Chapter 24: It’s Not Easy Being a Woman in This Lifetime

Lan Mo finished taking advantage of her friends, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and drank a bowl of Spirit Rice Porridge.

After quietly waiting for over ten minutes and finding that her body was no longer expelling dark, greasy filth, she left the space with relief.

As soon as Lan Mo stepped out of her room, Ye Zhen grabbed her hand and exclaimed, “Momo, did you take some immortal elixir last night? How come after just one night’s sleep, your skin looks even more dewy and tender than Xiao Li’er’s? Come, let your sister-in-law give it a little pinch.”

Lan Mo smiled and obediently leaned her face forward. Ye Zhen gave it a gentle pinch.

“Wow, so smooth! So soft! Momo, the fragrance on you smells so nice—sweet and fragrant, and it doesn’t seem like the soap we use at home!”

How could she say that she had used fruity-scented body wash and floral-scented shampoo in the space yesterday?

Lan Mo smiled and changed the subject. “Elder Sister-in-law, you smell lovely too. This must be the white jade orchid scent that Elder Brother likes, right?”

“Oh, Momo, how is your nose so sharp? Your brother just bought me a box of white jade orchid powder yesterday after getting his salary.”

Lan Mo chuckled and said, “Elder Sister-in-law, Elder Brother treats you so well!”

Just then, Lan Yuanzhi walked over and gently pinched Lan Mo’s cheek. “You little ingrate, doesn’t your elder brother treat you well too?”

“Of course you do! You’re the best elder brother in the world!”

“That’s more like it! Just wait, next month when I get my salary, I’ll buy you a box of fragrant powder too. Do you want osmanthus or jasmine scent?”

“Brother, you should save your salary. I have my own income.”

She didn’t really like using fragrant powder anyway. Last time on her birthday, it seemed like a beauty livestream host had gifted her several bottles of perfume, along with some makeup and skincare sets.

“Brother, could you help Mom bring out breakfast? Elder Sister-in-law, could you help me cut my hair now?”

Her sister-in-law was very skilled—not only could she make clothes, but she also knew how to cut hair. Ever since she married Elder Brother, Grandmother hadn’t needed to go out to get her hair cut.

Ye Zhen asked, “Momo, are you planning to cut your hair short? I really envy your raven-black hair—it looks as if it’s been dyed with ink.”

“It’s just too long and inconvenient to wash and style. Every morning, just braiding it wastes a lot of time.”

“How short do you want it?”

“Not too short. With my face shape, cutting it too short probably wouldn’t look good. Just to the shoulder blades is fine, and I’d like to get straight bangs too.”

Ye Zhen checked the time. It wasn’t even 6:30 yet, so cutting her hair before breakfast should still be manageable.

“Alright, come with me to my room.”

Lan Mo followed Ye Zhen back to her room to get her hair cut. Meanwhile, Su Mei and Lan Yuanzhi brought breakfast to the table. “Yuanzhi, where are your sister and your wife?”

“My sister asked my wife to help cut her hair. Ah, why would she want to cut off such long hair? It feels like such a waste.”

“I never expected you, of all people, to prefer girls with long hair. Zhenzhen has always kept her hair in a Hu Lan cut, and I’ve never heard you complain about it.”

“My wife has a slightly round face. The Hu Lan cut looks cute and neat on her. My sister has a small face, so long hair suits her better.”

Was it that he didn’t want his wife to have long hair? It was just that his wife herself didn’t like keeping it long, saying she didn’t have that much time to style it every morning.

Su Mei said with a proud expression, “Our Momo is naturally beautiful, with hair as dark as ink. She looks good whether she keeps it long or short. Even if she cut it into a short style like you young men, she’d still look better than you.”

Lan Yuanzhi looked at her with a resentful gaze. “Mom, that’s a personal attack. Your son isn’t bad-looking either.”

Lan Jingtian added with a smile, “Well, you’re not bad-looking, but you’re nowhere near as good-looking as our Momo.”

“Dad, do you think Momo is the prettiest in the world?”

“Of course!”

Lan Yuanzhi’s eyes shifted, and he said with a grin, “Mom, look at Dad. He’s implying that you’re not as pretty as Younger Sister.”

“You little rascal, itching for a beating, aren’t you? When did I ever say your mom isn’t as pretty as Momo? Momo is a shining little star in the sky, and your mom is the bright, clear moon.”

Su Mei smiled as she served Lan Jingtian a bowl of plain congee, chiding him gently, “You’re a grown man, yet you still bicker with your son.”

Lan Yuanzhi asked, “Dad, then what are my brother and I in your heart?”

Lan Jingtian glanced at Lan Zhiyuan, pursed his lips, and said with a look of disdain, “Eggs left out in the summer sun.”

“Dad, what do you mean by that?”

Just then, Lan Mo walked over, holding back a laugh, and softly uttered two words: “Rotten eggs…”

“Dad, you actually called my brother and me rotten eggs? What’s so rotten about us?”

“Aren’t you rotten? You just tried to stir up trouble and ruin the relationship between your mom and me. Oh, my dear Momo, this haircut looks so good on you, even prettier than a calendar girl. Come, sit down quickly. Look, Dad bought your favorite soup dumplings today.”

“Thank you, Dad!”

Xiao Li suddenly spoke up, “Grandfather, I like soup dumplings just like Auntie.”

Lan Mo picked up a soup dumpling for her little nephew. “If you like them, eat more!”

Su Mei stopped her, saying, “Momo, this little rascal already ate one earlier. Don’t spoil him.”

“Mom, Xiao Li is at an age where he’s growing. Eating more will help him grow faster…”

“…”

As soon as Lan Mo returned to the office, she noticed everyone staring at her. What was going on? Did she have something on her face?

Director Qin said with a smile, “Comrade Xiao Lan, with this haircut, you look like a middle school student. Your skin is so fair and rosy, just like my three-year-old granddaughter’s. Tell me honestly, have you taken some youth-restoring pills? If you have, recommend them to me. I’ll buy some for my wife too. Nowadays, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes could trap flies.”

Doctor Deng suppressed a laugh and said, “Director, your wife is over fifty. Isn’t it normal for her to have wrinkles? My wife just turned fifty this year, and her forehead wrinkles could trap a whole row of flies.”

Doctor Xu, who was nearby, burst into laughter. “You’re all fly-catching experts! But my wife is even more impressive—her belly skin is starting to crack walnuts.”

A bunch of grown men, is it really okay to make fun of their wives like this? Everyone ages eventually, but women do tend to age faster than men.

“Comrade Xiao Lan, don’t look at us like that! We’re just joking. Don’t take it the wrong way!”

Director Qin then sighed and said, “My wife raised several children and worked hard her whole life, so it’s no wonder she’s aged. In a few more years, when I retire, I’ll take her out to travel and see the beautiful landscapes of our country.”

Doctor Deng continued, “My wife can’t bear to spend that kind of money. Seeing how hard she’s worked for most of her life, I took her to the State-run Restaurant for a meal, and she nagged about it for ages.”

Yes, so what is it all for, a woman’s lifetime of frugality and saving?

Those without jobs stay home to raise children, then grandchildren, taking care of their husbands their whole lives. Those with jobs, besides working, still have to come home and look after the entire family, young and old. In the end, they gain nothing, yet their bellies and faces are covered in wrinkles.

Ah, a woman’s life is truly not easy!

Lan Mo spoke up to remind, “Director Qin, it’s almost eight o’clock. We need to go on rounds.”

“Let’s go, time for rounds!”