Quan Jiu’s words struck everyone present like a heavy hammer, some dazed with joy, others stunned with shock.
Wang Shuan was so excited he almost cried out, "Bai Jing was right, this little girl is no simple one."
Liu Quan, whose tense heart had been wound tight, also relaxed considerably. "In the previous round, she found the differences between two fan paintings, and I had some doubts. This round, I'm completely convinced. To be able to identify the required needle, thread, and fabric at a glance, and even specify them accurately—these items were produced decades ago, and it will indeed be difficult to procure them immediately."
"But can she really restore it with one hundred percent accuracy? Who is this little girl? If she truly possessed such skill, she wouldn't be unknown and have no published works," Wang Shuan mused, still perplexed.
"We can only wait and see. After all, I've already vouched for her. What else can we do?" Liu Quan shook his head, his heart still uneasy as the final moment hadn't arrived, especially since this interview concerned his livelihood.
Compared to the surprise of Wang Shuan and Liu Quan, Bai Jing appeared calm, as if she had received a reassurance. She smiled at Quan Jiu, sighing helplessly, "This girl truly kept everyone in the dark."
Shi Yan, having been scolded by Che Fengqiong, felt both angry and indignant. "She runs a clothing company, so it's not surprising she knows these things. I don't believe she can actually embroider it. One hundred percent accuracy? No one here can guarantee that. What makes her so sure? This woman is definitely putting on an act."
These words somewhat soothed Che Fengqiong's anxious heart. She kept reassuring herself: Yes, no one can achieve one hundred percent accuracy. Perhaps even Wang Huiping herself couldn't do it. Impossible, absolutely impossible.
"The needles can be provided, but the thread and fabric can only be substitutes. After all, the materials used for this work are quite old and difficult to find, right, Supervisor Che?" Bai Jing said.
Che Fengqiong forced a smile and directly announced, "Give her the needles, thread, and fabric."
Yang Qi handed the required items to Quan Jiu. A wooden hoop, a box of needles, a piece of fabric, and a basket filled with countless balls of colorful thread. Clearly, the thread was also an obstacle; to embroider, one had to find the right colors and thickness from this basket.
"Let's see how you find the right thread among these similar colors," Yang Qi thought, quite pleased with her subtle maneuver. She glanced towards Shi Yan, seeking approval.
Shi Yan nodded with satisfaction, telling herself once again that this woman could not succeed.
But before the thought could even cross her mind, her expression froze.
Quan Jiu, without hesitation, poured the entire basket of thread onto the ground. After a few dozen seconds of sifting and sorting, she selected over a dozen colors. Some were contrasting, others complementary, the colors appearing vibrant and bold, yet allowing everyone present to immediately understand what she intended to embroider.
The golden pheasant, scientifically known as the Lady Amherst's pheasant, is hailed as a manifestation of the phoenix. It is the essence of the eighth embroidered picture. The male golden pheasant’s resplendent wings are spread wide in passion, its crest gently swaying in the wind, as if dancing a lively samba, its posture and movements lifelike, like a living creature.
This golden pheasant was also the most challenging part of the entire screen. The elders had tried various embroidery techniques but failed to replicate it, the key lying in the different stitches.
Wang Shuan's breath caught in his throat. "Is this little girl going to embroider that golden pheasant? How is that possible? Isn't that too risky?"
Liu Quan was also a bit anxious. "This girl is truly strange. There was no requirement to embroider anything specific, so she should have chosen something simple. Why is she picking the most complex part right away?"
"But judging by the colors she's chosen, they seem to be correct," Wang Shuan gasped, his heart pounding erratically.
Compared to the fluctuating emotions of Wang Shuan and Liu Quan, the expressions of Che Fengqiong, Lou Mingfang, and others began to improve.
"If she's not Wang Huiping, then she must be a brainless fool," Shi Yan finally felt a surge of confidence. "She chose the most difficult part. One hour? It's truly laughable. I think she's not putting on an act, but is simply ignorant and reckless, with a simple mind."
Che Fengqiong nodded, her gaze regaining its confidence. As for Lou Mingfang and the other three elders, although their expressions didn't change much, their eyes all held a uniform disdain and mockery.
At this age, could she possibly surpass them? Absolutely not. Even if she were a master embroiderer, a twenty-seven-year-old couldn't be more skilled than them, who were in their sixties and seventies. Since they couldn't replicate the golden pheasant, how could someone in her twenties?
"If she can truly embroider it, I'll kneel before her and be her chair," Lou Mingfang said dismissively.
"Alas, all that worry was for nothing. I thought she had some real skill, but it turns out she's just an ignorant and arrogant child," Elder Xu breathed a sigh of relief.
Their voices were not concealed. Upon hearing them, Wang Shuan immediately said, "Lou Mingfang, remember your words. If you forget, Liu Quan and I both heard it: if this little girl truly finishes the embroidery, you will be her chair."
Lou Mingfang immediately sneered, "Then if she fails to embroider it, you will be our chair. Do you dare?"
Wang Shuan's expression faltered, then he hardened his heart, deciding not to lose face. "Bring it on, who's afraid?"
Lou Mingfang let out a哼笑 and declared loudly, "Everyone heard it. If Elder Wang backs out later, you all must be witnesses."
Che Fengqiong, Shi Yan, and the others naturally echoed their agreement.
"She's started," Liu Quan's voice tightened, his eyes fixed on Quan Jiu.
"I can't see. Shall I stand closer?" Wang Shuan asked instinctively.
"You'll disturb her," Liu Quan objected.
Lou Mingfang immediately chimed in, "As a qualified embroiderer, if she can't even overcome minor disturbances, then she's not that remarkable."
"Anyone who wants to watch can come over," Quan Jiu said, without looking up from her work in the center of the room, her voice light and carefree.
Shi Yan scoffed, stood up, and moved to directly in front of Quan Jiu, blocking the light from above. Soon, Lou Mingfang, Che Fengqiong, and the others also gathered around. Wang Shuan and Liu Quan quickly joined them.
In an instant, Quan Jiu was surrounded by people. However, Quan Jiu didn't seem to mind, not even shifting her direction, as if the people around her didn't exist. She skillfully threaded the needle, bent slightly, focused her gaze, held her breath, and then her nimble fingers, holding the needle, guided the thread up and down. The speed of her fingertips was astonishingly fast.
As the dense stitches fell, the faces of Lou Mingfang, Che Fengqiong, and the others finally resembled a palette of overturned colors, each distinct yet a mess.