CHAPTER 167: CHAPTER 167: CAN’T COMPETE

You can buy Snow Flower Cream at the Department Store or Supply and Marketing Cooperative, but for powder and lipstick, you have to go to the Friendship Store.

However, there are exceptions. Some cities’ Department Stores also stock them, but not in large quantities. Small places definitely don’t have them.

Liu Lan laughed, "Jun gave it to me."

Liu Xiaocao smacked her lips, "Is this stuff expensive?"

"I have no idea."

Yi Chichi lifted Liu Lan’s chin for a closer look. Wen Sheng blinked and said, "Why, do you want Old Qian to buy it for you?"

"... Just asking out of curiosity."

Buying is out of the question. Their goal now is to earn money to pay off the famine debt.

Previously, as agreed, they gave the old lady a hundred pounds of grain and thirty yuan as maintenance, which emptied their savings and they still owed the team’s famine debt.

There really was no room for other thoughts.

Knowing her situation, Liu Lan generously said, "If you really like it, come to my house next time and I’ll lend it to you."

Yi Chichi paused as she was applying Snow Flower Cream, tempted to curse.

Moreover, things like powder and lipstick aren’t meant for multiple users; bad luck could lead to lip inflammation or skin allergies.

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back when she saw Liu Xiaocao’s crescent-moon eyes, focusing on applying makeup for Liu Lan.

With the Snow Flower Cream applied, she opened the powder box and finally understood why Liu Lan’s face previously looked so pale and bloodless, as if covered with pounds of flour.

The foundation shade was too pale, the kind of fake pale.

In addition, it emitted a rather strong scent.

Yi Chichi’s nose felt itchy and she turned aside to sneeze.

"Caught a cold?"

Liu Lan’s words of concern slipped out, Yi Chichi smiled, "The powder is too fragrant."

Oh my, this scent was really strong.

"I like this scent."

She replied delightedly, her smile sweet with a hint of shyness.

Liu Dongmei tut-tutted, "I think it’s not the scent you like, but your Jun, love for a man makes you love his things."

Those words were quite blunt, leaving Liu Lan blushing bright red.

Yi Chichi ignored their banter, took the powder, and started busily working.

Five minutes later, a makeup look with a red tint emerged, with lipstick used as eyeshadow and blush, lightly blended, and slightly covered with powder for a complete look.

Liu Lan had beautiful eyes and eyebrows, with thick and long lashes, and a big double eyelid. The lightly blended red at the corner of her eyes added a touch of allure to her clear, bright eyes.

But her hairstyle didn’t suit, Yi Chichi looked at her glossy black braids tied with red ribbons and asked, "Want to change your hairstyle?"

"Change it."

Liu Lan was staring at herself in the mirror, full of curiosity, realizing how beautiful she looked when well made-up. She was almost falling in love with herself.

She chuckled foolishly, Yi Chichi’s mouth twitched slightly, as she deftly unbraided her hair and styled it into a French lazy bun.

Liu Xiaocao and the others couldn’t catch her movements, and Liu Lan’s hairstyle underwent a dramatic change.

Looking at her makeup again, amazement flashed in their eyes.

"Lanlan, you look so beautiful now, even prettier than on Xiaocao’s wedding day."

Genuinely happy, Liu Dongmei complimented more happily than if she herself had become prettier.

"Dongmei looks beautiful too."

Liu Lan reciprocated, Liu Xiaocao rolled her eyes, "You all look pretty, except for me."

"Not true. Our Xiaocao is also beautiful."

Liu Lan smiled soothingly, Liu Xiaocao laughed, "Don’t comfort me. I know what I look like."

Checking the time, she asked, "When is your Mr. Zhang coming to pick you up?"

Before her words faded, noise came from outside the door.

Then—

"Lanlan, come out. Xiao Jun is here to pick you up."

Mrs. Liu ran inside, and Liu Lan responded and got up to run outside.

Yi Chichi, "???"

"Aren’t they waiting for Mr. Zhang to come in for the ceremony?"

Mrs. Liu and the others weren’t crying, but were all smiles, looking happy.

"Not leaving the house, the couple will just go to the canteen."

Saying that, Liu Xiaocao pulled her outside, "Let’s also go to the canteen. It’s almost ready to start."

Liu Lan’s wedding was simple yet lively. After the main group reached the canteen, the team leader gave a few words and then announced the start of the banquet.

Smelling the aroma of meat from afar, everyone quickly found seats, and the unfamiliar faces on the groom’s side turned out to be Zhang Jun’s friends upon inquiry.

Uncle Yaozi quietly muttered, "The Zhang Family is too much."

Yi Chichi gave him a piece of pork leg, "Uncle, eat more food."

Don’t comment anymore, or they won’t even get a taste of the broth.

The Liu Family truly valued Liu Lan, and the feast was better than Yi Chichi had expected.

There was not only fish and pork leg but also meat.

What kind she couldn’t tell, but Uncle Yaozi could, yet he didn’t say anything. Instead, he snatched a good amount for Mu Da and Yi Chichi onto their plates.

Aunt Lanhua was quite aggressive, "Don’t snatch for them, let them pick themselves."

"My wife and Chichi can’t snatch, I can’t let them go hungry."

He retorted without thinking and continued his ways.

Very weak Yi Chichi and Mu Da didn’t dare to speak, silently eating their meals.

Uncle Yaozi’s (own man’s) kindness couldn’t be wasted, they had to eat their fill.

The village women were too good at grabbing food; they couldn’t compete at all.

At this moment, everyone was busy eating, including the newlyweds.

After eating and drinking to their satisfaction, the atmosphere started to get lively.

As winter was setting in, and snow still lay outside, with no rush to go home, someone suggested, "Junzi, being a man of Kao Shan Village, give us a performance."

Zhang Jun stood up, asking the man who spoke, "Uncle, what should I do?"

"Sing a military song."

Zhang Jun opened his mouth, but instead of a military song, he sang the national anthem.

His voice was loud and sincere, prompting a full chorus from the crowd.

After the song, the already lively atmosphere grew even more exuberant.

Then, the village grandpas, uncles, aunts, and women all got up and began showcasing their talents as if on a stage.

Yi Chichi too, caught up in the lively mood, greeted Uncle Yaozi before leaving early with Mu Da, taking the medical kit to check on her grandfather and the others in the cowshed.

"Are there any notebooks or pens left?"

Yi Chichi pulled out some White Rabbit candies from her pocket for Qin Jiu, smiling as she asked.

The normally excited child upon seeing his aunt pouted at the question, "Auntie, can you not ask about homework the moment you see me?"

"If you don’t work hard in youth, you’ll regret it in old age."

"Then why don’t you work hard, Auntie?"

That question was indeed well-asked; had she not worked hard?

She had tried; in her original world, she’d studied from kindergarten through to a master’s degree. Yet she didn’t work in her field of expertise, instead taking over her grandfather’s ancestral business, unexpectedly becoming a heritage heir.

"You didn’t see it when I was trying hard."