Chapter 21: 21

When Ye Jiao heard this, she was a little puzzled at first. Ye Jiao blankly looked at him when the man held her face: “I wasn’t burned; I wasn’t scalded…”

Qi Yun’s eyes landed on the rouge box in her hand; knowing that he had misunderstood, he lightly coughed. He feared that Ye Jiao would be sad and took the rouge box from Ye Jiao’s hand, putting it aside, saying: “I was just dazzled and didn’t see clearly; it’s my fault.” He wanted to shift the topic: “The pigeons in the small kitchen are simmering first; it tastes the same whether you wait to drink (the soup) or not.”

Ye Jiao really wanted to drink the pigeon-stewed soup. The Little Ginseng wanted to try out everything she hadn’t experienced already. 

But Ye Jiao could see this person behaving strangely and understood after thinking. She finally dressed up, but her husband didn’t like it, which made her a little disappointed: “It doesn’t look good?”

Qi Yun looked around for a while but didn’t say anything.

To tell the truth, it’s naturally… not good-looking.

Qi Second Son never questioned the beauty of his wife, with her red lips and white teeth and lovely facial features. Ye Jiao didn’t like to go out when she was in the Ye family because the more beautiful the daughter of a poor family was, the more dangerous. This kind of appearance was indeed inviting. 

The woman next door needed to put powder on her face to obtain a fair complexion, but Ye Jiao was able to nourish herself. Her skin was fair and rosy [1] – even if she wore a plain face before, she would still look good. 

Now, Ye Jiao used rouge and painted a mottled appearance, especially with the two blushes on her cheeks. She looked like a doll in a New Year’s painting, and it wasn’t really pretty. 

Qi Second Son wasn’t blunt; he just told her: “You’ve used more than necessary. This rouge shouldn’t be applied too much; a little is enough.”

Ye Jiao’s eyes were still a little lost: “So would it be better for me not to use this?”

Qi Yun didn’t immediately agree. In his opinion, his Jiao Niang had a good foundation and she looked pretty without makeup. However, since Jiao Niang wanted to use it, he naturally wouldn’t say anything to upset her temperament.

Nothing could be judged as good or bad – it ultimately depended on whether you liked it or not.

Whatever the lady liked, he would unconditionally support it. 

Reaching out and pinching Ye Jiao’s earlobe, Qi Yun slowly said: “Jiao Niang looks good without this, but you’ll look even better if you use it. Go and wash your face, I’ll help you.”

Ye Jiao heard this and looked at him in surprise: “Xiang Gong, you know how to use rouge?”

“It’s not that I know in particular; I haven’t touched it before. I’ve just seen my mother put on makeup when I was a child, so I have a general knowledge. If I don’t do well, don’t laugh at me.” When Qi Yun spoke, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, giving Ye Jiao a lot of confidence.

Ye Jiao didn’t know anything about putting on rouge. Hearing Qi Yun speak, he also didn’t know, but Ye Jiao blindly trusted Qi Yun and immediately got up to wash her face. 

When facing the water basin, the reflection in it was much more clear than that of the bronze mirror, and Ye Jiao could see her current appearance. 

… Where did this demon come from!

She subconsciously took a step back but reacted quickly. Her face flushed and she immediately washed her face with warm water, thinking that it wasn’t that Xiang Gong didn’t like it, but he was frightened.

With this appearance, not scaring people would be a strange reaction.

After cleaning up, Ye Jiao was a little embarrassed when she returned. She looked at Qi Yun and said: “Xiang Gong, did I scare you just now?”

Qi Yun already changed his clothes in the room and was waiting for her. Seeing her come back, he smiled and replied: “How can I frighten so easily.”

Even if one is scared, they can’t admit it.

The man stood at the table and waved at Ye Jiao: “Come here.”

Ye Jiao trotted over and immediately sat down, looking at him with her head raised very obediently. 

He actually had never put rouge on anyone before. Qi Yun never touched it, but for the sake of his Jiao Niang, Qi Yun went to wash his hands just now and remembered the books he had read before. He smeared rouge on the back of his hand and tried it on several times. There were still several marks left over on the back of his slightly pale hand. Finally, he had a general understanding of it.

Talented people learned things quickly, but Qi Yun never thought that one day he would use his talent on rouge. 

Everything was worth it, though, for Ye Jiao to be happy.

Since she had a good foundation from left to right, Qi Yun only lightly patted her cheeks. 

The rouge was already red and bright and a light layer was good, but other than this Qi Yun wouldn’t use anything else.

He picked up the lipstick and dabbed it on her lips, gently smoothing it out.

This was supposed to be a very simple step, but Qi Yun didn’t think he did it too well. At least, he didn’t know the lip makeup styles that other girls liked to paint.

However, Ye Jiao’s face was particularly impressive, with smooth, high quality skin and gorgeous facial features. A simple modification was enough.

Especially after the red lipstick was applied, she became even more radiant and soft…

Qi Yun’s fingertips paused slightly. His originally focused and meticulous gaze moved, unconsciously focusing on her lips and pressing them again. 

Soft and red. 

Qi Yun could still remember the warm touch whenever she kissed his cheek.

Jiao Niang didn’t know what Qi Yun was thinking. Seeing that his pale face was a little red, she couldn’t help holding Qi Yun’s wrist worriedly: “Xiang Gong, are you uncomfortable?”

Qi Yun immediately released his hand, looked away, and lightly coughed: “No, I’m not uncomfortable.”

Ye Jiao also felt that there wasn’t a problem with his pulse – she probably just misunderstood. She smiled at Qi Yun and turned to look at herself in the mirror. 

In the bronze mirror was a blurry outline. Ye Jiao couldn’t clearly see when she looked from left to right, so she returned to the front of the water basin to get a closer look.

Even though it wasn’t very clear, you could vaguely see a hibiscus-like face [2] inside, which was much better than the colorful one just now. 

Ye Jiao immediately had a smile on her face. The Little Ginseng also loved beauty. Who wouldn’t want to look better?

She turned her head and smiled at Qi Yun: “What Xiang Gong painted is truly beautiful.”

Qi Yun’s calm mannerism was struck by her bright smile. Trying to maintain his usual composed attitude, the man said: “It’s Jiao Niang who is naturally good-looking. How else would everything (about you) look so good?”

Ye Jiao shook her head: “The flowery and colorful appearance just now didn’t look good.”

Qi Yun couldn’t help but laugh and took Ye Jiao’s hand. He changed the subject: “You don’t seem to like this bronze mirror.”

Ye Jiao had always been frank with him. She said: “It’s not that I don’t like it. I usually look at it, but I can’t see people clearly.”

The bronze mirror in Qi Yun’s house was a popular style of bronze mirror on the market these days. 

One side was smooth while the other side was carved. It looked like a delicate handicraft placed there, but it wasn’t very clear. When people were reflected in it, they seemed to be covered with fog. The one in Qi Yun’s house was foggier than ordinary ones. 

Because Qi Yun himself was not a person who liked to look in mirrors, he didn’t have a need for the bronze mirror. After Ye Jiao came, she used it when she tied her hair. No one paid any attention to whether or not it was actually useful.

The bronze mirror was more like a necessity in the house. Once it’s set down, one doesn’t think about using it.

After the arrival of Ye Jiao, though, everything was brand new and what’s meant to be used was used.

Now that Ye Jiao mentioned it, Qi Yun thought and said: “Let’s go back and change it to a better bronze mirror. However, no matter how good it is, it won’t be very clear. People from the caravan have said that there is a kind of mirror in the Western Regions that’s much clearer than a bronze mirror.”

Ye Jiao heard a new term: “What’s a caravan?”

Qi Yun explained: “We do business with merchants from the Western regions. They’ll gather together to form a caravan, sell our things out, buy back things from outside, and earn the difference in being the middlemen. It’s always been very profitable, but dangerous.”

Ye Jiao didn’t know anything about shopping. Of course she’s happy if she had money, but if it was dangerous, it was bad: “If there’s danger, then Xiang Gong shouldn’t go.”

“(I’m) just asking them to buy stuff; not just your mirror, but also some furnishings for the wine shop.” Qi Yun didn’t elaborate but just reassured Ye Jiao. 

But in the heart of the man, it was only a matter of time for the caravan. He even planned to form one himself when he had the capital in the future. 

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Additionally, he would do many things one after another. 

Just a prosperous wine shop couldn’t give the Qi family much protection. 

It was naturally good for Qi Ming to be able to take the county exam, but no one could say anything about the imperial exam. Whether he succeeded or not depended on not only his aptitude, but the will of God. The last leg depended on the Emperor’s likes and dislikes. It was really difficult to guess (how well he would do).

Qi Yun, for the sake of Qi Ming’s future, would help him. But he would still have to rely on himself in other aspects. 

Nowadays businessmen were no longer discriminated against, and some even received preferential treatment in certain cases. It was clear to Qi Yun, though, that if you wanted to benefit from the path of going into business, it wasn’t enough to have a few small shops. 

There were a lot of things he had to do, step by step, to provide him and Jiao Niang a shelter in the end. 

Holding Ye Jiao’s hand tightly, Qi Yun softly said: “I’ll paint your eyebrows for you.”

Ye Jiao nodded with a smile: “Okay.”

Looking at Qi Yun with her head raised, Ye Jiao noticed the person who was focusing on holding the indigo liner to draw her eyebrows. The more she looked at Qi Yun, the more handsome Qi Yun became.

Ye Jiao tried her best to recall the words she recently learned.

A clear outline, bright and starry-eyed – in short, good-looking.

The woman could feel the touch of the indigo liner being swept on her eyebrows. When both sides were drawn, Ye Jiao softly asked: “Is it done?”

Qi Yun solemnly picked up the damp cloth on the side and wiped her eyebrows: “Not yet, wait a bit.”

At the same time, the man sighed in his heart. It’s said that a couple drawing on eyebrows in ancient times was intimate, but it was actually more difficult than applying rouge.

The men who draw eyebrows as a daily routine have deft hands that don’t shake and good skills that make the eyebrows symmetrical.

Fortunately, Qi Yun had good luck today and he finished the painting after two repetitions. Although he did not say that it was very beautiful, his painting was light, and it was acceptable.

He sighed again; it’s a blessing to have such a good-looking wife and he wasn’t afraid of messing up her foundation.

Qi Yun’s face was light as wind, as if he did a small thing, but after Yu Jiao happily left, Qi Yun put on his robe again, took the stove, and went to Liu Shi’s yard.

How should he ask Liu Shi to find someone who could teach Jiao Niang make-up? It didn’t matter if Jiao Niang learned, or if he learned himself.

After all, Qi Second Son really couldn’t guarantee that he would be lucky enough to draw symmetrically next time…

Ye Jiao got on the bullock cart, accompanied by Dong Shi and Liu Pozi.

Liu Shi specially sent Liu Pozi to follow her. She felt that Ye Jiao had a soft-natured temper. It would be fine if it was the first time she went out, but if she encountered some trouble, her soft and well-behaved daughter-in-law would be fooled by others. Having Liu Pozi come along was also a form of protection.

Ye Jiao and Liu Pozi were also familiar with each other. She was the one who followed her the last time she left the house, and now she’s still with her. As soon as they got in the cart, Ye Jiao shared the snacks she brought.

Liu Pozi took a closer look and saw that it was a few pieces of taro donuts. It was grounded dried taro and kneaded with flour. The stuffing had chicken. It was said to be a snack, but it was more like a staple food.

There weren’t many people who could make this at home, and it wasn’t easy to buy outside. Only the cooks in a few restaurants in the town have the skill to make this.

It looked like the second young master’s negotiations with the restaurant and stores from before were successful.

Liu Pozi had been following Liu Shi for a while, and she knew some things about the family. Even if she guessed it, she would only be happy for her second young master.

She had been listening to Liu Shi’s private conversations saying that Ye Jiao was a lucky person. Not only was she blessed, but she would share her blessings with Qi Yun. 

Liu Pozi was superstitious and naturally treated Ye Jiao more and more respectfully. 

Dong Shi was different. She didn’t see anything special about the donut. She just thought it tasted good. She also remembered the discussion she had with Ye Jiao about the cultivation methods of those medicinal flowers, which made her a little distracted.

However Ye Jiao didn’t focus on any of them. She just ate the taro donuts in mouthfuls, touched her stomach, and looked satisfied.

The distance from the Qi family’s house to town was not close, but the road was big, flat, and open, so the ox cart could travel quickly.

Soon after the donuts were eaten, they arrived at the place.

Ye Jiao lifted the curtain and looked out. She felt that the streets here were more prosperous. There were some small vendors on both sides, and many shops were open. The Qi family’s wine shop was not far from the street.

Dong Shi held Ye Jiao by the side and said: “This is a good location. I was afraid it wouldn’t be easy to build up. The business must be booming.”

Half of this was flattery, and the other half was sincerity.

Now was not the time to think “the fragrance of wine is not afraid of deep alleys”. The imperial court encouraged commercial development, and more and more shops opened. To sell good things, in addition to shouting, you needed a good location.

Dong Shi and her husband run the Qi family’s pharmacy. Although the location was not bad, it was far from the prosperity here.

Looking at it with some envy, Dong Shi thought in her heart that it was time for her husband to get involved with the boss’s family. They couldn’t watch other people eat meat while they drank soup.

Steward Song stood at the door with a smile on his face, waiting for the auspicious time, and saw the Qi family’s car coming. He hurried to welcome them: “Second Young Lady, take your time.” Then he turned his head to the yservant and said: “Hurry up and bring a stool; help the Second Young Lady get off.”

Ye Jiao picked up the curtain and came out without being helped. She stepped on the stool and got out of the car, looked up at Steward Song, and said with a smile: “Steward Song, Xiang Gong let me take a look. Hope I didn’t bother your business?”

When Ye Jiao came down, Steward Song was a little surprised. This was the first time he saw Ye Jiao wearing make-up and he didn’t expect her to look so outstanding.

Qi Yun saw Ye Jiao all the time, and naturally he couldn’t see the difference in Ye Jiao, but Steward Song doesn’t see her often. When he saw her suddenly like this, he felt that there was a big change.

In addition to the complexion, there was also the temperament. One couldn’t see the previous poverty. Instead, she looked like a charming lady from a honey pot.

But Steward Song didn’t look for too long; he quickly looked away and said with a smile on his face, “No bother, no bother; the Second Young Lady looks so good today. Come and sit inside.” As he was talking, Dong Shi and Liu Pozi [3] also followed down. Steward Song greeted the servant with a smile: “Take the few distinguished guests to the second floor and find a good tea to prepare.”

However, when Ye Jiao went to take a seat by the window on the second floor, she saw from the view that there were about four or five people coming towards this side with their heads tilted and a menacing look.

Ye Jiao was a little curious: “Did they also come to see the fun?”

Dong Shi glanced at them and frowned slightly: “They’re not here to join the fun. Seems like they’re local ruffians who want to stir up trouble.”

Soon, Dong Shi’s words were confirmed. Those people stood in front of the shop and the leader shouted: “Our Boss Sun said that your shop is hindering the feng shui of the Sun family’s bank. If you want to open the store, bring the money first!”

When those words came out, Dong Shi said in a low voice: “It’s true that they came here to pick a quarrel. Who announces themselves before looking for trouble?”

If it wasn’t out of stupidity, then it was out of a bad intention to come and smash the place.

***

Footnotes:

[1] The literal translation is “red and white” but I substituted with words in English that are more related to skin tone.

[2] I believe this phrase is from the poem “Nine Hibiscus Peaks” by Yuan Fu. I couldn’t find a professional translation of the poem but here’s an attempt using machine TL:

There is half a mountain in the bottom of my eyes, what does the face of the hibiscus look like?Suddenly, the white moon hung in the sky, the mountain spirit will not fail me.

TL;DR, ‘hibiscus-like face’ = beautiful

[3] I think this is a typo from the raw; the author mentioned someone named “Sun Pozi” but I believe they were referring to Liu Pozi.

***

Translator’s Notes:

Lord, I forgot how freaking long these chapters are. Sorry for being MIA, hoping to get back in the groove.

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