Re-embroidering life

"My husband is in a good mood today." Shui Qinghua stopped looking at him and looked out the window.

"I feel bad about selling the paintings, but I am still very happy when I think about how much money I have raised and how I can send it to Qianzhou as soon as possible."

"That's it?"

"What else?" Ji Zimo was anxious. Why did Tang Hao and his wife say such weird things today?

"Aren't you excited or happy to meet Miss Tang again after such a long time?" Shui Qinghua finally couldn't help but break the ice.

Ji Zimo's eyes suddenly widened, and he finally understood what Tang Hao and Shui Qinghua were talking about.

He burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Shui Qinghua frowned and glared at him.

"I'm happy. It turns out that my wife still has me in her heart." Ji Zimo said with a big laugh.

Now it was Shui Qinghua's turn to not understand. Why was he so happy?

Ji Zimo stopped laughing and explained seriously, "Actually, Miss Tang and I are not familiar with each other. In the past, I accompanied my mother to visit the Tang family. There was a difference between men and women, so my mother saw her more. Tang Hao and I were better. My parents ordered me to get engaged to her, and so did they. I don't have any big feelings about it."

"You and I were married at the order of our parents, so you don't have any feelings about it either." Shui Qinghua said affirmatively.

Ji Zimo was speechless. He had to admit that it was like this at the beginning. When did it change quietly? When she pointed at his nose and scolded him, when she talked about her ideal of opening an embroidery workshop with stars in her eyes, or when he was trapped by his inner demons and she hugged him tightly to give him strength?

He knew that Qinghua was not just a wife he married according to his mother's order. She was also his partner, friend, confidant, and...lover.

Shui Qinghua was thinking, if Ji Zimo really didn't have Tang Fu in his heart, why did he go to the Tang family on the day of her death? Without figuring this out, she wouldn't dare to give her heart to him again.

But she had no time to think about love affairs now. The flood was over, but she had lost a large amount of silk and had not yet found a place to go. If she didn't find a way to replenish the stock, Dongyue would not be able to open her embroidery workshop.

After visiting all the silk shops in Echeng, Shui Qinghua found that almost all of them had suffered losses in the flood. Shui Qinghua had high requirements for the color and texture of silk, and now no one had a sufficient supply.

Shui Qinghua went to find Shopkeeper Wang to find a solution. Shopkeeper Wang was also worried. A batch of Siyifang's inventory was also soaked by water, and he was urgently transferring goods from Jiangnan, which was very costly.

Shuixiufang cannot afford the silk from Jiangnan.

Shopkeeper Wang twirled his short beard and gave Shui Qinghua an idea: "There's only one place that might have it. You can go and try it. Chuxiu Pavilion."

Chu Xiu Ge, isn’t that the old rival of Si Yi Fang?

"It's true that we are old rivals in the business world, but we are not enemies. As long as the benefits are great, we can cooperate with each other." The old fox said with a smile.

“What benefit can I give them?”

"That's your own business. I don't know." The old fox walked away, twirling his whiskers.

Chuxiu Pavilion has been rooted in Chu for a hundred years, with branches in various places. Some stores are not affected by disasters, so it is much easier to transfer goods than Siyifang. It is said that the owner of Chuxiu Pavilion is named Ye, who is low-key and rarely goes out. Not many people have seen him.

Shui Qinghua sent a letter to Chu Xiu Ge in the name of Shui Xiu Fang, and surprisingly soon received a reply, asking her to meet in three days.

Shui Qinghua took Dou Jianzhi and went there as agreed.

After walking into Chu Xiu Pavilion and going up the stairs, before entering the private room, the servant who led the way stopped Dou Jianzhi and told him that the host was the only one, Madam Shui.

Dou Jianzhi looked at Shui Qinghua worriedly. She looked at him reassuringly, calmed herself down, and stepped into the private room.

At first glance, her whole heart was captured by a huge Chu embroidery screen in the center of the room. The screen is themed on dragons and phoenixes. The dragon's body is winding, and its scales are glittering, as if it is tumbling in the clouds, with unstoppable force; the phoenix's wings are stretched, and its green feathers are bright, as if it is dancing lightly in the wind, with a myriad of postures. The dragon's eyes are embellished with rubies, shining with a domineering light; the phoenix crown is carefully crafted with emerald green silk threads, making it more luxurious. The dragon and the phoenix complement each other, with the bright and gorgeous style of the Chu heritage, and the simple and majestic style. The screen is decorated with the unique curling grass patterns of the Chu area, which blends perfectly with the dragon and phoenix patterns.

Shui Qinghua's breathing even became lighter. This was a masterpiece, and the craftsmanship far surpassed any other embroidery in Chu Xiu Pavilion.

Ye Dongjia was standing in front of the screen. He was tall and strong, with broad shoulders, handsome face, deep facial features, and a pair of obsidian eyes. His thin lips were slightly pursed, with a hint of unquestionable determination. The huge dragon and phoenix pattern behind him added a layer of domineering to him.

"Nice to meet you, Madam Shui. I am Ye Jincheng." His eyes were sharp and his tone was firm, revealing his shrewdness and decisiveness as a businessman.

Shui Qinghua discovered that she had seen him before.

"It's you! You were the one bidding for the embroidery painting at the calligraphy and painting auction a few days ago, right?" Shui Qinghua asked curiously.

Ye Jincheng smiled faintly: "That's right. I know that the embroidery was done by Lady Shui."

"Not exactly. There are five of us sisters in total, and this is a collective creation."

Ye Jincheng waved his hand casually: "Those four were all brought out by you."

"How do you know?" Shui Qinghua was surprised.

"My Chu Embroidery Pavilion has been rooted in Chu for a hundred years. Anything related to embroidery can escape my eyes. I know that you once embroidered a picture of "Running Horses" and presented it to Prefect Huang. I also know that your Shui Xiu Fang was jointly opened with Si Yi Fang and it suffered a disaster last month. As for why you came today, I know it all." Ye Jincheng's slender fingers gently stroked a Chu embroidery ornament on the table, put it to his mouth and blew it, and said casually.

Shui Qinghua straightened her back and tensed her muscles. This Ye Jincheng was very different from the ordinary businessman she had imagined. He was too aggressive.

"Since Mr. Ye knows why I'm here, I wonder if you could sell me some silk. I'm willing to pay 10% higher than the market price."

"Do you know why I gave up the bidding that day?" Ye Jincheng did not answer her, but started talking about another topic.

Shui Qinghua was silent. She didn't like the feeling of being led by the nose.

"I bid because I saw the value of the embroidery, and I withdrew because it was not worth five hundred taels. I am a businessman and I never do business at a loss."

Shui Qinghua understood. "Don't beat around the bush, Mr. Ye. If you think that a price 10% higher than the market price is still a loss, then name your price."

Ye Jincheng's eyes suddenly became sharp. "Mrs. Shui was born and raised in Jiangxia, but she opened an embroidery workshop with people from Suzhou, and she still uses Suzhou embroidery techniques, why?"

Shui Qinghua was filled with anger. She looked into Ye Jincheng's eyes and said, "Who I cooperate with and what techniques I use are my own business. Don't worry about it, Mr. Ye. If Mr. Ye wants to sell the silk, then he can sell it. If he doesn't want to sell it, I will find another one."

"Oh? Madam Shui has other places to go? You must have asked Siyifang to purchase goods from Jiangnan at a high price!" Ye Jincheng said sarcastically.

Shui Qinghua finally couldn't help it, and turned around and said to him: "I know that Chuxiu Pavilion and Siyifang have been fighting for many years, but the business world is like a battlefield, and everyone relies on their own ability. The Ye family has been rooted in Chu for a hundred years, but they can't compete with a foreign merchant. Isn't the problem with you? Have you seen the treasure of Siyifang, "Dragon Soaring", and can your embroiderer embroider double-sided different colors? Instead of taking your anger out on me, you might as well improve yourself!"