The day after Lu Zhanting returned, just at dawn, Su Wanqing woke up.
The bed beside her still held his lingering body warmth.
That clean yet fiercely assertive aura of his wrapped her tightly like an invisible net, leaving no gap.
This was a peace she had never experienced since coming to this world.
She quietly turned over.
The man was asleep. The stern contours of his face softened from the harshness of the day. Long eyelashes cast a quiet shadow under his eyelids.
Only his furrowed brow remained, habitually creased even in sleep, as if etched with an unshakable weight.
Su Wanqing’s heart softened slightly.
She reached out a finger, hesitated for a moment in the air, then gently and tentatively tried to smooth the deep wrinkles between his brows.
The next second, her wrist was firmly grasped by a hand like iron tongs.
Lu Zhanting opened his eyes.
In the morning light, his eyes were less sharp than usual, tinged with sleepy laziness, yet still astonishingly deep.
“Not going to sleep a bit more?” he asked, his voice hoarse with just waking, rough and grainy.
“No, got important things today.”
Su Wanqing pulled back her hand, cheeks warming, and promptly sat up to get dressed.
“What important things?”
Lu Zhanting also sat up, his tanned, muscular upper body exposed to the air. The new and old scars intertwined, each silently telling stories behind the medals.
Su Wanqing glanced back at him, blinking and smiling slyly.
“Something that’ll make our family a lot of money.”
She finished speaking and then walked out of the bedroom with light steps.
After breakfast, Lu Zhanting was going to the camp to report off leave and handle follow-up mission reports.
Su Wanqing saw him off at the gate, standing on tiptoe to carefully straighten his crisply ironed uniform collar.
“Go ahead, come back early.”
Her tone was natural, like a normal wife sending her husband off.
Lu Zhanting’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his deep gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds before he lifted his large hand and roughly ruffled her hair.
“Mm.”
He turned and strode away with the characteristic military pace, quickly disappearing down the alley.
Su Wanqing watched his back until he was out of sight.
Turning back indoors, it felt as if a spark had been ignited deep in her eyes.
Her career officially began today.
She walked into the study, locked the doors and windows, and with a thought, entered her space.
This time, her goal was clear.
She quickly walked to the spirit spring and carefully filled a clean clay pot with the pure spring water.
Then she went to the beehive and took down a large piece of solid honey that had hardened, emitting a strange floral fragrance.
Finally, she opened the warehouse door.
This was the secret shared between her and Lu Zhanting and her greatest support for starting her career.
She rummaged through the shelves and soon found several key ingredients:
A pack of fine powder known in later generations as pearl powder.
Several dried flower petals known for their miraculous beauty effects.
And more than a dozen uniform, finely crafted white-glazed small porcelain jars.
With materials ready, Su Wanqing cleared a spot inside her space and set up a charcoal stove.
She poured the spring water into a small pot and warmed it gently over a low flame.
Though she had been a fashion designer in her previous life, she had dabbled in skincare making as well. She knew well that in a time without emulsifiers, patience and technique were key.
She mixed the honey with finely ground flower petals in a specific ratio.
The warm spring water was slowly dripped in with a wooden spoon, drop by drop, very slowly blending.
At the same time, her other hand held the wooden spoon, stirring rapidly in one constant direction.
It was a tedious and exhausting process.
As she worked, the previously separated oily mixture began to change wonderfully.
The cloudy yellow gradually faded, turning into pure milky white.
In the air, the sweet floral and rich honey scents intertwined and rose, creating a refreshing aroma that lifted the spirits.
For the final step, she evenly sprinkled in the pearl powder and continued stirring.
The liquid in the pot visibly thickened and refined, eventually becoming a creamy substance with the texture of fine mutton fat, a jade-like color, and a glossy shimmer.
Done.
“Wanqing’s Jade Beauty Cream.”
Su Wanqing looked at the fruit of her labor, a deep smile of satisfaction spreading over her tired face.
She carefully portioned the cream into the white porcelain jars, each filled to the brim. Then she took out a brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a small “Su” character at the bottom of each jar.
This was her unique brand mark.
After finishing everything, sweat trickled down her temples, but her heart was filled with a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
She took more than a dozen small porcelain jars out of the space.
Just as she placed them on the table, the courtyard gate creaked open.
Lu Zhanting returned.
As soon as he entered, he smelled an unusual, sweet fragrance.
His gaze swept and landed on the small wife by the table.
She was holding a soft cloth, carefully wiping a row of pristine white jars.
“What’s this?” he asked, walking over and picking up one, curious.
“It’s something I made — Jade Beauty Cream.”
Su Wanqing looked up, her eyes shining brightly under the light, full of eager excitement to share.
“It’s for the face, can make skin whiter and softer, won’t crack in winter.”
Lu Zhanting unscrewed the lid, and a stronger elegant fragrance wafted out. The cream inside was pure white and delicate, with a smooth, moist feel.
“Put out your hand,” Su Wanqing commanded.
Though confused, Lu Zhanting obeyed, extending his heavily calloused left hand.
Su Wanqing used the edge of her pinky fingernail to scoop a small amount of cream and then carefully rubbed it onto his rough hand.
His hand was dark, dry, covered with tiny wounds and thick calluses from training.
The moment the cream touched his skin, it brought a cool and strangely pleasant sensation.
Not greasy at all, it was like a drop of water instantly absorbed by thirsty skin.
Lu Zhanting’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
The treated skin actually felt noticeably softer and more moisturized, and the faint fragrance lingered pleasantly at his nose.
“How is it?” Su Wanqing asked expectantly, like a student awaiting final approval.
“Not bad.”
Lu Zhanting’s words were casual, but inside he felt intrigued. For a big man, it was his first time using something like this, and it felt pretty good.
“This is my first product, and you’re my first tester,” Su Wanqing smiled, her eyes sparkling brighter than the brightest star in the night sky.
Lu Zhanting looked at her radiant expression, and his heart skipped a beat.
He thought that compared to the cream, this little wife shining all over was far more captivating.
That afternoon, Su Wanqing carried a small bamboo basket with two jars of the Jade Beauty Cream to Liu Sao and Wang Xiuying’s homes.
She didn’t mention selling it but said it was a little creation of hers, a thank-you gift for their daily care, and asked them to help test it.
Both happily accepted, impressed by the cream’s delicate texture and pleasant scent.
The next two days, Su Wanqing never mentioned the cream again.
She just busily organized her design sketches and occasionally chatted with the army wives in the compound.
She knew the best advertisement was word of mouth.
On the third afternoon, the opportunity came.
Su Wanqing was hanging quilts in the courtyard when the gate was suddenly pushed open.
The visitor was Sun Yan, a young army wife from the last tea gathering.
She rushed over, grabbed Su Wanqing’s hand, her face brimming with excitement she could no longer suppress.
“Wanqing! You have to look at my face!”
Su Wanqing looked.
Though Sun Yan’s cheeks still bore a ruddy highland flush, her skin condition had improved by leaps and bounds from a few days ago. The previously peeling forehead and cheeks were now smooth and hydrated, the entire face radiating a healthy glow.
“I heard from Sister Wang that washing with rice water was good, so I tried it for a few days. The effect was amazing!” Sun Yan’s voice trembled. “Your Jade Beauty Cream — does it work even better? Sister Wang showed me her hands yesterday, so white and soft, like she never did any housework! Wanqing, do you still have any cream left? Can you sell me a jar?”
Before Su Wanqing could speak, several more people crowded into the courtyard gate— all familiar faces.
“Wanqing sister, we’re here to ask for the Jade Beauty Cream too!”
“Yeah, yeah! Sister Liu’s face looks like she’s got a new skin— we’re all so jealous!”
“You have to set a price, you can’t just give it away! We have to let you earn some hard money!”
Looking at their eager and expectant faces, Su Wanqing’s heart was already bursting with joy.
But on her face, she showed just the right amount of hesitation.
“Sisters-in-law, it’s not that I’m stingy. This stuff takes a lot of time and materials to make, and I don’t have many jars left…”
“Give us whatever you have! Just bring it out quickly!”
“Yeah, we won’t let you suffer losses!”
Under everyone’s enthusiastic “assault,” Su Wanqing finally “reluctantly” went back inside and brought out the remaining ten jars of Jade Beauty Cream.
Clearing her throat, she looked at everyone and nervously held up one finger.
“Sisters-in-law, this uses only good ingredients, so the cost isn’t low… so the price might be a little high.”
“Ten cents?” Sun Yan guessed.
Su Wanqing shook her head.
“One yuan?!” another army wife exclaimed.
One yuan in this era was enough for an ordinary family’s groceries for several days.
The atmosphere in the yard instantly froze.
Su Wanqing’s heart tightened; she knew this pricing was a big gamble.
Just then, Li Sao, the partner of Wang Xiuying, broke the silence.
“One yuan a jar? I don’t think it’s expensive!” Her voice was loud and clear. “You haven’t seen Sister Wang’s results — it’s way better than that Snow Cream from the supply and marketing cooperative that costs a few yuan a bottle! Wanqing’s stuff is real and quality, and it smells so good. Wanqing, I want one jar!”
With someone leading, the mood quickly warmed up.
“Yes, one yuan it is! It’s worth it for the face!”
“I want one jar too!”
In no time, the ten jars of Jade Beauty Cream were snapped up.
In Su Wanqing’s hand were ten crisp or worn one-yuan bills.
Holding those ten yuan, the rough texture of the bills felt so real, and her heart raced wildly with excitement.
This was the first pot of gold she had earned with her own hands since coming to this world!
After seeing everyone off, Su Wanqing closed the courtyard gate and sat alone at the table.
She spread the ten bills flat, turning them over and over, unable to suppress the smile on her lips.
In the evening, Lu Zhanting came back.
As soon as he entered, he saw his little wife smiling foolishly at a pile of money.
“Made a fortune?” He walked over and sat beside her, his tone playful.
“Not made, I earned it myself!”
Su Wanqing proudly pushed the ten yuan toward him, her eyes shining with pride she couldn’t hide.
“My Jade Beauty Cream sold out today! This is my earnings!”
Lu Zhanting looked at her radiant and proud little face, and his chest filled with immense joy and pride.
He didn’t care about the ten yuan.
What mattered to him was the genuine, shining happiness on her face.
He didn’t touch the money but reached out and pulled her into his arms, then bent down and planted a deep kiss on her smooth forehead.
“I knew it — my wife is the hardest working.”
His voice was full of indulgence and praise.
Su Wanqing blushed from his compliment, but her heart felt sweeter than honey.
She leaned her head on his shoulder and softly said, “This is just the first step. I also want to make clothes — the best, sturdiest clothes for the kids in the compound.”
She showed Lu Zhanting the design sketches she had drawn.
Lu Zhanting didn’t understand design, but he could tell that the children’s clothes on the paper were fresh and practical, far better than the dull styles on the market.
“Good.” He didn’t hesitate. “Go for it.”
He paused briefly, then added, “But making clothes at home all the time isn’t a long-term plan. The place is small, and it’ll attract gossip.”
“What should I do then?” Su Wanqing also had this worry.
“There are some empty rooms behind the family quarters that used to store junk. I’ll apply through logistics and get you one as your studio,” Lu Zhanting arranged clearly. “As for fabric, I’ll check with the military factory. Sometimes they handle leftover or defective cloth and sell it cheaply. I’ll see if I can get some quota for you.”
Su Wanqing looked up in surprise.
She hadn’t expected not only his support but that he was already paving the way for her.
“Lu Zhanting, you’re so good,” she said sincerely.
“You’re my wife. If I don’t treat you well, who else should I?”
Lu Zhanting pinched her cheek, then took the ten yuan on the table and returned it to her hand.
“Keep it safe. This is your private money.”
He paused, then pulled out his wallet, took out all the money and bills without leaving a single cent, and stuffed them into her hand.
“Here’s the rest. From now on, you manage all the money at home.”
Su Wanqing held the thick wad of cash and various bills, completely stunned.
He… was handing over all the family assets to her?
“You gave it all to me. What will you use?”
“I eat and live at the army camp, don’t need to spend money. If I need anything, I’ll ask you,” Lu Zhanting said matter-of-factly.
His eyes were honest and sincere, filled with undeniable trust.
Su Wanqing looked at him, feeling something filling her heart, both sour and swelling.
This man was using the most direct way to completely bring her under his wing, giving her all his protection and support.
She sniffled, carefully putting away the money and bills.
Then she took the initiative, leaned in, and gave his rough cheek a loud kiss.
“Good, from now on I’ll support you,” she declared seriously.
Lu Zhanting was momentarily stunned by her sudden move.
The next second, a rush of heat blazed up from his neck to his ear.
He looked into her bright eyes filled with mischievous smiles, tightened his arm, scooped her up horizontally, flipped her, and pinned her onto the sofa.
“Support me?”
He lowered his head, his hot breath brushing her ear, voice hoarse but dangerous with a teasing smile.
“Alright.”
“Let me see how you’re going to ‘support’ me now.”
Outside, the night darkened gradually, but the room’s light was especially bright, illuminated by the passion inside.