I’m counting on you this time.”

Chen Xue’s TV drama two years ago was popular among many viewers, and her stylish and fashionable looks in it sparked waves of trends. Yet Ling Xiulan hadn’t expected Chen Xue’s personal attire to be so old-fashioned.

But since the concept of fashion had just started to change, some accepted new trends quickly while others were slower, which was normal. It seemed Chen Xue’s ideas were quite traditional and outdated. Ling Xiulan looked at her uncertainly—was she really planning to jump straight from a blue jacket, black pants, and braided hair to a fully made-up look with an evening gown? It felt like quite a leap.

Though she had some doubts, Ling Xiulan still wore a polite smile. “May I ask what kind of outfit you’ve prepared? Would it be convenient to show me?”

Chen Xue blushed and handed over a bag, her voice a little soft. “I brought a wool skirt. I’m afraid it looks like it’s from the movie year; it cost two hundred yuan.”

Ling Xiulan opened it and found the material was indeed good—soft and thick—but the style wasn’t flattering. It was baggy and loose, the top and bottom equally wide, enough to fit a sweater underneath.

Ling Xiulan put the skirt back in the bag and tentatively asked, “This skirt doesn’t seem to fit well. If you don’t mind, Ms. Chen, you can also look at the various evening dresses we have prepared for customers.”

“You have dresses here too?” Chen Xue looked around in surprise, thinking there might be a clothing store nearby. Ling Xiulan led her to the dressing room. Upon entering, there was a shoe rack from floor to ceiling, with pairs of exquisite shoes displayed. Under the lighting, they sparkled like Cinderella’s glass slippers. Next to the shoe rack was a section for handbags, with dozens of beautifully crafted bags neatly arranged in compartments. Although Chen Xue didn’t recognize the brands, she could tell from the workmanship that they weren’t cheap.

Already impressed by the shoes and bags, Chen Xue was at a loss for words when she saw the rows of finely tailored clothes hanging at the back.

Each piece was carefully selected by Ling Xiulan, who knew them intimately. Although Chen Xue hadn’t said much about the banquet, Ling Xiulan felt that an actress who usually dressed plainly coming here for styling must be for something special. So she recommended relatively formal cocktail dresses.

Chen Xue hesitated to reach out to the pretty dresses. Ling Xiulan then picked three styles that best suited her figure and directly asked, “Which one do you like?”

Chen Xue’s eyes skipped over the black and white dresses and landed on a bright red cocktail dress. Ling Xiulan handed the dress to the staff. About ten minutes later, Chen Xue walked out of the fitting room wearing the red dress. She looked down at the hem nervously and touched her exposed arms, seeming a bit worried.

Ling Xiulan walked over to Chen Xue’s side and looked at her reflection in the mirror. “If you’re not used to showing your arms, I can pair you with a jacket.” Chen Xue immediately nodded. The staff handed her the prepared jacket to wear. Chen Xue looked at her arms now covered and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Ling Xiulan smiled and asked, “Is it convenient to undo the braid?”

Chen Xue skillfully twirled her fingers around the braid’s end and unraveled the long braid. Ling Xiulan used her hand as a comb to gather Chen Xue’s hair a few times before letting it fall over her shoulders. The big wavy curls paired with the red dress—Chen Xue realized for the first time that she could actually look so dazzling.

“Can I wear it like this?” Chen Xue looked at herself in the mirror, her cheeks blushing.

“Of course.” Ling Xiulan smiled. “Look how beautiful you are!”

“Yes, so beautiful.” Women dress to please themselves, and Chen Xue was also attracted by the reflection in the mirror. She turned to Ling Xiulan with a sweet smile. “How much is this dress?”

Ling Xiulan smiled and quoted a price that left Chen Xue stunned. It was clear Chen Xue wasn’t very familiar with the brand, so Ling Xiulan briefly introduced the brand and then said, “This is this year’s limited edition new style. Not just in Huaguo, but worldwide, there are very few pieces. This brand didn’t release many new styles this year, and this dress is the only one with a bright red as the main color. The style is also a bit more conservative, which suits the people of Huaguo better. So, as soon as I saw this dress, I immediately bought it.”

Chen Xue looked at herself in the mirror, and her love for beauty finally won out. “Then I’ll choose this dress.”

The staff smiled again and led Chen Xue into the fitting room. After a full process of showering, skincare, makeup, and hairstyling, Chen Xue stood in front of the mirror and barely recognized herself. If before entering she was a dull, gray ugly duckling, now she had transformed into a beautiful white swan.

Ling Xiulan stood beside her and smiled, asking, “Ms. Chen, are you satisfied with the makeup? Is there anything you want to adjust?”

Chen Xue came back to her senses but still couldn’t bear to look away from the mirror. She nodded slightly, “I’m very satisfied.” She looked down at the high heels on her feet and tried walking around the room a few times. After getting used to the feeling under her feet, she began to worry a bit. The Imperial Capital Hotel wasn’t far from here, but dressed so beautifully and with makeup on, Chen Xue worried that dust might blow onto her face on the way. After all, it was spring now, and the wind was strong with lots of dust.

Seeing Chen Xue’s concern, Ling Xiulan smiled and said, “I don’t know where you’re attending the banquet, Ms. Chen, but if it’s inconvenient to go there yourself, our beauty salon can provide a car service. Also, the clothes and bag you change out of can be temporarily stored in our lockers. You only need to come back within three days to pick them up. Of course, if it’s convenient, our staff can also deliver them to your home.”

Chen Xue felt that carrying a bag full of clothes didn’t quite match her look. Hearing that she could store the clothes here, she was overjoyed and said, “Then just leave them here. I’ll come get them tomorrow.” The staff immediately brought a brand-new garment bag and neatly folded each item inside in front of Chen Xue. Chen Xue took out a thick stack of money from her bag to pay for the expensive purchase. Holding her new handbag and stepping delicately in her exquisite high heels, she took the elevator down.

When the elevator doors opened, everyone in the waiting area looked up simultaneously. Facing all these gazes, Chen Xue became nervous again and instinctively reached to pull down the skirt by her legs. But as she bent slightly, Ling Xiulan grasped her hand. The warm palm pressed against the back of Chen Xue’s hand, silently encouraging her.

Glancing at Ling Xiulan’s poised demeanor, Chen Xue took a deep breath, raised her head, straightened her back, and kept smiling.

“That’s Chen Xue, right? The actress who plays the rich girl.” Someone in the crowd finally recognized her. “Wow, she’s even more beautiful in person than on TV. That hairstyle is stunning!”

“The dress is nice too. That red is really authentic. It must be satin; it looks very smooth.”

“That hairstyle is really pretty. I was going to perm a curly afro this time, but now I’ve decided to get the same hairstyle as Chen Xue. It’s way more stylish than an afro.”

“Me too! I’m going to perm this hairstyle, and when the weather warms up, I’ll buy a bright red dress like Chen Xue’s. So fashionable.”

The growing chorus of compliments made Chen Xue’s smile more confident. She turned to Ling Xiulan and sincerely said, “Sister Ling, thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Come by again when you have time.” After seeing Chen Xue off, Ling Xiulan hadn’t even gone upstairs when a woman in her fifties grabbed her hand. “When Chen Xue came, I was just outside in line. Compared to just now, she looks like a completely different person. Do you think if I go up, you can help me get fixed up too? Can I look just as good?”

Ling Xiulan smiled. “We have dresses suitable for your age too, but the services upstairs are more expensive.”

“Expensive doesn’t matter. I brought money with me. To be honest, tonight is the first time I’m meeting my in-laws. My in-laws are from Shanghai and just returned from overseas a few years ago. My son says their style is very fashionable. When I heard that, I thought, well, I have to dress up properly. I can’t embarrass the people of Imperial Capital.” She grabbed Ling Xiulan’s hand and headed toward the elevator. “Don’t worry, just help me get fixed up. My son has been dealing in electronics these past few years and has made quite a bit of money.”

Ling Xiulan looked at her with a mix of amusement and helplessness. Only after the elevator doors closed did she whisper, “Ma’am, it’s really expensive upstairs. If you want a full set like Chen Xue’s, it’ll cost you around a thousand to eighteen hundred yuan.”

“That’s not cheap.” The woman hesitated, but when the elevator doors opened and she saw the interior, she gritted her teeth and followed inside. “People already look down on my son for being self-employed. If I dress sloppily, that won’t do. Just fix me up like Chen Xue. I can’t let my son lose this marriage because of me.”

Ling Xiulan smiled. “Then come with me to choose your dress!”

*****

A year passed in the blink of an eye. Several designers at the clothing factory finally stood out, and the new clothes they designed sold very well, rivaling those with celebrity endorsements. The beauty salon was even busier. Since opening a year ago, it had been packed every day. Although the cheapest beauty treatment cost ten yuan, it couldn’t stop the people of Imperial Capital from coming. Just as Ling Xiulan had said at the start, going to Yiren Beauty Salon had become a fashion, a trend, and something that brought great face.

Many young people from nearby provinces and cities also came here by reputation. If you came to Imperial Capital for your honeymoon, going to Yiren Beauty Salon for treatments had become a must. Otherwise, when you went home and told people, they’d say you wasted your trip to Imperial Capital.

After the clothing factory and beauty salon got on track, Zhenzhen focused all her energy on work. Grandma Li, seeing that she had been married for over a year without any sign of pregnancy, couldn’t help but urge her again. Zhenzhen still smiled and told her, “No rush, it’s still early.”

Just as Grandma Li was about to talk to Xi Junjie to get him to persuade Zhenzhen, Xi Junjie received a notice for a three-year assignment in France. Upon hearing the news, Zhenzhen immediately submitted an application to the Huaguo community, proactively requesting a transfer to the French office.

Considering Li Mingzhen’s actual situation and her work performance, Zhenzhen’s application for an overseas assignment was quickly approved. Grandma Li originally heard that Xi Junjie would be abroad for three years and couldn’t help but worry about the young couple being separated for so long. But after Zhenzhen’s application was also approved, Grandma Li felt a bit reluctant; ever since Zhenzhen was born, she had never left her side.

As for Grandma Li, Zhenzhen had a hundred and twenty worries. She discussed with Mingdong, Mingxi, and Mingbei, the three brothers, who agreed to take turns living in the courtyard house each month to accompany Grandma Li and their parents. To help Grandma Li adjust in advance, Mingdong’s family moved in first.

Seeing Grandma Li unhappy, Zhenzhen held her hand and coaxed her: “Three years will pass quickly. I’ll call you once a week, and I promise that when I come back from France, I’ll give you a beautiful great-granddaughter.”

Grandma Li sighed again: “You said your older brothers each have two or three kids, but you’re doing family planning and only having one. That’s so lonely.”

Zhenzhen gritted her teeth: “I promise to have a pair of twins, a boy and a girl, when I come back.”

“Really?” Grandma Li gave her a sidelong glance. “You can’t fool me on this.”

“Really!” Zhenzhen pounded her chest confidently. “I guarantee it.”

Those nearby couldn’t help but laugh at the grandmother-granddaughter exchange. Mingxi couldn’t resist but interjected with a smile: “You can’t guarantee twins like that. It’s genetic, and our family has no history of twins. Junjie’s family doesn’t either. I think that’s a long shot.”

Grandma Li was displeased and swung her cane at Mingxi: “Shut up! What do you know?”

Mingdong pinched Mingxi from behind and quickly agreed: “Grandma’s right. Mingxi’s supposed to be a scientist but knows nothing and just talks nonsense. Zhenzhen, when you and Junjie come back from France, work hard and try to have twins in one go.”

With others joking around, the sadness of parting faded a lot. When Zhenzhen left, Grandma Li was still smiling. Mingxi and Mingbei, worried that Grandma Li might feel uneasy, didn’t dare to leave and volunteered to stay and play mahjong and sing opera with her. Although Grandma Li felt a bit down inside, seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren all gathered around to cheer her up, she suddenly felt that her life was complete.

*****

After getting off the plane, Xi Junjie took Zhenzhen to a brokerage firm to pick up the keys, then went straight to a Xi family apartment in Paris. Since Xi Changbo had already leaked the news about the overseas assignment, after the tenant’s lease expired, Xi Junjie didn’t renew the contract through the brokerage but reclaimed the apartment early.

Opening the door, Zhenzhen curiously looked around at the furnishings. Because it had been rented out for a long time, the sofa and dining table were a bit old, but fortunately, the previous tenants were clean, so the house was tidy, and the kitchen showed no signs of grease.

The young couple cleaned the house again. While Xi Junjie went to shower, Zhenzhen quickly packed the bedding and pillows into storage and took out a new set to lay out. The sofa and dining table were fine, but Zhenzhen couldn’t bear to sleep on bedding used by others.

After putting on the sheets and pillowcases she brought, Zhenzhen didn’t have time to admire her new home and quickly updated her mental map. This trip to France was partly to gain work experience and also to try to repurchase as many Chinese Cultural Relics as possible before their prices were driven sky-high.

When the Old Summer Palace was destroyed by the Anglo-French allied forces, many Chinese Cultural Relics treasures were scattered overseas—some ended up in museums, but more were in private collectors’ hands. Zhenzhen was confident about acquiring treasures: if she could buy them, she would; if not, she would trade. According to her observations, there were many treasures in France’s land and seas.

Zhenzhen went to the study and opened a notebook, listing one by one the more significant and precious Cultural Relics she had in mind. By the time Xi Junjie finished showering and came to find her, she had filled ten pages.

“What are you writing?” Xi Junjie curiously peeked over. “The Qianlong jade seal, bronze animal heads from the Old Summer Palace… what is all this?”

“These are the Cultural Relics I plan to buy back,” Zhenzhen smiled. “You know I like collecting these things.”

Xi Junjie only learned after marriage that Zhenzhen actually had a whole room full of collections. Although he didn’t recognize many of the Cultural Relics, he knew from Mr. Xu Mengguo’s frequent visits—who would stay in that room all day without coming out—that there were many precious Cultural Relics inside.

Xi Junjie had always fully supported Zhenzhen’s hobby. It was just spending money, and neither of them lacked money. Xi Junjie hugged Zhenzhen and kissed her on the lips affectionately: “Go wash up quickly, I’ll take you to eat something good.”

“And after eating something good?” Zhenzhen’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him.

Xi Junjie thought for a moment and smiled again: “Then I’ll hand over all my financial accounts to you. From now on, I’ll be waiting for you to give me pocket money.”

“Aren’t you worried about handing over your little treasury?” Zhenzhen teased, poking his chest with her finger.

Back in Imperial Capital, Xi Junjie had truthfully reported his assets in France to Zhenzhen. Although it wasn’t as much as Zhenzhen’s fortune, it was still a considerable amount.

Seeing Zhenzhen’s uneasy expression, Xi Junjie laughed: “My heart is all for you. What’s there to worry about money for?”

“You’re such a smooth talker.” Zhenzhen stood up from Xi Junjie’s embrace and said seriously, “After dinner, no more accounts. Take me to buy the 1982 Lafite.” Seeing Xi Junjie’s somewhat confused look, Zhenzhen waved her hand decisively: “We’re going to buy the whole lot!”

Author’s note: Because I’m not very fond of Western storylines, I’ll probably finish one or two chapters and then jump back to the domestic setting.