Chapter 37: Opening the Door to a New World

"My goodness, Juanzi, your face has become so much fairer."

"It’s true! Juanzi, your complexion really is so much brighter than before."

"And it's not just that your skin is fairer, Juanzi; your acne is completely gone!"

"I hadn't even noticed until you mentioned it, but the acne scars on your face are hardly visible now, either."

"Fang Juan, have you been using some kind of medicine lately?"

"I want to know too! What have you been putting on your face? How did it get so fair and clear of pimples?"

"If you've found something good, you have to share it with us! I want to get rid of my acne and scars too; I always break out on my forehead, and it’s so annoying."

"I just want to be fairer. Juanzi looks so much better now that her skin has cleared up."

"I agree, I think so too."

"Tell us quickly, what did you use to make your skin look like this?"

...

Just as the workday ended and they stepped out of the workshop, Fang Juan took off her work mask. The group of female coworkers walking with her caught a glimpse of her face and were instantly struck with astonishment.

How had Fang Juan’s face improved so suddenly?

They knew for a fact that she hadn't looked like this before. Although they worked together every day, they always wore masks on the floor. Fang Juan, in particular, had been in the habit of wearing a mask from the moment she left her house in an attempt to protect her skin and keep it fair.

This was the first time she had taken it off at the factory, and only then did everyone notice the transformation.

"Is my face really that much fairer?"

"Yes, much fairer than before, and much prettier too."

"Tell us, what did you use?"

"My aunt bought it for me. There’s a Comrade Lu living near her alley who makes some very effective medicine. You all know that medicine I brought for you before? She made that too. This time, she made me a whitening cream and an anti-acne cream. I’ve only been using them for half a month, and my face has improved so much."

"Oh, so it was made by Comrade Lu?"

"How much is the whitening cream? And the anti-acne cream? I want to buy some."

"I want some too!"

"Comrade Lu’s medicine is truly effective. After my parents used that ointment for their rheumatism, it hasn't flared up once."

"Last time I had a cold, I took just one of her pills, and within an hour, I was completely better. It’s miraculous."

"During the New Year, I had a terrible cough. I didn't really believe in the cough medicine Little Fang introduced, but I was so miserable I finally took one. My coughing stopped almost immediately, and the phlegm in my throat was significantly reduced. I took two more and was completely cured. The results are just incredible."

"I also bought a bottle after Fang Juan recommended it to me to try on my in-laws. They both said it was excellent medicine and even asked me to buy a few more bottles to keep on hand."

"Little Juan, how much is the whitening cream? Oh, never mind the price, I want a bottle!"

Fang Juan’s coworkers, with whom she had good relationships, were all using the medicine recommended by Lu Jiaoe.

These products had been highly recommended by Auntie Fang to her natal family, and after Fang Juan’s family saw the results for themselves, they naturally began recommending them to those around them.

In particular, the Fang family would gift these items to anyone they wanted to impress—be it close friends, superiors, or leaders.

Whether they were fellow workers or high-ranking officials, anyone who tried the medicine couldn't help but inquire about it.

The Fang family and Fang Juan didn't hide anything, so by now, many people knew about Lu Jiaoe and her wonderful remedies.

"The whitening cream is eight yuan a bottle, and the anti-acne cream is also eight. Comrade Lu said that later on, there will be creams for fading spots, moisturizing, hand cream, lipstick, nail polish, facial cleansers, and even products for dark circles and eye bags."

Whenever Fang Juan was off work lately, she would run to the alley where her aunt lived to see Lu Jiaoe, have her check her skin, or just chat.

They hadn't talked much before, but once they started, Fang Juan was amazed.

She learned so many skin care techniques from Lu Jiaoe—a whole systematic approach—that she had never even imagined.

Moreover, Comrade Lu taught her how to dress and style herself, and even gave very sensible, insightful advice on what kind of man to look for and how to handle marriage.

Comrade Lu had a great sense of style, and her clothes were always beautiful. She often said that a woman should treat herself well; youth is fleeting, time passes in a flash, and before you know it, a woman grows old.

Fang Juan agreed wholeheartedly. She wasn't one of those "lucky" girls, so she understood the sentiment deeply.

"Little Fang, I’ll give you the money this afternoon. Please bring me a bottle of the whitening cream."

"Eight yuan is so expensive! The ones at the department store don't even cost five."

"They don't cost five, that's true, but you've been using those for years—haven't you noticed the results?"

"As long as it works, eight yuan is fine. I never saw results like this from the five-yuan ones."

"Exactly. If it doesn't work, I'll only buy it once. If it does, eight yuan is really not that expensive."

"Didn't Little Juan already use it? It worked for her, so I trust it. I’ll take a bottle of the anti-acne cream."

"I'll take one of each. Juan, I'll bring you the money this afternoon."

...

Fang Juan’s face was a living advertisement, a glaringly obvious result that instantly secured five orders for Lu Jiaoe.

Sure enough, that afternoon, the girls brought the money and urged Fang Juan to go get the products as soon as her shift ended.

After work, Fang Juan didn't even go home first; she went straight to see Lu Jiaoe. She was just as anxious as the others.

Lu Jiaoe had only made twenty bottles each of the whitening and anti-acne creams. Five of each had been sent back to her hometown for her sisters to use for free. Su Yulan had one of each, Lu Zhuer had one of each, and her cousin and sister-in-law had also taken some. Fang Juan had already bought one of each, leaving Lu Jiaoe with only fourteen bottles in stock.

"Comrade Lu, your products are so good, why don't you make more?"

Fang Juan hadn't realized until now that Lu Jiaoe’s supply was running low, and she felt a bit anxious.

"I don't have time to make that many. I have to study; the college entrance exam is only a few months away."

Lu Jiaoe wasn't short on money at all. In the last half-month alone, she had earned nearly a thousand yuan. Added to the five hundred from Gu Fengji, her total assets were now over two thousand yuan.

So, even if she didn't work for the next year, she could live very comfortably.

Of course, not working wasn't an option, but she didn't have to overexert herself.

Fang Juan was speechless.

The person with the talent wasn't worried, but she was. Fortunately, she had brought extra money with her.

"Comrade Lu, I want another bottle of the whitening cream and the anti-acne cream."

Fang Juan was terrified that Lu Jiaoe would stop production and the supply would dry up. She had to stockpile; she absolutely could not go back to being "ugly."

Lu Jiaoe calmly handed her the creams, not at all surprised.

"After half a month, you can use less. You only need to maintain the results later on."

Originally, one bottle would last about three months, but by using it sparingly, it could last half a year, saving Fang Juan a lot of money.

Fang Juan was overjoyed. Because people had noticed her fair, clear skin that afternoon, they were so shocked that they had even offered to set her up on dates.

However, Fang Juan wasn't in a hurry anymore. Comrade Lu had told her that her skin could look even better, and if she paired it with the right clothes, she would look like a completely different person.

If she were pretty and knew how to dress, why would she worry about not finding a better man?