Chapter 62: Trans-dimensional Second-hand Trading Device (18)

Although there were many people who joined the discussion and made sarcastic remarks without having used the product, those who had actually used it generally had nothing but praise. No one reported any allergies or adverse reactions. While their comments and discussions might not influence a vast number of online users, they had a significant impact on acquaintances, especially those they met regularly. Anyone seeing a noticeable improvement in someone's skin would naturally inquire. Furthermore, it wasn't a secret to be ashamed of. Coupled with personal recommendations and proven results, it was easy to attract new customers. For those who had been using affordable products with good results and had sufficient funds for skincare, trust in the brand led many to tentatively purchase some of the more expensive new products. After using them, most abandoned their old affordable products, switching entirely to the new ones or repurposing the cheaper products for their hands or other areas. For most people, using a product worth hundreds of dollars as a body lotion might feel wasteful, but using a product costing tens of dollars felt perfectly acceptable. As for the specific effects, they were certainly present. Setting aside whether it nourished the entire body when used as a lotion, even using the face cream as a scalp massage oil could nourish the scalp, inhibit hair loss, and even promote hair follicle regeneration. This was because Mermaid's Tear offered comprehensive nourishment. However, after years of marketing similar to snake oil salesmen and charlatans, "all-in-one" products were now associated with fake medicine and deception. Therefore, Ding Yun couldn't directly claim that face cream could treat hair loss. She planned to develop a dedicated hair loss product later to appear more professional. As her products gained popularity and sales increased, Ding Yun became increasingly busy, to the point where she had little time to go home or spend with her children recently. Fortunately, Ding Yun soon had a realization. She began hiring more staff and purchasing equipment to build her own skincare production factory, aiming to free herself from her demanding schedule. Once her own factory was fully operational, Ding Yun hired a general manager for the company, who took full charge of its operations. She retained control over the formulas and the supply of core raw materials. This finally allowed her to escape her previous hectic state, resume her role of caring for and educating her children, and begin house hunting frequently. Her focus wasn't primarily on houses, but on school districts. She looked for areas with good kindergartens, as well as reputable primary and secondary schools. If possible, Ding Yun didn't want to move after kindergarten, again after primary school, and yet again after secondary school. There was no need to emulate Mencius's mother's three moves. Frequent relocation was detrimental to a child's ability to make friends. However, finding school district housing, especially good ones, was extremely difficult. Generally, they weren't available on the market. They only appeared when a cohort of students graduated and moved to other cities or further studies, no longer requiring the local school district. At such times, a limited number of properties became available, and they were highly sought after, making them quite challenging to acquire. Fortunately, hard work paid off. More than half a year later, when Ding Yun's Mermaid's Tear brand had already launched a high-end luxury face cream, she finally managed to purchase a decent school district property for over thirteen million yuan. She then successfully completed the child's residency registration and school enrollment procedures. In a few more months, when the child would be turning five (by the traditional Chinese reckoning), she would be eligible to enroll directly. After attending the nursery and kindergarten classes, at the age of seven (by traditional reckoning) and six (by actual age), she would start primary school, which was perfect timing. Once these matters were settled and the child's enrollment was secured, Ding Yun felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders. However, she didn't remain idle during the remaining half-year before school started. She consistently took her child to various amusement parks and indoor children's play areas. This was both to allow her a relaxed period before starting school and to encourage her to interact with other children her age. This would prevent her from becoming timid or scared when she finally encountered so many peers in school. As for the specific effects, they were certainly present. A child's early years are a crucial period for habit and personality development. If these habits and personality traits formed later need to be changed, it would either fail or require significant time and effort. Therefore, Ding Yun's encouragement for her to play more and interact with children her age was indeed helping her develop a more cheerful personality. Moreover, she made a few talkative friends, which in turn made her more talkative. The only downside was that with increased talkativeness came an increase in questions, often whimsical ones that even stumped Ding Yun. For example, why didn't Snow White report her abuse? Was the Frog Prince a frog demon? Why didn't Big Bad Wolf buy lamb online? Were the dwarves short because they didn't drink high-calcium milk? And why couldn't she transform into a magical girl? It was at this point that Ding Yun understood why parents sometimes gave perfunctory answers to their children; it was often the only way they could find. How could they answer these questions? Should they answer seriously or whimsically? A serious answer would require extensive explanation and could shatter a child's innocent fantasy. A whimsical answer would be outright fabrication and deception. Therefore, they could only offer vague responses or avoid the topic, assuming the child would understand when they grew older and stop asking. However, despite the various challenges in raising a child, the overall situation was within acceptable limits. And with the anticipation that school would start soon, bringing an easier life, her mood brightened, and time passed quickly. Before long, it was September, the start of the school year. Since Ding Yun had informed her daughter about starting school six months in advance and had previously introduced her to children of the same age in their complex and neighboring ones, allowing them to interact, her kindergarten experience was relatively smooth. There were no tears or reluctance to leave her parents. Thus, Ding Yun returned with peace of mind, gaining more time for herself to pursue her own interests. This included inspecting the company, reviewing its financial statements, and understanding its future plans. It also involved more communication with Xiao Zhu Lingyun to understand her situation. It also meant making more use of the time-traveling second-hand trading device. Furthermore, it involved contemplating how to deal with the Zhou family.