CHAPTER 297: CHAPTER 284: WATCH AND LEARN

Although six hundred taels is a lot, Yu Xiaolian wasn’t moved. If it were six hundred taels a month, maybe. But six hundred taels a year? Sorry, she’s not interested.

Yu Xiaolian didn’t directly refuse Feng Daquan but rather politely said, "It’s not that I’m unwilling to come to your house to teach your two granddaughters, but the business at home and affairs of Shuren Academy already keep me busy, and I have no spare time.

If your two granddaughters don’t mind, they can visit my residence and we can engage in friendly exchanges and learning. Xiaolian would be delighted to welcome them."

Feng Daquan saw that although Yu Xiaolian spoke tactfully, her attitude was firm, knowing that the idea of having her come to the house as a female teacher was a lost cause.

His right hand, grasping the armrest of the chair, tightened and then relaxed. After weighing the situation in his mind, Feng Daquan decided to show Yu Xiaolian some goodwill by allowing her to take Gao Yishui away.

After all, he didn’t just have two granddaughters; he had several sons and legitimate grandsons, all studying at Luocheng Academy. Who knows, they might need Yu Xiaolian’s help in the future.

However, Feng Daquan didn’t take Madam Gao’s silver, and instead gave the Indenture Contract of Gao Yishui to Yu Xiaolian.

Feng Daquan’s intention was obvious. He was agreeing to release Gao Yishui only for the sake of Yu Xueguan.

As for the fifteen taels of silver Madam Gao intended to use for redeeming her son, he didn’t even consider it important.

Although Madam Gao didn’t receive her son’s Indenture Contract, she felt relieved knowing her son could live with her, serving the same master together without worrying about him being sold by the Feng family elsewhere.

Feng Daquan summoned his two granddaughters, Feng Suyun and Feng Suyue.

Yu Xiaolian chatted briefly with them, telling them they are welcome to visit her home when they have free time, then she left with Madam Gao and her son.

Back at Xiangyang Lane, Yu Xiaolian gave Madam Gao’s family a day off to have time for a family reunion.

Madam Gao, pulling her son and daughter, knelt before Yu Xiaolian in gratitude and tearfully said, "Thank goodness for you stepping in, otherwise, with my ability, there was no way I could have brought Yishui back from Master Feng."

If Yu Xiaolian hadn’t intervened, the Feng family might have just killed her son in anger. In short, as long as the Indenture Contract was in their hands, whatever they wished to do – beat or sell – was entirely their call.

Although she initially planned to buy her son’s freedom, changing from slave registration to a normal registration wasn’t so straightforward. Even if you have the Indenture Contract to cancel the slave registration, when changing to normal registration, you’d need a guarantor or the Government wouldn’t allow it, since they might suspect you stole the contract and are sneaking away to become a free citizen.

To remove the slave status, it requires either the original owner’s guarantee or someone with official title to vouch for him.

This way is better; working for the Yu family is easy, the master is kind, and her whole family can stay together. Madam Gao felt content.

Yu Xiaolian helped Madam Gao’s family to stand up and casually gave Madam Gao a tael of broken silver, "Since you have time today, go out and buy your son a couple of outfits, and get whatever you lack.

I’ve things to attend to at the shop, and we won’t come back for lunch. You three enjoy your meal today. Tomorrow, I’ll take Gao Qiao to the shop to help me grind the color powder."

"Thank you, Miss!"

Yu Xiaolian left Xiangyang Lane and sat in Sun Mancang’s carriage, "To Taotao Residence!"

"Giddy up!" Sun Mancang’s driving skills were already very skilled, and he felt that being a driver suited him very well; he particularly enjoyed this job.

He usually took Yu Xiaolian back and forth between Luocheng and Taohua Village. When Yu Xiaolian didn’t go out, he was responsible for feeding the horse, giving it good water, and occasionally grooming its mane.

By now, the little pony and Sun Mancang had a better relationship than with Yu Xiaolian. Every time Sun Mancang went to the stable to fetch it, the pony greeted him with a loud snort.

Yu Xiaolian looked at her watch; it wasn’t even nine o’clock yet.

After going over today’s tasks in her mind and feeling nothing was missed, she hummed a little tune as she leisurely leaned back in the carriage.

Upon arriving at the backyard of Taotao Residence, Yu Xiaolian saw several girls working while chatting, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

Yu Xiaolian entered her room and took out the pearl powder that had been repackaged from the supermarket, along with two bottles of essential oils—one rose and one camellia.

Yu Xiaolian decided to make rouge first.

Arranging the prepared materials one by one, Yu Xiaolian had the girls pause their work and come over to learn how to make rouge.

She wasn’t concerned about keeping the formula or the methods secret. She thought if she taught her apprentices well, the master could rest easy.

Otherwise, having to personally mix them every day would exhaust her.

"Watch closely now, I’m going to start..."

Yu Xiaolian first put the finely ground safflower powder into a delicate mortar, then added pearl powder, a little fresh flower juice, and rose essential oil, stirring them into a semi-dry paste, thus completing the task.

She packed the paste-like rouge into a small, delicate white rouge box and then pressed it flat and firm with a small mortar.

"This type of rouge is easy to make. Once done, no need for a lid; just let it air dry in a dust-free area." Yu Xiaolian showed the newly made rouge to the girls.

The girls were already amazed by Yu Xiaolian’s fluid and effortless operation.

The color of the rouge was stunning, its scent delightful, and paired with the small white porcelain jar, it was utterly lovable.

Noticing their delight, Yu Xiaolian cheerfully said, "Later, you can try making it yourself. Once it’s done, take a box home to use."

"Thank you, Sister Xiaolian," Zhao Sanyan and Sun Manjiao said.

"Thank you, Sister Lian’er!" said the three girls from the Sun family.

Yu Xiaolian asked Sun Mancang to bring in a small charcoal stove, upon which she placed a small stainless steel milk pot that she had previously taken out of her space. "Ladies and sisters, here comes the lipstick tutorial, watch and learn..."

The girls gathered around Yu Xiaolian, watching her operation intently.

Yu Xiaolian, while putting materials into the pot explained, "This lipstick is even simpler than rouge. See the beeswax?

First, melt the beeswax in the pot, then add a bit of color powder and essential oil for a lightly colored lipstick.

If you want the lipstick color to be deeper, simply add more vibrant color powder. We must not make a single-colored lipstick; it should range from light to dark, covering every shade...

Once they are all fused, pour them into containers. Because of the beeswax, after cooling, they will solidify. Put a lid on, seal them with a refined label, and they’re ready to be sold.

Red and blue flower colors are relatively light, deep vermilion is crimson, and Su Fang wood is the darkest, with a deep red hue..."

After Yu Xiaolian’s lengthy explanation, she stepped back, saying, "No matter how many times I say this, it doesn’t compare to you trying it yourself. Go ahead and give it a try, don’t worry about wasting materials."