Lu Xiao held the herbal sachet and sniffed it again. The scent was really nice.
It cleared his sinuses and made the air feel fresher.
Seeing Lu Xiao sniffing it like a big puppy, Su Tang smiled and nodded.
"I want to trade these herbal sachets for things with everyone in the family compound."
"It's also a way to get closer to them. That way, if Hu Lili tries to bully me again, someone might help me, right?"
Lu Xiao thought Su Tang's idea was a good one. There were some things he couldn't help her with.
Since everyone had a negative opinion of Su Tang, it was up to her to find a way to bridge the gap.
Besides, Lu Xiao felt the things she made were exactly what everyone needed.
They were sure to win everyone over.
The next day, Su Tang took the herbal sachets she had made and began visiting her neighbors in the family compound, one by one.
She first went to Aunt Wang's home. Aunt Wang was one of the long-time residents of the family compound. She was a warm person and was relatively friendly toward Su Tang.
Aunt Wang's husband had died in battle, and with no family left in her hometown and her son now stationed in the Northwest, she had stayed on in the family compound.
It was worth noting that Aunt Wang was also from Shanghai, so she and Su Tang were from the same hometown.
"Aunt Wang, hello. I'm Su Tang, Lu Xiao's wife."
After smiling and introducing herself, Su Tang handed over the herbal sachet.
"I made some herbal sachets for soothing the throat and moisturizing the skin. Would you like to try one?"
Aunt Wang looked at Su Tang, took the sachet, and sniffed it. A slight smile appeared on her face.
"This scent... it's exactly the same as the ones I used to smell back in Shanghai."
"My throat always gets sore in the winter. This is just what I need. Thank you so much."
Aunt Wang's receptiveness was a relief to Su Tang.
It was a good start not to have the door slammed in her face.
"You're welcome, Aunt Wang. If you find it useful, please tell the others. I'd like to trade these for things like fabric, grain, or what have you."
Aunt Wang nodded, looking Su Tang up and down. "I'll tell everyone, but you should prepare yourself."
Su Tang understood what Aunt Wang meant. Not everyone would be as welcoming as she was.
So she couldn't get her hopes up too high.
Su Tang nodded, thanked Aunt Wang, and went next door to Sister Li's home.
Sister Li was a rather picky person and was somewhat hostile toward Su Tang. She was also on good terms with Hu Lili.
'If I can win over Sister Li, Hu Lili will have one less ally.'
"Sister Li, hello. I'm Su Tang."
Su Tang offered a sachet with a smile. "This is an herbal sachet I made. Would you like to try it?"
Sister Li glanced at it disdainfully, not even reaching out to take it. "An herbal sachet? Who knows if it's any good. It's probably a scam."
Su Tang didn't get angry. Instead, she explained patiently, "Sister Li, these sachets are made from traditional medicinal herbs. They're good for your throat and skin."
"If you're worried, you can just try it first. If you don't think it works, you can give it back to me."
After saying this, Su Tang added, "Your face is getting chapped from the wind. If it keeps up, your skin could be ruined."
She said it with such conviction that Sister Li hesitated for a moment before finally taking the sachet.
"All right, then. I'll try it."
Su Tang knew that someone like Sister Li needed to be convinced by actual results.
But Su Tang was confident in her products. The medicinal herbs from this era were very potent.
The effects would be noticeable within a few days.
She then visited a few more families. Some were welcoming, others were cold, but Su Tang treated each of them with patience.
After making a round of the family compound, she had at least introduced herself to everyone.
The herbal sachets she had made with Zhang Cui the day before were almost gone.
Back home, Su Tang had just sat down when she saw Hu Lili approaching with several other women.
Her heart clenched. She knew trouble had arrived.
'This Hu Lili... can't she go a single day without stirring up trouble?'
"Su Tang, what are these herbal sachets you're making? How dare you use them to trick people?"
Hu Lili said loudly, "You think you're a doctor? Just throwing some herbs together and giving them to people? If something goes wrong, can you take responsibility?"
The women beside her chimed in, "Exactly! What if they're poisonous?"
Su Tang looked at Hu Lili and scoffed internally. She had expected Hu Lili to come looking for trouble.
She replied calmly, "Hu Lili, if you think there's a problem with my sachets, feel free to take them to a doctor for an examination. If there really is an issue, I'll take full responsibility."
"But what if there isn't?"
Hu Lili hadn't expected Su Tang to be so assertive and was momentarily speechless.
She glared at Su Tang and said, "Fine! I'll take them to a doctor right now. If there's a problem, you just wait!"
Su Tang paid Hu Lili no mind.
'She's going to the doctor for me? That's just free advertising.'
For the next two days, Hu Lili didn't show up. Su Tang sorted the remaining herbs, made a few more sachets, and had Lu Xiao take them to his friends.
Lu Xiao looked at the sachets Su Tang had made, feeling a little unhappy.
'And here I thought these were exclusively for me.'
That day, Zhang Cui came over. She laughed for a bit as soon as she walked in the door before finally speaking. "Hu Lili really shot herself in the foot this time."
Hearing this, Su Tang poured her a glass of water. "What happened?"
"You have no idea, sis. Yesterday, Hu Lili took one of our sachets to Doctor Zhang."
"Doctor Zhang said the sachet was full of good stuff you can't even buy outside. He also said the blend was excellent and that you could tell a lot of thought went into it."
After saying that, Zhang Cui took a big gulp of water. GLUG, GLUG. "You should have seen it. When Hu Lili heard that, her face was all twisted with anger."
She wanted to convince everyone that Su Tang was peddling junk, but who would've thought she'd be hoist by her own petard.
"She tried to pull a fast one and ended up losing out. I bet Hu Lili will have to lay low for a few days now."
As the two were talking, they heard footsteps outside.
Sister Li came looking for Su Tang, her face looking dewy and moisturized.
"Sis, do you have any more of those skin-moisturizing sachets?"
Sister Li fidgeted with a fabric ration coupon, embarrassment evident even in the fine lines around her eyes.
She never expected the thing to work so well. She had followed Su Tang's instructions, taking the herbs out to soak in water when she washed her face each day and then applying it as a compress. The results were amazing.
When she went to the service station yesterday, the clerk had even said her complexion looked as good as a young bride's, fresh from the countryside.
At her age, Sister Li had never heard such a compliment before.
Following behind her were three or four women holding children. They were all clutching lumpy cloth bags, from which peeked the corners of indigo-dyed coarse fabric and small handfuls of assorted grains.
Su Tang was in a corner of the yard, drying freshly picked mint. The sun drew a cool, crisp fragrance from the leaves on the bamboo tray.
"I have some, but you'll have to trade for them. It's barter, you know."
She deliberately put on a stern face, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Aunt Wang, who was standing behind Sister Li, give her a wink.
Su Tang's little courtyard was as bustling as a marketplace. Watching this scene, Hu Lili wanted to grind her teeth to dust.
'Su Tang, Su Tang... it's always Su Tang.'
'Ever since she arrived, Brother Xiao hasn't even looked me in the eye.'
'And now she's winning everyone over, turning the entire family compound to her side.'
"I won't let you get away with this!"