Chapter Forty: A Conversation!?

After dinner, having been jostled on the road for quite some time, Bai Zhan Shuang had already gone off to rest. Bai Yulan and Han Hua, meanwhile, were each pulled aside by Madam Meng, Meng Yun, and Meng Xuan Meng Lang for a round of long-winded conversation!

Bai Yulan and Han Hua exchanged glances: Father was the only one quick enough to slip away!

Inside Madam Meng’s room, it was just Madam Meng, Meng Yun, and Bai Yulan. As for Lucky—

At this moment, the little one was fast asleep, breathing softly. After all, the child had been exhausted all day by the journey’s hardships. How could she not sleep soundly? Meng Yun brought out her grand business plan—rouge and face powder!

“Oh—Yun, is this the rouge you spoke of?” Bai Yulan picked up the small wooden box Meng Yun had placed on the table.

But the box was rather unsightly!

Oh dear!

“Cousin, take a look, what do you think?” Meng Yun knew Bai Yulan had grown up in the capital, where she’d seen the finest cosmetics. If her cousin approved… Oh! The thought thrilled Meng Yun.

Bai Yulan didn’t rush to open the box. She first sniffed it, catching only a faint scent.

Bai Yulan paused—nothing remarkable, and why was there barely any fragrance?

Madam Meng also picked up a box and examined it.

Frankly, the box was atrocious! For a woman who sought perfection, such an ugly box was intolerable!

Seeing the two women staring at the boxes, their faces openly displaying their distaste, Meng Yun could only think to herself: Should I admit I simply had the servants on the estate pack them into any old wooden boxes?

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“Ahem… Mother, never mind the box for now. Look at the quality of the rouge inside, and its aroma!” Meng Yun cleared her throat, urging her mother and cousin to focus beyond the exterior. Both were refined women; they’d know best.

Come now—look at the rouge itself!

“Let me see,” Bai Yulan, whose sense of smell was keen, guessed the rough craftsmanship of the boxes overwhelmed the scent of the contents. She opened one, and instantly a subtle fragrance drifted out—not cloying, but elegant and soothing.

“Hm—this is surprisingly pleasant, quite refreshing!” exclaimed Madam Meng in surprise.

She picked up another box and opened it. “Oh—the scent is different!”

Bai Yulan took another, sniffed it, and indeed found a difference. She asked, “Yun, where did you get these?”

Bai Yulan was instantly drawn in; this was a marvelous thing. The fragrance alone would entice countless women!

The thought made Bai Yulan’s eyes shine. Meng Yun saw the reactions of her mother and cousin and instantly felt herself swelling with pride.

She declared, “These were made by Xiao Xiao and me! We’ve been working on them these past days.” She stood with hands on her hips, nose in the air, demanding praise.

Madam Meng was speechless.

Bai Yulan was speechless.

“Cousin, you truly are clever. These are exquisitely made!” Bai Yulan smiled, complimenting her.

But—“Come now. You think this sort of thing appears by magic? That you can just make it? Yun, if you and Xiao Xiao say you produced these, even a fool wouldn’t believe it!” Madam Meng, knowing her daughter’s nature well, jabbed at her without mercy.

Truth be told, Xiao Xiao was a bit more capable than Meng Yun!

Madam Meng was poking holes in her daughter’s story, giving her no face at all.

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Meng Yun was silent—her mother knew her too well.

Bai Yulan was silent—was her aunt so certain? And what did she mean by “even a fool wouldn’t believe it”?

Facing the sharp gazes of the two women, Meng Yun conceded. She admitted she’d merely directed the servants on the estate to make the rouge, though she didn’t know how it was actually done.

Madam Meng, knowing her daughter’s faults, spoke up directly.

“Yun, while this fragrance is lovely, it’s hardly a novel product. It’s merely a superficial improvement. You see, it’s just a mix of the rouge and powder sold in the market, blended with other ingredients,” Madam Meng set down the box, took a sip of tea, and spoke calmly.

“Cousin, Aunt is right. The fragrance is appealing, but the manufacturing is rather slapdash. It’s a shame for the materials inside!” Bai Yulan examined each rouge thoroughly and reached her conclusion.

“Ah—” Meng Yun was crestfallen. Xiao Xiao had insisted these were excellent, and she’d promised to handle it, only to be proven wrong so quickly. How disappointing!

“However, cousin, the new ingredient you added is quite special. If you used it alone, the result would be far superior to mixing it with other materials,” Bai Yulan mused aloud. Madam Meng, curious, remained silent.

“Ingredient? Oh! You mean the red-blue grass?” Meng Yun recalled the grass that could be juiced and mentioned it.

“Red-blue grass?” Madam Meng and Bai Yulan asked in unison. What on earth was red-blue grass?