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Watching Lin Wei holding the needle, trembling and unable to proceed for a long time, Lin Yuan smiled and encouraged her, "Don’t be nervous, you have enough time to finish this embroidery.

Besides, Red Smoke Pavilion holds this event every year.

If you are not fully prepared this year and don’t get selected, it doesn’t matter because, after all, we now live in the Capital city.

You can always participate next year! You’re still young, you have plenty of opportunities! "

Indeed, preparing sufficiently for next year was also a chance. She could treat this year’s competition as a practice opportunity.

Lin Wei had been studying this double-sided embroidery for a long time, and had finally figured out a way to make the patterns on each side different.

Although her technique was still not perfected, she wished that the more skilled embroidery ladies at Red Smoke Pavilion would see her work.

What if they could help her come up with a better method?

Wouldn’t that be a greater gain than winning this competition?

With these thoughts, Lin Wei finally relaxed and wasn’t so nervous anymore.

She turned around, back to the window, so as not to get distracted by the bustling registration scene across from her. Xiao He even thoughtfully closed the window.

Lin Wei embroidered stitch by stitch with utmost dedication, while Xiao He and Lin Yuan sat watching quietly on the other side, not speaking a word for fear that even a heavier breath might affect her performance.

As time ticked by, the sky grew darker, and Xiao He asked the young servant to bring more lamps to illuminate Lin Wei’s work.

The young servant, apparently having encountered such situations more than once, set down the candlestick and gently reminded Xiao He, "The crowd at Red Smoke Pavilion has diminished a lot. If you haven’t finished yet, you better hurry.

Even if you submit a semi-finished product, don’t forget about the time. "

Xiao He was very grateful for the young servant’s reminder and took out some silver pieces from her purse to give to him.

With silver in hand, the young servant was even more eager to help, saying he was very familiar with one of the embroidery ladies there and that as long as Lin Wei didn’t finish too late, he could totally speak on her behalf and ensure her work was submitted.

Xiao He had not expected that her first time tipping with silver would lead to such good fortune, and she couldn’t stop smiling with joy. After making arrangements with the little servant, she happily returned to share the news with Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan smiled and nodded, praising her for a job well done.

Being praised by Lin Yuan wasn’t what made her happiest; being able to help Lin Wei was what truly delighted her.

Lin Wei’s embroidery skills had indeed improved greatly, and after night had fallen completely, she finally finished the handkerchief.

She carefully inspected her embroidery from all sides, and, finding no imperfections, she sighed in relief. Without even pausing to take a sip of water, she stood up and eagerly asked Lin Yuan and Xiao He, "How is it? Is it too late?"

Lin Yuan had been keeping an eye on the situation across the way. Even though there was no one there now, the door was still open. She had asked earlier at the registration area, and as long as the doors were not closed and the shop was not shut, there was still a chance.

When the three of them hurried to Red Smoke Pavilion, there were no customers in the Embroidery Pavilion, and the embroidery ladies were preparing to close up shop.

Embroiderer Ru was directing the maids to seal and store the submitted embroideries into the room when she heard the hurried breathing behind her.

Surprised, she turned around and, recognizing Lin Yuan, she immediately smiled, "Miss Lin, what brings you here? Could it be that you’ve come to pick up your clothes?

I’m really sorry, we haven’t finished them yet.

You might have to wait a few more days."

She had just had her measurements taken on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, and then they got busy with the embroidery lady selection registration. No wonder Embroiderer Ru said they hadn’t finished.

Lin Yuan shook her head and smiled, "You’ve misunderstood, Embroiderer Ru. I’m not here to pick up clothes, I’m here to register my sister."

As she spoke, she took Lin Wei’s hand and pushed her forward.

Upon seeing the embroidery Lin Wei was holding, Embroiderer Ru was first taken aback, then laughed, "So Miss Lin’s younger sister also likes to do embroidery?

Why didn’t you say anything earlier? If Miss Lin’s younger sister wants to learn how to embroider, it would have been just a matter of speaking up. I could have taught her personally."

Despite her words, Embroiderer Ru still waved for a young embroidery lady to come over and take Lin Wei to register.

Lin Wei, hand in hand with Xiao He, went to register, while Lin Yuan started a conversation with Embroiderer Ru, focusing on praising the fine embroidery skills of the ladies of Red Smoke Pavilion and the uniquely designed decorations inside the pavilion.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a commotion coming from where the registrations were happening. A young girl was repeatedly calling for Embroiderer Ru to come take a look.

Puzzled, Embroiderer Ru excused herself to Lin Yuan and made her way there.

Seeing them gathered in a circle, talking excitedly about something to do with "double-sided embroidery," Lin Yuan understood and smiled as she followed them.

Indeed, they were gathered around admiring the double-sided embroidery Lin Yuan had submitted!

As Embroiderer Ru approached, the young embroidery ladies handed her the piece, unable to help but exclaim, "Sister Ru, take a look quickly, is this not the famed double-sided embroidery?"

Having seen much and knowing even more, Embroider Ru had seen plenty of double-sided embroideries before, but she had never encountered double-sided embroidery like Lin Wei’s.

One side depicted a koi fish, the other a peony.

It was not just that the two sides were different; what was more impressive was the vivid, life-like vibrancy of each side.

"Double-sided embroidery is a skill of the embroidery ladies from Jiangnan. There aren’t many people who know it here in the North," Embroiderer Ru said, inspecting the piece over and over, her eyes sparkling increasingly brighter.

"Little sister, who taught you this double-sided embroidery? It’s so exquisitely done! "

It was one thing to be complimented by the other young embroidery ladies, but to be praised by Embroiderer Ru herself made Lin Wei’s face blush.

She glanced at her elder sister before replying softly, "Yes, my elder sister told me about it, saying that there’s a kind of double-sided embroidery in Jiangnan that looks very beautiful.

Actually, I have never seen it myself; it was a friend who had, and he described it to me.

I just tried to figure it out on my own and embroidered it.

It’s not very good, so please don’t laugh at it, Sister Ru. "

Hearing Lin Wei’s words, Lin Yuan was startled. A friend had seen it and described it to her? Who?

They had discussed double-sided embroidery back in Zhuma Town. Was there someone in Zhuma Town with such knowledge? It certainly couldn’t be Xia Zheng, as he was only interested in delicacies and Silver, never caring much for anything else.

Could it be Mo Sanniang? After some thought, the only person Lin Yuan could think of was Mo Sanniang.

Lost in thought, she was brought back to reality by the sound of Embroiderer Ru’s laughter.

Embroiderer Ru looked at Lin Wei with excitement, already considering her as an apprentice in her heart: "Little sister, you are far too modest. How can you say it isn’t good? To be able to embroider double-sided embroidery like this without a teacher’s guidance is already incredibly remarkable."

"Not just remarkable?"

Before Embroiderer Ru could finish speaking, a slightly deep and husky voice suddenly arose from upstairs—though somewhat hoarse, it was very gentle.