RYEY -Chapter 534 The Five-Year Deadline

News that Cheng Qiao was opening a beauty salon spread throughout the entire garrison overnight, and then reached the family compound. Every woman’s heart was stirred.

They had always felt that Cheng Qiao’s ageless looks must come from a secret formula, but because of Qín Dàqiáng, no one dared to gossip recklessly. Still, they firmly believed that Cheng Qiao possessed some kind of special secret medicine.

Just like the empresses and concubines of ancient emperors, who spared no effort to maintain their beauty—now that Cheng Qiao was opening a beauty salon, those hidden secret formulas were bound to leak out.

The salon was still under renovation, yet women had already gathered at the entrance to inquire. Cheng Qiao understood the essence of doing business well and used the tactic of “hearing the fame before seeing the person.”

With Cuihua’s consent, Cheng Qiao hung up photos of Cuihua before and after using the beauty pill. Cuihua had been at the family farm for nearly three years, and everyone was already very familiar with her.

So once the photos were put up, they caused a real sensation. Cuihua cooperated wholeheartedly—without Cheng Qiao needing to say a word, she automatically stood at the salon entrance as a model.

“Auntie Cuihua, can I touch your face?”

A military wife squeezed her way to the front and asked timidly. After all, Cuihua was Xiao Dan’s mother-in-law—someone not to offend.

“Go ahead, but have you washed your hands?”

“I washed them, I washed them! Wow—it’s really so smooth! Auntie Cuihua, I want the treatment. How do I sign up?”

“There—go find my daughter-in-law. She’s one of the investors too.”

Only then did Qian Longxin take out a stack of registration forms. Those who wanted beauty treatments could sign up first—the supply of beauty pills was limited, first come, first served.

“Sister-in-law Longxin, may I ask—how much does that beauty pill cost?”

Qian Longxin felt a bit uneasy. Cheng Qiao’s asking price was very high. If she said it outright, she wasn’t sure whether people would start hitting her.

“Well, this…”

“Oh, hurry up and say it…”

“Our salon has three types of beauty treatments. The first is basic care—ten sessions per course, one hundred yuan total. The second is deep treatment—also ten sessions per course, five hundred yuan total.”

“As for the beauty-pill treatment—it works in a single course. Five thousand yuan per session.”

“Damn, five thousand? Are you dreaming?”

“Yeah, yeah—my husband only makes a little over two hundred a month. Five thousand would take more than two years of work.”

“Isn’t this just robbery? That’s outrageous.”

“Outrageous my ass. If your face gets five years younger, is a thousand per year expensive?”

Shen Ying stepped forward, directly tossed an envelope to Qian Longxin, and signed up first.

Everyone looked at one another. If even Shen Ying had stepped up, then that so-called beauty pill must really work.

Li Le was second—she signed up on behalf of Mother Li. Xiaoniu also squeezed in, though not for herself but for her mother-in-law. Selling clothes in the shop every day, her face couldn’t look too old.

Several wives of regiment and company commanders exchanged glances. Whenever they made a move, it was always with a purpose—such as adding leverage for their husbands.

“The three of us will sign up together—for the five-thousand-yuan one.”

Qian Longxin quickly took out the registration forms, had them sign, collected the money, and issued receipts. The entire process was clean and efficient, earning the military wives’ admiration.

Those wives with less money could no longer restrain their desire to spend. They signed up for the basic and deep treatments instead. Cuihua watched with delight—the salon hadn’t even finished renovation, yet business had already begun.

In just three short months, the beauty salon run by Cheng Qiao and Qian Longxin had made a name for itself. The hairdressing and clothing businesses also rose to a new level.

Thanks to this salon, the women of Liangzhou saw obvious improvements in their skin. Its reputation spread far and wide, and people signing up for treatments were already queued up through the end of the year.

Qian Longxin was busy from early morning until late at night every day, yet she still maintained a steady routine of teaching the twins for two hours daily. Cuihua was very pleased—such a daughter-in-law was hard to find even with a lantern.

But Cuihua, eager to hold a grandchild, was starting to grow impatient. She quietly went to Cheng Qiao to ask for some pills that could help her daughter-in-law get pregnant sooner. Cheng Qiao smiled and gave her two health-nourishing pills—take these, and the body would be strong and robust.

By the time Qian Longxin became pregnant, Li Huan’s return date was not far off. Cheng Qiao counted the days every day—sixty days left, fifty-five days left, forty days left.

Cheng Qiao’s tension spread to everyone around her. On the surface, Ye Jing seemed unchanged, but every day his homework notebook was filled with urgency:

Only one month left until Dad comes home. I wonder if Dad can come back a few days early, so we can celebrate a reunion New Year together.

There were still twenty days before Dad was due to return. Even Brother Cheng Li and Grandpa Cheng had come back.

Grandpa has come too, to celebrate the New Year with us. Dad, why haven’t you come back yet?

With only five days left until Dad’s return, Mom was already craning her neck in anticipation.

Tomorrow Dad will be back. Grandma and Brother Li Ming were already standing at the doorway waiting.

On the agreed day, Cheng Qiao didn’t go to work, and the children didn’t go out either. They all stayed at home, quietly waiting. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to wait at the entrance of the farm—it was that Cheng Qiao wouldn’t allow it.

When Li Huan left, it was winter, and winters in Liangzhou were not something one could endure outdoors for long. Fortunately, Wang Zai was there—it would surely send word.

Cheng Qiao circulated her energy to her eyes and looked toward the farm gate. Wang Zai was curled up asleep in its little wooden hut, where a brazier of charcoal had been placed. It definitely wouldn’t freeze.

Wang Zai showed no movement at all, which meant that no one had passed by outside the farm. Cheng Qiao’s heart slowly sank.

By the time night fell completely, Li Huan still hadn’t returned. At that point, not only did Cheng Qiao look grim—Mother Li was even more heartbroken.

“Huan’er, if you don’t come back soon, I don’t know if Mother will still be able to see you.”

Li Ming hugged Mother Li tightly, silently making up his mind: as long as he lived, he would never let Grandma die.

Cheng Li raised his head and looked firmly at Cheng Qiao.

“Mom, Dad once said that if he couldn’t come back in five years, then he would definitely come back in ten. The later Dad returns, the stronger his abilities will be. We should bless Dad.”

Cheng Qiao steadied her emotions and nodded in agreement. She reached out her hand to Cheng Li, who solemnly took out an admission letter.

It was an acceptance letter from Columbia University’s Department of Finance. The country had issued a policy on studying abroad: support self-funded overseas study, encourage returning home, and allow free movement in and out.

Cheng Li was going to study the most systematic financial knowledge. Once he completed his studies and returned, it would mark the beginning of him taking over the family business.

“Go,” Cheng Qiao said. “Remember—your father and mother are here, your grandparents are here, and your younger brothers and sisters are here. Your roots are here. Once you’ve finished your studies, you must come back.”

“Mom, I will definitely come back. I’ve already made an agreement with Wu Xiaolin—when we return, we’ll ask Dad and Mom to preside over our wedding.”

“Is Wu Xiaolin going too?”

“Yes.”

Hearing that the two would be going together, everyone finally felt relieved. In a foreign land, it was always better to have someone to accompany you.