Invitation 47

  Yang Lan could see that she was thinking of finding a successor, and thought for a moment before saying: "Master, don't beat around the bush with me. I really like embroidery, not just to temper my personality, but also because I love painting. If I can embroider it and keep it for a long time, it's also a delightful thing. I know what you're thinking, I won't promise anything else, but providing for your old age and giving you a peaceful and prosperous life is no problem. As for whether you want to continue with your old profession or find another daughter to support you in your old age, it's just a matter of one word. You've become my master, and I have to take responsibility for you until the end. As for whether my words are effective or not, you can ask my husband."

  She had long told her mother that anyone who followed her, whether it was her master or husband or servant, as long as she had the ability, would give them a satisfactory future. The prerequisite is loyalty, or doing a good job, as long as they are not treacherous and deceitful, they will not be treated unfairly.

  Master Li quietly looked at Yang Lan, who was only eight years old. Her clear and bright eyebrows and pink lips already showed that she would be a beautiful woman in the future. There was a unique heroic spirit between her eyebrows, and her movements were elegant and refined. The sparkle in her eyes was full of confidence, making her look delicate and lovely.

  "Ah, I didn't expect you to be a good one. If you're willing to wait until you've learned it, in the future find me a daughter-in-law and I'll teach her too! If I have someone in mind, I'll let you know, but if you have a good candidate, feel free to tell me, I still want to pass on this skill. As for the future, we can discuss that later. For now, it's still a bit early. Go back and make five embroidered shoes with auspicious patterns, plus two pouches and one handkerchief. The designs should be drawn by your own hands, and the handkerchief should have new ideas, not using anyone else's designs. Use flat stitches only. When you're done, bring them over for me to inspect. I'll give you a month's time!"

  Master Li calmly explained the task, which seemed easy, just a handkerchief and a knot, something that even a young girl could do. However, to do it well indeed tested one's skills, temperament, patience, wisdom, and even artistic talent.

  Yang Lan nodded solemnly after a moment's thought in her mind, "I understand, I'll go back and do it slowly."

  After returning, Yang Lan began to ponder how to make all three things perfect, and it was not easy! To know that the more everyone has such a thing, the harder it is to stand out! Otherwise, how can we test our skills?

  Master Li embroidered a handkerchief, which was sold for a high price of 3,000 taels in his mother's embroidery room. The pattern on the handkerchief is simple: a small bridge, a few ripples on the lake surface, and a mischievous boy jumping happily on the bridge. By chance, a bald monk happened to pass by, smiling and glancing at the naughty boy.

  The pattern is simple yet elegant, with profound meaning and exquisite embroidery. The beautiful design has a deep connotation that wins the favor of young ladies, so it's no wonder this handkerchief was bought at a high price.

  Yang Lan asked herself, "Can a handkerchief embroidered by me be sold for 3,000 yuan?" No, so she should humbly ask for advice. She must master this craft, not for anything else, but to learn this exquisite art, which is more practical than poetry and songs, isn't it?

  These days, Yang Lan has been pondering the problem of embroidery skills. In fact, there is nothing to think about, just being meticulous and steady-handed, and having patience is enough! For several days in a row, she embroidered several pouches that were not very good, but she gradually discovered that this was a great way to temper her character! When her mood was calm and peaceful, the embroidery patterns came out looking particularly elegant, and even just looking at them made her feel happy and content. If she was feeling anxious or restless, no matter how beautiful the pattern was, it would lack a bit of its usual charm.

  She gradually understood Li's intention and began to focus on studying with all her heart, and under the interest, she became more and more fond of it. The embroidered pouches she made were compared with those from a few days ago, and indeed, there was much improvement, which made her even more delighted.

  On this day, after lunch, the elder sister specially stopped Yang Lan and smiled: "Sixth sister, I made a mistake some time ago, it was not easy to lift the ban, during my confinement, I had nothing to do, except for copying the female precepts, I also did some embroidery. Seeing that your birthday is approaching, I made a skirt for you, why don't you come to my room and sit for a while?" The expectant look in her eyes, the careful and cautious manner made people unbearable.

  Yang Lan's eyes scanned and suddenly found her third sister standing under the plum blossom tree not far away, chatting with Xiao Yatou. Her eyes kept glancing over here intentionally or unintentionally, revealing a few hints of watching a good show in her eyes. Yang Lan couldn't help but frown, thinking for a moment that she couldn't be too unfriendly to her cousin. After all, she was a guest here, and if she didn't give her some face, the servants would immediately take action, making her cousin's life difficult. Sighing, she felt a bit unbearable in her heart, nodded with a small face, "Okay, I'll go ask my cousin for a cup of tea, don't mind me being a troublemaker!"

  Li Qianxue originally thought Yang Lan would not respond for half a day, and had already lost hope. Unexpectedly, she agreed in the blink of an eye. Li Qianxue suddenly lifted her head, looking at Yang Lan with disbelieving eyes that shone brightly like stars. She nodded her head like a little chicken pecking at rice, "Why would I be picky?! You're welcome to come! Sixth sister is inviting you!"

  Yang Lan took Biyun and Biyue to her small courtyard, which was the boudoir of her aunt in the past. The decoration was elegant, but it had been many years since anyone lived there, so the furnishings were somewhat outdated. Moreover, because her cousin did not have parents, it was not suitable to decorate too luxuriously, so it seemed a bit somber and not like a young maiden's room.

  However, Yang Lan was really coming for the first time and gave a flattering compliment: "Your place is decorated so elegantly! Unlike mine, it's all messy and my mother always says I'm not steady enough!"

  Li Qianxue smiled modestly, "What's worth Sixth Sister's praise? These were all arranged by my mother in the past, I don't have that skill! Xiaohong, pour a cup of tea for Sixth Sister using the snow water from the plum blossoms." Turning her head to smile at Yang Shan, "The other day when I was bored, I saw that the dew and snow on the plum blossoms hadn't melted yet, so I collected a small jar of it. I thought it would be fun to drink tea with my sisters!"

  Yang Lan clapped her hands and laughed, "This is indeed a elegant thing to do. However, my tea-brewing skills are not that great, I drink tea like a cow drinking water, so please don't think me too rustic, elder sister!"

  "Oh, that's just my hobby! I'm not particularly discerning, and the flavor of tea from different water sources is also different!" She sat on the kang with a smile, chatting with Yang Lan about tea.

  Yang Lan leaned against the yellow Fu character cushion, watching her cousin talk eloquently in front of the tea tray, citing classics and quoting authorities. Her small face, as big as a palm, radiated soft and bright light, and her autumn water-like eyes revealed a hint of confidence. At this moment, her cousin was undoubtedly exuding an intelligent and captivating beauty.

  She found that her cousin was able to perform with ease and confidence in her own field of expertise, and her demeanor was very generous and confident, making people feel delighted. However, once she stepped out of her comfort zone, she would become flustered and at a loss for what to do. Perhaps at first, she could still pretend to be okay, but as time went on, her true nature would be revealed. Moreover, she had a bit of a soft spot in her ear, making her easily deceived by others.

  Yang Lan sighed inwardly, actually her cousin wasn't easy either, after all just a teenager or so, lacking parental love and proper guidance, if she could be good for once, in the future finding a poor but kind-hearted scholar who shared similar interests, living a simple life together wouldn't be bad at all.

  "Has my cousin ever thought about the future, what are her thoughts on it?" Yang Lan suddenly asked, as she was always Aunt's daughter, she should help out a bit! If she really angered her mother, even gods would find it hard to save her.

  Collect it!