The Rouge Shop

The two old men were discussing the coffin relocation on one side, while the two youngsters were chatting about cosmetics on the other.

They were keeping out of each other's way and minding their own business.

After chatting for a while, Ren Tingting turned to her father.

"Dad, I want to go with Brother Sheng to look at the rouge at his aunt's shop."

"Master, hehe."

Hearing the young couple, Master Ren and Uncle Nine exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.

"Tingting, go ahead if you want to."

"Qiusheng, take Miss Ren there. And remember, look after her."

As he spoke, Uncle Nine secretly slipped a few silver dollars into Qiusheng's hand and gave him several pointed winks.

Qiusheng played along, pocketing the money and winking back at his master.

Then he led Ren Tingting out of the Western restaurant and onto the street.

"Brother Sheng, where's your aunt's rouge shop?"

"Oh, Tingting, look. It's not far up ahead."

Qiusheng pointed, showing her where his aunt's rouge shop was.

The two of them chatted and laughed as they made their way into the shop.

As soon as they stepped inside, Qiusheng called out loudly.

"Auntie! Auntie!"

"Qiusheng, you little rascal! What are you yelling about? Didn't you say you were going to live at your master's place from now on? Why have you come back?"

"Did you come back to see whether this old woman's been vexed to death by you?"

Qiusheng's aunt was still in the back room, but her voice carried into the shop out front.

A moment later, a woman who looked to be in her thirties emerged from the back room. She was Qiusheng's aunt.

As soon as she came out, she saw her nephew standing beside Ren Tingting, whose beauty and bearing were far beyond those of an ordinary girl. Her angry expression immediately softened, and she broke into a broad smile.

"Well, Qiusheng, you little rascal! You brought a young lady home to visit without even giving me a heads-up. You little scamp!"

Qiusheng awkwardly watched his aunt look at Ren Tingting as if she were already his future wife, then coughed twice.

"Auntie, this is Master Ren's daughter. She came to the shop to buy some rouge."

"Oh, so that's it. Come, Miss Ren, sit down. Please, have a seat."

Though his aunt had heard her nephew's explanation, she clearly didn't believe him!

As she spoke, she grabbed a chair from beside her and pulled Ren Tingting down onto it.

"Thank you, Auntie. Do you have any top-quality cosmetics? I'd like to buy some and teach someone how to apply makeup."

Ren Tingting regarded the woman across from her with a puzzled look, unable to figure out why she was looking at her so strangely.

But she didn't think much of it. She assumed the woman was just being so hospitable because she was Brother Sheng's good friend.

"Oh, I've got plenty of fine rouge here. Qiusheng, why don't you bring out the best cosmetics? What are you standing there gawking for?"

"Oh, right. Got it, Auntie."

At his aunt's instruction, Qiusheng went over to the counter and carried out box after box of cosmetics.

Soon, all kinds of rouge were spread out in front of Ren Tingting.

From then on, there was no room for Qiusheng in the rouge shop. The two women's nonstop chatter made his head spin, so he could only squat by the entrance and stare at the Yi Hong Brothel across the street.

After watching it for a while, he sighed in resignation.

"What kind of standards are these? If only I had some money on me right now."

"If I could bring a whole batch of girls over, wouldn't I become the leading figure in this era's brothel business in no time?"

While Qiusheng was muttering to himself, he suddenly felt a gust of air behind his head. He quickly tilted it aside, and a cloth shoe flew past his cheek. He caught a faint whiff of something sour and musty.

"You little rascal! What are you ogling?"

"Tingting bought all this rouge. Help her carry it home."

When Qiusheng turned around, he saw his aunt glaring at him furiously, while Tingting covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

"Got it, Auntie. My friend's here. Couldn't you at least save me some face?"

Grumbling, Qiusheng picked up the cloth shoe beside him and put it back by his aunt's feet, then turned to Ren Tingting.

"Tingting, have you picked everything out? If you're done, I'll take you home."

"Mm, Brother Sheng. I've picked everything out."

As she spoke, Tingting lifted the cloth bundle in her hands slightly.

Qiusheng looked at Ren Tingting, who had just finished a major shopping spree, his eyes full of admiration.

Women, it seemed, were generous shoppers in every era.

The little cloth bundle in Ren Tingting's hands didn't look like much, but as soon as Qiusheng took it, he realized it weighed at least ten pounds. It must have cost at least a dozen or twenty silver dollars.

Qiusheng slung the bundle over his shoulder and said to Tingting,

"Okay, let's go. I'll take you home."

"Mm, thanks, Brother Sheng. Thank you, Auntie."

"Oh, Tingting, you're so polite. I wonder which lucky rascal will get to marry a wonderful girl like you one day."

His aunt gently took Tingting by the arm and saw her and Qiusheng to the door before waving goodbye.

"Oh, Auntie, I've got something to do tonight, so I won't be coming back."

As he spoke, Qiusheng took off running.

All that remained was his retreating figure as his aunt pointed at him and cursed.

"You little rascal! All you do is mess around outside all day. I hope you never come back!"

"Pfft."

Once they were out of the rouge shop, Ren Tingting finally burst into laughter.

Her smile was like a peony in full bloom, instantly capturing Qiusheng's heart.

"Brother Sheng, your aunt is so nice."

Tingting said with a laugh.

Only after she had spoken did she notice that Qiusheng was staring at her, completely spellbound.

"Brother Sheng, what are you looking at? Is there something dirty on my face?"

Brought back to his senses by Tingting's question, Qiusheng shook his head and rubbed his nose.

"No. You just look so beautiful when you smile that I couldn't help staring. Hehe."

As he spoke, Qiusheng rubbed the back of his head.

It was already afternoon in Ren Family Town. Under the bright sunshine, Ren Tingting stood on the street, her little face flushed with embarrassment by Qiusheng's honest compliment. The sunlight made her look all the more radiant and lovely.

"Well, where did this beauty come from? How come I, Qiang San, have never seen her before?"

Qiusheng was admiring Ren Tingting when a repulsive voice suddenly rang out.