Chapter 1 (Fine Tuning)

Chapter 1 (Fine Tuning)

In Jiangcheng, during the month of July, the Purple Mountain Garden residential area.

"Mom! Mom! Are you done packing? We're going to be late if we don't leave now!" Xiao Qingxue shouted from the entrance hall as she put on her shoes, her head turned towards the kitchen. Her voice was clear and vibrant, typical of an eighteen-year-old girl.

The sliding door of the kitchen opened.

"Yes, yes, I'm coming." Xiao Luolan emerged from the kitchen, carrying a cartoon bear bag filled with a box of sushi and cut fruits. She also grabbed her daughter's favorite Wangzai milk and a bottle of mineral water for herself. She was about to pick up a box of her daughter's favorite mango-flavored xue mei niang but was hurriedly pulled away by her daughter.

"Mom, we're going to be late!" Xiao Qingxue glanced at her phone and couldn't help but urge her mother, noting it was already one o'clock.

"What's the rush, child? The Lotus Festival isn't going anywhere," Xiao Luolan said while changing shoes and picking up a sun umbrella. She had checked the weather last night; it was going to be hot today, reaching 36°C.

Xiao Qingxue, with a giggle, hugged her mother's arm and took the cartoon bear lunch bag, cooing sweetly, "But I want to go early to the Lingxian Pavilion to try on a beautiful Hanfu. Mom, you don't know, I've had my eye on their qi chest ruqun-style flowing smoke and sunset skirt. I'll have Sister Xia at the pavilion do my hair in a Jingque bun. I'll definitely look gorgeous."

Xiao Luolan stood up, looking at her youthful and beautiful daughter with tender eyes, "You're already beautiful."

"Hehe," Xiao Qingxue, holding her mother's hand, said, "Of course, you are a great beauty, and I am your daughter. Naturally, I'm beautiful too, basking in your glow."

"You, always so glib!" Xiao Luolan's heart swelled with joy, and she lightly tapped her daughter's forehead.

Xiao Qingxue's eyes widened, her bright eyes and white teeth sparkling.

Her mother was indeed beautiful. Apart from fine lines at the corners of her eyes, no one could tell she was already thirty-eight. Her skin was fair and moist, with gentle eyes beneath her arched brows. Her personality was gentle and kind, easily reminding one of the soft waters of Jiangnan. Her figure was full and curvaceous, with the passage of time bestowing upon her a unique charm.

However, her mother seldom focused on herself, always putting her thoughts and efforts into her daughter, which is why she felt she needed to cheer her up.

The mother and daughter happily went downstairs, taking the Number 3 bus which would take half an hour to reach the Lotus Park, located at Golden Turtle Mountain.

Having achieved good results in last month's college entrance exams, Xiao Qingxue decided to take her homebody mom out for some fun and chose this place.

She had already checked the guide; this year, the lotus flowers in the park were blooming exceptionally well. With the backdrop of Golden Turtle Mountain, lush trees provided ample shade from the searing summer heat, making it an ideal spot for an outing.

Sitting beside her daughter, Xiao Luolan observed most of the young people boarding the bus wearing various ancient costumes, either holding smartphones or with cameras around their necks. She recalled her daughter mentioning that young people nowadays enjoyed dressing in ancient attire and organizing various activities. Xiao Qingxue’s interest in such Hanfu events had significantly increased her mother's fondness for them.

She took a box of sushi out of the cartoon bear bag and opened it.

"My sweetie, eat up."

Xiao Qingxue turned to her and whispered, "Mom, don't call me by my nickname."

Xiao Luolan pushed the sushi box towards her and handed her a pair of disposable chopsticks, pretending not to hear.

Xiao Qingxue eyed the cute and well-prepared sushi, hesitating, "I'm on a diet."

Xiao Luolan glared at her daughter, "What need is there for a young girl like you to diet? If you lose any more weight, you'll be blown away by the wind."

Xiao Qingxue pouted, "But I'm 166 cm tall, the standard weight should be 60.6 kg. I weighed myself this morning and I'm already 62 kg. Xin'er, who is as tall as me, is only... um..."

Xiao Luolan stuffed a piece of sushi into her daughter's mouth with the chopsticks.

Sometimes she really couldn't understand what young people were thinking these days. Her daughter didn't need to lose weight at all; she looked slim and graceful, not fat in the slightest! Who wouldn't trust a mother's eyes over a weighing scale? Xiao Luolan felt both annoyed and helpless about this, maybe this was the generational gap her daughter talked about?

There wasn't much sushi left, and seeing her mother about to feed her more, Xiao Qingxue hurriedly shared it with her. As for the remaining fruit box, her mother cajoled and tricked her into eating it.

Sighing, Xiao Qingxue sipped her Wangzai milk, feeling that her mother was the biggest obstacle on her dieting journey. But the sushi her mother made was so delicious, she thought, patting her belly, deciding to postpone her diet until tomorrow.

Xiao Luolan nodded in satisfaction and took a few sips of water.

The air-conditioned bus gradually emptied as it approached their destination, the Lotus Park.

Xiao Luolan got off the bus and opened her sun umbrella, calling her daughter to join her under its shade.

Hit by a wave of heat, Xiao Qingxue immediately felt thirsty again. The Wangzai milk wasn't quenching her thirst, so she took out the mineral water her mother had prepared and drank several big gulps.

Xiao Luolan brushed her daughter's long hair behind her ears, holding the cartoon bear bag, and waited until she finished drinking before asking, "Sweetie, are you still thirsty?"

"Oh, Mom, don't call me by my full name in public!" Xiao Qingxue stamped her foot, her ears turning red. She was eighteen now, and her mother still used her childhood nickname. How embarrassing it was to be heard by others.

"Alright, Qingxue," Xiao Luolan laughed, deciding not to tease her daughter any longer, "There's a milk tea shop ahead, do you want to check it out?"

"No, no, let's go straight to Lingxian Pavilion, and you can pick out a Hanfu for yourself too."

Xiao Luolan was about to refuse, thinking at thirty-eight, was it appropriate for her to wear Hanfu meant for younger people?

Xiao Qingxue added, "And then we can take a photo together in Hanfu."

Xiao Luolan was tempted, and after a while, she said, "Let's wear them together then."

Xiao Qingxue, excited, led her mother to a traditional Chinese studio near Lotus Park, the Lingxian Pavilion. The owner, a very enthusiastic young man, greeted them eagerly as they entered. The studio, having recently opened, was looking to create some stunning traditional photos for its display. The owner remembered Xiao Qingxue from her visit last month; she had left an impression, not least because of her bright and attractive appearance.

"Ah, Qingxue is here! Xia has been waiting for you for a while," the studio owner greeted them with a smile. His smile grew even wider when he saw Xiao Qingxue's mother, Xiao Luolan, behind her. He hadn't expected the girl's mother to have such a unique and graceful demeanor.

It seemed they could capture some distinctively styled traditional portraits this time.

One youthful and sweet, the other mature and elegant.

"This is my mom; we're here to take photos together," Xiao Qingxue said, holding her mother's hand, both natural and graceful.

Xiao Luolan hesitated, her steps slowing as she looked at the studio's luxurious decor, worrying about the cost... Maybe she should let Qingxue pose alone. After all, she was about to start university, and they needed to save money. But then, her daughter was so happy, and it didn't seem right to go back on her word now...

Xiao Luolan was torn and unsure.

"This must be Xiao's mother. Hello, you really don’t look like Qingxue’s mother, more like her sister," the studio owner said as he led them to a sofa and poured tea, "Please have some tea, Xiao's mother and Qingxue."

Xiao Luolan quickly thanked him, "Thank you."

"No need to thank me. You're both our esteemed guests and seniors. This is the least we can do," the owner said, sitting across from them and handing them two books, 'Ancient Hairstyles Complete Guide' and 'Ancient Clothing Strategies.'

"Xiao's mother, here’s how it works. After you both look through these books, you can choose any style you like. Once you've decided, I'll show you the costumes, and then you can head to the dressing room for hair styling. Don’t worry, our services are of assured quality. We also provide a professional photographer, and you can personally select your favorite photos after the shoot."

Xiao Qingxue smiled, "I trust you, studio owner. I've already decided on the costume and hairstyle I want, so I won’t choose again. Since you have such great taste, why don’t you help my mom decide what suits her best?"

The studio owner assessed the woman sitting opposite him.

Her hair was thick, smooth, and lustrous, appearing untouched by dye or curling, perfectly showcasing its natural color. Her eyes, soft and gentle, were complemented by delicate eyebrows. Though there were faint signs of aging around her eyes, they did not detract from her charm but rather added a mature and graceful allure. Her skin was fair, her attire modest, and she sat with impeccable posture.

Xiao Luolan felt stiff under the owner's scrutinizing gaze, unfamiliar with ancient costumes.

Almost instantly, the owner had an idea for her attire. He quickly flipped to page 37 of 'Ancient Hairstyles Complete Guide' and pointed to a hairstyle, "Xiao's mother, take a look at this 'Dropped Horse Bun.' It's a hairstyle from the Wei-Jin period in China, said to be invented by Sun Shou, the wife of Eastern Han dynasty noble Liang Ji. The bun hangs loosely to one side, as if about to fall but not quite. We'll use the evening ambiance and a floral backdrop for the shoot. This hairstyle will be perfect. What do you think?"

Xiao Luolan wasn't very familiar with ancient attire. Her parents had passed away early, and after marrying a former classmate, she found his family strongly favored males over females. Being an only child, cherished by her parents before their demise, Xiao Luolan couldn't tolerate her daughter being mistreated and promptly divorced her husband, changing her and her daughter's surname. Her ex-husband's family moved to a coastal city for work, leaving Xiao Luolan in a small town in the south.

Life post-divorce was tough, but fortunately, Xiao Luolan owned a house left by her parents and secured a job in a state-owned enterprise with her academic credentials. She raised her daughter by herself, managing to get by. However, when the economy declined and the state-owned enterprise closed, she enrolled in a government-sponsored training program for women's employment and chose baking.

With her excellent skills, she opened a small cake shop. As times changed, her shop evolved into a 'Happiness Baking Room,' transitioning from traditional egg cakes, red date cakes, and old-fashioned cream cakes to modern favorites like Instagram-style cakes, xue mei niang, egg tarts, chiffon cakes, towel rolls, meat floss buns, and fruit boxes.

She would have her daughter taste-test each new creation.

Seeing her daughter's eyes crinkle with happiness filled Xiao Luolan's heart with joy and contentment.

A few years ago, their old house was demolished for redevelopment, and they moved to a new apartment complex. Her daughter got into university. Xiao Luolan sometimes felt lost, her knowledge limited and mostly forgotten, unable to assist her daughter with her studies in an ever-changing world.

"Let me have a look."

Xiao Qingxue leaned over, approving of her mother's choice.

"Then let's go with this one," Xiao Luolan decided, not bothering to look at other options. She didn't understand much about it and just went with the chosen hairstyle.

The studio owner opened another book to page fifty-two, "Xiao's mother, your daughter has chosen a Tang Dynasty-style qi chest ruqun made of silk – cool, smooth, and brightly colored, especially suitable for young girls her age. As you are her elder and for the sake of matching on camera, I suggest you also choose Tang Dynasty attire."

Xiao Qingxue nodded in agreement, "I want to be in the same dynasty as my mom."

Xiao Luolan had no objections; this outing was for her daughter's enjoyment, and she was happy to go along with the studio owner's suggestions.

The owner adjusted his glasses and continued, "For the top, we’ll use a dark-patterned crossed-collar floral ru, a cloud-patterned half-sleeve, and a light yellow pibo scarf. Your daughter will be wearing a pipa scarf."

Xiao Luolan listened, somewhat confused, trusting the studio owner's judgment.

"We also have a Qing Luo skirt in our store, imitating a Tang Dynasty pomegranate skirt. The color of the Qing Luo skirt is not as bright as the pomegranate skirt, but it suits you very well."

"Then I'll take that one," Xiao Luolan said.

"Alright." After making her choice, the shop owner went to the back to the dressing room and whispered a few instructions to the makeup artist.

Xiao Qingxue blinked, "Mom, why not wear the pomegranate skirt? That one's color is also pretty."

Xiao Luolan pinched her daughter's cheek and scolded lightly, "I am not going to wear that."

Xiao Qingxue leaned on her mother's shoulder, knowing the reason in her heart. Her mother, who was beautiful when she was young, had once worn a red dress after her divorce. However, she faced many rumors and gossip, even attracting some hooligans to their doorstep. After the usually gentle and somewhat frail mother chased them away with a kitchen knife, she never wore conspicuously colored clothes again.

Xiao Qingxue felt a little sad; her mother always thought she was too young to remember, but she remembered everything.

Now, taking her mother out to wear ancient costumes was a small step forward.

After choosing the clothes and hairstyle, Xiao Luolan glanced at the outfit she was going to wear. Feeling it was not too ostentatious, she focused on watching her daughter get her makeup done.

Her daughter was her only treasure.

During the process, Xiao Luolan was also pulled over for makeup. Sitting in the chair, her face covered with various cosmetics, she faced a mirror. The reflection showed her looking like a different person, which felt strange to her.

"Madam Xiao, your pearl earrings are really beautiful and match your skin perfectly," the makeup artist Lili complimented, noticing the customer's stiff posture and the white, round pearls adorning her ears.

"Of course, I personally selected mom's earrings."

Xiao Qingxue, sitting nearby, chimed in.

Xiao Luolan's eyes curved involuntarily, her voice growing even softer and tinged with pride, "Yes, it was bought by my daughter. She used her New Year's money to buy it for me. I told her it wasn't necessary, but for Mother's Day, she still bought pearl earrings, a jade bracelet, flowers, and even treated me to dinner. Ah, children, there's no need to buy so many things, just having the thought is enough."

Xiao Qingxue listened to her mother's rambling with a secret smile.

Everyone present also laughed.

It seems that's how mothers are when they receive gifts: obviously thrilled, yet they try to downplay it.

After the makeup session, Xiao Luolan immediately went to see her daughter and found her even more beautiful. On her forehead was something... she recalled carefully... the makeup artist called it a 'hua dian,' which made her daughter look stunningly beautiful. She thought about taking a few photos, only to realize she had left her phone at home, much to her regret.

"Mom, you look so beautiful," Xiao Qingxue gushed, covering her face in admiration.

Xiao Luolan, a bit uneasy with so many onlookers, blushed: "Really?"

"Of course it's true, I never lie!"

Xiao Qingxue nodded emphatically.

The people around agreed.

After her makeup, this woman looked as if she was in her thirties. Already possessing a classical beauty, she now wore a 'dropped horse bun' adorned with gold and silver hairpins and touches of red and green, exuding an elegant and noble air. A peony flower was placed just so in the bun, hanging as if about to fall, adding a lazy charm to her expressive eyes and brows.

Xiao Qingxue quickly took a dozen photos of her mother with her phone, feeling content.

During a break for changing clothes, she hugged her mother like a kitten snuggling up, "Mom, I'm a true 'mommy's girl.'"

Xiao Luolan asked in confusion, "What's a 'mommy's girl'?" It was the first time she had heard the term.

"It means I'll always love mom and listen to everything she says."

Xiao Luolan laughed, her voice filled with affection: "Mom will always love you too, you're my forever baby."