CHAPTER 360: CHAPTER 360: TROUBLE IN THE ZOU FAMILY

But the words were already out, and now they could only pray that Gu Jinxiu’s embroidery was indeed done by someone else, to turn the situation around for her.

Gu Jinli sneered in secret, thinking about competing with Gu Jinxiu in embroidery - should she say that Zou Yuwan was courting death?

Nanny Wen was a capable woman. Upon hearing Mrs. Jiang announce an on-the-spot embroidery contest, she immediately had the maids bring over the embroidery frames, cloth, and threads.

"Ladies, we shall limit this to the time it takes an incense stick to burn out, you may embroider whatever you wish, but once the incense burns out, regardless of completion, you must stop," Mrs. Jiang instructed.

"Speaking of incense, my Yuanyuan’s little benefactor has made a new type of incense called mosquito incense," said Mrs. Jiang, introducing Gu Jinli’s mosquito incense, "It claims to kill mosquitoes and repel insects. Light one at night, and it can fumigate all the mosquitoes in the room, yet it doesn’t produce much smoke and won’t suffocate people."

Mrs. Jiang continued, snapping the mosquito incense in half, "Let’s light half a stick of mosquito incense, and when it extinguishes, everyone must stop their embroidery, how about that?"

Mrs. Xu, looking at the mosquito incense, said: "It’s all incense, so it doesn’t matter which we use, but can this mosquito incense really kill mosquitoes? Sister Shu in my family attracts mosquitoes the most. Every summer, mosquitoes bite her, and every morning she wakes up with several bumps on her face. If this mosquito incense really works and produces little smoke, then it’s perfect."

Mrs. Jiang smiled and responded, "Why don’t we light it up right now and see how effective this mosquito incense is? If it’s good, Mrs. Xu can take a bundle home for Sister Shu."

"That would be great." Mrs. Xu trusted the Jiang family, who not only helped her husband greatly recently but also maintained a decent and clean household, which was pleasing.

Lianhe took the mosquito incense from Mrs. Jiang, lit it, and placed it in the incense burner.

The young ladies began their embroidery.

No wonder some ladies harbored resentment toward Zou Yuwan; indeed, many young ladies couldn’t even do basic thread sorting, let alone embroidery.

A single thread is already thin, yet it needs to be split several ways, and several ladies, in their haste, either tangled the threads around their fingers or snapped them entirely, becoming so frustrated that they turned red-eyed and furiously glared at Zou Yuwan.

Zou Yuwan too was sorting threads and embroidering when she felt the fierce glares of those ladies, her heart filling with indignation, cursing Mrs. Jiang, that old devout woman, for putting her in this situation.

Compared to those frantic ladies, Gu Jinxiu was as smooth as flowing water; she quickly selected her embroidery frame, cloth, and threads, split the thread into ten equally, threaded her needle, and began her embroidery.

Her hands were gentle, and her movements of piercing and lifting were very pleasing to watch. Moreover, she was a beauty, causing Mrs. Jiang and others sitting nearby to find watching her embroider truly delightful.

Mrs. Xu quietly asked Mrs. Jiang, "Sister Xiu should be of age now, has she been promised to someone?"

Mrs. Jiang replied, "She is of age but not yet betrothed."

She also mentioned that Gu Jinxiu would observe three-year mourning for her kin who died on the roads fleeing famine.

Surprised, Mrs. Xu commented, "This young lady is truly virtuous."

In Great Chu, even those meticulous in following customs typically only observe twenty-seven months of mourning for their parents, and in rural households, people often conclude mourning once the initial intense period has passed. However, Gu Jinxiu chose to mourn her clan for three years.

Such an act of righteousness was indeed rare.

Time quickly passed, and after two hours, the half-stick of mosquito incense had burned out. Nanny Wen stepped forward and smiled, "Ladies, time’s up."

Not a few young ladies looked at their own disastrous embroidery works and let out sighs of pity. Gu Jinxiu had finished her embroidery half a quarter hour earlier, and now she had put down the embroidery needle, stood up and waited on the side for Mrs. Jiang and the others to inspect.

Mrs. Jiang and the others came along, and upon seeing the young ladies’ embroidery works, they couldn’t help but cover their mouths and laugh, as the embroidery was really a mess.

However, Miss Xu’s embroidery was not bad; she embroidered a half-open lotus flower and the carps playing around it.

Miss Yang’s was also good, but instead of embroidering, she made a small cloth bag that looked plain but had many compartments, capable of holding quite a few books.

What amazed Mrs. Jiang and the others the most was Gu Jinxiu’s embroidery. She embroidered a small image, the size of a palm, which depicted a little plump girl holding a pastry, nibbling while sneakily looking around, afraid that someone would catch her stealing food; that was exactly Shang Yuanyuan.

Seeing this embroidery, Mrs. Jiang was extremely delighted: "This is my Yuanyuan, the embroidery is truly lively." She looked at the embroidery as if she were watching Yuanyuan secretly eating.

Mrs. Xu, the Shopkeeper of Huaiyu Embroidery Shop, and even Mrs. Zou thought that Gu Jinxiu’s embroidery was well done, especially the clever idea of incorporating Yuanyuan into the image, which was rare.

"Skillful hands, thoughtful mind, this year’s craftswoman undoubtedly belongs to Miss Gu," Mrs. Xu declared decisively, making Gu Jinxiu the craftswoman of this year’s Qiqiao Banquet.

Miss Xu, holding Gu Jinxiu’s hand, said: "Sister Xiu’s embroidery skills are exquisite, I admire you greatly."

Now that Mrs. Xu and Miss Xu had spoken, no one else had any objections, but... everyone’s gaze towards Zou Yuwan was filled with a mix of disdain and mockery.

Before, they still thought that Zou Yuwan was somewhat clever, but now it seems she was foolish, actually lifting a rock only to drop it on her own feet today.

What the ladies and misses couldn’t understand was why Zou Yuwan would oppose Gu Jinxiu? Didn’t she know that both the Jiang and Shang families regarded the Gu Family as their lifesavers? The Jiang Family had specially invited guests, yet she dared to deliberately make things difficult.

Moreover, even if the Jiang Family highly regarded the Gu Family, the Gu Family were just country folks not living in the county, having no conflict of interest with them. What was wrong in showing a bit of courtesy to Mrs. Jiang, why must she pick on Miss Gu?

Due to Zou Yuwan’s foolishness, several ladies who had their eyes on her and intended to go to the Zou family to propose marriage had now given up.

Mrs. Zou, seeing Zou Yuwan lose face and disliked by the ladies, felt quite satisfied in her heart.

But her satisfaction did not last long, as a maid from the Zou family soon arrived, whispered something to Mrs. Hong beside her, who then quickly lowered her voice to Mrs. Zou: "Madam, there’s been an emergency at home, the Old Master wants you to come back immediately."

Mrs. Zou shuddered: "The Old Master wants me to return?"

Mrs. Hong nodded; something that necessitated the Old Master sending someone to call her back at this time must be no small matter.

Mrs. Zou did not dare delay, and hurriedly bid farewell to Mrs. Jiang.

Mrs. Jiang did not keep her any longer, letting Nanny Wen see Mrs. Zou and her group out.

After Mrs. Zou left, it was only a moment before a nanny from Mrs. Xu’s side came over and whispered to Mrs. Xu.

Having received instructions from County Magistrate Xu to get along well with the Jiang Family, and since County Magistrate Xu was soon to be promoted and leave, no longer needing to fear County Magistrate Zou, the local tyrant, she smiled at Mrs. Jiang: "It seems we won’t get to eat our red eggs after all."

Red eggs...

Everyone understood upon hearing this; the precious child that County Magistrate Zou had cherished for months was gone.