Chapter 3: The Soap Experiment
After a day of cooking, she realizes that the animal fats she has been using for cooking leave a substantial amount of residue that could be collected and repurposed for other uses.
She carefully strains the fat from the cooked food using cloth and allows it to cool in a container. The fat residue she collects is carefully separated into portions for various applications. Some of it she uses for creating soap, another innovative product she's keen to introduce, while some is preserved for medicinal or cosmetic purposes.
Lin Yuer's ability to think outside the box and use the resources available to her is part of her growing influence in the ancient world
With a plan forming, Lin Yuer sets out to gather materials for her first experiment. She collects animal fat and ashes—materials she recalls are essential in traditional soap-making. Setting up a makeshift workstation, she begins mixing and heating the ingredients, carefully following the process she learned in her studies and research.
After a few hours, she successfully produces a small batch of rough soap. Excited, she invites a few village women to try it, explaining how it can make their hands softer and cleaner. At first, they are hesitant, but as they try the soap, they are amazed by the results. Word spreads quickly, and Lin Yuer realizes she's taken the first step toward establishing herself in this world.
The success of her soap experiment gives her confidence and motivates her to continue with her ideas. She starts dreaming about other possibilities, envisioning a community where innovation and cooperation can lead to a better life for everyone.