Upon hearing Su Tang’s words, Zhang Cui could only shake her head helplessly.  

“If anyone hit the jackpot, it’s Lu Xiao for marrying you.”  

Honestly, no matter how outstanding Lu Xiao was, how could he compare to Su Tang?  

She was graceful and poised, handled situations with ease, and was infinitely better than some emotionless block of ice.  

Of course, this was partly because Zhang Cui now saw Su Tang through rose-tinted glasses, treating her like her own little sister.  

“Sis, you always know just what to say to make me happy—but don’t think flattery will get you more of my oil cakes!”  

“Do I seem like that kind of person? Look at you!”  

Su Tang pushed the door open, letting Zhang Cui carry Mai Sui inside to sit on a chair. She then rolled up her sleeves and headed into the kitchen.  

Zhang Cui wasn’t the type to say things she didn’t mean—she genuinely thought Su Tang was wonderful.  

“If anyone has great judgment, it’s Brother Lu’s parents. They picked you out of thousands.”  

Su Tang smiled at Zhang Cui’s words but didn’t respond, simply washing the ripe sand dates with practiced efficiency and removing the pits.  

Luckily, she enjoyed watching cooking shows in her free time.  

Whipping up a dish or two was effortless for her.  

“By the way, sis, did anyone give you a hard time at the hospital today?”  

Zhang Cui asked while feeding Mai Sui sips of warm water.  

Su Tang shook her head. “No, the people at the hospital aren’t like Hu Lili. They’re easy to get along with.”  

Yuan Danqin’s little bit of trouble was nothing—barely a splash of water to her.  

She wanted to work at the hospital long-term, at least until she found a way back home. She needed to ensure her survival.  

These were chaotic times, and Su Tang hadn’t touched a single cent of the money her father had given her.  

She was saving it all for when things stabilized, so she could use it to rebuild her life.  

She knew what the future held, so every penny had to be set aside.  

“Oh, Zhang Cui’s here too?”  

While the two were chatting and Su Tang was kneading dough, Sister Li’s voice suddenly came from outside.  

Sister Li was carrying a vegetable basket filled with duck eggs still flecked with dirt.  

“Sister Li, what brings you here?”  

Su Tang poked her head out of the kitchen to look at her.  

Sister Li wasn’t one to visit without a reason. If she’d come personally, she must have something important to discuss.  

Seeing Su Tang, Sister Li set the basket on the table and smiled.  

“It’s nothing much. I just wanted to ask if you still have any of that chili sauce you made last time?”  

At this, Sister Li looked a little embarrassed.  

When Su Tang had first arrived at the residential compound, Sister Li had listened to Hu Lili’s gossip and treated Su Tang like an enemy, never giving her a friendly look.  

But to her surprise, Su Tang repaid her unkindness with kindness, always sharing whatever she had.  

Sister Li now felt ashamed of her past behavior.  

Everyone said Su Tang had an unshakable “young miss” air about her, but Sister Li saw none of it.  

Su Tang wasn’t scheming—she was sincere and genuine. Sister Li liked that about her.  

“I do, Sister Li.”  

“There’s still half a jar left from last time. If you don’t mind, why not take some to try?”  

With that, Su Tang wiped her hands and went to fetch the chili sauce.  

Lu Xiao loved it too, but he’d been so busy lately that he sometimes even ate dinner at the cafeteria.  

If it sat much longer, the sauce would spoil.  

There was no harm in giving some to Sister Li—it was meant to foster goodwill anyway.  

“Ah, that’s perfect!”  

Sister Li’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly pushed the basket forward.  

“I can’t just take your delicious sauce for nothing! Here, I’ve got some duck eggs—freshly laid today. Let’s trade. They’re from our own ducks, really good stuff.”  

In these times of scarcity, even eggs were a luxury. A few duck eggs were a rare treat.  

Just as Su Tang was about to politely refuse, a few more heads popped in at the door.  

“Wow, Sister Li moves fast!”

It was Auntie Wang from next door, also holding a small cloth bag.  

“Xiao Su, that chili sauce you gave me last time—tossed with noodles, it was absolutely delicious! I heard you still have some? My family just steamed some fresh wheat buns, soft and fluffy. Can I trade you for a bit?”  

“And me! Dr. Su!”  

Another young wife squeezed in, holding a small bowl. “My mother-in-law’s pickled veggies—top-quality dried radish, crispy and fresh. I’ll trade some for your chili sauce!”  

In no time, the small doorway was bustling with activity.  

One person brought potatoes, another held a bunch of greens, and someone else carried sun-dried mushrooms.  

Everyone chattered away, their appetites whetted by Sister Li and Auntie Wang’s rave reviews of the chili sauce.  

Too embarrassed to take Su Tang’s goods for free, they’d all brought their own homemade produce to barter.  

Su Tang took in the scene, both amused and touched.  

Life in the residential compound was simple and straightforward like this.  

Not everyone in these times was as unreasonable and troublesome as Hu Lili.  

The sand date oil cakes would have to wait—now, even that small jar of chili sauce wasn’t enough to go around.  

She quickly waved everyone in. “Come in, don’t just stand at the door!”  

“I don’t have much chili sauce left—only enough for two or three people. But since you all like it, I’ll make more and deliver some to each of your homes later.”  

“As for the things you brought, I really can’t accept them. We’re all neighbors here—it’s just a bit of chili sauce, no need to be so polite.”  

Hearing this, the crowd couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.  

But the moment they heard she’d make more, their spirits lifted again.  

It wasn’t that they couldn’t make chili sauce themselves—it was just that Su Tang’s tasted exactly like the store-bought kind.  

No, even better. Once you’d tasted hers, your own homemade version just couldn’t compare.  

Who would’ve thought a young miss like her could have such skills?  

“That won’t do! Chili peppers aren’t free, you know. What we brought isn’t anything precious—just take it!”  

“Yeah, Su Tang, accept it. Otherwise, we’ll feel bad.”  

Su Tang’s refusal didn’t sit well with them.  

They simply piled their offerings in the living room, telling her to come find them once she’d made more sauce.  

At the edge of the crowd, a figure quietly slipped away, lips curling in displeasure before turning sharply toward the management office.  

In the end, Zhang Cui and Mai Sui didn’t get to eat the sand date oil cakes either. Pretending to be upset, Zhang Cui grumbled that Su Tang had been too busy with everyone else.  

Seeing her like this, Su Tang laughed and teased her, promising to deliver the cakes later as an apology.  

When Lu Xiao returned that evening, he was surprised to see the living room piled with local goods.  

“Did you buy these?”  

But upon closer inspection, these weren’t things typically sold at the service station.  

Su Tang, busy stir-frying in the kitchen, replied offhandedly, “The sisters in the compound gave them to me.”  

Hearing this, Lu Xiao’s expression tightened—accepting goods these days wasn’t a good thing.  

But before he could ask further, Su Tang explained, “They wanted my chili sauce but didn’t want to take it for free, so they traded with me.”  

“I said no, but it was so chaotic I don’t even know who left what here.”  

Su Tang was a little helpless—everyone had been too enthusiastic for her to refuse.  

Lu Xiao walked into the kitchen, watching Su Tang’s figure, his gaze inscrutable.  

In his mind, a pampered young miss like her shouldn’t have been able to endure the hardships of the Northwest.  

But not only had Su Tang persevered, she’d even secured a job on her own merits.  

Now, she’d won over many in the residential compound.  

Her charisma was undeniable, Lu Xiao suddenly realized.  

Even without him, even if she hadn’t come to the Northwest—  

She could have lived freely and easily on her own, because no hardship could ever break her.  

“Su Tang.”  

“Hmm?”  

“Never mind.”  

Lu Xiao hesitated, glanced at her once more, then turned and walked into the inner room.