CHAPTER 413: CHAPTER 413 BUSY

Qiao Ying wrote a letter saying that she would be performing in a military region for the National Day. When Yang Peimin saw the beginning, she knew what would be said next. She had just sent her twenty sets of cosmetics last month, and it was surprising that she urgently needed more now.

As she continued reading, there indeed was a request to add thirty more sets, but more importantly, it was about finding ways to treat acne.

This was indeed a timely question. Aloe vera gel, which she had recently developed, was something her classmate Tang Zhao had also tried and found effective. He had even come back later to ask for another bottle.

Qiao Ying mentioned a friend of hers who particularly suffered from acne. Even with a controlled diet, when her menstrual period came, her acne would flare up drastically. She was part of the Cultural Troupe, and because of her acne, she rarely got performance opportunities. If it weren’t for her family pulling some strings, she would have been kicked out long ago. The few pitiful performances she did have involved her applying foundation over and over again until her face appeared stark white, as if dusted with flour. She even gained a nickname recently, "White Impermanence," which upset her so much when she heard it that she frantically searched for acne treatments. She had currently resorted to using a blend of internal and external traditional herbal medicines three times a day, and though it looked slightly better, her face was left discolored, looking worse than before.

Especially now, with a performance lined up just before National Day, she was eager to seize this chance. Qiao Ying felt sympathetic as a friend and thus thought of Yang Peimin, knowing she had access to effective products.

Yang Peimin was studying types of skin recently. There are five main types: oily, dry, normal, sensitive, and combination skin — the latter simply being a mix of the first two. She was researching the characteristics of these skin types to create corresponding skincare products.

Skin prone to acne and blackheads was typical of oily skin types. For this, oil-control and hydrating skincare were necessary. Acne usually came from three common issues: insufficient facial cleansing, late nights, or improper diet.

Since Yang Peimin hadn’t yet finalized a skincare range specifically for oily skin, she compiled a makeshift set comprised of winter melon water as a cleanser, which was quite effective and included anti-inflammatory properties, plus an aloe and mung bean face mask, a refreshing toner primarily for inflammation and hydration, and finally, a tube of the aloe vera gel for acne. She mailed these along with a letter saying the thirty sets would take a month.

Encouraged by Qiao Ying, Yang Peimin spent more time in the lab.

One day when she got home, she discovered Lele could now lift his head while lying on the kang, a sign of remarkable progress that brought a toothless, joyful grin on his face. His eyes sparkled as he looked up at her, and Yang Peimin ran over, exclaiming with surprise, "Oh my, when did my Lele get so capable!"

Chen Guizhi spread her arms protectively near him, in case he fell, laughing, "He’s nearly three months old now, can lift his neck too. You haven’t noticed, but when you hold him, he can turn his head from side to side now, curiously looking at everything around him."

Yang Peiming thought about it and realized it was true. The little fellow no longer liked being held horizontally—he wanted to be upright, observing the world!

Yang Peimin picked up a small stuffed toy nearby to entertain him, making him even happier.

At dinner, Yang Peimin still held him, not wanting to let go, as Chen Guizhi commented, "It’s fine to hold him while cooking, he’s not fussy now."

But Yang Peimin felt she spent too little time with him, and mealtime was an opportunity for some mother-and-son affection.

"Isn’t Yiguang off today? Why haven’t I seen him around?" she asked.

Chen Guizhi glanced at her, shaking her head, "I overheard that one of his comrades was injured and hospitalized, so he went to visit. Didn’t he tell you?"

Yang Peimin searched her memory; there seemed to be a faint recollection, but her mind had been so preoccupied with oily skin treatments that his words hadn’t really registered. Now, hearing it from Chen Guizhi, she felt a bit embarrassed for not remembering which comrade it was.

In the afternoon, Luo Dahua came over and told her, "I visited Mr. Zhao at the military hospital today. Since it’s not far from here, I thought I’d stop by. I saw that Yiguang went too, I thought you might have gone as well."

Yang Peimin shook her head, feeling even more embarrassed, "I thought I had matters to attend to and didn’t go. How is he doing?"

"Your Yiguang being there was helpful, but the Red Army wife was quite upset. It took a lot of effort to calm her down."

The matter involved Zhao Hongjun, injured on duty, and his wife, commonly referred to as the Red Army wife.

Luo Dahua quietly told Yang Peimin, "It’s no wonder the Red Army wife was agitated. Mr. Zhao injured his foot, and it’s uncertain whether there will be lasting effects after recovery. If so, he might face discharge from the military. His family here depends solely on his salary; if he falls, they don’t know how they’ll cope."

"Their youngest is not even a year old yet. The Red Army wife is usually such a composed person, having been through a lot. She usually comforts others effectively, but at this time, we couldn’t have anticipated how she collapsed, crying while holding her youngest son, unable to even stand. Before we arrived, she cried to Mr. Zhao, and when we got there, she grabbed our hands and cried. Sister Li and I were wiping her face, soothing the child, and comforting her until her tears were under control. Ah, we didn’t even know what to say. Everyone’s mood was down when we first heard the news, but perhaps after the first few days, it might improve. Actually, the doctors haven’t said much, advising just to take good care and not to worry too much about potential complications later."

"Who is taking care of him at the hospital now?" The Red Army wife’s youngest child was less than a year old, born three months before Lele, and at this stage, needed someone with him constantly.

"Don’t worry, there are caregivers in the hospital, and the leadership is quite attentive. The Red Army wife, needing to care for three children, has us pitching in when we have time, making meals and broths to bring to her."