Clearly, the System had taken the characteristics of this era into account; the case did not look out of place for the times.
However, once opened, it became clear that beneath its modest exterior lay true substance. The top layer folded out to reveal a mirror, while the box below contained eyeshadows in various colors, concealers for different skin tones, primer, setting powder, and lip gloss. The bottom layer held makeup remover, toner, facial cream, and even sheet masks—a treasure trove of bottles and jars. While they lacked brand names, Sheng Xia, who had used plenty of high-end cosmetics in her previous life, could immediately tell that every single item was of exceptional quality. Tucked away at the very bottom were several small, foldable stools. It was truly a complete kit; Sheng Xia could start her business the moment she set it down.
Just as the granddaughter had said, anything produced by the System was bound to be high quality. This makeup case was nothing short of a godsend for a street vendor.
Since she was fully prepared, Sheng Xia didn't delay. She was eager to get started and couldn't wait to see the reward for completing her mission. She dragged the makeup case across the street to the State-run Restaurant, took out the small stool, and opened the case to expose the mirror.
Having just come from finishing her divorce proceedings, it was already past ten o'clock. It wasn't quite lunch time yet, and the State-run Restaurant was empty. Sheng Xia wasn't worried. She had thought it through yesterday: this era was different from her life before. Social norms were conservative, and most women weren't in the habit of wearing makeup. The only ones who might need it were a specific crowd—brides-to-be or girls going on blind dates. Although the Reform and Opening-up had begun, people still held the state-run establishments in high regard, and blind dates were almost always held at the State-run Restaurant. By setting up shop right in front, she was far more likely to encounter her target customers than anywhere else.
"Comrade, what are you doing there?"
Sheng Xia had intended to wait until lunch to solicit young women heading in to eat, but before she had even finished setting up, a girl wearing the uniform of a restaurant clerk walked out, looking on with curiosity.
Yang Damei was a clerk at the State-run Restaurant. Having finished with the breakfast rush, she had been planning to sit down for a rest when she spotted a strange woman at the entrance with a strange case. A faint, elegant fragrance wafted from the box—it smelled even more pleasant than the vanishing cream she had applied that morning. Since she had nothing to do, she came out, curious, to ask.
As soon as she saw someone showing interest, Sheng Xia beamed. With her almond-shaped eyes and rosy cheeks, she looked incredibly approachable. "Comrade, I’m setting up a makeup stall. Would you like to try it? If you aren't satisfied, you don't have to pay."
"Can you make me look as pretty as you?" Yang Damei was actually quite tempted. She had a good job and high standards, which was why she was still unmarried at twenty-two. Someone had introduced her to a potential suitor just yesterday. She had been very pleased with his photo, but the man didn't seem satisfied with her appearance after seeing hers. Under the matchmaker’s urging, the man had agreed to come to the State-run Restaurant today to meet her. She had specially worn a brand-new outfit for the occasion, but she was still worried he wouldn't like her. If Sheng Xia could make her look as beautiful as she was, the man would surely be satisfied.
"Thank you for the compliment." Even though she was used to being called pretty, Sheng Xia still replied with a smiling, "You are very pretty, too."
"Liar!" Yang Damei felt a flare of anger at Sheng Xia’s words and shouted loudly. She had grown up hearing people call her ugly, a "black potato," and she assumed this stranger was just another liar willing to say anything to scam her out of money.
Goodness, the volume of her voice gave Sheng Xia quite a start.
"Don't get upset, Comrade. Whether or not you are beautiful, you'll know as soon as I finish your makeup!" Sheng Xia pulled Yang Damei down onto the stool. "Don't worry, if you don't look beautiful, I won't take your money!"
Sheng Xia studied Yang Damei’s face carefully. Her skin was slightly dark and lacked sun protection, and her complexion was uneven. She was a well-fed girl, but her skin was oily and prone to a few breakouts and acne scars. Apart from that, although she had monolids, her features were actually quite fine; she had a high bridge to her nose and a lovely lip shape. Having mastered the high-level makeup techniques rewarded by the System, Sheng Xia felt confident after just one look.
She started by using a mask to quickly soothe the oily skin, then used various small brushes to dab and blend product onto Yang Damei’s face.
Yang Damei hadn't held out much hope, thinking she might as well try since it was free, but as Sheng Xia worked, she watched in the mirror as if magic were happening. Her dark skin seemed to brighten, and those acne scars she’d never been able to cover with vanishing cream vanished completely. As for her features, they didn't look like they had changed at all—at a glance, it was still clearly her—but she was undeniably prettier. It was just as the stall owner had said; it made her feel as though she had always been this beautiful.
"All done!" After nearly an hour, Sheng Xia finally announced the finish. She placed her hands on Yang Damei’s shoulders and looked into the mirror with her.
With her top-tier skills, she could have easily changed the girl’s entire appearance, but she believed that highlighting someone’s natural features and helping them feel beautiful from within was better than wearing a stranger’s face. Every kind-hearted girl was beautiful, after all! A total transformation was only temporary, but this approach would give the girl confidence so that when people praised her beauty in the future, she would feel genuinely happy instead of suspecting them of lying.
"Is this really me?" Looking at herself in the mirror, Yang Damei’s eyes instantly reddened. It turned out she wasn't what people said she was; she wasn't ugly at all.
"Of course it is. You were always beautiful. Just remember to take care of your skin, don't pick at your pimples, and remember to use sun protection when you go out," Sheng Xia said with an encouraging smile, offering a few more tips. A girl in her twenties—how could she be ugly? It was just a matter of knowing how to present herself.
"Okay, thank you. How much do I owe you?" Yang Damei felt the knot that had bothered her for years had finally untied, and she was more than willing to pay.
"Fifty cents!" Sheng Xia held up her hand, her almond eyes crinkling into a smile. A successful start—completing her mission was within reach. The System hadn't set a price, so Sheng Xia had chosen this amount carefully. Pork was currently eighty cents a catty, so fifty cents for a makeup session wasn't cheap. But Sheng Xia felt her skills were worth it; anything less, and she would feel like she was working for free.
"It’s worth it!" As expected, Yang Damei didn't think it was expensive at all and immediately pulled five ten-cent notes from her pocket and handed them to Sheng Xia.
"Thank you for your business. Since you’re my first customer, here is a mask as a gift. Use it before bed in two days; it will help with those acne scars!"
Seeing Yang Damei was so straightforward, Sheng Xia was equally generous and gave her one of the masks produced by the System.