Ren Tingting

A suit of armor was revealed inside the box, perfectly preserved. Yang Xuan examined it and said, "Old shopkeeper, you tell me, whose heirloom did you steal?"

"Heh heh, there was a wealthy family whose fortunes declined, and they had to sell their assets. I wasn't interested in their shops or land. They say their ancestors were military generals and collected many weapons and armors. Most of it was in disrepair, but this set of armor is a good item. I can only tell that it's from the Sui or Tang Dynasty. I haven't identified the specific type of armor yet. If you like it, you can take it for 100 silver dollars," the old man said proudly.

"Hmph, old man, 100 silver dollars? This isn't robbery, you're trying to eat people alive," Yang Xuan retorted sarcastically. "I can see it's a good item, likely standard Tang Dynasty armor, not worth much. How about 30 silver dollars for it?" Yang Xuan said again.

"Get lost! You're even more of a scoundrel than I am. With such intricate plates and decorations, do you think this belongs to a common soldier? What dynasty's standard armor was made this finely? It's at least 80," the old man insisted.

"I've bought so many things from you. As a regular customer, you should give me a discount. How about 50? I'm not just coming here once, I'll be back often. Let's keep a steady flow, right?" Yang Xuan teased.

Just then, a tall young girl, dressed in a pink lace dress with Western-style ruffles, looked curiously at the shop and the two of them, saying, "Do you have any antique-style rouge boxes?"

The young girl looked about 18 years old, around 165 cm tall, youthful and vibrant. She wore a matching pink lady's hat, and her large eyes paired with a small mouth gave her the overall impression of a delicate porcelain doll.

Her skin looked very fair, suggesting she was likely the daughter of a wealthy family. She appeared fair and tender, with the charm of a Suzhou and Hangzhou beauty.

"Heh heh, young lady, you've come at the wrong time. A week ago, I had a very beautiful rouge box, from the Ming Dynasty, but unfortunately, it was sold," the old man said slyly, glancing at Yang Xuan with feigned regret.

"That's a shame. I have many foreign friends, and they want to experience our country's ancient items," the girl said with disappointment.

Looking at the girl, Yang Xuan knew it was Ren Tingting. He hadn't expected Ren Tingting, who favored Western things, to also buy Chinese antiques.

"You want to buy an antique rouge box to show foreigners our Chinese culture, right?" Yang Xuan guessed. After all, many young girls nowadays who dressed in Western styles tended to prefer Western culture. Western culture had a significant impact on Hua country during this era.

"Yes, many of my foreign friends have beautiful Western-style rouge boxes, and I want them to see our Hua country's rouge boxes too, but they're all sold out," Ren Tingting nodded.

"Do you like applying makeup a lot?" Yang Xuan asked.

"Yes, I didn't realize how profound makeup could be. My mother taught me a long time ago," Ren Tingting said proudly.

"Actually, many foreign cosmetics contain hydroquinone, phenol, and some heavy metals," Yang Xuan said with a smile. Yang Xuan grew up playing with many girls. When they grew up, they often shared knowledge about cosmetics with him, which overwhelmed him. He never expected it to be useful for starting conversations with women later on.

"Oh, you're a man, and you know so much about cosmetics? By the way, what are those 'quinone' and 'phenol' you mentioned? I've never heard of them," Ren Tingting asked curiously.

"Hydroquinone is a chemical element. If added to cosmetics, it can enhance whitening effects, but it can damage many internal organs. The most serious consequence is that it's hereditary. This means if this substance is in excess, it can be passed down to the next generation, causing birth defects in children. Phenol is similar to hydroquinone; it can damage your cells, blood vessels, and central nervous system. For example, when people get older, their blood vessels are prone to rupture. If a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, it's what people commonly call a stroke. Damage to the nervous system can lead to slow reactions or even a coma," Yang Xuan explained.

"You know so much! Many people taught me how to apply makeup, but never how cosmetics are made. So there are so many hidden dangers. If what you say is true, then cosmetics can't be used at all?" Ren Tingting said with a look of lingering fear.

"Not entirely. For instance, many cosmetics in our Hua country are purely natural. Not all European cosmetics are bad. Using big brands and purely natural handmade products is better. Moreover, you're so young and beautiful, you don't necessarily need heavy makeup; a light touch might be enough," Yang Xuan said with a slight smile.

Ren Tingting looked at Yang Xuan with admiration. "You know so much, you're amazing."

"Thank you. Many of my friends are in this line of work, so I've heard things occasionally," Yang Xuan said modestly.

"It seems in the future, I'll not only have to learn makeup but also understand the ingredients in cosmetics," Ren Tingting said.

Yang Xuan subtly took out a box from his storage space and handed it to Ren Tingting. "Young lady, seeing as you're promoting our country's culture to Westerners, this is for you."

"Can I? Isn't this quite expensive? I can't accept such a valuable gift," Ren Tingting said with a mixture of surprise and reluctance.

"Old man, tell me, how much did I pay for this?" Yang Xuan asked with amusement.

"Don't bring that up. You finally said it yourself. I haven't even identified it yet, and you've already bought several antiques. Just say this rouge box isn't worth anything and give it to you as a freebie," the old man said resentfully.

"See, young lady, did you hear that? I didn't pay for this rouge box, it's considered a freebie. It's yours," Yang Xuan said nonchalantly.

"Then I'll accept it. By the way, you look about my age. Don't keep calling me 'young lady.' I'm not young anymore, I'm 18. My name is Ren Tingting. What's yours?" Ren Tingting said happily.

"My name is Yang Xuan, and I'm 24. I'm quite a bit older than you, so calling you 'young lady' isn't wrong," Yang Xuan teased.

"Miss, it's getting late," a voice called from outside.

"Yang Xuan, I have to go now. Where do you live? Can I come find you if I have any problems in the future?" Ren Tingting asked cautiously.

"Of course. I'm apprenticed to Uncle Nine and currently lodging at the mortuary outside of town," Yang Xuan replied.

"Bye-bye," Ren Tingting waved.

"Bye-bye"