Chapter 12: Not Leaving Yet?

With silver pieces in hand, Zhu Wansheng tentatively thought: How to give you 20 grams of pure silver?

[Hello, the system will automatically collect it from your hand. Meanwhile, the silver nitrate you ordered has been prepared for you.]

As soon as the voice in her mind finished speaking, a reagent bottle appeared on the table, and at the same time, the silver bag became somewhat emptier. Zhu Wansheng doubted, could Little Chemistry really weigh accurately out of thin air?

[Hello, the system is precise and rigorous, with an accuracy of 0.0001 grams, neither more nor less.]

Zhu Wansheng coughed lightly, feeling the embarrassment of being caught red-handed while talking behind someone’s back…

With the reagents ready, she could try a small silver mirror reaction. Gloves already on, she stopped short of not having a balance for weighing. Zhu Wansheng thought: Can I have a weighing balance too?

[The weighing balance is not a consumable and cannot be repeatedly provided. If damaged, it can be returned for repair.]

Even distinguishing between consumables and non-consumables, and can be repaired…

***

The shopkeeper had spent the morning in fear: worried about Zhu Wansheng coming, and if she came, how long this ancestor would stay, making her endure until then; but also afraid she wouldn’t come, if not today, then tomorrow, like a frog in slowly boiling water, gradually wearing down her nerves.

It’s really difficult being a person.

Her face was still wearing Zhu Wansheng’s rouge. At first, she didn’t dare use it, thinking this uneducated young lady who spent her days fooling around had made some bad thing on a whim, afraid she’d be the first victim to suffer greatly.

But not using it wasn’t an option either. Compared to being fired, a little damage to the face was a small matter. Thinking this, when using it, she first applied a small amount to the back of her hand. She had to admit, the moment her finger touched it, she was somewhat convinced. The texture was really good.

Delicate and soft, even the fragrance was to her liking. After applying it to the back of her hand, there was no discomfort for a long time. The color was unique. She had sold rouge for many years, mostly bright red or pink, but Zhu Wansheng’s was a flushed red.

She specially applied some more to her hand before sleep. When she woke up today, her hand was fine, and the color was still there. Only then did she boldly apply it to her face.

However, the rumors had never mentioned that the eldest daughter of the Zhu family had such skills. Moreover, upon meeting her that day, she found her quite amiable, not arrogant or disdainful, but rather polite in handling matters.

Even when her husband so disrespectfully threw her, she didn’t lose her temper.

Sometimes rumors can’t be trusted.

Thinking this, the shopkeeper actually began to like Zhu Wansheng a bit, and her fear and worry dissipated somewhat: if a person politely asks for help with something, always thinking the worst of them would be judging a gentleman with a petty person’s heart.

Just as the shopkeeper came to this understanding, Zhu Wansheng arrived.

Unlike her usual head full of jeweled hairpins, a simple silver hairpin held her hair in place at the back. The pink clothes were gone, replaced by a light blue dress. A casually tied belt at the waist accentuated her slender figure, which swayed gently with each step. She didn’t walk slowly, but didn’t appear rushed either. Due to her good posture and steady gaze, she even exuded a bit of presence.

“Are you wearing my rouge today? Did you apply it this morning? How do you feel?”

The shopkeeper was caught off guard by the triple question before she could even exchange pleasantries, but she quickly recovered, “Yes, I’m wearing the rouge you gave me. I applied it once this morning and it’s lasted until now. I really like it, the color is beautiful and I love the fragrance.”

Zhu Wansheng smiled again, a smile that came from the depths of her heart. Her already stunning features became even more beautiful in that moment, infecting the shopkeeper who, although not knowing why she was so happy, also felt somewhat happy along with her.

Zhu Wansheng then pulled out two similar small bottles from her collar and handed them to the shopkeeper, “If the shopkeeper has any close friends or sisters, could you help me? Let them try it too, just like you did, wearing it for a day to see the effect.”

The shopkeeper quickly agreed, “I have a younger sister at home, and a daughter too. I’ll arrange for them to try it when I get home.”

“Then may I borrow your upstairs again? Lanfan, as usual, wait for me here.”

This politeness and courtesy further elevated the shopkeeper’s opinion of her.

This shop was already their Zhu family’s territory, yet she was so polite. The status of this Zhu family’s young lady rose sharply in her eyes. From now on, if anyone dared to spread rumors about her, she would have to reason with them thoroughly.

***

As soon as Zhu Wansheng went upstairs, she immediately gave the shopkeeper a mental thumbs up. Yesterday’s mess was now spotless, the cobwebs gone, the long chair gleaming, fitted with soft cushions. The wind, carrying the dampness of rain, broke through the window, dispersing the musty smell of long disuse.

It was still early, so Zhu Wansheng put on her lab coat, donned gloves, and once again began her scientific research in this antique “laboratory”.

She planned to try making a batch of powder blush. With the system, things like highlighter powder and glycerin were easy to obtain. The difficult part was controlling the color. She sat down on the floor and began the long process of color mixing.

After mixing several unsatisfactory batches, she could hear Lanfan’s voice intermittently from downstairs. Zhu Wansheng put down the measuring spoon and listened carefully. She could only hear Lanfan’s continuous output, noisy and clamorous, but couldn’t make out what was being said through the floor.

This young girl, so energetic every day.

She shook her head and picked up the spoon again, taking some sunset yellow coloring. The stairs creaked, and Lanfan’s rather loud voice followed closely: “Are you deaf when I’m talking to you? How can you be so arrogant? Stop right there!”

The last sentence was almost a shout, seeming to shake the entire room.

Zhu Wansheng sighed, put down the measuring spoon, and had half-removed her gloves when Gu Yingqing had already come upstairs. Dressed in a black robe, his expression was as cold as ever. After Lanfan caught up, he plugged his ears with his fingers.

Lanfan continued incessantly, “My lady, I couldn’t stop the Gu husband. He didn’t listen to a word I said, just came in and ran upstairs. It’s too…” Seeing Zhu Wansheng’s attire, she was so surprised her mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg. “My lady, what kind of outfit is this? It’s so strange…”

Zhu Wansheng rubbed her temples and interrupted Lanfan’s loud voice, “Lanfan, you go downstairs first.”

Lanfan let out a somewhat disappointed “Oh,” and before leaving, didn’t forget to give Gu Yingqing a fierce glare.

The two, one standing and one sitting, both tacitly remained silent. The air was filled only with the creaking sound of Lanfan treading on the stairs.

Gu Yingqing casually leaned against the wooden wall, his gaze falling on the long table. Compared to that night, there seemed to be more oddly shaped jars, and the colors were increasingly diverse, no longer limited to red.

Amidst some floral fragrances, there was also a pungent smell. She put on the blue protective gear again, grabbed a bottle of liquid and shook it. The vortex left behind quickly returned to stillness. At this moment, she also glanced up at him, and Gu Yingqing averted his gaze.

“So, you’re looking for me for something?”

Gu Yingqing answered her: “Your mother… wants me to learn together with you.”

Zhu Wansheng smiled: “Do you want to learn?”

Gu Yingqing shook his head without hesitation.

Zhu Wansheng thought to herself that she didn’t want to teach either, but felt it unnecessary to indulge in this verbal sparring. Seeing his demeanor, Zhu Chidi probably had more to say, so she asked: “Is there anything else you want to say?”

He didn’t beat around the bush, “If the two cannot return home together, then neither of us can step foot in the Zhu family door again.” After finishing, a trace of helplessness flashed in his dark eyes as he lowered his gaze to meet hers.

Zhu Wansheng couldn’t help but be amused. The original host’s mother was determined to bring the two together, intending to force feelings between them by having them spend time together constantly.

Zhu Chidi’s little ideas were quite confusing. Given the original host’s rebellious nature, this method could never work. But she didn’t take it seriously, “Then you can just go about your own business like last time, and come here at dinnertime to return together.”

Gu Yingqing didn’t move.

Zhu Wansheng urged him, “Aren’t you leaving? Is there something else you want to say?”

Gu Yingqing murmured, “Can’t leave.”

Zhu Wansheng didn’t understand, “Why can’t you leave? Didn’t you come by yourself? Is someone guarding?”

Gu Yingqing’s expression turned somewhat unpleasant. He gestured downstairs with his eyes, “Yingshi is guarding below.”

Yingshi…

Zhu Wansheng was all too familiar with this girl… Upon hearing this name, her neck involuntarily shrank, as if the lingering pain from that pull and yank was still there.

During her half-month recuperation at Zhu Yinge, she had experienced Yingshi’s power. Unlike Lanfan, this maid didn’t like to talk, and her figure was petite, looking weak and docile, catching people off guard.

But when she was bored after a meal and wanted to wander around, the “frail” Miss Yingshi had lifted her entire person with one hand, and then thrown her back to Zhu Yinge at an incredibly fast speed.

Not a single word was spoken throughout, so much so that before Zhu Wansheng could react, she had already been forcibly returned to her room.

Only the back of her neck was left throbbing with pain. Looking in the mirror, she saw it had turned red…

How much strength did she use? Really brutal.