Chapter 10: Mysterious Man

Feng Xuxu looked around the workshop, seeing the constant flow of people, she was confident that the business was thriving and her embroidery would find a market.

"Miss, have you found any embroidery that you like?"

Feng Xuxu turned to see a beautiful woman in her thirties, her hair styled in a Peony Flower updo adorned with a Magnolia hairpin. Her skin was as creamy as lard and she carried the fragrance of orchids. Her cherry lips were naturally red without the need for cosmetics, and under her curved willow eyebrows were a pair of talkative, bright eyes. She was wearing the latest fashionable powder-blue bodice with a long skirt and a light blue wide-sleeved sheer blouse draped over it. Around her waist, she wore a wide pink belt tied at the front in a butterfly knot, with long ribbons hanging down that rested on her long skirt, swaying elegantly with her movements.

Yun Niang sized up the delicate young girl before her. Although she looked malnourished with a sallow complexion, it couldn't conceal the radiance she would have when she grew up - a true beauty in the making.

Feng Xuxu blinked and said, "Big sister, I'm here to sell embroidery. I wonder if Yunyi Workshop would be interested in purchasing it?"

"Little sister, we have our own embroiderers in Yunyi Workshop. We don't usually buy embroidery from outside, but if the work is unique, we might consider it."

Feng Xuxu pursed her lips and smiled. "I know Yunyi Workshop has many stores in Xueyan Country, so I came here specifically. Big sister, why not take a look at my embroidery? I promise it will catch your eye."

Yun Niang flicked the silk handkerchief in her hand, turning her curious gaze onto Feng Xuxu. She wondered what kind of embroidery could make this young girl so persistent. Driven by curiosity, she agreed.

"Oh... Since little sister is so confident, please bring out your embroidery and let Yun Niang take a look, shall we?"

Feng Xuxu took out several handkerchiefs from her bundle and handed them to Yun Niang standing beside her.

Yun Niang examined the handkerchiefs. On the top one was a pattern of butterflies playing among flowers, with two colorful butterflies frolicking above the peony blossoms in a lively scene.

The second featured several blooming pink lilies, their petals slightly curving downward to reveal the tender yellow stamens in the center. A bee was passing through, covered in pollen, making for a comical sight.

The last was simpler: a picture of a kitten with ears erect, eyes fixed on the goldfish in the pond, trying to catch a fish with its paws, only to get splashed by the water, displaying an annoyed expression.

Seeing these novel handkerchiefs with their clever design, bold use of color, and humorous depiction of small animals, Yun Niang couldn't deny their potential to attract attention, yet she failed to see what was particularly exceptional about them.

Guided by Feng Xuxu, Yun Niang was astonished to see that both sides of the handkerchief were exactly the same. As she examined the work, she repeatedly expressed her amazement, noting the embroidery technique to be unprecedented in the entire Xueyan Country.

After admiring the work, Yun Niang didn't return the embroidery to Feng Xuxu, evidence of how much she liked them. "Little sister, how about this: I'll pay fifty silver per piece of embroidery. The best embroiderers here get five silver per handkerchief, and that's higher than what other workshops would offer."

Yun Niang felt fortunate that this young girl had come to their workshop—had she gone to a rival's, it would have been a considerable blow. They simply had to retain this girl. "How about this, little sister, it's not convenient to talk here. Let's go to the back hall, shall we?" Feng Xuxu looked around the bustling hall and agreed it was indeed inconvenient, so she nodded, "I'll listen to sister."

The two went to the back hall, where Yun Niang busily had a servant bring tea and snacks. She enthusiastically took Feng Xuxu's hand, "Everyone in the workshop calls me Yun Niang. I'm much older than you, so there's no need for you to call me sister. If you don't mind, you can call me Aunt Yun." Feng Xuxu obediently called out, "Aunt Yun." Yun Niang was so pleased by how sensible and clever Feng Xuxu was, she took an instant liking to her.

Their conversation ended an hour later, with Feng Xuxu holding 150 silver in hand. Although she could only sell the double-sided embroidery to Yunyi Workshop, they had agreed to keep her techniques confidential. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Looking at the purse in hand, it was her first earned fortune since arriving in ancient times, and she couldn't contain her excitement. At the same time, she silently thanked her grandmother for teaching her the arts of Su embroidery and Xiang embroidery without any reservations.

On the third floor of Yunyi Workshop, "Are you saying the double-sided embroidery was made by a twelve or thirteen-year-old farm girl?" Following the voice, a young man in a red satin robe stood by the window. His features were picturesque, his lips as red as cherry blossoms, his complexion as white as snow, and his sleek, jet-black hair was tied up with a fiery red ribbon, hanging loosely on one side. A few strands of black hair fluttered in the wind across his forehead. His dark eyes held a mix of coldness and charm, and a hint of nonchalance at the corners of his eyes called to mind blooming flowers, so entrancing that one could lose their soul with just a little inattention, the epitome of beauty.