A woman who appeared to be in her forties, carrying a basket in her hand, wore a dark blue work uniform and a pair of black cloth shoes. Though her attire was utterly ordinary, it was noticeably cleaner and tidier than others', without a single patch in sight.
Her gaze fell on the Xiangzao in her hand. "May I touch it?"
"Of course, feel free to examine it."
Shen Ning handed over the Xiangzao generously. "Feel its weight—this one piece of Xiangzao is equivalent to two bars of soap sold at the Gongxiaoshe. What's more, mine is scented. You'll know how good it is after just one use!"
The woman took it—the weight was indeed undeniable.
The fragrance was truly pleasant.
Shen Ning could see surprise and fondness in her eyes—she wanted it.
This was a potential customer, and she didn’t want to let her slip away.
"The soap at the Gongxiaoshe sells for two and a half yuan per bar, and it requires a coupon. If you’re genuinely interested in buying, my one bar is worth two of theirs—four yuan, no coupon needed."
"This…"
Four yuan gave anyone pause.
"Elder sister, this Xiangzao of mine is a fine product. You can feel its weight for yourself. I’m selling it at a bargain. You can check in the city—those Xiangzao there aren’t even as big as the Gongxiaoshe’s soap, and they’re not cheap either!"
Pulling the woman’s arm closer, Shen Ning leaned in and whispered, "I’ve got connections—specially sought out this high-quality product. It’s durable and fragrant, and it’d make a gift that really stands out."
The woman pondered for a moment, turning the Xiangzao over and over in her hands as if trying to discern a flower blooming from it.
Shen Ning didn’t rush her, letting her consider at her own pace.
"Can it be cut open?"
The woman’s request took Shen Ning by surprise for a moment, but she quickly understood the implication.
She was worried the core might be filled with something else—a deceitful trick by unscrupulous makers.
"Of course, if you’re sure you want it, I’ll cut it open right now for you to see. It’s all soap inside, you can rest assured. If there’s even the slightest difference, you don’t have to take it. But are you certain?"
At these words, the woman’s face still showed hesitation.
Shen Ning’s heart sank a little—this auntie’s sale was likely falling through.
"It’s alright, take your time to think it over."
Shen Ning kept a smile on her face as she took back the Xiangzao and placed it in a plastic bag.
With so many people around, what if someone snatched her Xiangzao and ran? Where would she even begin to look?
However, the woman didn’t leave. Frowning deeply, her gaze remained fixed on the Xiangzao without shifting.
It was clear she was still wavering, and Shen Ning began to feel she might return empty-handed.
"Little sister, are you selling soap here?"
An older sister who had been watching from the back of the crowd spoke up, her eyes lighting up with a hint of delight.
Shen Ning wasn’t afraid of no one asking. "It’s Xiangzao, very fragrant. Elder sister, take a look. This one bar of Xiangzao is equivalent to two bars of soap—four yuan, no coupon needed, and the quality is absolutely top-notch!"
As soon as the price of four yuan was mentioned, the older sister also furrowed her brows.
Shen Ning’s heart sank—was she really going to have to sell it cheap? She’d rather use it herself.
"Can I take a closer look?"
"Of course, elder sister, feel free to examine it. My product can stand up to inspection!"
The older sister took the Xiangzao, turning it over and over in her hands, occasionally weighing it thoughtfully.
"It is quite heavy!" Shen Ning's expression remained unchanged as she looked at her. "Can you cut it open to check the inside?"
"Of course! If you're buying, I'll cut it for you. If the inside differs from the outside, I won't charge you!"
Using the same confident tone, Shen Ning appeared completely unruffled, embodying the spirit of "true gold fears no fire." "Where's a knife? Or tell me where we should cut it?"
"Perfect timing! I just sharpened my knife—the blade is razor-sharp!"
The middle-aged woman eagerly pulled out a darkened kitchen knife from her basket, its freshly honed edge gleaming with a sharp, silvery light.
Shen Ning raised an eyebrow slightly. "Alright, ma'am, are you sure you want it? If so, you can cut it however you like."
"Of course I want it! Why wouldn't I?"
With that, the woman took the Xiangzao from Shen Ning's hand and swiftly cleaved it in two with a single decisive chop.
A sharp knife indeed made the task effortless, splitting the soap cleanly in half.
Shen Ning's heart sank momentarily.
But the Xiangzao didn't disappoint—it was solid all the way through, without a hint of adulteration.
"This Xiangzao is genuinely solid, young lady!" The woman beamed with delight, immediately pulling out a crumpled stack of paper bills from her pocket.
There were one-fen, two-fen, five-fen, one-mao, and two-mao notes, with the five-mao bill being the largest among them.
She counted out four yuan and handed it to Shen Ning. "Here, count it, miss."
Shen Ning accepted the stack of bills with a polite smile. "No need—you've already counted it. I trust it's correct."
"Hey, you should still count it. Let's make sure the transaction is clear!"
Before Shen Ning could respond, an aunt who had been eyeing the Xiangzao grabbed the woman's wrist. "Miss, you won't use both halves, right? Sell one to me! I was just considering buying it when you swooped in and bought it all."
"How ridiculous! You stood there so long without buying, and now you act entitled after I've made the purchase? No, I can't sell it—I'm buying this for someone else!"
Fearful of being delayed, the woman hastily tucked the Xiangzao into her bosom and hurried away.
Having closed the deal, Shen Ning was naturally pleased. Clutching the handful of small bills, she hoisted her basket and prepared to leave.
"Hey, hey—wait, girl, wait for me!"
The older woman warmly linked arms with her. "Girl, do you have any more of this Xiangzao?"
Of course she did—the Points Mall had plenty in stock.
Moreover, she had just received three points from Xiaohua this morning.
But she wasn't inclined to exchange them just yet.
Feigning slight hesitation, she replied uncertainly, "Well… not at the moment. I only brought one piece today."
Hearing this, the woman sensed that Shen Ning either had more stock or knew where to get it.
Instantly, her enthusiasm soared. "To be honest, I really want to buy it. It's just that my son is planning to get married, and expenses are piling up everywhere. We have to budget carefully—ah, every family has its struggles."
Shen Ning seemed moved by her sincerity. "Yes, life isn't easy for anyone. Well, I'll see what I can do. If you're serious about buying, let's meet here tomorrow at the same time!"
With this verbal agreement, both parties were satisfied.
While they were happily conversing, a sharp-eyed observer caught a clear glimpse of their interaction from the side.
"Shufen, hurry up! The cheap fabrics will be snatched up soon!"
Wei Shulan tugged at her younger sister but failed to move her. Instead, she leaned closer and followed her gaze curiously.
"What's wrong? What are you staring at? You look stunned."
Wei Shufen pointed toward the alley across the street. "Sis, look. Isn't that Shen Ning?"
After peering carefully, Wei Shulan exclaimed, "Oh! That really is our third sister-in-law! And the older woman beside her looks familiar too."
She slapped her forehead. "Ah, I remember! She's that famous matchmaker who lives at the entrance of the street!"