Ch 60: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Looking closer, Miao Shi’s hair wasn’t just shinier—her face was also noticeably smoother and more delicate than before. Unlike Second Aunt Lian, whose face in winter would always get rough, red, itchy, and painful, almost like she had frostbite, Miao Shi had once been the same. But now, there wasn’t a trace of it!

Could it be that eating better and living more comfortably actually improved one’s hair and skin?

Second Aunt Lian ran her fingers through her own dry, frizzy hair, full of envy.

If it were anyone else, Miao Shi would have just laughed it off. But this was Second Aunt Lian—her closest friend. She couldn’t help but feel the urge to share. “Your hair is covered in dust; it’s dirty. Since we still have time, why don’t you wash it at my house? I have hot water ready,” Miao Shi said mysteriously. “Qing got me something really nice from the city. I’ll let you try it!”

In this era, especially in ordinary households, people didn’t wash their hair often, particularly in winter. Without proper heating or drying methods, and with water not being easily accessible, it was more trouble than it was worth. The wealthy could summon servants to take care of such things, but for regular folks, washing at home was not only a hassle—it was also dangerous. Catching a chill could lead to illness, and with the current state of medicine, even a minor cold could cost a person half their life.

So, during the winter, most people used fine combs to remove dust and flakes from their hair. Those with slightly better means would use hair oil or herbal-infused rinses to nourish their scalp. In the village, where hair oil was a luxury, women often boiled elm bark or Chinese cypress leaves in water as a substitute. This method was not only hygienic and effective at masking odors but also had some benefits for hair health, and the combing itself doubled as a scalp massage.

However, in the Miao household, thanks to the firewood Shen Qing had chopped earlier, they had an ample supply of kindling and scraps. The heated brick bed (kang) never went cold, and they often had a brazier burning, keeping the house toasty warm. That meant washing hair in winter wasn’t a problem. Hearing Miao Shi’s offer, Second Aunt Lian was tempted and didn’t bother with formalities. “Then I’ll take advantage of your hospitality and try this fancy thing Qing Ge’er bought.”

The so-called “fancy thing from the city” was actually shampoo, conditioner, and hair oil that Shen Qing had brought back from the apocalypse, stored in small ceramic bottles that were typically used for sesame oil. After using it a few times, Miao Shi had fallen in love with the smooth, silky feeling right after washing her hair. Though the softness didn’t last forever, it was still an improvement. Unlike the usual herbal washes, this left her scalp clean and itch-free.

Since the shampoo worked differently from the elm bark or soapberries they were used to, Miao Shi was worried Second Aunt Lian wouldn’t know how to use it. So, she had her lie down on the heated brick bed while she poured warm water from a basin on the side and washed her hair for her. Second Aunt Lian caught a whiff of a fresh fragrance and soon felt Miao Shi rubbing something into her hair, working it into a lather. “Ah, I’m really enjoying this!”

“Then you should come often! I’ll wash yours, and you can wash mine. We’ll both enjoy it.”

“Sounds great! I’m getting all the benefits of Qing Ge’er’s good purchases for free,” Second Aunt Lian joked.

Second Aunt Lian had never used shampoo before, and this first wash produced an entire basin of murky, gray water. She was shocked. “Was my hair really this dirty?”

“The first time I used it, it was the same. It gets better after that. This makes your scalp feel so fresh!” Miao Shi reassured her while applying conditioner. “Let it sit for a bit, then go near the fire to warm up while I change the water.”

So, when Shen Qing woke up and stepped out of his room, he found Miao Shi and Second Aunt Lian sitting near the brazier, happily drying their hair while applying oil to it. Miao Shi had even brought out her skincare products—SOD cream and other lotions stored in ceramic bottles—and was explaining their uses to Second Aunt Lian. “I always apply two layers. This thin one is moisturizing—it keeps my skin from getting dry and itchy. This thicker one helps against the cold. Put it on, and your face won’t feel frozen!”

“Really? Let me try! My face has been itching like crazy these days.”

“Aren’t we supposed to be heading to Shiqu Village today?” Shen Qing glanced at the sky. It was already nearing noon, but these two were still sitting around, chatting enthusiastically.

“It’s not like it’s anything urgent. We can go a little later,” Second Aunt Lian said dismissively. If it got too late, she could just stay overnight at her mother’s house. “Qing Ge’er, where did you buy this? Is it expensive? Next time you go to the county, can you get some for me too?”

“I got it from a traveling merchant—one of those who wander from town to town. It wasn’t from a store,” Shen Qing said vaguely, neither confirming nor outright refusing. “He said it was rare stock from out of town, and it could sell out at any time. It did seem unusual, so I bought some while I could. About a hundred wen per bottle. I’ll see if I can find him again next time.”

“A hundred wen? Forget it.” Second Aunt Lian waved her hand. No wonder it worked so well—the price spoke for itself. No wonder she had never seen anything like it before. Even the rouge shops in the county didn’t sell products like this. She sighed, “Things from outside are always better. This must have come from the provincial capital.”

“If you like it, just come over and use it. I bought plenty for my mother,” Shen Qing said generously. He wasn’t worried about letting Second Aunt Lian use some of the items from the apocalypse, nor was he afraid of being questioned about their origins. The more he experienced, the more he realized that the world was vast, and there was always an explanation for everything. If someone asked, he could simply say it was imported from a distant city, brought by a traveling merchant, or even shipped from overseas. Who would go to the trouble of verifying such claims?

The more knowledge he gained, the more Shen Qing felt at ease.

His gaze fell on Second Aunt Lian, who was rubbing SOD cream on her face, and he suddenly had an idea. He excused himself, returned to his room, and retrieved an old piece of oil paper that had once wrapped pastries. He also pulled out some empty SOD cream jars and the lotion bottle labeled with the character “white.” Using a half-burnt charcoal stick from the brazier, he clumsily traced the characters from the bottles onto the paper.

A long time passed before Miao Shi’s voice called from outside. Shen Qing carefully folded the oil paper and tucked it into his robe. He also went to the kitchen and grabbed a few sections of cured sausage, placing them in a basket.

By now, Miao Shi and Second Aunt Lian had finished getting ready. Their hair was styled into neat buns, pinned with wooden hairpins, and each had tied a headscarf around her head—not only to block the wind but also to keep their freshly washed hair clean. In the countryside, this was a common practice. They had used particularly vibrant fabric, and Shen Qing recognized it—it was repurposed from old curtains.

“Let’s go!” Second Aunt Lian said cheerfully.

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Upon arriving at Shiqu Village, Shen Qing and Miao Shi parted ways with Second Aunt Lian at the entrance, each heading to their respective family homes.

The Miao family had a great year! With the pig that Shen Qing had gifted them, they had enough meat to last through the New Year. Miao Xing and Miao Wang had even sold the pig’s head for some extra silver, and they had sold portions of the meat to fellow villagers. The money they earned was just enough to cover the wedding and house construction costs for Miao Ren. Once the New Year was over, they could start building!

At the sight of Shen Qing and Miao Shi, the Miao family was nothing but welcoming! They eagerly invited them into the main room, sitting down warmly to chat with Old Lady Miao. This time, Miao Shi hadn’t brought pork but instead brought several packs of preserved pastries, all easy to chew and digest for the elderly. She also brought along two pieces of fabric, which immediately became the center of attention as the whole family gathered around to admire them.

Shen Qing sat for a short while before saying, “I’m going to step out for a bit and visit Tongsheng Miao’s house. Last time, he helped us out in Lantang Village, and I haven’t had the chance to properly thank him yet.”

“Oh, there’s no need to be so formal with him! When we got back from Lantang Village, my brother and I already treated them to a big feast—consider that a thank-you. We’re from the same village; today he helps me, tomorrow I help him—no need for all the formalities,” Miao Wang said. But after a moment of thought, his tone shifted. “But if you want to go, then go. He’s your elder, so it’s good to pay a visit.”

Shen Qing found it a bit strange—why had his uncle changed his stance within just one sentence? Still, he picked up the basket of sausages and called out to the room, “I’ll be back soon.”

As soon as Shen Qing stepped out, Miao Wang immediately ushered the younger children outside to play. Xue Niang and Qiao Niang hesitated, their eyes lingering on the packages of pastries, unwilling to leave. But Miao Wang stuffed a piece of cake into their hands and firmly pushed them out the door. Once only the older generation and Old Lady Miao remained, he finally turned to Miao Shi and asked, “What’s the deal with the Wang family from Xiaoji Village? Why are they spreading rumors about Qing Ge’er’s marriage?”

“It’s even reached our village?” Miao Shi was furious just thinking about it. The mention of the Wang family filled her with frustration. She recounted the entire incident to her family. “Honestly, even if we were looking for a husband to marry into our family, who dares to ask for ten taels of silver? That old woman thought we were easy to bully and tried to pressure us into agreeing. And besides, Qing Ge’er didn’t even like the boy! Does she think her son is some kind of golden phoenix egg, waiting for someone to fall in love with him at first sight?”

“When we refused, that old hag outright threatened us, saying she’d ruin Qing Ge’er’s reputation everywhere unless we agreed to pay up. How is that any different from a bandit?” Miao Shi sneered. “As if we should be grateful she’s not just outright robbing us of ten taels and dumping her son on our doorstep.”

“So that’s what happened,” Liu Yue’e said with a frown. “No wonder. I was thinking, Qing Ge’er has always been a strong-willed child, but he’s never been unreasonable. How could he have scolded someone for no reason? The things being said outside were awful, but thankfully, our village sticks together. We don’t let outsiders stir up trouble, so the rumors didn’t spread too far.”

While people in the village loved gossip, most of them were still kind-hearted and made sure to inform the Miao family about what was being said.

Miao Shi sighed in frustration. Running into people this shameless was nothing but infuriating. But what could she do—storm into Xiaoji Village and beat up that old hag? “Forget it. Qing Ge’er already said he doesn’t plan on looking for a spouse this year. By next year, I’m sure people will have forgotten about this nonsense.”

Miao Wang suddenly clamped his mouth shut. He smacked his lips a few times, hesitating, before finally speaking up. “Qing Ge’er isn’t planning to look for a partner this year? Why? Is something bothering him? I was just thinking… maybe he and Xiao Yu could be a good match. That way, you could move back home too—it’d be perfect.”

Before Miao Shi could react, Li Yanzi, who had been silent up to this point, shot her husband a glare and secretly pinched his arm hard.

Miao Shi nearly choked on her own tea, almost spraying it onto her mother. “What?!”

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