CHAPTER 182: CHAPTER 182: UNLEASHING A BIG MOVE RIGHT FROM THE START

But who would have thought that he was in such a hurry that he came looking for them himself.

On the third evening after Yi Chichi arrived at the base, Ji Jian, the wife of the family next door to Commander Lin, invited her to go tide pooling.

Everything was ready, just before departure, Ji Jian hesitated and said, "Chichi, you might not be able to go to the sea."

"Why?"

Yi Chichi, who was adjusting her pant legs, looked up. Ji Jian slightly raised her chin and pointed outside the yard, "Your Wen Shi has brought a guest back."

Yi Chichi followed her gaze and saw Wen Shi and a man coming towards them from the end of the road.

Not in military uniform, he wore a white shirt and black pants, with a pair of three-lace leather shoes on his feet and a pen in his chest pocket.

Under his arm was a briefcase, a typical look for an official.

Seeing Wen Shi and this man chatting and laughing, Yi Chichi quickly thought and apologized to Ji Jian, "Sister-in-law, let’s plan for tomorrow."

"Alright."

Ji Jian laughed brightly and took a bucket to head out, "I’ll go tide pooling first, and if I get a good haul, I’ll share some with you."

"Deal."

This time was exactly low tide, and if she went early and found a good spot, the harvest would not be bad.

But Ji Jian had mentioned that she had a streak of bad luck.

She had never been lucky since she was little, except for that one time when she caught hold of her husband, Lin Qiu Ping.

Others go tide pooling during low tide and return with a full catch.

She went tide pooling and seemed as if she was blind, unable to see any sea products, and right after she left, the sea products would appear and be picked up by those with her.

At first, Yi Chichi thought it was a coincidence, but after being invited by her yesterday morning for a tide pooling session, she understood.

Ji Jian really did have something about her.

Obviously, there was a spotted cowrie right by her foot, but she just couldn’t see it.

Therefore, Yi Chichi had no interest in sharing her sea harvest.

Ji Jian had just left for no more than two minutes when Wen Shi brought someone to the door.

"Chichi, this is Uncle Ning, say hello."

Last name Ning?

Yi Chichi instantly understood, the owner of the Guanyin Statue.

He actually came looking for them himself?

She politely smiled and greeted Ning Jianping, "Hello Uncle Ning, have you eaten?"

"I’ve eaten."

Ning Jianping was impatient. After being invited inside by Wen Shi and Yi Chichi to drink some tea, he went straight to the point after some brief pleasantries, "We’re all familiar here, so I won’t be formal. Xiao Yi, I just wanted to ask if that embroidery is finished?"

His voice was low, with a hint of impatience in his eyes and brows.

"It’s done."

Yi Chichi nodded, "Please wait a moment, I’ll go get it now."

"Sure."

Yi Chichi went inside to get the Guanyin Statue. Wen Shi adjusted his seating position, chatting with Ning Jianping while keeping an eye on the door.

He was worried about someone else coming by and seeing.

"You can compare it."

Very soon, Yi Chichi came out with the Guanyin Statue and the painting.

She placed the painting on the table and held the Guanyin Statue in her hands.

The silk was too delicate. Without an embroidery frame, she couldn’t just place it anywhere or let others touch it casually, fearing that a single snag could ruin the entire work’s integrity and artistry.

Ning Jianping was well-versed in embroidery and was satisfied with Yi Chichi’s handling.

This was an expert, with keen attention to detail.

"Let me see." He pulled out his glasses from his bag, wearing them as he meticulously compared the embroidery to the Guanyin painting inch by inch.

Yi Chichi’s gaze fell on his face, but there was no anxious emotion.

She was confident in her skills.

Sure enough, she watched as Ning Jianping’s serious expression gradually relaxed, and satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

Five minutes later, he straightened up and praised, "Identical, even the details, colors, and composition are handled excellently. Xiao Yi, your craftsmanship is impeccable."

The embroidery sold at the Friendship Store was completely different; it’s hard to say which technique is superior, but the Guanyin Statue that Yi Chichi embroidered made him very satisfied.

In the eyes of Guanyin, he felt purity and compassion for all.

His mother would certainly be pleased with this gift!

His praise was genuine, and Yi Chichi just smiled, "I think so too."

Modesty wasn’t possible, her skills deserved such praise.

Probably not expecting her to be so thick-skinned, Ning Jianping paused before laughing, "Right, a young person should be confident and open. You should know the future..."

Realizing he had misspoken, he quickly stopped and changed the topic, "Are you taking on more work?"

Yi Chichi looked at Wen Shi, saw him nod slightly, and then smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Uncle, do you want another one?"

"I don’t want one."

This piece of embroidery almost drained their household’s yearly salary. Although they didn’t rely solely on salaries for a living, it was still a significant expense.

One piece a year was unsustainable.

"There’s a trade fair in Yangcheng, have you heard?"

Yi Chichi, ... starting with a big move?

That’s a bit aggressive.

"I know."

She nodded, knowing the full name of the trade fair was the Import and Export Commodities Fair held in Yangcheng.

It hadn’t stopped in the past ten years.

It’s also the main channel for our country’s export earnings.

Very important.

But that’s not the point; the point is that the fair would exhibit (and sell) handicrafts.

And embroidery, falls into the handicraft category.

"Do you want me to attend the trade fair?"

Wen Shi looked at Ning Jianping in surprise. How daring of him, Ning Uncle was?

A single Guanyin Statue captured his heart, and he had the idea of having his wife attend the trade fair.

That’s a bold move.

If his wife’s works were spotted by foreign friends at the trade fair, she’d be set for life.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared in his eyes.

Watching the two young people Ning Jianping’s mouth twitched a little, "Do you have any works?"

"No."

Yi Chichi shook her head, Wen Shi’s face fell, his earlier joy dashed.

Ning Jianping was pleased with Yi Chichi’s demeanor, showing neither excitement nor disappointment about the trade fair.

Instead, it was Wen Shi, his emotions too expressive.

Couldn’t help but say a word of advice.

But Wen Shi just grinned, "Don’t worry, Uncle, I’m only like this in front of family."

Ning Jianping, ... his words were smooth.

He glanced at Wen Shi, then couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to Yi Chichi, "You can’t attend the trade fair, but you can give your works to the Friendship Store, do you understand what I mean?"

"I understand!"

She understood all too well. That’s what her grandma did back then.

Following in her grandma’s footsteps, that works.

"But I don’t know anyone at the Friendship Store."

In other words: no connections, don’t dare to do it.

"I’ll introduce you."

Ning Jianping fully took responsibility, the embroidery masters on the Jiandong side were all getting older, their eyesight not so good, and they weren’t taking much work now. Their apprentices weren’t skilled enough, not yet ready to go out on their own.

Finding masters among the populace takes time, especially those who can produce masterpieces, even harder to find.

Yi Chichi’s skills were definitely master-level, the most crucial was that her works were alive with spirit, absolutely meeting Jiandong’s high standards for embroidery.