The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 332 - 331: Zhuang Xueqi Comes Knocking

Chapter 332: Chapter 331: Zhuang Xueqi Comes Knocking

"Shen Mingzhu, are you going out?"

Zhuang Xueqi, wearing a mink coat, stepped down from the BMW and sized her up with a lifted eyebrow, her eyes filled with arrogance.

Shen Mingzhu smiled, "If I say I came out especially to welcome Miss Zhuang, would you believe me?"

"Smooth-talker."

Zhuang Xueqi snorted lightly and walked up to her, "I have something to discuss with you."

Visiting Pei Wenping was not a pressing matter, so Shen Mingzhu cancelled her plans and led Zhuang Xueqi into the factory.

"Miss Zhuang, I don’t have coffee or anything like that here, just rose tea. Please make do with it. It’s dried roses I baked myself, with lemon slices and red dates. Regularly drinking it has beauty and skin-nurturing effects."

Zhuang Xueqi took only a sip of the tea before setting the cup down with apparent indifference.

"I need your help with something."

Zhuang Xueqi got straight to the point, and Shen Mingzhu feigned surprise, "Please, Miss Zhuang, go on."

Zhuang Xueqi proudly tilted her chin up, "Don’t worry, I won’t ask for your help for nothing."

"That’s very kind of you, Miss Zhuang, but being able to help you is my honor."

Zhuang Xueqi opened her purse and laid out the makeup products one by one on the coffee table.

"Teach me makeup, the same ’natural look’ makeup you did for me last time."

During this period, whenever she had time, she practiced makeup at home and even roped in a few friends, but no matter how they fiddled, they couldn’t replicate the effect Shen Mingzhu had achieved.

Thus, as soon as the snow stopped, Zhuang Xueqi, not caring about the slippery roads, had hurried to find Shen Mingzhu.

In two days, she was to follow the Ning Family to Hong City to celebrate Old Master Ning’s birthday, and she wanted to make the best impression so as to win the favor of the elders in the Ning Family.

In fact, from the moment she laid eyes on Zhuang Xueqi, Shen Mingzhu had already guessed the purpose of her visit.

Although Zhuang Xueqi’s makeup was much subtler than usual today, because she hadn’t mastered the technique, it did not enhance her beauty but rather seemed like unnecessary embellishment.

"Let’s go, Miss Zhuang."

"Where to?"

"My place."

Learning makeup isn’t just about talking, it requires hands-on practice.

Shen Mingzhu’s dressing table was equipped with lights for better illumination and a large mirror, convenient for teaching.

...

The first step of makeup is the base. Zhuang Xueqi’s skin is quite nice, moist and clear, so a thin layer of moisturizing cream is enough to hydrate.

The second step is concealer.

However, Zhuang Xueqi doesn’t have many blemishes, and only needs a light pat of foundation on the dark circles under her eyes.

The third step is applying foundation.

Shen Mingzhu instructed Zhuang Xueqi to look at the mirror while she applied foundation to Zhuang’s left face, teaching her the technique:, "First, wet the sponge with clean water, then use a dry towel to absorb the excess moisture. Each time, only pick up a small amount of foundation and press it from the center of the face outward, making sure the foundation thins out and becomes more translucent toward the edges. Next, cover the forehead and chin, and finally, use the leftover foundation on the sponge for the nose and wings of the nose."

"The sides of the nose are prone to caking, so you must use a minimal amount of foundation. If you feel it’s not light enough, you can apply a small amount multiple times, but you must keep the quantity low each time for the foundation to look fitting and translucent..."

As Shen Mingzhu continued to apply the foundation, she explained the essentials.

Zhuang Xueqi put away her arrogance and learned with great earnestness.

After Shen Mingzhu demonstrated, she let Zhuang Xueqi apply the foundation to her own right side of the face while guiding her.

An hour later, Zhuang Xueqi looked at her face in the mirror, revealing a satisfied smile.

"There’s a black paper bag in the trunk of my car. Go help me bring it in."

Had it been someone else speaking so imperiously, Shen Mingzhu certainly wouldn’t have been happy about it, especially just after a snowfall—going outside would be freezing to death.

However, considering the Zhuang Family behind Zhuang Xueqi, if she could get the Zhuang Family to order her mooncakes next year, she wouldn’t mind performing a one-legged golden rooster stance in the snow, let alone getting a handbag from them.

Shen Mingzhu wrapped herself in a heavy cotton coat and rushed to the BMW, which was kept running to prevent the engine from freezing and having difficulties starting.

The driver got out and opened the trunk, handing her a large black paper bag.

Shen Mingzhu took it and exclaimed, "Wow, Grandma Chanel!"

"Miss Zhuang, your bag."

Zhuang Xueqi, still looking in the mirror, didn’t even glance her way. "It’s yours now."

Shen Mingzhu rubbed her hands together excitedly, "How can I accept this?"

"If you don’t want it, just throw it away. I never take back anything I’ve given away," said the young miss indifferently.

"Then I won’t be polite. Thank you, Miss Zhuang. May I open it now to have a look?"

She was truly curious about what Zhuang Xueqi had given her, a handbag or clothing; but judging by the size and weight, her guess was a handbag.

Zhuang Xueqi was indifferent, "Suit yourself."

The paper carry bag contained a paper box one size larger than A4, which upon opening revealed a card and a black dust bag, along with a very pleasant scent of leather that spread through the air.

Inside the dust bag was a classic diamond-quilted bag, medium size, in black.

In her previous life, Shen Mingzhu had bought a similar style, but hers was a newer model from 2019, while this one had a more retro design.

"This bag is really beautiful, it’s genuine leather, right? And it even has a scent, it must have been expensive?"

Not to mention that at this time, luxury brands like Chanel had not yet entered the mainland market, and even if they had, they were not accessible to an ordinary housewife like her.

As expected, Zhuang Xueqi seemed rather amused by her reaction.

"This is Chanel. My dad bought it for me from abroad. It was over a thousand dollars at the time of purchase, which is almost ten thousand RMB," she explained nonchalantly.

Although prepared for it, Shen Mingzhu was still startled.

Even in the future, a quilted bag like this would cost tens of thousands, but back then, the prices were worlds apart compared to now.

Back in those days, buying one such bag was equivalent to a month’s income for her.

And now, ten thousand was about the annual profit of her food factory.

"Miss Zhuang, this is too valuable," Shen Mingzhu protested.

"Your skills are worth this price to me. Besides this bare-faced makeup, what else can you do?" Zhuang Xueqi inquired.

"I can, evening makeup and everyday makeup too," she replied.

Zhuang Xueqi nodded, "Give me your home phone number. I’ll call you if I need you."

"Sure."

As Shen Mingzhu saw Zhuang Xueqi out, Pei Ziheng came downstairs holding Little Guoguo, who had woken up hungry for milk.

Noticing Zhuang Xueqi’s appraising look, Pei Ziheng politely greeted, "Hello, auntie."

Zhuang Xueqi turned back to Shen Mingzhu and said, "You are really lucky to have picked up such a handsome son."

Upon hearing Zhuang Xueqi’s compliment, Pei Ziheng blinked his obsidian-like eyes and crisply responded, "Auntie, you’re really pretty too, just like a fairy, right Guoguo?"

"Yiya~"

Little Guoguo couldn’t speak yet, but she understood "Guoguo"; whenever someone in the family called her, she would respond with "ah ya."

But to Zhuang Xueqi, it seemed as if Little Guoguo was agreeing with her brother’s words.

"Looks like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree; a smooth talker just like your mother," she said with a hint of jest.

Zhuang Xueqi might have said that, but her tone was relaxed, and she seemed to be in a good mood.

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