“Do you think your husband’s rank isn’t as high as my Captain Lu’s, so you’re too embarrassed to live better than me?”
Boom!
That line hit like a muffled thunderclap—
and left Sister Wang scorched inside and out.
It was vicious.
Not only did it call her lazy and accuse her of turning her home into a pigsty—
it also stepped right on her husband’s sore spot.
“Y-you… that mouth of yours…”
Her face flushed the color of pig liver.
Her finger trembled as she pointed at Su Ci.
She wanted to curse.
But when she looked at Su Ci’s face—fair and smooth like a peeled egg—
and then at the refined, picture-perfect room behind her—
she suddenly felt…
that her crude insults were just too low-class.
So crude they crumbled.
Under this absolute pressure of beauty and class,
even throwing a tantrum felt weak and powerless.
“That’s enough.”
Su Ci didn’t give her a chance to continue.
She directly showed her out.
“If you’ve got nothing else, you can go.”
“We’re about to eat.”
She paused slightly—
then emphasized:
“We’re having sweet-and-sour ribs tonight, so we won’t be keeping you.”
“After all, meat is quite expensive.”
After saying that,
Su Ci reached out—
and right in front of Sister Wang—
bang!
She shut the freshly cleaned door.
Peace returned to the world.
Even through the door, you could still hear Sister Wang stomping outside in fury.
Inside—
Lu Xiangbei leaned against the door, listening to the noise outside.
Then he looked at Su Ci—
his eyes shining frighteningly bright.
“Sister-in-law…”
“That just now… was so satisfying!”
For the first time,
when facing a nightmare neighbor like Sister Wang—
they won.
And they won beautifully.
No shouting, no fighting—
just with words, she nearly drove the other party mad.
Su Ci sat back down on the sofa and patted the spot beside her.
“What are you standing there for?”
“Who said earlier they’d sweep the floor for one point?”
“These paper scraps on the ground—are you saving them for dumplings at New Year?”
Lu Xiangbei snapped back to reality.
Points!
“I’ll sweep! Right away!”
He grabbed the broom.
In this home that looked like something out of a magazine—
even sweeping the floor
suddenly felt sacred.
Su Ci leaned back against the soft cushions,
watching the three busy little figures.
A faint smile rested on her lips.
This was only the beginning.
Life on this island—
was still long.
And this—
was the first “territory” she had carved out
in the 1970s.
..
Night fell, dark as ink that couldn’t be dissolved.
The sound of waves crashing against the rocks
was shut out by the newly pasted beige wallpaper.
In the main hall,
the old clock ticked tirelessly.
All three children of the Lu family were awake tonight.
They couldn’t sleep.
Not because of excitement—
but because of the smell.
It drifted out from the crack of the master bedroom door.
Like someone had moved the most expensive counter from a city department store into the house—
soft, sweet, and enough to make one’s heart tremble.
It was the scent after Su Ci had bathed.
Lu Xiangnan turned over, staring at the dark ceiling.
Her mind replayed the evening.
That woman called “sister-in-law,”
sitting at the new table,
using hands softer than scallion whites
to dab a bit of white cream—
just one light pat—
and the whole room seemed to bloom.
Lu Xiangnan touched her own face.
Rough. Scratchy.
The island wind carried salt—
leaving skin like dried bark.
In winter, cracks would split open painfully.
She was only thirteen—
yet the skin on the back of her hands looked thirty.
“Just one smell…”
she told herself.
The moment the thought appeared,
her legs moved on their own.
Barefoot, she slipped out of bed,
like a light-avoiding mouse, holding her breath as she crept into the hall.
Moonlight fell pale on the small porcelain jar left on the table.
Su Ci had tossed it there casually.
Lu Xiangnan’s hand trembled.
She leaned closer—
and greedily inhaled.
Jasmine… and milk.
It smelled so good it made her want to cry.
As if possessed,
she twisted open the lid.
Her finger dipped in—
and scooped out a large chunk.
Cool. Smooth.
So this was snow cream?
Afraid someone would notice the missing amount,
she steeled herself and smeared it all over her face.
Too much.
It wouldn’t spread.
She didn’t know technique—
only how to rub hard.
The more she rubbed,
the whiter it got—
until her whole face looked like it had fallen into a flour vat,
greasy and coated in waxy white.
“Putting on a hanged-ghost act in the middle of the night?”
A lazy voice suddenly exploded behind her.
Lu Xiangnan froze.
Her heart nearly jumped out of her throat.
Click.
The light turned on.
Yellow light shattered the darkness.
Su Ci leaned against the doorway,
wearing a beige knit cardigan, holding an enamel mug.
Her hair loose, her face dazzlingly pale.
Expression calm—
she even yawned.
Her gaze fell on Lu Xiangnan’s ghostly white face.
Lu Xiangnan’s legs gave out.
With a thud, she knelt on the cement floor—
still clutching the lid.
“S-sister-in-law…”
Her voice trembled violently.
She was done for.
Stealing meant being a thief.
Thieves got beaten.
This cream must be expensive—
she couldn’t afford it even if she sold herself.
Lu Xiangbei woke too.
Seeing the scene, his mind buzzed.
“Second sister! Are you crazy?!”
That belonged to the demon woman!
And you dared touch it?!
He was about to rush over—
when a soft laugh sounded above.
Light.
Carefree.
With a hint of disdain.
“Lu Xiangbei, step aside.”
Su Ci walked over.
Ignoring the kneeling girl,
she lifted Lu Xiangnan’s chin with one finger.
“Hmm.”
“Anyone who saw this would think we’re putting on an opera.”
Tears streamed down Lu Xiangnan’s face,
cutting two tracks through the cream.
Ugly beyond saving.
Su Ci frowned.
She grabbed a tissue and wiped her fingers.
“Such a good thing—wasted on your face.”
“Are you scrubbing a washboard?”
“With that strength, you’ll rub your skin off.”
No scolding.
No hitting.
Only criticism—
like watching someone use premium tea leaves to boil eggs.
“Stand up.”
Lu Xiangnan shakily stood.
“Bring your face here.”
She closed her eyes, resigned.
Hit her.
She deserved it.
But—
no slap came.
Instead—
a warm hand touched her face.
Soft beyond belief.
Su Ci’s fingers moved in circles.
“Idiot.”
“You have to emulsify it. Press gently.”
“You scooped half a month’s worth in one go.”
“With that much, you’ll wake up covered in pimples.”
As those fingers moved,
the heavy grease melted away.
Her tight, year-long dry skin
felt like it was drinking water.
Every pore opened.
“Here—lift upward.”
“Eyes—gentle.”
“At your age, you already look like a little old lady.”
“I’d be embarrassed to take you out.”
Lu Xiangbei stood aside,
mouth wide enough to fit an egg.
That delicate woman—
who even complained about carrying a bucket—
was now patiently giving his mud-covered sister a facial.
Her words were harsh—
her hands soft as feathers.
Five minutes later—
Su Ci withdrew her hand,
wiping it again.
As if she had touched something dirty.
Lu Xiangnan opened her eyes and looked in the mirror.
She froze.
The ghostly white was gone.
Still dark. Still thin.
But the lifeless dryness was gone—
replaced with a soft glow.
Her face didn’t hurt anymore.
“Done.”
Su Ci tossed the tissue.
Then picked up the small porcelain jar—
tightened the lid—
and casually tossed it into Lu Xiangnan’s arms.
“Take it.”
Lu Xiangnan fumbled to catch it.
Stunned.
“S-sister-in-law?”
“For me?”
“This is snow cream! Even the supply store doesn’t have something this good!”
“I don’t like using things others have touched.”
Su Ci glanced at it in disdain.
“Dirty.”
“Keep it. I have better ones anyway.”
She turned to leave—
then paused.
The light fell on her side profile—
beautiful like a magazine star.
“Remember.”
“Girls should smell nice.”
“There’s nothing shameful about wanting to be pretty.”
“If you want to use something next time, just ask.”
“Sneaking around—that’s what rats do.”
“Even if we’re poor, people of the Lu family stand straight.”
“Understood?”
Lu Xiangnan hugged the still-warm jar—
tears flooding down.
“I—I understand!”
“Thank you, sister-in-law!”
The door closed.
Lu Xiangbei scratched his head,
looking between his crying sister and the door.
That “help sister-in-law wash clothes” task on the points list…
suddenly didn’t seem so bad anymore.
..
The next morning—
Su Ci woke up to a smell.
Not perfume—
but the rich scent of rice.
She stretched and stepped outside.
She raised an eyebrow at the sight.
Lu Xiangnan had changed.
Hair neatly combed into braids.
Old clothes washed clean.
She was squatting by the well, diligently washing clothes.
In the basin—
Su Ci’s silk blouse from yesterday.
She washed it reverently,
like a family heirloom.
Seeing Su Ci,
her eyes lit up like black grapes.
She wiped her hands and presented a plate.
“Sister-in-law! Breakfast!”
“What’s this…”
Su Ci looked.
Peeled eggs.
Smooth, perfect.
“I peeled them just for you—the tender layer is still intact!”
Lu Xiangnan looked nervous.
“Can… can this earn points?”
Su Ci took a bite.
Then glanced at the spotless blouse.
She smiled.
“Yes.”
“Washing clothes—3 points.”
“Peeling eggs…”
She looked at the girl’s hopeful face.
“Good service—2 points.”
“Go record it.”
“Okay!”
Lu Xiangnan cheered and ran off.
Su Ci felt pleased.
Life was getting on track.
Just as she thought about improving meals—
knock knock knock.
This time—
not pounding.
A cautious knock.
“Um… is this Captain Lu’s house?”
Lu Xiangbei opened the door with an axe.
Outside stood a military wife holding a child.
The baby was crying weakly,
neck covered in red rashes.
The woman hesitated, then spoke:
“Um… Sister Su.”
“I heard…”
“I heard you brought miracle medicine from the city?”
“Last night Sister Wang said your house smelled heavenly—and you could even restore old furniture…”
“I don’t ask for much.”
“My child’s heat rash hasn’t healed for a week.”
“I saw your second girl earlier—her skin was like a peeled egg…”
“Could you… help us?”
She looked ready to cry.
Su Ci wiped her mouth.
Borrow medicine?
A perfect chance to build a reputation.
She stood slowly.
“Xiangbei, let her in.”
“If it’s about a child, it can’t wait.”
Her calm voice carried authority.
The first step to becoming the island’s miracle doctor—
would start with this jar of aloe gel
mixed with spring water.