The reason for running both businesses was primarily that she had focused on these in the small town, and she didn't want to arouse suspicion upon arriving in the county seat.
After coming here, she conducted research on people's makeup. She didn't want to change everyone's aesthetic preferences but aimed to make minor adjustments based on the existing foundation.
Thus, she found several women to act as models on the street. Women, after all, love beauty. Although Wu Caiwei's philosophy differed from what they were accustomed to, they were still willing to try, especially since their complexions appeared much better.
In the beginning, they didn't pay much attention. Who knew that after using them for a while, they felt the products were better than the powders and rouges they had used before? Moreover, with prolonged use, their skin also improved. Gradually, Wu Caiwei's shop gained fame.
This day, Liu Wenwen finally managed to get out. After all, she had been taking care of Li Zixin in the mansion for so many days that she was almost developing depression. Ever since he became a cripple, he had been moody and unpredictable. Sometimes, with a perfectly normal remark, he would look at her with murderous eyes. Liu Wenwen couldn't understand where she had gone wrong and quickly apologized, almost kneeling to kowtow to him, before finally earning his forgiveness.
Not only was life not going smoothly in her own small courtyard, but her grandfather and grandmother, seeing that Changqing had lost his value, seemed to have forgotten them. Even though Liu Wenwen went to pay her respects every day without fail, she could still see contempt in their eyes. Without a doubt, she knew that since the elders saw she had no more use, they had started to disdain her background and her family.
As for the main courtyard, there was no need to mention it. Forget about paying respects; even when she encountered Wu Lian'er on normal days, the latter never paid her any attention. Even the servants in the mansion, who were adept at fawning over others, began to mistreat them.
This time, she heard from the maids in the mansion that a cosmetic shop had opened in town, and its effects were excellent. Those who had used its products looked several years younger. Thinking about how she had been in a bad mood for so long and hadn't taken proper care of herself, she felt a stir of interest.
As soon as she alighted from the carriage, she saw a small, unremarkable shop, and she couldn't help but frown, feeling it was a bit beneath her. After all, ever since marrying into the Li family, she had only patronized the largest and most luxurious shops in the county. This was the first time she had visited such a place. However, since everyone said the products were good, she decided to give it a try.
As soon as she entered the shop, she saw a woman organizing powders and rouges on a shelf. Liu Wenwen began to look around, while her personal maid haughtily said, "Boss, bring out your best powders and rouges for our young madam to choose from."
Wu Caiwei quickly turned her head. Upon seeing the person, she calmly said, "No need. I don't welcome you here, and I won't sell to you."
Only then did Liu Wenwen turn her head and see the face of her former mother-in-law. She was somewhat surprised. "This shop belongs to you?"
"Otherwise? Did you think I would live a more miserable life after you two left?" Wu Caiwei was avenging the original owner and was not here to be insulted. The couple had wronged the original owner so terribly that she didn't want to show them any pleasantries.
"I didn't mean it that way, I was just curious. Where did you get so much money?" Although she hadn't been shopping around, she had heard people say that this boss had another shop in the county. She truly hadn't expected the boss to be her. If she had known earlier, she would have tried to trick some of her money out back then.
"Who are you to me? Why should I tell you? Oh, and don't even think about my money. I've remarried." Wu Caiwei warned directly. She knew that both husband and wife were not good people and would definitely come looking for trouble, but she wasn't afraid.
Liu Wenwen's eyes rolled around. After a moment, she began to play the victim. "No matter what, your husband is your only son. Don't you miss him? Your husband's father has taken a new concubine and clearly wants to have sons. It's still somewhat bearable before a son is born, but once a son is born, our status in the mansion will become awkward. Don't you feel distressed?"
Wu Caiwei retorted impatiently, "Distressed about what? You all wanted my life, and I should feel distressed about you? Besides, it's possible that before long, I will have my own child. Even if not, I will adopt one or bring one in. How can you be so audacious? Do you think I can't live without you?"
The moment Liu Wenwen heard her first sentence, she abruptly raised her head. She thought that her mother had been so calm that day and knew nothing. It turned out she knew everything. She quickly defended herself, "What do you mean by that, Mother? When did we ever want your life?"
Wu Caiwei waved her hand as if swatting away flies. "Stop telling me all this nonsense. If you don't want others to know, don't do it in the first place. Don't treat people like fools."
"I don't know where Mother heard these rumors. I only know that my husband misses you dearly and mentions you often. Please take care of him more when you have time." Without giving Wu Caiwei a chance to retort, she turned and left.
Wu Caiwei snorted coldly and didn't take this minor incident to heart. However, Liu Wenwen, who was already in the carriage, was unwilling to let it go. Thinking about the money in her hands, her heart began to itch.
Although she had been somewhat intimidated by Li Zixin recently, she hurried home and told him her discovery. Li Zixin's focus was different. "She already knew about our actions?"
Liu Wenwen blinked, surprised. Weren't they talking about money? How did it turn to this? She quickly nodded, "It should be so, otherwise why would she say that to me? Besides, you know how much she used to dote on you. For her to let us recognize our ancestors so calmly, and for her to remarry right after we left the Wang family, and not even visit you after so long, it's clear she discovered something was wrong long ago."
Li Zixin's expression became even more distorted. He looked at her gloomily, "You mean, was she deliberately watching when I was hit back then?"
Liu Wenwen stared at him, dumbfounded. She didn't know why he would think that, but the more Li Zixin thought about it, the more he felt it was true. He repeatedly recalled every detail of the day of the accident. When the carriage had crashed, his mother had tightly grabbed his hand, preventing him from leaving. If he hadn't been able to shake her off, he wouldn't have ended up in this state.
Liu Wenwen kept chattering in his ear, but he didn't hear a word. His heart was filled with hatred. He clenched his fists, vowing that this revenge must be taken.
Seeing that he hadn't reacted after she had spoken for a long time, Liu Wenwen quickly nudged him. "Where on earth did she get so much money? She's too cunning. Hiding so much from us for so many years, and we didn't hear a peep. You are her only son now, and that might change in the future. Are those funds going to be given away for nothing to others?"
Li Zixin finally came to his senses. "What do you want to do?"
"We need you to take action. After all, you are her only son. What am I in her eyes?" Although Liu Wenwen really wanted the money, she didn't want to act herself. Firstly, she was her husband's mother, and if he ever had a change of heart and regretted it, she would be the first to be blamed. Secondly, if she did something irreversible and she found out, she would sue her, and what would she do? But Li Zixin was her son, and she would definitely show him leniency.