Chapter 13: A tough guy can also be tender
Zhang Cui listened to Su Tang's words and felt that what she said made sense.
These people in the family compound are used to changing with the wind.
After all, Hu Lili has been in the family compound for many years, so everyone is more inclined to her.
But in this way, Su Tang seemed a little out of place.
Su Tang’s idea is really good.
As she was speaking, Zhang Cui looked down at Mai Sui's rosy little face, reached out and touched it gently, her face full of heartache.
"This awful weather has made the child's face dry."
When Su Tang saw this, some knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine that he had learned suddenly emerged in his mind.
Her eyes lit up and she immediately grabbed Zhang Cui's hand.
"Sister-in-law, I have an idea. We can make some medicine packs. The climate in the northwest is dry, and many people suffer from sore throats and dry skin. I know some medicinal herbs and know which ones can relieve these problems. I can make some throat-soothing and skin-moisturizing medicine packs. I'm sure everyone needs them."
Zhang Cui's eyes lit up when she heard this: "What a great idea! People with education like you are so different. Your ideas are so practical. I've always been told that if you marry into our community, you will definitely bring benefits to everyone."
They were all women who went to the countryside to work. They were exposed to wind and rain all day long, but they didn't say anything.
But the weather in the northwest is so horrible that the wind makes people's faces dry.
No amount of moisturizer will help.
As she spoke, she looked down at her rough hands and smiled a little embarrassedly.
"My hands are only good for rough work. I'm not good at embroidery, but I can sew a cloth bag."
Su Tang smiled and patted Zhang Cui's hand: "Sister-in-law, let's divide the work and cooperate. I will be responsible for mixing the medicinal materials, and you will be responsible for sewing the cloth bags. How about it?"
"Okay!"
Zhang Cui responded readily and stood up holding the wheat ears.
"I have some clean old clothes here. Mai Sui's father can't wear them anymore, so they're perfect for you. They've all been washed and are very clean."
Zhang Cui dug out some old clothes and scraps of cloth, while Su Tang carefully selected fabrics suitable for making medicine bags.
She chose some coarse cloth with good breathability. Although the color was simple, it was practical.
Looking at these old clothes, Su Tang thought of his plaid tablecloth.
The tablecloth is unusable, but it’s perfect for making a medicine bag.
"Sister-in-law, I'm going home to get something, please wait for me."
After saying that, Su Tang ran back home. Lu Xiao was about to cook noodles, but before he could ask her if she wanted to eat it, she ran away.
A small box was also taken away.
What was inside was some medicinal herbs, which Su's father had specially bought for Su Tang.
I'm just worried that she won't be able to adapt to life in the Northwest.
These Chinese medicinal herbs can be said to be very precious, but Su Tang needs them now.
She wasn't that reluctant.
"Sister-in-law, do you think this cloth is okay?"
Su Tang rushed back and asked while holding the plaid cloth.
Zhang Cui came over, took a look, and nodded: "Okay, let's use these. Let's sew a few small cloth bags first and test the effect."
As they spoke, the two of them sat on the small bench in the yard and began to sew cloth bags.
Although Zhang Cui's hands were rough, her movements were very skillful, and she had sewn several neat small cloth bags in a short while.
Su Tang was preparing the herbs on the side. She found some mint, honeysuckle, licorice and other herbs that have the effect of soothing the throat.
There are also some medicinal herbs that can moisturize the skin, such as angelica and astragalus. They are carefully ground into powder and then put into cloth bags respectively.
"Sister-in-law, smell it, how does it taste?"
Su Tang handed a throat medicine bag to Zhang Cui.
Zhang Cui took the medicine bag, put it under her nose and sniffed it, with a satisfied smile on her face: "It smells so good, it makes me feel comfortable just by smelling it."
The faint medicinal fragrance relieved the sharp northwest wind.
While the two were busy, Mai Sui suddenly started crying. Zhang Cui quickly put down her work and went to comfort the child.
"This kid is still messing with me."
Zhang Cui fed Mai Sui milk and then she went to sleep.
After Zhang Cui coaxed Mai Sui, the two continued to make medicine bags.
The medicinal herbs Su Tang brought were all of the best quality. If they were bought outside, it would cost a lot of money.
Zhang Cui was also able to tell the good from the bad. Seeing that Su Tang didn't feel sorry for her at all, she couldn't help but say something.
"Actually, the people here aren't that bad. It's just that Hu Lili keeps talking nonsense, which is why everyone misunderstood you."
Hearing Zhang Cui say this, Su Tang smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, are you afraid that I'll think too much?"
"I can tell the difference between good and bad. I do this to make my life easier."
Su Tang is not a saint, nor is she that kind.
If she wasn't the one with vested interests in these matters, she wouldn't have bothered so much.
After all, she would be staying in the family compound for a long time, and she wanted to make herself feel more comfortable.
"Yes, yes, my sister's mind is as clear as a mirror."
While they were doing it, they chatted, and Zhang Cui told Su Tang about Lu Xiao's past.
"Brother Lu used to be a tough guy, always stern and quiet. We all thought he would never get married, but he changed completely after you came."
"What do you call this? A tough guy with a soft heart. I think you two are the perfect match."
Su Tang listened with a smile on his face.
She thought of Lu Xiao's red ears and his helpless look, and felt that this man with a cold appearance actually had a soft side inside.
"Sister-in-law, do you think Lu Xiao was really that serious before?"
Zhang Cui nodded. "That's right. He's very strict with himself. He's always the first one to arrive and the last one to leave during training. He's also very caring towards us family members, but he's not very talkative."
She paused, then smiled and said, "But since you came, he's obviously different. He smiles more often and sometimes even jokes with us."
"It's different now that I have a wife. I'm just like my husband, Lao Wang."
The two were chatting happily, and the stewed vegetables in Zhang Cui's pot were ready.
"Just eat at my house. I'll make you hand-rolled noodles today."
Su Tang originally wanted to refuse, but seeing Zhang Cui's sincere eyes, he had to agree.
She was so presumptuous that she forgot it was noon and came to find Zhang Cui in a hurry.
The two packed up their things and went into the house, and Zhang Cui skillfully started making hand-rolled noodles.
Zhang Cui's hand-rolled noodles are no worse than those in restaurants. Su Tang ate two big bowls.
This made Zhang Cui say that she had never eaten such coarse grains and she felt drunk.
After dinner, Su Tang said goodbye to Zhang Cui and returned home with several prepared medicine packs.
Lu Xiao had finished his meal and was chopping firewood in the yard.
He was wearing a tattered military uniform, with some sawdust on his face. Sweat was running down his forehead and dripping onto the ground.
Lu Xiao looked up and saw Su Tang. He put down the axe in his hand and wiped the sweat off his forehead.
Suddenly seeing the medicine bag in Su Tang's hand, he asked, "What is this?"
Su Tang handed over the medicine bag: "This is a medicine bag that Sister Zhang Cui and I made together. It moisturizes the throat and skin. Would you like to try it?"
Lu Xiao took the medicine bag, put it under his nose and sniffed it: "It smells good. Can this medicine bag moisturize my throat and skin?"
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