Chapter 18

“How did you get a sunburn? Sister-in-law, you need to take better care of yourself—remember to protect your skin.” Wen Xin rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small container with handwritten letters that only she could understand. It was actually a bottle of lavender essential oil, drawn from her system’s inventory.

In a shaded pavilion in the military compound, a few women were chatting and watching curiously. Wen Xin dipped her fingertip into the oil and gently applied it to the red, sunburned cheeks of a woman in her thirties.

“Wen Xin, this smell is really strong,” Li Weihong muttered while pinching her nose.

Wen Xin remained unfazed. Lavender always had a strong scent. She casually replied, “It’s a medicinal oil I made myself. It’s great for sunburns, and it also works well as a bath oil.”

The others watched curiously as the affected skin, now coated with the oil, took on a smooth sheen. The sunburned woman, dressed in a short-sleeved top, sighed in relief. “Wow, this actually feels so much better—less painful. I just got back from visiting my husband’s hometown, and my mother-in-law insisted on dragging me to the fields to do farm work. Look at what she did to my face! She’s clearly just picking on me.”

A woman nearby chimed in, “Ugh, same old story. How many daughters-in-law actually get along with their mother-in-law? You should just visit less often.”

“As if I don’t want to,” the sunburned woman grumbled. Then, turning to Wen Xin with a grateful smile, she said, “Thank you! If not for your oil, my face would be peeling by now.”

“No need to be so formal, Sister-in-law. It’s just a little favor,” Wen Xin replied with a bright smile.

She had learned traditional skincare recipes from her grandaunt, who used to work in the imperial palace. Using those formulas, she had been semi-selling, semi-gifting face oils to the women in the military compound, quickly earning herself a reputation.

Every time she met someone new, Wen Xin would make sure to mention her skincare routine. After all, her own flawless complexion—smooth, poreless, and radiant—was the best advertisement.

Of course, it was no accident that her skin looked this way. Coming from a performing arts background, she had always been meticulous about self-care. And unlike the others, everything she consumed came from her system’s refined selections. For an average person, half of what they ate was waste, but for Wen Xin, her system-filtered meals were pure nutrition, doubling her intake of essential nutrients.

With this inside-out approach to skincare, plus the daily application of high-quality plant extracts, it was no wonder she looked like a porcelain doll.

Every woman, no matter how plain, desires beauty. Compared to Wen Xin’s luminous, porcelain-like skin, the others suddenly felt as dull as unglazed clay pots. It wasn’t just a slight difference—it was worlds apart. Now that they knew Wen Xin’s secret, and that the oil was supposedly based on ancient palace recipes, they were eager to try it. Even lightening their skin tone by just one shade would be worth it.

The military compound housed officers’ families—not excessively wealthy, but certainly better off than ordinary citizens. So, within just a few days, Wen Xin had already sold over thirty jars of her oil.

Of course, she didn’t have any official packaging. She had simply asked He Wenyan for an empty cream jar, a small, flat container about the size of half a palm. Based on her estimation, it held about 20ml of oil.

She priced each jar at five yuan. Used sparingly, one jar could last over a month. If multiple people bought together, she even threw in a little extra, making it feel like a half-sale, half-gift arrangement. In just a short time, she had made over a hundred yuan.

Some women were still hesitant, reluctant to spend money. They claimed her product looked too simple and that the pearl cream sold at the supply stores was probably better. Wen Xin just wanted to roll her eyes. The thick, greasy, lard-like creams of this era couldn’t compare to her fine, plant-based extracts. They weren’t even in the same league.

These people had no idea how much raw material was needed to extract just a single drop of essential oil. And with her system’s filtering, every component was of the highest quality—even the base oils were premium, and the alcohol used in dilution was the purest available. Every single drop was a concentrated essence of nature.

Where else in this era could they find skincare as refined as this? Selling 20ml for five yuan was practically a loss, but she needed the money. With no other income source, she had no choice. She wasn’t about to waste time arguing with those who didn’t recognize quality.

“Wen Xin, what exactly is in your ‘Xinlan Oil’? Why does it smell so nice? I put some on this morning, and I can still smell it in the evening,” a curious woman asked.

Wen Xin hadn’t originally given her product a name, but as more people started buying it, she figured she needed one. Since it had a faint orchid scent and her own name contained “Xin,” she called it “Xinlan Oil.” In reality, the oil had several fragrance layers, with the orchid note being the most lasting.

“It’s a complicated process,” she replied vaguely. “There are a few medicinal herbs in it as well. But I can guarantee one thing—if you use this consistently, your skin will stay in excellent condition. By the time you’re forty, you’ll still have the complexion of a twenty-year-old.”

She wasn’t exaggerating too much. The formula did contain several herbal ingredients, including a bit of ginseng extract. It was undoubtedly nourishing, and the effects were real. The only downside was that it lacked hydration. However, she personally made her own hydrating mist, using it religiously to keep her skin moisturized, so it wasn’t an issue for her.

Several women fixed their eyes on Wen Xin’s delicate face, their gazes almost glowing green with envy. Who wouldn’t want such flawless beauty? Without even trying, Wen Xin had painted them a beautiful picture—her own face serving as a testament to the results.

“If you take good care of yourself, you can preserve your youth,” Wen Xin continued her usual persuasion. “Sisters, don’t doubt it! If you start now and maintain a solid skincare routine, in ten years, you’ll look a whole generation younger than your peers. In twenty years, the difference will be like mother and daughter. I’m not exaggerating at all!

“That’s the biggest gap between women who take care of themselves and those who don’t. No one wants to be a wrinkled, haggard old woman, too afraid to even look in the mirror. Isn’t that terrifying?

“You’re only in your early thirties. Your skin is still firm and youthful. If you start now—wash your face often, hydrate, and use my imperial formula diligently—I guarantee you’ll maintain this condition for at least another ten or twenty years. By then, when you stand next to your husband, you’ll still look thirty, while he’ll be a sixty-year-old grandpa. Imagine the people whispering, ‘Look at that old bull munching on fresh grass…'”

Wen Xin got carried away with her words, making the women burst into laughter. One of them pointed at her playfully, saying, “Oh, you cheeky girl! Do you even want to get married? Talking about old bulls eating young grass—how bold! If the wrong person hears you, who’d dare to marry you?”

Wen Xin blinked innocently. “I was just chatting with you, sister!”

Nearby, the wife of Xiao Sun from the logistics department had been quietly observing Wen Xin. In the height of summer, Wen Xin had her hair tied back in a high ponytail, revealing a smooth forehead and a beautifully shaped head that made her look bright and intelligent. She wore a fitted white short-sleeved top, unlike the baggy shirts that were common at the time. It hugged her figure perfectly, without any excess fabric.

The neckline was neatly cut, with two buttons undone, revealing a slender and elegant neck. Her skin was as fair and translucent as jade, making it easy to imagine that the rest of her body was just as flawless. She smiled warmly as she spoke, her eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. The shirt was tucked into a blue floral midi skirt that emphasized her tiny waist. Her exposed calves were smooth and fair, and on her feet were beige-heeled sandals, with dainty toes that were almost captivating.

This girl was undeniably stunning—elegant, poised, and utterly charming. If she weren’t living in a military compound where there weren’t many young men, someone would have snatched her up long ago. The most surprising thing was her demeanor—confident, articulate, and full of energy. Even though she was currently working as a housemaid for a high-ranking officer, rumors said her family ran a meat processing plant, and her father was a department head of some sort.

No one quite understood why a girl from such a family was sent here to serve others. Perhaps she was related to He Wenyan and had come to help out for a short while. But given her background, looks, and charm, she clearly wouldn’t be staying long. She was a rare gem—both delicate and lively. Even women found her likable, let alone men.

Xiao Sun’s wife had been studying Wen Xin for a while, and an idea suddenly popped into her head. Half-joking, half-serious, she said, “Wen Xin, you’re not seeing anyone yet, right? How about I introduce you to someone? I guarantee you’ll like his conditions.”

“Conditions?” Wen Xin raised a brow. What kind of conditions? Can they compare to modern times?

“He’s got a good job,” Xiao Sun’s wife leaned in, clearly pleased that Wen Xin hadn’t refused outright. “You’re already eighteen, at the right age for marriage. In my hometown, girls get married at sixteen. Eighteen is practically old!”

Wen Xin: “…” In her time, twenty-eight was still young! But every generation had its own views on marriage, so she didn’t argue.

Besides, it had been a long time since she had dated anyone. She had never experienced a relationship in this era and was curious about what it would be like.

In modern times, she had never gone all the way, but she had enjoyed the attention and care of a boyfriend. Maybe it was her age, but lately, she felt like a ripe peach, exuding a sweet fragrance. Just last night, she had even had a… rather vivid dream. When she woke up, the face of the man was a blur, but she clearly remembered the firm, toned muscles. She had been touching them, squeezing them…

…

“I’m talking about a tall and fair guy with great family background. He works at a state-owned store—not as a regular worker, but as a department head!” Xiao Sun’s wife continued excitedly. “Listen, this guy is a rare find. A lot of girls in the store and even in the restaurant business have their eyes on him. But he’s picky—he won’t settle for just anyone. That’s why he’s already twenty-six and still single…”

Wen Xin had been listening absentmindedly at first. Compared to modern times, the standards of this era felt outdated to her. Unless the man had something truly exceptional—like qualities she admired—she wasn’t interested.

But then something caught her attention.

“Wait… a state-owned store?”

Xiao Sun’s wife noticed her interest and immediately added, “That’s right! He’s a department head at a state-owned store. He just got promoted this year. His monthly salary is over a hundred yuan, plus various benefits. Think about it—do you think someone working in a state-owned store would lack anything at home? So? Want me to arrange a meeting?”

Wen Xin wasn’t interested in the man himself, nor was she tempted by the 100-yuan salary.

What intrigued her was the fact that state-owned stores had supply channels!

She had been planning to save up and buy a house in the south. Selling her “Xinlan Oil” within the compound wasn’t a long-term solution. With only a handful of customers here, how long would it take to make serious money? She needed to explore other avenues.

If she could make connections in a state-owned store, she could gather valuable information about distribution channels.

So, she immediately smiled and agreed, “Sure! Since you’re offering, how could I say no? I’d love to meet him.”