Lu Xiao held the medicinal sachet and sniffed it again, thinking how wonderfully fragrant it was.  

It cleared his sinuses and made the air feel fresher.  

Seeing Lu Xiao sniffing it like a big dog, Su Tang smiled and nodded.  

“I want to trade these sachets with everyone in the residential compound for supplies.”  

“And also to build better relationships, so if Hu Lili bullies me again, others might stand up for me, right?”  

Lu Xiao thought Su Tang’s idea was good. There were some things he couldn’t help her with.  

If people had issues with Su Tang, she would have to find ways to bridge the gap herself.  

Besides, he believed the things she made were exactly what everyone needed.  

They would surely win people over.  

The next day, Su Tang took the finished sachets and began visiting each household in the residential compound.  

She started with Auntie Wang, a warm-hearted elder in the compound who had always been friendly toward her.  

Auntie 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 in the residential compound.  

Notably, Auntie Wang was also from Shanghai, making her and Su Tang fellow townsfolk.  

“Auntie Wang, hello! I’m Su Tang, Lu Xiao’s wife.”  

After introducing herself with a smile, Su Tang handed over the sachets.  

“I made some medicinal sachets—some for soothing throats, others for moisturizing skin. Would you like to try them?”  

Auntie Wang looked at Su Tang, took the sachets, and gave them a sniff. A smile spread across her face.  

“This scent—it’s just like the ones I used to smell back in Shanghai.”  

“My throat always hurts in the winter, so this is perfect. Thank you so much.”  

Auntie Wang’s openness was a relief to Su Tang.  

Not being turned away at the door was already a good start.  

“Don’t mention it, Auntie Wang. If you find them useful, please spread the word. I’d like to trade these for supplies, like fabric or food.”  

Auntie Wang nodded, studying Su Tang carefully. “I’ll tell everyone, but you should also prepare yourself.”  

Su Tang understood her meaning—not everyone would be as welcoming as Auntie Wang.  

So she couldn’t set her expectations too high.  

Su Tang nodded, thanked Auntie Wang, and then went next door to visit Sister Li.  

Sister Li was a picky person who held some hostility toward Su Tang. She was also close with Hu Lili.  

If Su Tang could win her over, Hu Lili would lose an ally.  

“Sister Li, hello! I’m Su Tang.”  

Smiling, Su Tang offered the sachets. “These are medicinal sachets I made. Would you like to try them?”  

Sister Li glanced at them disdainfully, not even reaching out. “Medicinal sachets? Who knows if they even work? Probably just a scam.”  

Su Tang didn’t take offense and patiently explained, “Sister Li, these sachets are made with traditional herbs. They’re good for the throat and skin.”  

“If you’re unsure, you can try them first. If they don’t work, you can return them to me.”  

After a pause, Su Tang added, “Your face is already peeling from the wind. If this keeps up, your skin might get ruined.”  

She said it so earnestly that Sister Li hesitated before finally taking the sachet.  

“Fine, I’ll try it.”  

Su Tang knew someone like Sister Li would only be convinced by results.  

But she had confidence in her products—the medicinal herbs nowadays were potent.  

It wouldn’t take more than a few days to see the effects.  

After that, she visited several more households. Some were warm, others cold, but Su Tang remained patient with each one.

After making the rounds in the residential compound, Su Tang had essentially introduced herself to everyone.  

The medicinal sachets she had made with Zhang Cui the day before were nearly all gone.  

Returning home, Su Tang had just sat down when she saw Hu Lili approaching with several women in tow.  

Her heart tightened—she knew trouble was coming.  

This Hu Lili, could she go even a single day without stirring up trouble?  

“Su Tang, what kind of scam are you running with these so-called medicinal sachets?” Hu Lili shouted. “Who do you think you are, some kind of doctor? Just tossing together some random herbs and giving them to people—if something goes wrong, can you even take responsibility?”  

The women beside her chimed in: “Yeah, what if they’re poisonous?”  

Su Tang looked at Hu Lili and smirked inwardly. She had expected this.  

Calmly, she replied, “Hu Lili, if you think my sachets are problematic, take them to a doctor for inspection. If they really are harmful, I’ll take full responsibility.”  

“But what if they’re fine?”  

Hu Lili hadn’t anticipated Su Tang standing her ground so firmly and momentarily faltered.  

Glaring, she snapped, “Fine! I’ll take them to the doctor right now. If there’s anything wrong, just you wait!”  

Su Tang couldn’t care less about Hu Lili’s threats.  

If she took them to the doctor, it’d just be free advertising for her.  

For the next two days, Hu Lili didn’t show up. Su Tang sorted the remaining herbs and made a few more sachets, handing them to Lu Xiao to give to his friends.  

Lu Xiao looked at the sachets, a little displeased.  

He had thought they were something special, just for him.  

That day, Zhang Cui came over, laughing as soon as she entered. “Hu Lili really tripped over her own feet this time.”  

Su Tang poured her a cup of water. “What happened?”  

“You wouldn’t believe it. Hu Lili took our sachets to Dr. Zhang yesterday.”  

“Dr. Zhang said the ingredients were top-quality, the kind you can’t even buy easily, and praised how well they were blended—said it was clear a lot of care went into them.”  

After gulping down some water, Zhang Cui added, “You should’ve seen Hu Lili’s face—she looked like she’d bitten into a lemon.”  

She had wanted to expose Su Tang for peddling harmful goods, but instead, she’d shot herself in the foot.  

“Tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice. I bet Hu Lili will lay low for a while now.”  

As they chatted, footsteps sounded outside.  

Sister Li walked in, her face noticeably smoother, clutching a bundle of fabric coupons.  

“Girl, do you have any more of those moisturizing sachets?”  

Her fingers twisted nervously, and even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes seemed embarrassed.  

She hadn’t expected the sachets to work so well. Following Su Tang’s instructions, she had soaked the herbs daily and used them as a compress—the results were incredible.  

Just yesterday, at the supply station, the shopkeeper had complimented her, saying her complexion looked like that of a young bride fresh in the city.  

At her age, Sister Li had never received such praise before.  

Behind her, three or four women with children in their arms followed, their cloth bundles crookedly wrapped around small portions of coarse indigo fabric and handfuls of mixed grains.  

Su Tang was in the courtyard, drying freshly picked mint leaves in a bamboo tray. The sun warmed the leaves, releasing a crisp, refreshing fragrance.  

“I do, but you’ll have to trade for them. Barter only.”  

She deliberately kept a stern face but caught Auntie Wang winking at her from behind Sister Li.  

Su Tang’s small yard was bustling like a market.  

Watching from a distance, Hu Lili gritted her teeth so hard they nearly cracked.  

Su Tang. Su Tang. It was always Su Tang.  

Ever since she had arrived, Brother Lu Xiao hadn’t spared her a single glance.  

And now? She was winning over the entire compound, turning everyone to her side.  

“I won’t let you get away with this!”