Chapter 93: Eyes Convey a Wealth of Information

“You must be the newcomers?”

“How do you find our Family Compound here? Are you settling in alright?”

Hearing the voice from behind, Shen Yi’an and Chen Rongying turned around simultaneously.

What met their eyes was an auntie sporting a fashionable head of short permed curls.

These weren’t the loose waves popular among younger people, but tight wool-like curls.

The style suited her age perfectly.

After a moment of appreciation, Chen Rongying was the first to respond.

“We just arrived yesterday, and so far it seems quite nice.”

“As for whether we’re adjusting well, that’ll depend on how we feel later on.”

“But the overall environment of the Family Compound is truly excellent, with abundant greenery and complete recreational facilities.”

“Living in such surroundings must be wonderful – just looking at your vibrant appearance tells us the experience must be pleasant.”

The fashionable auntie didn’t quite understand what “experience” meant exactly.

But hearing the compliment directed at her, the polite smile on her face visibly deepened with newly formed wrinkles.

“You young comrades certainly know how to talk! Auntie likes straightforward young people like you.”

“Not like those gossipy women.”

“Always chattering about this family and that, never worrying their tongues might rot from spreading rumors about others.”

As she spoke, she didn’t forget to glare at a group of people gathered nearby chatting idly.

After withdrawing her gaze, she lifted her hands to fluff her curly hair.

“So, how do you like Auntie’s perm?”

“I noticed earlier – you both seemed quite taken with my hairstyle.”

Seeing Shen Yi’an and Chen Rongying’s awkward smiles, she waved her hand dismissively.

“Never mind, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“Isn’t that what new hairstyles are for – to be seen by others?”

After saying this, she continued without pause.

“This kind of perm is all the rage outside now – nine out of ten people you meet on the street have this style.”

“Don’t think just because Auntie’s getting older that I’ll act my age.”

“I absolutely must catch this last fashionable trend before I close my eyes for good.”

“Oh, and the hairdresser told me this is called a ‘puffball’ style. If you like it, you should try it too.”

To this suggestion, Shen Yi’an and Chen Rongying simultaneously shook their heads in polite refusal.

The wool-like curls were indeed fashionable and attractive, but this hairstyle was particular about who could carry it off.

People with round faces could use medium-length wool curls to elongate their face shape and soften roundness.

Those with square faces could opt for short wool curls to nicely soften their jawline.

But both of them had rather slender faces with small bone structures, making their faces appear even smaller.

Short wool curls would make them look older, while medium-length ones would make their facial features get lost in the hairstyle.

Besides, they were both mothers, or soon to be married.

If they dressed too flamboyantly, someone would inevitably accuse them of being too flashy behind their backs.

They could choose not to care and ignore others’ opinions.

But they weren’t living alone – they had to consider their families too.

Therefore, no matter what, this suggestion wasn’t something they could take up.

Seeing how decisively they refused, the fashionable auntie didn’t push the recommendation.

After all, the hair salon didn’t give her commissions – no point doing business that brought no benefit.

But she couldn’t resist boasting a little.

“You have no idea.”

“Many people in the Family Compound envy my hairstyle – they’ve asked me about it several times privately.”

“But I’m not a stingy person, so I told them where the salon is located.”

“As for how it turns out after the perm, I can’t guarantee the result.”

Faced with such a naturally sociable and enthusiastic auntie, both Shen Yi’an and Chen Rongying quite liked her.

As long as she wasn’t here to pick a fight, they were more than willing to chat.

So, Shen Yi’an smilingly picked up the conversation, “Auntie, your temperament really suits this hairstyle perfectly.”

“Not only does it make you look younger, but your every gesture exudes elegance.”

“It reminds me of a saying: ‘Time never defeats a true beauty.'”

After saying this, she glanced at Chen Rongying, “Sister Rongying, what do you think?”

Hearing this, Chen Rongying also nodded with a smile, “Just as you said—elegant and full of personality.”

Faced with their alternating praise, the fashionable auntie immediately grinned from ear to ear.

“It’s not as good as you say, you’re flattering me too much!”

“No wonder my left eyelid kept twitching when I went out today—it was because I was going to meet you.”

After saying this with a laugh, she immediately pulled a handful of sunflower seeds from her coat pocket.

“Here, have some sunflower seeds!”

“I roasted these at home myself. The more you chew, the more fragrant they get—you just can’t stop.”

“Hurry up and eat them. If you finish, I’ll go home and get more.”

With the seeds shoved into their hands, Shen Yi’an and Chen Rongying had no choice but to accept them with a smile.

But in these times, supplies were precious, let alone roasted sunflower seeds.

Not wanting to accept others’ kindness for nothing, Shen Yi’an took out three pieces of White Rabbit Creamy Candy she had brought when going out and handed them over, “Auntie, here are some candies to sweeten your mouth.”

“I originally brought them for my niece and nephew, but consider this my small gesture.”

The fashionable auntie didn’t stand on ceremony, but as she took the candy, she remarked,

“Oh, this creamy candy has a red bean flavor?”

“I always thought it only came in milk flavor.”

Hearing her surprise, Shen Yi’an explained with a smile, “White Rabbit Creamy Candy is just the general name, and milk flavor was only the original one.”

“Now that society has progressed, naturally more new flavors have been developed.”

“Besides the red bean flavor you have, there are also coconut milk, coffee, chocolate, and many other flavors.”

Hearing for the first time that White Rabbit Creamy Candy had so many flavors, the fashionable auntie kept nodding, feeling like she’d learned something new.

Seeing the atmosphere among the three gradually grow harmonious,

she looked around and, finding nothing unusual, lowered her voice to ask curiously,

“I heard you’re here to see Captain Li?”

“So, didn’t get to meet him, right?”

Hearing this, the smiles on Shen Yi’an and Chen Rongying’s faces faded slightly.

They had thought she was just a curious auntie who came over to chat—was she actually here with another purpose?

Noticing the change in their expressions, the fashionable auntie quickly figured out the reason after a moment’s thought.

Not wanting to ruin their newly formed rapport, she hurriedly explained,

“Don’t misunderstand, I really don’t have any ulterior motives!”

As she spoke, she pointed toward the group of aunties chatting together not far away.

“I originally intended to go over there and chat with some acquaintances, but when I got closer, I heard they were still discussing yesterday’s matter.”

“What’s there to discuss about it?”

“Captain Li isn’t their son or nephew—whether he’s visiting relatives or matchmaking, what’s it to them?”

“Those gossips have been going on since yesterday. I went over to listen for a bit and found it utterly boring, so I came over to chat with you instead.”

After explaining why she had approached them, she quickly added,

“Well, anyway…”

“If you think my question was inappropriate, then I won’t ask such things again.”

“I don’t want to ruin things because of my big mouth.”

After saying this, she even slapped her own face twice—the sharp “smacking” sounds clearly showing it wasn’t just for show.

Witnessing this series of actions they couldn’t stop in time, Shen Yi’an and Chen Rongying knew she was telling the truth.

Though there’s an idiom about “old foxes,” it clearly didn’t match this fashionable auntie before them.

Sometimes, people’s eyes truly convey a wealth of information.

Having reached this conclusion, the two exchanged a glance and smiled.

So not everyone who approaches strangers has ulterior motives.

Thinking this, Chen Rongying was the first to stop the fashionable auntie from continuing to slap herself.

“Auntie, please don’t do that.”

“If others saw this, they’d think we were bullying you.”

Seeing the fashionable auntie had stopped, she quickly added an explanation.

“We didn’t mean anything by it.”

“We were just curious about the questions you asked, that’s all.”

“We only arrived yesterday, but from what you said, you already knew about us yesterday?”

Though she’d already heard some things when passing by the square this morning, she couldn’t reveal that now.

After all, this auntie clearly meant no harm.

If it were someone with ulterior motives, she’d have slapped them long ago.

Hearing her question, the fashionable auntie thought they were giving her an easy way out.

Accepting their kindness, she immediately provided an answer.

“If you’re asking about that, I actually do know.”

“Well, when you checked into the guesthouse yesterday, didn’t you pass by the community square? I happened to be there too.”

“Some impatient people directly stopped Comrade Wang—oh, that’s the sentry who showed you the way yesterday—to ask about you.”

Speaking of yesterday afternoon’s commotion, her eyes showed clear disdain.

“Comrade Wang is a soldier—he can’t gossip like some chatterbox.”

“But with so many people crowding around, he briefly explained your purpose here before seizing the chance to slip away.”

“Normally such news would’ve died down after a night’s sleep, but then Political Commissar Liang’s wife’s niece ran out of the guesthouse with reddened eyes.”

“That’s when things got complicated…”

As the fashionable auntie explained, Shen Yi’an and Chen Rongying gained a clearer understanding of what had happened.