Chapter 13 Beautiful Bridal Makeup, Stunning Everyone

This time, Gu Rongqing had taken a leave of absence due to special circumstances. Originally, he thought he was coming back to deal with some troublesome matters. Who would’ve thought that he’d end up getting a marriage certificate instead? However, since time was tight, he had to return by Monday evening, so the wedding banquet had to be postponed.

Ruan Xiangxiang was understanding—she wasn’t particularly fixated on having a wedding banquet. But both Gu Rongqing and his mother insisted that it must be held as a way for the family to show they valued her. The only issue was timing—they would have to wait until the New Year when Gu Rongqing could take his annual leave and marriage leave together. That would give them over a month, more than enough time for all the arrangements.

Ruan Xiangxiang agreed without hesitation. She figured that with a few months before the New Year, she could spend this time exploring business opportunities in the county and developing her small enterprise. After all, it wouldn’t feel right getting married and not being able to contribute financially.

“Come to the base with me,” Gu Rongqing suggested. “My rank qualifies me to bring family, and the leadership has taken care of things—I was already assigned an apartment in the family housing complex, I just never went to claim it.”

He was not happy with her saying she wanted to stay in the county—he couldn’t accept living apart from his newlywed wife.

“Exactly, sis-in-law, I also think you should go with him,” Lu Hang chimed in. “If you want to build a business, Shangdu has way more opportunities.”

Lu Hang personally liked Ruan Xiangxiang a lot and hoped she would move to the base—it meant they’d see more of her. He was still hoping she’d help him find a girlfriend too. Plus, since the captain got married, he had noticeably mellowed out. The terrifying aura he used to have when he was single had completely vanished. If Ruan Xiangxiang stayed in her hometown, and Gu Rongqing started missing her, who knows if the rest of them would bear the brunt of it!

Meanwhile, Gu’s mother was smiling as she rummaged through the house and brought out a savings booklet to hand over to Ruan Xiangxiang.

“Xiangxiang, this is the money Lao San (the third son) sent back over the years. I’ve been saving it for him. Now that you two are married, this money belongs to you. Also, there’s an extra 200 yuan in there—that’s from me, to buy your gold jewelry and new clothes.”

Ruan Xiangxiang immediately tried to refuse. This was money Gu Rongqing had sent to his mother before marriage; how could she take it?

“Mom, I can’t accept this. This is money he sent to support you—it’s for your retirement. As for the gold jewelry and clothes, didn’t we already give my stepmother 300 yuan? Don’t worry, I’ll get that money back from her.”

She tried to return the booklet.

“No, don’t be so polite with me,” Gu’s mother insisted. “When I helped Lao San manage his money back then, I promised this would go to his future wife. I’m not the kind of person who goes back on her word. And as for retirement, I already took some out for that.”

She shoved the booklet back into Ruan Xiangxiang’s hands.

“Mom, I really can’t take it.”

“Daughter, do you still consider me your mom? If you do, then take it.”

“Mom, please don’t say that. I really can’t…”

…

Gu Rongqing and Lu Hang sat on the side cracking sunflower seeds, watching the tug-of-war between the two women.

In the end, Ruan Xiangxiang lost. Despite her age, Gu’s mother was still spry. She shoved the booklet into Xiangxiang’s hands, then bolted out of the room so fast that she almost lost her slippers.

“Just keep it,” Gu Rongqing said with a gentle smile. “You’re in charge of managing our money from now on, but Mom’s retirement will never be neglected.”

Ruan Xiangxiang looked down at the savings booklet—2,200 yuan. That was a huge sum of money! It felt scorching hot in her hands.

Just then, her eldest sister-in-law and her husband came back with some local specialties, so Ruan Xiangxiang didn’t press the matter with Gu’s mother any further.

Time flew by, and soon it was Monday.

According to the plan, Ruan Xiangxiang was supposed to go to the county today to help Lin Meiqi with her bridal makeup. Gu Rongqing decided to leave early, drive her directly to Lin Meiqi’s home, and then head back to Shangdu once the makeup was done.

Following the address Lin Meiqi had given them, they soon arrived at the textile factory’s residential complex. Lin Meiqi’s family and relatives were already busy in the yard. Upon hearing that Ruan Xiangxiang was the one doing the bride’s makeup, they hurried over to welcome her.

When they saw how beautiful Ruan Xiangxiang was, many people were stunned. Then they glanced at the tall, handsome Gu Rongqing and Lu Hang behind her, and even at the jeep parked right in the courtyard.

Lin Meiqi’s relatives couldn’t help but gasp—who exactly did they invite over?

Upstairs, Lin Meiqi came out to greet them. When she saw Ruan Xiangxiang, her eyes lit up and she hurried over excitedly.

“Xiangxiang, thank you so much for coming early! You haven’t eaten breakfast yet, right? Come in and eat something first, and then we can talk!”

“It’s your big day—I had to come early. And you look great today! That’s going to make it even easier to apply the makeup,” Ruan Xiangxiang replied with a cheerful smile.

The bride-to-be beamed. What girl didn’t love a compliment?

“Oh, Comrade Ruan, you’re here! Come in and eat first. This must be your fiancé? And who’s the other young man?” Lin Meiqi’s mother greeted them warmly.

“Auntie, this is my fiancé, Gu Rongqing. The other is his comrade, Lu Hang. Sorry for the trouble,” Ruan Xiangxiang introduced them politely.

“What trouble? We’re thrilled to have you! Come in, come in, eat breakfast first,” the Lin family said enthusiastically.

Ruan Xiangxiang didn’t stand on ceremony and polished off a bowl of wheat starch noodles before getting to work.

Gu Rongqing and Lu Hang were also thoughtful guests. After finishing breakfast, they went to the gift table and presented a traditional wedding cash gift according to local customs, even handing out cigarettes to the male family members.

At first, everyone was quietly whispering to each other, wondering whether these two male comrades had girlfriends. Some aunties with marriageable-age daughters were sneakily observing from the side. Especially Gu Rongqing—with his looks and physique, just standing among the crowd made him absolutely the most eye-catching person there.

Once they found out that this handsome young man was already married to Ruan Xiangxiang, all attention shifted toward Lu Hang. While Lu Hang wasn’t as striking in appearance as Gu Rongqing, compared to the average man in a small county town, he was still quite the catch. And once it was revealed that both of them were from the military, the aunties became even more interested.

One after another, they surrounded Lu Hang and began bombarding him with questions, leaving him red-faced from embarrassment. Off to the side, Gu Rongqing was leisurely munching on sunflower seeds and enjoying the show.

Inside the room, Ruan Xiangxiang was already busy. Today was the official wedding day, so naturally, the floral dress wasn’t appropriate—it was meant for the toasting ceremony the next day. For the wedding, Lin Meiqi was wearing a red fitted dress, which was a popular bridal look of the time. Ruan Xiangxiang didn’t comment on that—after all, everyone dressed like that in this era.

Instead, she put a lot of thought into the bridal makeup.

At the time, heavy makeup was the mainstream for brides, but it often made them look ten years older. Lin Meiqi was only twenty—youthful and full of energy—so Ruan Xiangxiang wasn’t about to put such aging makeup on her.

Instead, she gave her a “pure and alluring” makeup look, a trend from the future. She especially focused on the eyes. Lin Meiqi had slightly puffy eyelids—not the easiest to work with—but thankfully, Ruan Xiangxiang had studied just how to flatter that eye shape.

After the makeup was finished, she moved on to the hairstyle. She didn’t use the popular updos of the era. Instead, she styled a voluminous, slightly messy fishtail braid and decorated it with a few dainty hair accessories—not the large, over-the-top floral ones, but elegant, refined pieces.

Very quickly, the bride’s full look came together. Looking at herself in the mirror, Lin Meiqi could hardly believe it.

“This… this is me? These eyes look amazing! Xiangxiang, do you know how much I’ve dreamed of having double eyelids?”

Lin Meiqi was enchanted by the sparkling, radiant eyes staring back at her. She leaned closer to the big mirror to admire them, then picked up a handheld mirror to study her eyes up close.

All the young women and married ladies in the room were completely stunned. They didn’t even blink—how had Lin Meiqi suddenly transformed into a different person?!