The audience below was silent, while on stage, Quan Jiu was completely immersed in her creation.
Because she only had half an hour, the drawing she made wasn't very detailed. However, even from a distance, it was still a landscape painting with considerable artistic conception.
On the other side, Fang Tian was clearly satisfied with her own design, her expression appearing relaxed. But if one looked closely, they would notice that most of the audience's attention was focused on Quan Jiu.
Time flew by when one was immersed in work, and soon the half-hour alarm rang.
Quan Jiu put down her brush and picked up her needle and thread to begin embroidery.
There was a large screen broadcasting the event in the venue, and every stitch and thread in her hands was captured with remarkable clarity. The audience below was astonished.
"This young woman looks so young; I thought she was a pampered young lady from some wealthy family. I didn't expect her embroidery skills to be so proficient."
"Look closely at her fingers; they are covered in calluses. It takes over ten or twenty years of practice to develop them."
"It's incredible, her hands move so fast I can't even see the needle and thread."
Various discussions ensued, and gradually, some began to question the identity of the person on stage.
"But speaking of which, who exactly is she? She's so beautiful; how have I never seen her before?"
Jiang Guixiu was also sitting in the audience, watching the pair of slender hands on the big screen, her fingers skillfully guiding the needle and thread, weaving through the specially made Yun Jin from Yunlan Pavilion. Before long, the patterns on the silk began to emerge faintly.
"If I'm not mistaken, she is probably the Pavilion Master of Yunlan Pavilion." Jiang Guixiu took a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotion and a personal regret she only now understood.
"Her? The Pavilion Master of Yunlan Pavilion?" The noblewomen sitting around her were all stunned.
"How is that possible? So young and beautiful, the Pavilion Master of Yunlan Pavilion should at least be..."
Before she could finish, she stopped herself. Indeed, there had been no indication of the Pavilion Master of Yunlan Pavilion's age.
"How do you know?" someone asked Jiang Guixiu with disbelief.
Jiang Guixiu sighed softly, "Actually, I've met this young lady several times. In total, I have a feeling she is, especially the question she just asked me, which is the same question asked when customizing clothing at Yunlan Pavilion."
There were many people at the venue, but less than ten percent had actually purchased clothes from Yunlan Pavilion. Therefore, no one around knew the actual customization process.
However, Jiang Guixiu's status meant that while her words were shocking, many did not doubt them. Instead, they looked at Quan Jiu on stage with increasing astonishment, as if gazing upon a work of art.
"So young, I wonder if she has a boyfriend. My son is single, and they look very well-matched." A woman fantasized happily.
Another woman chimed in, "Indeed, she's beautiful, has status, appears sensible and well-mannered, and knows embroidery. Having someone like her as a daughter-in-law would bring great honor."
Jiang Guixiu's expression faltered slightly. She chuckled and said, "Yes, on my birthday, my son Nan Chen brought her home to see me. She is indeed very elegant."
This statement surprised the surrounding women again.
"She's your son's girlfriend?"
Jiang Guixiu's smile widened, "At the time, they were only introduced as friends. I don't know how things have progressed between them, but our Nan Chen really likes her, and they have a good relationship."
The other women exchanged glances, their faces showing regret. This was clearly a hint for them not to interfere.
However, some were not deterred. They pretended not to hear, or even pushed their luck further, saying, "Oh, that's wonderful. My Xiao Ke and Nan Chen are good friends. I'll ask Nan Chen to introduce them later and invite them over for a casual meal. Friends introduce each other, that's how things get started."
Jiang Guixiu's smile froze. If she hadn't been trying to maintain her composure, she would have retorted, "A toad wanting to eat swan meat! Your son is nothing compared to our Nan Chen; they are worlds apart."
However, outwardly, she showed nothing. Secretly, she took out her phone and sent a message to her son.
"Son, have you been in contact with that girl Quan Jiu recently?"
Jiang Nan Chen received such a message from his mother with confusion, but he replied honestly, with a hint of resentment, "After the birthday banquet, I haven't had the face to contact her anymore."
Jiang Guixiu's heart tightened. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "Mom was deceived by He Miao at the time. I felt she was quite good during our subsequent meetings; she's a steady and good child."
Jiang Nan Chen became even more puzzled, "Mom, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Jiang Guixiu secretly cursed him for being dense. Her eyes flickered between the big screen and her phone as she quickly typed another message, "Young ladies are reserved. If you truly like her, you need to show sincerity and pursue her properly. Mom quite likes Jiu'er now. You should put in more effort and try to marry her."
Jiang Nan Chen stared blankly. After a long pause, he asked in disbelief, "Mom, are you alright?"
Jiang Guixiu was almost exasperated by his lack of progress. "Just go after her if I tell you to. Anyway, I have no objections; I support you."
Putting down her phone, Jiang Guixiu continued to watch the big screen and noticed that Quan Jiu was nearing completion.
"As expected of the Pavilion Master of Yunlan Pavilion," Jiang Guixiu mused inwardly, her excitement already evident on her face.
Soon, the alarm for another half hour rang.
On stage, Quan Jiu put down her needle and thread, turned to face the audience, and then rotated her work to face the audience as well.
Seeing this, Fang Tian had no choice but to stop. She turned to face the audience and, as if fearing they wouldn't understand, began to explain her ideas.
"The time was too tight, so I could only do my best. Although I couldn't fully display my skills, one or two tenths of my ability is reflected. My design mainly uses the peony, the noble flower, as its element. These scattered petals are precisely the sense of dynamism that Madam Jiang desired, as if a gust of wind were blowing across this sea of flowers.
Furthermore, the lifelike peony in the center is not only the finishing touch but also the eye-catching highlight, allowing people to see and remember it at a glance.
The entire design is presented on the front, with a large area of blank space on the back, fulfilling Madam Jiang's requirement for an ethereal feel. Madam Jiang, are you satisfied with my design?"
Fang Tian looked confidently at Jiang Guixiu.
Jiang Guixiu's face showed dissatisfaction after only a brief glance. "Your peonies are painted beautifully, but to me, they are too common. I cannot see any of the feeling I wanted in this. Your design shows no sense of high quality; it even greatly diminishes the nobility of the peony. It's utterly vulgar."
Fang Tian's face darkened abruptly, and she frowned. "Madam Jiang, I understand that you may not understand design. Perhaps my design concept was not clearly expressed earlier. I have incorporated..."
"You don't need to explain further," Jiang Guixiu said impatiently, her face showing displeasure. "I admit I don't understand design, but I believe I have aesthetic judgment."
Fang Tian chuckled, "Madam Jiang, you cannot be biased just because you are familiar with this young lady. I am a disciple of Zhen Cuifang, the former director of the Embroidery Bureau. Many people here should have worn clothes from my Fang Tian Embroidery House."
"Are you questioning my judgment?" Jiang Guixiu's voice rose in anger. "My name, Jiang Guixiu, stands for itself, and no one would dare to dispute it. I have indeed met this young lady a few times, and this matter was informed to you by this young lady an hour ago."
Fang Tian cursed inwardly, "You're not a designer, what do you know? You're just talking nonsense."
Outwardly, she said with a hint of mockery, "Clearly, I placed my trust in you, but you have not given me the fairness I deserve."
Quan Jiu smiled slightly, "If that is the case, how about inviting the seniors from the Embroidery Bureau to offer their critique?"