Because she needed to go to the Chen family residence, Jing Wan had already changed her clothes before going to pay her respects in the morning.
Compared to at home, she appeared even more solemn. Regardless whether it was hair ornament, or accessories, or even the jade necklace that suppresses the female clothing, they were all meticulously selected. Although not the best, it suited her entire outfit the most. She had charm that belonged to someone of her age, yet it didn’t reduce her solemness either, no less showing off her elegant bearing. In addition, her foundation was naturally good. Her fair and radiant skin color, an already a beautiful appearance, further rose another three points.
Luo Old Madam pulled along Jing Wan’s hand and properly looked her over once, “Good, good, good, our family’s Wan Wan, as expected, is very good looking.” Last night, Head Minister Luo had relayed his own thoughts to his old wife, and Luo Old Madam was in full approval. Wan Wan has been clever and lovable since young, soft and delicate. No matter who saw, would all deeply love her dearly to the bones. So naturally she hoped for the second half of her life to go smoothly in happiness and in good health.
“Before, when I saw third girl for the first time, I just knew she was out of the ordinary. Just, looking again after recuperating for two days, this skin looks so tender like a peeled boiled egg.” That was eldest aunt, Wang-shi’s, heartfelt compliment.
Towards this kind of praise, it was already not her first time hearing. Just which part of Luo Jing Wan was better than her? But these people were all blind. Just look at that eye-piercing outfit she’s wearing. But aside from enduring, she still could only endure. “Isn’t that right. Fourth aunt’s skin also looks white and exquisite. For those who don’t know, they might even think that fourth aunt wasn’t even twenty yet. Even grandmother looks twenty years younger than those old madams of the same age. Perhaps our Qi’an Fu really raise people like this?” Luo Jing Ying to the side also smilingly interjected.
When it comes to compliments, naturally everyone all love to hear them. Just, the probing nature of her words, of the people present, aside from people such as Zhang-shi, as well as the tiny little beansprouts who can’t understand, who else wouldn’t understand. If it really was because of Qi’an Fu’s environment that raised people like this, it’s not like the others haven’t stayed at Qi’an Fu before, but they were more or less the same as the people from other regions. Obviously, there was definitely a problem here. Everyone all has a heart that loves beauty, especially women. As long as they can become more beautiful, no matter how much time they need to spend, and no matter how much effort they needed to put in, they were all willing.
Jing Wan’s fourth aunt, Wu-shi, touched her own smooth and tender face. Of the four brother’s wives, it really was her skin that was the best. It was hard to avoid being somewhat pleased. Glancing to Jing Wan and seeing that she didn’t have any expressions, Wu-shi finally opened her mouth, “This is all thanks to third girl. In the past year or so, the rouge, powder, and also some ointments we used were all personally made by third girl. It’s even better than those sold by the world famous Rouge Pavilion. Those madams and ladies of Qi’an Fu all want to buy from third girl. Outside, there were even some who were willing to pay a hundred some taels of silver for a small thumb-sized container of it.”
Hah, goodness, those who didn’t know all couldn’t help sucking in a mouthful of breath. Their gazes towards Jing Wan all carried a bit of fervent. Also, if such a rouge store was opened, then wouldn’t the money just fly in on their own as if they had grown wings?
Just, “Such a good thing, why didn’t third big sister send some over for second aunt?” Just knowing to fawn over grandmother, not even caring about your own mother. Perfect, let everyone see, just what kind of thing you, Luo Jing Wan, are.
The surrounding went quiet again, and Zhang-shi hurriedly spoke, “Wan Wan mentioned before in a letter once, and also sent some too. Afterwards, I had her stop sending them. Those things aren’t long-lasting, and sending them once every month was really inconvenient. Besides, in a year or two, she’ll be entering the capital anyways, and I wasn’t in a hurry either. She should focus on being filial to the old madam.”
Zhang-shi was someone who was not very good at speaking. But, when she occasionally did speak, her words were comforting to the heart.
“Our third girl isn’t like those black-hearted vile people, who’re only skilled at scheming.” Wu-shi lightly smiled.
Was this highlighting that she, Luo Jing Ying, was a ‘skilled at scheming’, ‘black-hearted’,’vile person’?
Liu-shi didn’t need to look to know what kind of expression her own daughter had right now. “Third girl, this good of a thing, third aunt will also shamelessly ask you for some to try out. You know women, once the age goes up, the skin becomes rough.”
“Third aunt is joking, you still have the countenance of a flower and face of a moon. Those things of mine are just a pastime, I never thought that the results would be quite good. However, the ones I made at Qi’an Fu are pretty much used up now. In another two days, when I’m free, I’ll make some more. Everyone will have a share.” Jing Wan promised with a smile.
Since Jing Wan was so generous, naturally ‘everyone’ was happy.
“Has third girl never thought of opening a rouge shop before?” Third aunt, Liu-shi, asked with a smile. That attitude, no matter how one looks at it, all looked to be purely out of curiosity.
“It’s not like I lack this bit of money, handling a shop is too troublesome.” Jing Wan played with the double-sided embroidered handkerchief in her hand and nonchalantly spoke.
You don’t lack money, but I lack money. You think it’s troublesome, but I don’t think it’s troublesome. You can just hand over the recipe. Not just one person thought like this in their heart, but a smile still displayed on their faces. Just, that greediness in the depths of their eyes couldn’t be hidden.
The entire Luo family, after two to three hundred years of accumulation, naturally didn’t lack in money. The first branch was in charge of managing the household, so they naturally weren’t short on money. Second branch has Luo Rong Yan, from time to time, peddling gold and precious stones outside. And every few days, he would stake a thousand pieces of gold on one throw without even blinking. Plus, there was also the old madam’s various kinds of savings from the earlier years. They lived even more comfortably than the first branch. And the fourth branch, as the old madam’s youngest son, for the most part, have always been at the old madam’s side. So their food and clothing expenses didn’t need to come out of their own pockets. And of course, they wouldn’t get any less extra allowances either. Only the third branch didn’t get anything. The old madam, having never treated the shu son and shu daughter harshly was already being very benevolent, how could they even count on her to give an allowance? And their branch didn’t have anyone that had the ability to earn money either. Liu-shi came from an impoverish Count Manor, her dowry was completely unpresentable. Aside from that bit of monthly allowance from the public funds, and third master, Luo Rong Ping’s, tiny official salary, they would also occasionally borrow Head Minister Luo’s name and receive some ‘payments’. But Luo Rong Ping’s position in the Luo family really wasn’t prominent, so that bit of ‘payment’ was also very limited. That’s why third branch lacked money, very much lacking it. Even if they wanted to buy something extra for themselves, they still needed to be frugal.
So, Luo Jing Ying naturally felt even more wronged. Nearly every time there was a flower banquet or poetry gathering, she would always make a fuss before leaving and after returning. But she had never thought of not going out.
“Although you don’t lack the money, but who doesn’t dislike having more money? If you really open a shop, you can always have the servants handle it, so how would it be troublesome.” Luo Jing Ying said, not willing to give up. As long as she brings out the recipe, she’ll always have a way to get her hands on it. Luo Jing Ying completely didn’t notice Liu-shi’s expression next to her.
“Fourth girl, there’s something you don’t know. The cosmetics made by third girl, the various kinds of plants and flowers take up a very large proportion of it. And those plants and flowers raised by her, any random one, can be sold for hundreds of taels, no need to mention those rare and valuable ones. Just that bit of flower, how much cosmetics can be made? Comparing both sides, the gains don’t make up for the losses. Besides, there’s not even enough for our own people to use, how can it be brought out to sell? And those flowers raised by the gardeners and flower growers don’t have that good of a result.” Wu-shi really couldn’t bear seeing some people being so shameless either.
“Even if the quality is a bit lacking, it certainly would still be better than the ones outside…….”
“Fourth big sister, it isn’t good for such a noble and gifted person like you to always have money hanging by your mouth. What if you get stained by those copper stench?” Jing Wan’s younger shu sister, Luo Jing You, suddenly opened her mouth.
When these words came out, Luo Jing Ying’s face entirely ashen. Their sisters to the side all covered their mouths to stifle their laugh. Though on the contrary, they seemed to have somewhat of a new level of respect for Luo Jing You. In their impressions, she was just a gourd with a mouth, a stupid and block-headed invisible person. Far inferior to those younger sisters that were much better than her in dealing with situations. Unexpectedly, when she didn’t open her mouth, she was unnoticeable, but once she opened her mouth, it was that sharp. Among them, Luo Jing Ying’s scholarly knowledge was the best, especially in poetry, often receiving praises from the teacher. She was very much pleased with herself because of this. Because eldest sister had married, third big sister wasn’t present, and second big sister was just a shu daughter living out of the hands of her mother, thus, in the home study[1], she was very much full of herself, with no dust under her eyes[2].
Luo Jing Ying was so angry that her lungs were about to explode. But here at old madam’s place, she didn’t dare to act up. Her gaze that was pointed at Luo Jing You was like dipped in poison. She then loathingly glared at Jing Wan once. Isn’t she just relying on the fact that this slut also entered the capital, and now has someone to back her up. A mere shu daughter even dared to talk to her like this? Just wait and see, she will remember this, and no one will be better off.
Especially you, Luo Jing Wan, refusing the easy and wanting the hard way. Not willing to hand over the recipe now? When the time comes, even if you don’t want to hand it over, you will have to hand it over. And I’ll make sure that you won’t even get a bit of the profits.
[1] Home Study – Literally as the words imply, a place inside the residence that’s set up for all the children of the residence to study. Usually some scholar is hired as a teacher to teach the children reading and writing. I might have worded it as something different previously like home tutor or home school, because it doesn’t appear that often I forget which term to use.
[2] Basically idiom meaning nothing can enter her eyes
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