CHAPTER 359: CHAPTER 359: DEFEAT

The shopkeeper of Huaiyu Embroidery Shop, upon hearing this, was very pleased and laughed, "Please don’t keep calling me ’Madam’. My family name is Li by marriage. By seniority, you three just call me Granny Li."

Mrs. Jiang nodded in agreement, "The elder sister is right. Xiao Yu, Sister Xiu, Hui Niang, from now on you can also call me Grandma Jiang. Calling me ’Madam’ is too formal."

Then she turned to the shopkeeper of Huaiyu Embroidery Shop and said, "However, if you’d like to see the embroideries, you have to wait a bit. Mrs. Xu will be coming."

A few of the ladies and young ladies present showed joyful expressions upon hearing this, asking Mrs. Jiang, "Madam, is Mrs. Xu also attending the Qiqiao Banquet today?"

Mrs. Jiang nodded, "Yes, Miss Xu loves embroidery. She attended last year and when she heard that I am hosting the Qiqiao Banquet this year, she sent a message a few days ago stating she would come."

The shopkeeper of Huaiyu Embroidery Shop did not particularly care about the County Magistrate’s wife, but since Mrs. Jiang suggested waiting, she said no more.

After a short while, Mrs. Xu and her entourage arrived, accompanied by Mrs. Zou and one of her granddaughters, along with Zou Yuwan.

Zou Yuwan’s face almost couldn’t maintain its appropriate smile upon seeing Gu Jinli... Mrs. Jiang has truly gone mad, inviting these lowly peasant girls to the Qiqiao Banquet, sitting with them makes her feel disgusted.

Gu Jinli was surprised to see Zou Yuwan as well, what surprised her was that Mrs. Zou and Concubine Lu were engaged in a fierce conflict, yet she would still bring Zou Yuwan along.

Mrs. Zou, being a few years older than Mrs. Jiang, had a face with loosened skin and rather deep forehead wrinkles. Her eyes carried a piercing gaze when looking at others, but fortunately, she always carried a smile on her face, and she had nothing but praise for Gu Jinli and the others.

In fact, the reason Mrs. Zou brought Zou Yuwan today is that she knew that the Jiang Family had invited the Gu Family People, and since the Lu Family and the Gu Family were at odds, she intentionally brought Zou Yuwan along with the purpose of causing discomfort to her.

Mrs. Xu, looking to be in her early thirties, was a woman with a scholarly aura. The girl by her side bore a resemblance to her, appearing very gentle. However, her big, twinkling eyes betrayed a hint of cleverness.

"Mrs. Jiang, are these the young ladies from the Gu Family? Which one is the young lady with the exceptional embroidery skills?" Miss Xu asked after greeting Mrs. Jiang with a bow.

Mrs. Jiang, holding Gu Jinxiu’s hand, said, "It is indeed this young lady here, called Sister Xiu."

Miss Xu scrutinized Gu Jinxiu and praised, "Sister Xiu, you are truly beautiful."

Among the young ladies present, this Miss Gu was the most attractive.

Gu Jinxiu responded with a slightly embarrassed smile, "Miss Xu overpraises me. I cannot compare to Miss Xu’s grace and good virtues."

Miss Xu was a bit surprised. She had thought the Gu Family would be crude, but didn’t expect Gu Jinxiu to speak with such an air of refinement, which pleased her all the more.

"Your embroidered pieces, the Dragon Boat Contest and Children Splashing at Noon Water, I saw both, and they were excellently done. Did you bring a new piece today?"

Gu Jinxiu nodded, "I brought a piece titled ’Agricultural Busy Painting.’"

Miss Xu was delighted, "I’ve brought a piece as well. Let’s see which of us has done the better embroidery."

The shopkeeper of Huaiyu Embroidery Shop could hardly wait, hearing this she said, "The two young ladies, let’s not talk any longer, quickly bring out your works and let’s compare. Isn’t Qiqiao Festival all about comparing women’s embroidery skills?"

Mrs. Jiang was very considerate of Mrs. Xu’s feelings, so she first asked for her opinion, "Madam, what do you think?"

Mrs. Xu replied, "Certainly, it’s a fine idea. My Sister Shu has been looking forward to this for several days at home. If we don’t let her see Miss Gu’s embroidery soon, she’ll become anxious with me."

Mrs. Jiang, after listening, said to the young ladies present: "Ladies, please bring out your embroidery pieces. Whoever wins this year’s craftswoman title, this old woman certainly has a great reward."

"A great reward? Then we must definitely have a contest." The speaker was the daughter of Squad Leader Yang, who was a confidant of County Captain Jiang, and had been attending the Qiqiao Banquet at Jiang Mansion every year since she was seven.

Nanny Wen had already led the maids to join several tables together, forming one long table that stretched two zhang.

Over twenty young ladies took out their respective embroidery pieces and placed them on the table, presenting a dazzling array that included embroidered purses, handkerchiefs, small pictures, and even large pictures. Some even brought out an entire garment.

Mrs. Jiang, Mrs. Xu, Mrs. Zou, and the shopkeeper of Huaiyu Embroidery Shop acted as judges, inspecting each embroidery piece from left to right.

When Mrs. Jiang and the others saw Gu Jinxiu’s agricultural busy painting, they exclaimed in unison: "This embroidery is extraordinarily lifelike, especially the figures on it. They are so vibrant, including not only those working and reaping in the fields but also an old woman by the ridge bringing meals for her children, embroidered with extreme detail."

Miss Xu was convinced after seeing Gu Jinxiu’s agricultural busy painting: "There’s no need to say who this year’s craftswoman is, it’s certainly Sister Xiu. None of us can embroider better than her."

Miss Xu is the County Magistrate’s daughter, the highest in status among the present girls, and she was also last year’s craftswoman, famous for her excellent embroidery skills. When she said these words, the other girls naturally had no objections.

However, there are always some people who seek their own doom.

Zou Yuwan said: "Ladies, since Miss Gu’s embroidery is so outstanding, why not have her embroider a small picture for us on the spot... After all, the embroidery Miss Gu brought was done at home, and we didn’t see it. Embroidering one right here would be an eye-opener for us."

Upon hearing Zou Yuwan’s words, Mrs. Jiang’s face darkened. Zou Yuwan was questioning whether the embroidery Sister Xiu brought was actually done by herself!

Humph, a concubine daughter is just a concubine daughter, not only petty but also having a dark and unsportsmanlike mind.

Zou Yuwan doubted that Gu Jinxiu’s embroidery was done by herself; how could a rural girl who has fled from famine possess such astounding embroidery skills?

The shopkeeper of Huaiyu Embroidery Shop smiled and said: "What a coincidence, I also want to see Sister Xiu’s skills. My old friend, why not let Sister Xiu embroider a small picture for us to see?"

True gold is not afraid of the refiner’s fire; since Zou Yuwan has already raised doubts, if Gu Jinxiu does not embroider in front of everyone, it will inevitably lead to rumors she had cheated.

Mrs. Jiang turned to Gu Jinxiu and asked, "Sister Xiu, what do you think?"

If this child does not want to embroider, she would stand up for her.

Gu Jinxiu smiled easily: "Naturally, it’s possible."

Seeing this, Mrs. Jiang’s heart grew even fonder of Gu Jinxiu. This girl looked gentle but was actually tough on the inside and not afraid of trouble.

Nevertheless...

"Since everyone is competing together, why not all of us embroider a small picture on the spot, so we can also see which family’s daughter embroiders well."

Upon Mrs. Jiang’s words, many of the girls present resented Zou Yuwan.

Whether Gu Jinxiu’s embroidery was done by someone else they did not know, but their own embroidery pieces were brought for the Qiqiao Banquet, embroidered by skilled maids at home.

Now, because of Zou Yuwan, they were about to be shamed on the spot.

Zou Yuwan did not expect Mrs. Jiang to make such a move and was seething with anger. This old devout woman, with just one sentence, had managed to offend almost half of the county’s rich and powerful young ladies.