Re-embroidering life

For several days, Shui Qinghua and Shui Minghua went shopping in the market, and took their children to broaden their horizons. Even Shui Minghua, who didn't like housework, couldn't resist the charm of the Beijing market. There were a vast and dazzling array of goods, as well as various imported Western goods. There were too many things they had never heard of or seen before, and both adults and children were overwhelmed.

Shui Qinghua thought that she would be visiting Dong's house in a few days, so she had to prepare new clothes for the whole family and also check out the embroidery workshops in the capital, so she asked others.

“There are all kinds of embroidery workshops in the capital. It would take you several days to visit them all. The largest and most famous one is the Jingxiu Workshop. I heard that some of the embroiderers there came from the palace embroidery bureau, and they used to work for the ladies in the palace.” The waiter in the teahouse collected a few copper coins and shook them out like beans from a bamboo tube.

"Eldest sister, let's go see the world too?" Shui Qinghua was excited when she heard this, and Shui Minghua naturally agreed. Shui Qinghua found out that Jingxiufang was located on Zhuque Street, the most prosperous street in the capital, and the whole family went there excitedly.

As soon as they got off the carriage, the children couldn't help but exclaimed in unison. Ji Rui asked, "Mom, what is this palace for?"

It's no wonder that Ji Rui made a mistake. In front of her was a three-story building with flying eaves and brackets. The vermilion gate was tall and majestic, and rows of golden door nails were inlaid on the door. Under the eaves, there was a huge golden signboard hanging, with the three characters "Jingxiufang" flying in a dragon and phoenix dance, which was extraordinary. The pillars on both sides of the gate were carved with exquisite patterns, including blooming peonies, smart flying birds, and auspicious cloud patterns, like a series of gorgeous paintings.

Eight words came to everyone's mind: magnificent and splendid. The Jingxiufang was indeed like a magnificent palace, showing the luxurious style of Kyoto, making outsiders feel timid even when they stepped in.

Shui Qinghua mustered up her courage. It was just an embroidery workshop. Why would she be afraid to enter? Shui Minghua also smiled at her calmly. The two of them walked with their heads held high, holding the children's hands and entering the embroidery workshop.

Once you enter, you will be dazzled by the golden color. This kind of gold is not made of gold thread, but the silk thread is wrapped with a layer of gold foil, so the thread is very thick and cannot be used for embroidery. Instead, they are coiled into patterns one by one, and the dragon and phoenix patterns are the main ones. If you look closely, the pattern made of the gold thread is still "one line to the end" without any break or cut in the middle.

Shui Qinghua secretly compared Jingxiufang and Chuxiuge in her mind. Chuxiuge also took the bright and gorgeous route, also used a lot of gold, and also liked dragon and phoenix patterns, but Chu embroidery had a distinct folk flavor, rough and wild, and was a willful growth far from the rivers and lakes. Jingxiufang, as the representative of Beijing embroidery, was just the opposite, solemn and regular, with a royal atmosphere high in the temple.

Shui Qinghua understood why the Ye family had tried for many years but had not been able to enter the capital. The two styles were diametrically opposed. The people of the capital thought they grew up in the imperial city and were superior to others, so it was natural that they would find it difficult to buy into Chu Xiu's ideas.

Shui Qinghua was thinking carefully when she heard a woman shouting, "Where did you come from, little bastard? You stained my clothes. Can you afford to pay for it?"

Shui Qinghua looked up and saw Ji Rui's pretty face flushed red, with two big bags of tears in her eyes. A young woman in gorgeous clothes was staring at Ji Rui viciously.

Shui Qinghua hurriedly pulled Ji Rui into her arms, hugged her tightly, and said while suppressing her anger: "The child didn't mean it. I apologize on her behalf. Please don't bother with the child. If the clothes are damaged, I will pay for it."

The woman was pretty, but her eyes looked a bit mean. She snorted and said with disdain, "Country people can't afford to pay. I'm generous and I'll let it go today, but Jingxiufang is not a place for people like you to come, especially these wild kids."

Shui Qinghua could no longer bear it, and said sternly: "If the child soiled your clothes, I will compensate you no matter how much it costs, but this is not a reason for you to speak ill of me. Please apologize to my child!"

The mean woman sneered and ignored him.

At this time, Ji Wei suddenly spoke in a baby voice: "Mom, I saw it clearly, my second sister didn't touch the aunt's clothes at all, it was the aunt who suddenly took a step back, and she almost knocked my second sister down!"

The woman searched around for the source of the sound. After looking around, she found a baby who was not even as tall as her legs. Her eyebrows immediately raised and she said to Ji Wei fiercely, "You little kid, you called me auntie?"

Ji Wei said: "Yes, the color you are wearing is exactly the same as Aunt Li who cooks in my house!"

As soon as these words were spoken, low laughter rang out throughout the embroidery workshop.

The woman looked at the bright rose-red color on her body and her face twisted with anger.

Ji Wei continued, "Just now, the uncle secretly pulled the aunt's hand. The aunt was afraid of being seen, so she struggled hard and took a step back, bumping into my second sister. I'm short, so I saw it."

Now the laughter in the store was no longer heard, but an uproar broke out.

The color drained from the woman's face, and a man standing next to her looked embarrassed with flickering eyes. A beautiful woman beside the man glared at the two of them.

Some people were whispering, "It's fine if Miss Liu is a bit domineering, but she's actually having an affair with her best friend's husband."

"I heard that Miss Liu is determined to marry the Third Prince as a concubine."

The man said to the beautiful woman in a flattering manner, "My lady, please don't misunderstand me. It was Ah Liu who didn't stand firmly, and I pulled her up in a hurry. Don't listen to what this kid says!"

Shui Qinghua secretly thought that this was not good. They had just arrived and did not want to be involved in the private affairs of these nobles and make enemies for no reason.

Just as she was about to take the children away, a middle-aged woman came out from the inner room. She had a delicate and gentle face, and the faint crow's feet at the corners of her eyes not only did not damage her grace, but added a bit of grace. She looked at Miss Liu disapprovingly, then smiled at Ji Wei and said, "You are so eloquent at such a young age."

Shui Qinghua put Ji Wei behind him and said, "The child is less than two years old, so he can say anything he wants."

The middle-aged woman said gently, "I don't mean to blame the child. I really think she is smart." She then said to Miss Liu, "Ah Liu, I also saw that you were the one who bullied the child first. You should apologize. Jingxiufang is open for business, and everyone who comes is a guest."

Miss Liu looked at the middle-aged woman pleadingly: "Madam Li..." Seeing that the middle-aged woman's face was firm and unmoved, she could only reluctantly turn to Shui Qinghua and said in a voice quieter than a mosquito: "I'm sorry."

Shui Qinghua nodded and planned to leave with the child again.

"Madam, please stay!" The middle-aged woman raised her voice and tried to persuade her to stay again.