Chapter 34

As the heavy snowflakes flew, the world instantly turned into a pristine white. "Ladies, do you know how beauty is cultivated?" A group of young girls looked puzzled. "Would you like me to teach you? But this snow is heavy, and it will be even colder after the snow stops. You can't stay in Wang Family Village anymore." Wang Ju had advised them several times, but these people were having too much fun, skating, playing in the snow, chiseling ice to fish, watching Li Sandog train the villagers in the courtyard, or going hunting. Wang Ju couldn't persuade them to leave. "Miss Li, come here." In fact, as long as one has a small face, big eyes, it's easy to apply makeup and instantly transform into a super beautiful woman. If one has a small pointed chin and a pair of dimples, it's even better. In his previous life, Wang Ju often did this. In the end, he couldn't maintain it for long and even lost his life, which is why his personality became so dark. Miss Li had a good face shape, a small face, big eyes, a small pointed chin, and a pair of dimples. The worst would be the large, flat faces and small eyes of Korean women. If they also had a body like a female sumo wrestler, it would be impossible to become beautiful without surgery in the future. You Tao mocked, "Zhang Chang." "Zhang Chang who? I haven't grown up yet, I'm still a child. If I grow up, then I can consider marriage." Not only was Wang Ju young, but Li Feier was even younger. Because of her good face shape, Wang Ju chose her. "A child..." You Jun was indignant. Are there such precocious children? Wang Ju first had Li Feier wash her face. A clean face is a must before applying makeup. Then he had Li Feier bring the cosmetics. With two lifetimes of experience, Wang Ju asked her about each item. "Can you do it?" Ba Xiaoniang asked doubtfully. "Definitely," Li Feier answered confidently. Ba Xiaoniang was speechless. If the two were in love, even if she ended up with a big, flower-like face, she would still be happy. Why should she meddle? Not at all. In this life, women also valued makeup, but everyone learned on their own, so there was no specialized theory. Actually, it's not difficult, just a few key points. First, apply foundation and set the makeup. The forehead, cheeks, nose, lips, and chin are the five main areas. The application should be even, but the depth should be adjusted according to the face shape. Good makeup can improve facial flaws, while bad makeup can make things worse. Especially the blush, which is the most important touch. However, the size and position of the blush should be considered based on the face shape. Then, shape the eyebrows. Generally, the brow arch should be slightly raised. Why are they called "sword brows"? Because it makes people look spirited. If the brow arch droops, it makes people look sickly, and there's no beauty in that. But they shouldn't be too raised, as it can make people look overly aggressive, unless you want to be like Wu Zetian, in which case drawing "eight-character brows" is fine. "Natural beauty is the best. A little more and it's too long, a little less and it's too short; a little more powder and it's too white, a little more rouge and it's too red. This is the ultimate beauty of a graceful lady. So it's best not to follow the trend of long eyebrows (a popular style in the Song Dynasty, with a broad forehead, long eyebrows, and phoenix eyes), green eyebrows, or bizarre styles like the 'mandarin duck eight-character brows,' 'small mountain brows,' 'five peak brows,' 'pearl drop brows,' 'moon edge brows,' 'divided tip brows,' 'smoke-filled brows,' 'cloud-sweeping brows,' or 'reverse smoky brows.'" "So many eyebrow styles, Little Master Wang, teach us." "Some of these styles are really bad, you might as well not learn them." As Wang Ju spoke, he used eyebrow tweezers to pluck a few of Miss Li's eyebrows, not many, just a few. Natural beauty is the best. Thick eyebrows aren't necessarily bad; Wang Zuxian's early thick eyebrows were very beautiful, but as they became finer, they lost their charm. Next, he applied eyeshadow, eyeliner, and curled the lashes. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and if they don't look good, the entire face is ruined. This step makes the eyes look both large and bright. "Also, hair and clothing. But that depends on personal preference. If you dress like Lady Xiangyu, people might curse you on the street, but many men would be secretly infatuated. As the saying goes, 'Men who aren't bad, women don't love; women who aren't bad, men don't love.'" Before Wang Ju could finish, he was tackled to the ground by a group of young girls. But after Wang Ju's makeover, Miss Li immediately transformed into a stunning beauty. "Brother, I want to be made up too." "You're still too young," Wang Ju patted Erniu's head, saying, "Don't underestimate these bottles and jars. You need at least ten guan to buy them, and I don't have that much money." Li Wan yuan stared at his little sister, not thinking much about it, and sighed, "Little Master Wang, is there anything you can't do?" "Yes, many things. The simplest, I can't have children." As he said this, he was tackled to the ground again amidst laughter. But Wang Ju successfully sent the group back. Winter quickly passed, and spring quietly arrived. "So fast?" But Wang Ju looked suspiciously at the young man behind Zhu Qing. "He is Li Ernian's elder brother, Li Zhen." "Nice to meet you, Li Dalian." But Wang Ju thought, did the Zhu family really ask the Li family for that little girl on his behalf? "No need to be polite, continue." "The swords this time are well-made." Zhu Qing said. This was the third batch of swords. The arrival of Zhong the blacksmith and Sun the blacksmith played a significant role. They were highly skilled, and even without Wang Ju's simplified steel-making technique, they could forge good swords. Moreover, with the profit, they could improve the quality without worrying about the cost. Not only did the craftsmanship improve in the village, but also in the Zhu family. In some aspects, the quality of the swords and the splendor of the scabbards were very close to the real Xia Dynasty swords. And the price was less than 100 guan. While a Xia Dynasty sword costing over 1,000 guan was unaffordable for most, a sword costing less than 100 guan had many potential buyers. Although not all 10 million households in the Song Dynasty could afford it, at least 100,000 households could. But how many swords could the village produce? So this time, they produced more, over 40 swords, which were quickly sold to merchants from Guanzhong. Wang Ju called out to a villager, "Call the clan leader and the villagers." Soon, everyone gathered around. Zhu Qing opened the carriage, revealing 150 fine bows. With over a dozen apprentices, the village could now make sabers, spears, and arrowheads. Yin Zhu had once calculated the cost of bows and crossbows: a crossbow costs 1,500 wen, a bow costs 700 to 800 wen, and ten arrows cost about 600 to 700 wen. However, "today's weapons are mostly crude, poorly made, and not practical, wasting the people's efforts." "The iron blades are not steel, the sinews and glue are not strong, and the sizes are not appropriate." Therefore, even if the court intended to make Xia Dynasty swords, they wouldn't produce high-quality ones. The village used samples to make arrowheads, and a single high-quality arrowhead cost over 30 wen, not including the cost of the shaft, feathers, glue, and labor. Yanzhou had a workshop, and if they paid, the official blacksmiths would take on private jobs to support their families. But Zhu Qing had explained that a good bow would cost at least 2 guan, and even at that price, the blacksmiths wouldn't make much profit. 300 guan was spent in one go. Including the previous sabers and arrowheads, the cost was even higher. If all the able-bodied men in the village were equipped with a bow, 20 arrows, a saber, a spear, and a polearm, it would cost at least 1,700 guan. Some villagers opposed this. Wang Quan shouted, "Consider it as if there were no Xia Dynasty swords!" This stopped the opposition. Therefore, the villagers would have to endure for another year. But the effect was significant. The arrival of 150 fine bows, all military-grade composite bows, greatly increased the village's defensive capabilities. There was still money left, but they didn't dare to spend it all. The villagers were in dire need, lacking everything, so they didn't bring it. After dividing the goods, Zhu Qing took the list of what everyone wanted to buy and returned to the village with the goods. The battle had nothing to do with Yuan Heizi or Wang Ju, but they still received 4 guan each. The two blacksmiths were paid by the Zhu family, not the village. Wang Quan planned to divide the money as before, but Yuan Heizi suddenly said, "There are three most arduous professions in the world: blacksmithing, boat rowing, and tofu making. In winter, everyone rests, but my dozen apprentices work hard, making swords, sabers, spear tips, and arrowheads. Can't we get a larger share?" Rowing a boat in rough waters, always at risk of capsizing and losing one's life. Working by the furnace day and night, living like hell. Waking up at the third watch and going to bed at the fifth, earning just enough to feed one's family. These three professions are considered the most arduous in the world. There are other sayings: blacksmithing, fishing, and tofu making; blacksmithing, carrying sedan chairs, and tofu making; blacksmithing, salt-making, and tofu making; blacksmithing, chopping wood, and tofu making; making wine, rowing boats, and tofu making; making sugar, rowing boats, and tofu making. Tofu making is always first, and blacksmithing is undoubtedly second! But the issue wasn't this. Wang Ju sighed, egalitarianism is deadly. Without him, there would be no Xia Dynasty swords. He was also responsible for the carbon steel process, interactions with the Zhu family, and the accounts, the three most important aspects of trade: technology, connections, and finances. But he only received 4 guan each time. Wang Quan had good intentions, wanting everyone in the village to improve, but is that possible? Even with communal meals, some team leaders starved to death. This is the middle way. A large wealth gap is certainly bad, but egalitarianism is also unacceptable. But the villagers were unhappy. If Yuan Heizi got more, they would get less. Who would willingly give up the money they had earned?