A Beauty in the 80s Goes on a Blind Date with Her Child, Captivating the Military Compound - Chapter 47

Shen Sisi felt it was highly likely. Otherwise, why would Xu Hongying still be pining over that university-student childhood sweetheart?

She composed herself and said, “Auntie, that business between Chengfeng and his sweetheart is ancient history. Right now, I am Gu Chengfeng’s wife.”

“You really have no shame!” Xu Hongying spat. In her eyes, Shen Sisi was truly thick-skinned and impossible to influence.

Sisi refused to get out of bed to cook, and Xu Hongying, out of spite, refused to cook as well—until she was so hungry her head was spinning. It wasn’t until Niuniu woke up that Sisi finally started the fire and heated the wok.

For breakfast, she made dough drop soup with eggs. These eggs were from her own free-range chickens, and the flavor was exceptionally fresh! Despite her constant scolding, Xu Hongying was quite enthusiastic when it came to eating. She devoured two bowls of the thick soup, nearly licking the pot clean.

The old lady licked the corner of her mouth, thinking that while this Shen Sisi wasn’t a great person, her cooking skills were actually quite impressive.

Shen Sisi piled the pots and pans in the sink, turned around to change her clothes, and prepared to take Niuniu out to buy groceries. Before leaving, she glanced back and saw Xu Hongying craning her neck to peer into her bedroom.

Without a word, Sisi tucked two sheets of stationery into her cloth bag, bundled Niuniu up in a scarf and hat, and headed out happily.

The Supply and Marketing Cooperative was crowded in the morning. She stood in line for a long time before securing the pork ribs she wanted and a small piece of pork belly. Tonight, she planned to make braised pork and winter melon rib soup for Niuniu and Gu Chengfeng.

She also wondered how things were going on Cao Hua’s end. Carrying her basket, she took Niuniu across the river on the ferry. The pier was as bustling as ever, with people coming and going. Sisi held Niuniu’s hand tightly, fearing the child might get lost in the crowd.

Just as they emerged from the archway of the South City Gate, she heard someone shouting behind her.

“Young lady! Miss… the lady with the child!”

Sisi felt the person was calling her. she turned around to see an uncle with graying hair wearing a thin padded cotton jacket. It was the man she had helped with his shoulder the other day!

She recognized him immediately and greeted him warmly, “Uncle, it’s you!”

The man ran up, panting heavily, and used the towel on his shoulder to wipe away the sweat. “Young lady, where have you been these past few days? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“You were looking for me?” Sisi asked.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized it must be about her medicinal oil. Sure enough, the uncle’s first question was about the oil.

“Young lady, that medicinal oil you gave me last time—where did you buy it? After using it, my arm doesn’t hurt as much, and the stiffness in my neck is gone.” He praised the oil as if it were a miracle cure sent from the heavens.

Sisi smiled modestly. “It’s not as magical as you make it sound.”

The uncle’s eyes widened. “I’m not lying! We’ve all tried it, and everyone says it’s good!”

In Sisi’s heart, it felt as if fireworks were exploding; she was over the moon! Her handmade oil had gained recognition and was actually relieving people’s pain. This feeling made her happier than if she had earned five hundred yuan.

She beamed. “Uncle, you can’t buy this oil outside. It’s my own exclusive secret formula…”

Niuniu raised her little head proudly. “My mama’s medicinal oil is amazing! She made it all by herself!”

The man was momentarily stunned. “You’re so young, I didn’t expect you to know how to make medicinal oil… Well then, can you sell some to me?”

“To be honest,” he continued, “everyone who tried it says it’s better than anything we’ve used before.”

Sisi smiled and replied, “Of course. I’m actually in the business of selling this oil. However…” she hesitated for a moment. “However, this oil isn’t cheap. It’s made with high-quality base oils and rare herbs. You get what you pay for.”

There were many types of medicinal oils and spirits on the market, but the quality was inconsistent. Some provided only temporary relief, while others were too harsh on the skin. Sisi’s formula was the result of years of research by an old traditional Chinese medicine practitioner; it perfectly balanced swelling reduction, blood circulation, and pain relief.

She chatted with him for a few minutes. Though the uncle didn’t understand medical theory, he found himself instinctively trusting her.

“This oil really is good stuff. How much for a bottle?”

Sisi held up three fingers. “Three yuan.”

“What? Is there gold in it? Three yuan?” The uncle looked her up and down. “You look so refined, young lady, how can you open your mouth and swindle people like that? Do I look like a fool to you?”

Seeing his misunderstanding, Sisi sighed inwardly. She had anticipated this reaction, which was why she hadn’t given a price immediately before.

“I know three yuan is a lot for an ordinary family,” she said calmly. “Two more yuan could feed a family for a month. But my price can’t go lower, unless…” Her eyes twinkled. “Unless I switch to smaller bottles. Then the price would be more affordable.”

“Smaller bottles would work!” the uncle said. He explained that while they couldn’t afford a large bottle, they could certainly buy a small one to use.

Sisi thought this was a brilliant idea. Not everyone had the financial depth of someone like Cao Hua. She decided to check the black market later to see if there were smaller vials for sale.

“Uncle, tell you what—if you trust me, leave a deposit and register how many bottles you want. That way, I can start preparing them.”

The man immediately reached into his pockets and pulled out a one-yuan bill. “Young lady, is this enough?” The bill was crumpled like a dried vegetable—it was clearly money he had saved for a long time.

“Uncle, aren’t you afraid I’m a scammer?” Sisi asked with a laugh.

The man’s bright eyes swept over her face. “I’ve been working by the river for decades; I can tell a person from a ghost at a glance. You couldn’t be a scammer. Besides, why would you bother scamming me for a single yuan? If you were really in trouble, I’d give you the money for free.”

Sisi was deeply moved by his kindness and trust. She took the bill firmly. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you down.”

She tucked the money away and took out her paper and pen. Eight people from the uncle’s group wanted to order, and several other workers were watching with interest, waiting to see how it turned out.

After finishing the registration, she went to find Cao Hua. Just as she reached the pier he managed, Cao Hua strode toward her.

“Sisi! I was just about to look for you. I didn’t expect you to show up!”