The ancient war between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in a wealthy family

Zhan Yu held my hand, his palm was warm and dry, which gave me great comfort.

"Don't worry. We'll deal with any challenge head on. Critic Shen may be harsh, but he's also fair. As long as your proposal is good enough, he'll definitely approve it."

The next morning, I arrived at critic Shen's studio half an hour early.

The studio is located on the top floor of a high-end office building in the city center. From the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can see the entire city.

However, I had no intention of appreciating the spectacular scenery. My heart was beating like a little rabbit in my chest.

The studio assistant was a beautifully dressed young woman with a sweet smile but a hint of subtle arrogance in her eyes.

"Miss Bai, Teacher Shen is waiting for you, please follow me." She led me through a long corridor. Both sides of the corridor were hung with various works of art, each of which was worth a lot of money.

I couldn't help but sigh that this was the real upper class society, and I, like a mortal who had strayed into a fairyland, seemed out of place.

Critic Shen sat behind a large desk. He had gray hair and wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He exuded a majestic aura.

He didn't stand up to greet me, but just nodded lightly and motioned me to sit down.

I took out the plan I had prepared and began to explain it.

However, before I could say a few words, he interrupted me.

"Ms. Bai, your proposal is, with all due respect, too immature. Your understanding of art is still at a very superficial level." His tone was sharp and merciless.

My face turned red and white, and I felt like I was slapped in public.

I took a deep breath and tried to control my emotions.

"Teacher Shen, I know my plan still has many shortcomings, but I..."

"Deficiencies? More than deficiencies, it's riddled with loopholes!" He interrupted me again, picked up my proposal, and flipped through a few pages. "Look at this, and this. It completely fails to take market demand into account, and it doesn't embody the essence of contemporary art."

Every word he spoke was like a sharp sword, piercing my self-esteem.

I felt like a student who had made a mistake and was standing in front of the teacher to be criticized.

The atmosphere in the studio was so oppressive that it was suffocating.

The assistant stood aside with a barely perceptible sneer on his face, as if he was watching a good show.

"If you insist on holding the exhibition according to this plan," Critic Shen put down my proposal and said in a cold tone, "I will not give you any praise."

His words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back. My heart sank to the bottom. He knew how important this exhibition was to me.

I bit my lip and forced myself to calm down.

I pulled out another document from my bag. This document took me several all-nighters to compile. It contained a detailed analysis of everything from art history to modern art trends, as well as my unique ideas about this exhibition.

"Teacher Shen, please take another look at this document." Although my voice was a little trembling, it was full of determination.

Critic Shen took the information and flipped through it casually.

However, as he turned the pages, his expression gradually became serious.

He sometimes frowned, sometimes nodded, his eyes revealing surprise and admiration... He raised his head, looked at me, and said slowly: "It seems that I underestimated you..." He paused, his eyes fell on a detail in the information, and tapped the table lightly with his fingers, "But here..."

His finger lingered on the part of the material about the integration of the exhibition theme and the ancient Bai family brocade weaving techniques.

"Ms. Bai, your integration of family history into a modern art exhibition is both novel and ingenious, and I deeply admire it. This material demonstrates your profound understanding and unique perspective on art, which truly impresses me." He pushed his glasses, his tone softened, though still scrutinizing. "However, integrating such ancient techniques with modern art is extremely difficult. If you're not careful, the result will be a mismatch, like painting a tiger and end up with a dog."

I held my breath, knowing this was the real test.

Although critic Shen’s previous criticisms were sharp, they were mostly directed at the shortcomings of the plan. But now, he has begun to question my core creativity, which is the most fatal.

"Teacher Shen, you're right. Fusing traditional techniques with modern art is indeed a huge challenge." I said calmly, neither humble nor overbearing. "But I believe that challenges and opportunities coexist. The Bai family brocade weaving technique itself contains rich artistic value. Its exquisite craftsmanship, unique patterns, and the historical and cultural heritage behind it are all inexhaustible artistic treasures. My proposal is to unearth these treasures and reinterpret them with modern art techniques, so that more people can understand and appreciate this ancient craft."

Critic Shen didn't say anything, but just looked at me quietly, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

The atmosphere in the studio froze again. The assistant was still standing by, but the sneer on his face seemed to have disappeared, replaced by a hint of surprise.

"You make a lot of sense," Critic Shen finally said after a long pause. "But theory alone isn't enough. I need to see how you translate these ideas into actual exhibits." He paused, his tone tentative. "How are you going to convince me?"

I knew this was his last chance to give me.

"Teacher Shen," I met his gaze, my tone firm, "you are an authority in the art world, with a unique vision and accurate judgment. I believe that once you see the actual results of my exhibition plan with your own eyes, you will definitely agree with my ideas." I took a deep breath and continued, "I plan to arrange some small private exhibitions in the near future as a preview of this large-scale exhibition. I wonder if you would be willing to take the time to come and provide guidance?"

Critic Shen did not answer immediately. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers, one by one, as if he was thinking about something.

My heart was hanging in the air, waiting for his final decision.

The studio was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Only the ticking sound of the wall clock seemed to be urging the passage of time.

"A small private exhibition?" He finally spoke, his tone unable to tell whether he was happy or angry. "It's a good idea... but..." He raised his head and stared at me sharply. "If your rehearsal doesn't satisfy me..." He didn't continue, but the warning was self-evident.

I understand that this is not just a rehearsal, but also a gamble.

If I win, I will get the support of critic Shen and the exhibition will go smoothly; if I lose... I dare not imagine the consequences.

"Teacher Shen, I won't let you down." I said in a firm tone, my eyes full of confidence.

I took a deep breath to calm my slightly nervous mood.

"Teacher Shen, before preparing for my exhibition, I thoroughly researched many classic art exhibitions, drawing inspiration from them and incorporating the unique elements of Bai family brocade into my own innovations." I opened my tablet and pulled up the materials I'd prepared. "For example, this Silk Road themed exhibition cleverly combines historical artifacts with modern technology to create an artistic experience that transcends time and space. I plan to employ a similar approach in my exhibition, presenting the historical story of Bai family brocade in a more interactive and immersive way..."

As I explained, I observed the expression on Critic Shen's face.

At first, he just browsed the information with an expressionless face, nodding slightly occasionally, and didn't seem to be very interested.

I did not get discouraged and continued to talk about it. From the design and layout of the exhibition hall to the selection of lighting and sound effects, and then to the interaction with the audience, every detail was strived for perfection, and I emphasized how to integrate the essence of Bai family brocade with modern art concepts.

As my explanation deepened, I noticed that Reviewer Shen's eyes gradually changed.

He began to listen to my explanation carefully, and asked some questions from time to time, such as how to balance traditional and modern elements, how to avoid falling into clichés, etc.

I patiently answered their questions one by one and analyzed them based on specific cases, striving to make him feel my sincerity and professionalism.

After the explanation, commentator Shen fell into deep thought.

The studio was silent, with only my heartbeat being audible.

After a long time, he finally raised his head with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"Miss Bai, your ideas are indeed very creative, and you are very well prepared. I see your passion and dedication to art, and I also feel your deep affection for the Bai family's brocade."

When I heard these words, I felt excited and my heart finally settled down.

"Thank you Teacher Shen for your affirmation. I will continue to work hard to make this exhibition the best it can be!" I said in a firm tone.

"I'm looking forward to your exhibition." Critic Shen smiled slightly, with a hint of anticipation in his tone, "I hope you can surprise me."

I saw Critic Shen off from the studio. Zhan Yu came up to me and asked with concern, "How was it? What did Critic Shen say?"

I smiled and nodded. "He approved of my proposal and said he's looking forward to the exhibition."

Zhan Yu also smiled and held my hand, "I knew you could do it! I always believed in you!"

His encouragement gave me more confidence.

The new exhibition plan is progressing smoothly, which makes me look forward to the future.

However, I knew there would be other troubles during the preparations for the exhibition, such as... I glanced out the window and saw a black car slowly driving away. The license plate number looked familiar... "By the way, Zhan Yu," I asked thoughtfully, "have you noticed recently..."

"By the way, Zhan Yu," I asked thoughtfully, "Have you noticed anything about the Zhao Group recently?" The Zhao Group I was talking about was the biggest competitor of Baijia Brocade in the industry, and the one I had always been most wary of.

The familiar black car was the car of Zhao Tiancheng, chairman of the Zhao Group.

Zhan Yu followed my gaze and frowned slightly. "Zhao Tiancheng? What is he doing here?"

"I don't know," I shook my head, "but my intuition tells me that he has no good intentions. Critic Shen left just as he showed up. This is too much of a coincidence."

Zhan Yu pondered for a moment and said, "I'll send someone to monitor the Zhao Group and see what they've been up to lately." He put his arm around my shoulder and whispered, "Don't worry. We'll deal with any tricks they pull. We can counter them."

His words gave me great comfort and strength.

I took a deep breath and suppressed the anxiety in my heart.

"Well, I believe we can overcome all difficulties and hold this exhibition successfully."

In the next few days, I devoted myself to the preparations for the exhibition.

From the selection of exhibits to the layout of the exhibition hall, I strive for perfection in every detail.

The Bai family's brocade has a long history, and each exhibit carries the family's memories and glory.

I hope that through this exhibition, I can show the essence of Bai family brocade to the world, so that more people can understand and appreciate this ancient art.

However, I knew there would be other complications during the show preparations.

The Zhao Group has been eyeing us covetously, and they will definitely not sit idly by and watch us successfully hold this exhibition.

I have to be constantly vigilant against any tactics they might resort to.

Zhan Yu also strengthened surveillance on the Zhao Group and kept a close eye on their movements.

He told me that the Zhao Group has indeed been acting unusually recently and seems to be secretly planning something.

This made me even more uneasy. I knew a new storm was coming.

As time goes by, the preparation of the exhibits has entered a critical stage.

I was anxiously awaiting the transportation of the important exhibits, which were the treasures of the Bai family brocade and the core of this exhibition.

But when the transportation time came, there was still no news.

I had a bad feeling and immediately called the person in charge of transportation.

"Hey, Manager Wang, why haven't the exhibits arrived yet? Weren't they supposed to be delivered this morning?"

There was a burst of noise from the other end of the phone, followed by Manager Wang's panicked voice: "Miss Bai, this is bad! Something happened..."