Chapter 157 Conquering the Ladies' Circle
Inside Tangdi Pavilion, a subtle fragrance wafts through the air.
In January, she led in several slender, quiet young women.
They were all dressed in plain-colored cheongsams, and their movements were graceful and fluid. They were some of the "Twelve Beauties" that Su Wantang had trained from the very beginning.
The tea set was made of fine Ru ware, warm and smooth as jade. The girls poured water, warmed the cups, added tea leaves, and brewed the tea. The whole process was pleasing to the eye and made no sound.
A refreshing, subtle fragrance instantly filled the entire room.
"This is... Wuyi Snow Peak?" A well-traveled political commissar's wife sniffed it, her eyes lighting up.
Bai Shu smiled faintly: "Madam has excellent taste. I came across some by chance; it's nothing but a small token of my appreciation. Please enjoy."
Which of these ladies present isn't a person of status? Yet most of them have only heard of "Wuyi Snow Peak," and very few have actually tasted it.
These days, you can't just get this kind of thing with money.
When the amber-colored tea soup enters the mouth, an indescribable sweetness slides down the throat, bringing a sense of complete comfort.
"Excellent tea! Truly excellent tea!"
"I've been drinking tea my whole life, and I've never had anything this smooth and nourishing!"
Exclamations of praise rose and fell. The ladies who had been so aloof just moments before had now abandoned all their reserve.
Zhou Peiyun also took a sip, the sharpness in her eyes lessening slightly. She had to admit that this level of skill alone was something not everyone could produce.
After three rounds of tea, January had tea snacks and fruit served.
The pastries were exquisitely made, each piece glistening and arranged on a white porcelain plate. The fruits were even more vibrant, with red berries and purple grapes that were a delight to behold.
The wife of a division commander, surnamed Zhang, suffered from chronic insomnia and had a sallow complexion. She didn't have much of an appetite, but out of politeness, she picked up something that looked like a glutinous rice cake and took a small bite.
The pastry melted in her mouth, releasing a faint, refreshing herbal aroma. She didn't pay much attention and ate half a piece. But soon, a long-lost drowsiness slowly crept in. She couldn't help but yawn, her eyelids growing heavy.
"Oh dear, Sister Zhang, what's wrong? Didn't you sleep well last night?" someone teased.
Mrs. Zhang rubbed her eyes, somewhat bewildered: "Strange, my chronic insomnia hasn't caused me to feel sleepy during the day for years... How come after eating this cake..."
Her words reminded another lady. That lady had dark skin and had just eaten two bright red fruits, finding them only sweet and sour.
She subconsciously touched her face and was surprised to find her skin felt smoother. She quickly took out a small mirror and looked at herself; her complexion had indeed become much rosier.
"Amazing! Miss Bai, your fruit..."
In an instant, the atmosphere in the room completely changed. If the tea just now was merely amazing, then the pastries and fruits now were simply a miracle.
The women huddled together, chattering amongst themselves, their gazes toward Bai Zhu shifting from scrutiny to curiosity and eagerness.
Chu Yunfei's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. These despicable people had actually managed to bribe these women?
Just then, Bai Shu personally carried a small white jade bowl and walked up to Zhou Peiyun.
“Madam Chu, I see that your brow is slightly furrowed, it must be that your old ailment has flared up again. This is a drink I specially made with gastrodia elata and honey. Try it, it may help relieve the symptoms.”
Zhou Peiyun suffers from migraines, a fact well-known in the compound. She had been experiencing a slight ache before leaving the house today, and the aroma of the incense in the room only exacerbated her discomfort.
She looked at Bai Shu; his eyes were clear and sincere, without a trace of flattery. She hesitated for a moment, then accepted it.
This is considered giving Lu Jingyan some face.
She politely took a small sip. The drink was warm and sweet, with a unique medicinal aroma.
Nothing special.
She made up her mind. But just as she was about to put down the bowl, a cool sensation shot from her throat to the top of her head. The pain that had been lingering in her brain like a maggot in the bone miraculously disappeared.
My entire head felt clear and refreshed.
Zhou Peiyun's hand, holding the bowl, froze in mid-air. She abruptly looked up, staring intently at Bai Shu. Her eyes were filled with utter shock.
Bai Zhu responded with a calm smile.
Su Wantang's heart was as cold as ice. In the information Lu Jingyan provided, the record about Zhou Peiyun's migraines was circled three times in red pen. The medicinal herbs in the Begonia Space, specifically for treating this ailment, were of perfect age.
When dealing with this kind of person, a hundred kind words are not as effective as a good remedy.
The rest of the time became a one-man show for Bai Shu.
She carried tea as she moved among the ladies.
"Madam Wang, has your son been coughing a lot at night lately? Judging from his complexion, it seems like he has some dryness and heat in his lungs. Go back and stew pears and fritillaria together in water for him to drink. He should be better in two or three days."
"Madam Li, your eye bags have been quite heavy lately. Please don't overwork yourself. Take these grapes home and eat them before bed; they'll help calm your nerves."
"Sister Sun, you look pale and weak; it's obvious you're suffering from blood and qi deficiency. I'll have Qin Zheng send you some high-quality donkey-hide gelatin later. Women need to take good care of themselves."
What she said were all minor health issues recorded in Lu Jingyan's files, the kind that didn't cause any real harm to each household. But when she said them, coupled with the miraculous effects of the snacks and fruits she had just eaten, they became incredibly weighty.
Every word resonated deeply with the ladies.
This thoughtfulness, this erudition, this perfectly timed care—all of this made everyone like her even more. This wasn't some ethereal, otherworldly Hong Kong businesswoman; she was clearly a kind and understanding confidante!
Chu Yunfei watched from the side, her expression growing increasingly grim.
She finally couldn't sit still any longer.
"Miss Bai's expertise in health preservation is truly eye-opening," she said, her clear voice immediately attracting everyone's attention.
"However, we military dependents usually talk more about national affairs. Take recently, for example. The higher-ups have been emphasizing streamlining the military and reducing bureaucracy. My father and his colleagues have been holding meetings until midnight every day about this. I wonder what Miss Bai's thoughts are on this?"
The room fell silent immediately after he said that.
Here it comes, the main character has finally made his appearance.
This is a dead end. What does Bai Shu, a businessman, know about military policy? Saying too much is just theoretical; saying too little is ignorance. No matter how he answers, he won't win.
All eyes were focused on Bai Shu.
Bai Shu put down her teacup, still maintaining her calm and composed demeanor. She looked at Chu Yunfei and smiled.
"Captain Chu is joking. Military and national policies are matters for men to worry about outside. What we wives can do is take good care of the home and their health, so that they can defend the country on the front lines without any worries."
She looked around, her voice not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
"They are the nation's sharpest sword, and we are the safest scabbard to hold it. Only when the scabbard is secure can the sword be drawn without hesitation to kill the enemy, right?"
His words were powerful and resounding.
The ladies present were all stunned. Then, their eyes lit up.
These words really resonated with them!
Yes, isn't that how they've lived their whole lives? Their husbands work themselves to the bone outside, while they take care of everything at home.
Bai Shu's words not only avoided falling into Chu Yunfei's trap, but also elevated the value of military wives to an unprecedented level.
Looking at Chu Yunfei again, her remarks about "streamlining administration and reducing personnel" suddenly seemed narrow-minded and even somewhat out of place.
Chu Yunfei's face flushed red and then paled. She felt as if she had thrown a punch with all her might, but it had hit cotton, and the other party had used a force that deflected the punch with ease.
She lost this silent battle utterly.
By the end of the tea party, the atmosphere had reached its peak.
Bai Shu arranged for each lady to receive a gift in January—a custom-made Shanghai silk scarf packaged in an exquisite box.
"My goodness, the fabric, the embroidery!"
"Miss Bai, you're too kind!"
The ladies beamed with joy. They took Bai Shu's hands and warmly invited her to visit their homes next time, acting as if they were sisters who had known each other for years.
Bai Zhu smiled and agreed to each one.
After the crowd dispersed, only the Chu family mother and daughter remained at the entrance of Tangdixuan.
Zhou Peiyun and Chu Yunfei were the last to leave.
As she reached the door, Zhou Peiyun stopped and gave Bai Shu a deep look. Her eyes held no more hostility, only a mixture of complex emotions and appreciation.
“Miss Bai,” she said sincerely, “thank you for your hospitality today. Please come visit us at home sometime.”
This is formal acceptance and recognition.
Bai Shu remained calm and composed, nodding slightly: "Certainly, Madam Chu, please take care."
Chu Yunfei remained silent throughout. She glanced at the unfinished drink in her mother's hand, then at the smiling Bai Shu, and finally could only bite her lip, her face pale, and follow her mother into the car.
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