CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 83: DOUBLE-SIDED THREE-DIFFERENT EMBROIDERY

The nights at the Shanghai Bund are as bustling as ever, with boats adorned in beautiful neon lights floating on the Huangpu River. It’s been heard that a very tall television tower will be built here in the future, having just passed the proposal, becoming a hot topic of discussion.

On this lively night, a group of people working overtime are still here, but unlike usual, they are excitedly discussing something.

"Jiajia, I heard there’s an exceptionally outstanding work at this exhibition?" a woman in a floral print dress ran over and asked.

The girl called Jiajia glanced at her; the weather is so cold, yet she’s wearing a dress every day without worries of pain when she gets older!

But during times like these, many people come to her for insider information, including some department people, like this woman, because she knows someone in the final review group.

"Each exhibition presents some exceptionally outstanding works, that’s for sure." Jiajia replied with a smile on her lips, slightly raising her chin.

"I heard it’s Double-sided Embroidery this time?"

"Yes, it’s a piece submitted from Qingzhou Town, by Bao Niang Embroidery Workshop." Jiajia flipped her hair.

"Bao Niang Embroidery Workshop again, out of ten exhibitions, they’ve won seven or eight awards, among which four or five are first place!"

"No help for it, they’re one of the top workshops, with countless skilled embroidery women. How could they not produce something good?" Though Jiajia’s tone was one of praise, her expression showed she was unimpressed; regardless of how skilled the workshop is, they’d need to come to her for exposure at the exhibition?

"So what are they embroidering this time? There have been Double-sided Embroideries before, but none have ever been rated ’Outstanding’!"

While speaking, three or four people gathered around, which undeniably made Jiajia prouder.

"My brother-in-law said that this time they’re embroidering the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, intricately done, even up close there’s not a flaw to be seen, from afar it looks even more lifelike!"

The people showed surprised expressions upon hearing this; Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix is not an easy pattern to embroider, let alone on Double-sided Embroidery. It’s been attempted before, with some passing the final review, but the exhibition’s effect turned out average.

To use the complicated Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix pattern this time and not only pass but be award ’Outstanding’, it must have been excellently embroidered!

Though they can see it at the exhibition the day after tomorrow, the excitement surrounding it has piqued everyone’s curiosity to a peak.

Seeing so many people around her, like stars surrounding the moon, Jiajia felt a great sense of vanity, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifting.

While feeling proud, a sudden voice came from not far away.

"There’s an exceptional piece at the final review group!"

This voice raised, instantly echoing through the entire hallway.

Jiajia and those surrounding her were startled, as someone stood excitedly at the stairway entrance, shouting the same news.

’Outstanding’ is just an assessment of a work’s level. At the exhibition, it’s displayed with many other works.

But an ’Exceptional’ piece is different, not only representing the level of the work but also an honor, a substantial honor. It’s given a separate exhibition spot, marked with the words ’Exceptional’!

The Shanghai Embroidery Exhibition is highly authoritative in the industry; works with the ’Exceptional’ label haven’t appeared for over a decade. Should it appear, it would definitely cause a sensation in the entire industry!

Those around Jiajia immediately crowded the shouting person, bombarding them with questions.

Jiajia’s surroundings suddenly felt empty; the star-like moment was gone. She stomped her foot in frustration, but had to squeeze in too, as she was equally curious.

"Is it Double-sided Embroidery again? Since when did Double-sided Embroidery become so common?"

"Though Double-sided Embroidery is rare, it can’t just be selected because they like it, right? There are many regions with excellent embroidery techniques."

Some people started speculating whether the final review group had developed a liking for Double-sided Embroidery.

"That’s not the case; even the final review group didn’t expect it. When they saw the label marked as Double-sided Embroidery, they almost planned to pass it directly. Then a little intern girl coming in with coffee nearly knocked over a folding screen, that’s when the reviewers saw the back of the work!" the person stated.

"What’s on the back?"

Everyone was confused; is there a front and back in Double-sided Embroidery? Aren’t both sides supposed to be the same!

"Yes, there’s a front and back!" the person teased, seeing that some seemed to realize something before continuing: "In this Double-sided Embroidery work, the pattern on both sides is different!"

The crowd looked bewildered, then turned to look at the person like they were foolish.

"Young man, do you know what Double-sided Embroidery is? It’s not called Double-sided Embroidery just because there are patterns on both sides; it’s called Double-sided Embroidery because the patterns are identical on both sides!"

The young man seemed truly unaware of this definition, his enthusiasm slightly cooled, and he replied: "But the final review group said it’s Double-sided Embroidery. I heard them say, although the patterns differ on both sides, the entire outline is the same..."

"What!"

The woman in the floral skirt’s voice suddenly raised, "Are you saying the patterns are different on both sides, but the outline is the same?"

"Ye-yes, that’s what the reviewers said!" The young man thought he had conveyed information wrongly and hastily pulled the final review group out.

The young man didn’t get it, but the few present, including Jiajia, did. They knew what he meant when he said this.

"What about the colors? Are the colors the same on both sides?" Jiajia asked.

"Colors?" The young man got a bit flustered under the glare of aunties and young women but suddenly recalled the intern girl said they were different and hurriedly replied: "Not the same, not the same!"

He finished speaking, and everyone quieted down, exchanging looks; they saw the surprise and shock in each other’s eyes.

Double-sided Three-different Embroidery!

Double-sided Embroidery has types, regular Double-sided Embroidery has identical scenes and colors on both sides, which many know how to make, and the technique is relatively easier to grasp.

There are also two other types — Double-sided Colorful Embroidery, with identical scenes but different colors on both sides, relying on clever stitch hiding to completely hide threads so that people see different colored embroidery surfaces, enhancing visual appeal.

The other type is Double-sided Three-different Embroidery, with differing scenes and colors on each side, yet identical outlines on both!

This embroidery requires extremely high skill level; even those with the longest experience of fifty years present had never heard of anyone using Double-sided Three-different Embroidery for an exhibition.

If the exhibition had an honor better than ’Exceptional’, this piece would certainly claim it!