Rui Hexiang's guide received Su Shi politely, neither enthusiastic nor cold, neither humble nor arrogant. All his words and deeds made the guests feel at ease and comfortable.
Su Shi walked around the store casually, and then walked up to Yin Ke.
"Sir, do you have anyone you like?"
Su Shizhu smiled and said, "I like that jade brocade."
"Sir, how many feet do you need?"
Su Shi said: "Although I like that jade brocade, it feels too plain and quiet. I want to embroider some flowers and plants on it. Do you have any recommendations?"
The guest smiled, nodded and said, "Young master, if you want to embroider anything on the jade brocade, you only need to draw the pattern, and we will naturally arrange for embroidery workers to relieve your worries."
Su Shi said calmly: "But I may not be impressed by the skills of ordinary embroidery workers."
The guest smiled and said, "What do you want, Master?"
"I heard that Tang Embroidery Girl is a direct disciple of Hui Niang, the former magic needle. Her embroidery skills are naturally superior to others."
The guest said: "That's natural. It's just..."
"Just what?"
The guest sighed slightly: "Because the embroidery girl has superb embroidery skills, there are so many people looking for her. If the master wants to find the embroidery girl to embroider, I'm afraid he will have to wait three months."
Su Shi smiled and said, "I can wait."
The visitor added: "The price of embroidery by embroidery girls is several times higher than that of others."
"Money is no object either."
Seeing Su Shi's generosity, the guest smiled and said, "Then please decide how many feet of jade brocade you need. Once you decide, we will arrange it ourselves and we will never keep you waiting."
Su Shi said: "But I have a small request."
"Master, please speak."
"I want to meet Tang Xiu Nu first." Su Shi explained, "Because I want to hear her opinion on the style."
This is also human nature, so he would not refuse to invite guests. He replied: "The embroidery girl is in the embroidery room on the third floor. I will lead the way for the young master."
Su Shi nodded and said, "Thank you."
The two came to the third floor one after another.
The third floor is all embroidery rooms, some are large and some are small, the large ones are for ten people, and the small ones are for one person.
Naturally, the Tang Xiu girl has one room per person.
The guest led Su Shi to the middle of the third floor. At this time, the door was closed. The guest stood at the door and called softly: "Ms. Xiu, a distinguished guest is here."
Only a lazy voice was heard from inside: "Dear guest, please come in."
The guest then opened the door and said to Su Shi, "Master, please come in."
He didn't go in because Xiu Niang didn't ask him to go in.
No one can enter her room without the embroiderer's instructions.
This is the rule set by the embroiderer.
But everyone in Rui Hexiang must abide by her rules.
Because she is the direct disciple of the divine needle Huiniang. Even though her embroidery skills are still not as good as those of her master, in the eyes of many people, they are not far behind.
And many people believe that within three years, Xiu Niang will surpass Hui Niang.
So no one in Rui and Xiang dared to offend her.
Because Xiu Niang alone makes more money than the other seventy-six people combined.
Su Shi stood in the room, which was filled with silks of all colors, but every piece of silk was absolutely top-notch.
If it's not the best silk, how can it be worth the embroiderer's attention?
Xiu Niang was sitting behind the large table. When she saw Su Shi coming in, she didn't get up. She just said lightly: "Master, please sit down."
Su Shi sat down, then looked at Xiu Niang, and was immediately attracted by her hands.
Those hands are slender, neat, well-proportioned and flexible, like a work of art that is unforgettable.
Then Sucai looked at her face.
Xiu Niang is no longer young, she is about thirty years old. She looks very lazy and casual, but her eyes are very smart and sharp. Even if she glanced at Su Shi inadvertently, Su Shi felt as if he was seen through by that gaze.
Perhaps it is precisely because of having such a pair of hands and eyes that Tang Xiu Niang's embroidery is so perfect.
"Master, do you have a favorite style in mind?"
The embroiderer has no polite words, because time is precious to her.
Su Shi nodded and said, "I once saw an embroidery on a handkerchief and liked it very much, so I wanted to ask the embroiderer to make a copy for me."
"Did Mr. Gentleman bring the handkerchief?"
Su Shi shook his head. Since he knew that the handkerchief was a royal possession, he would not show it to others easily.
The embroiderer asked again: "Can the young master draw this picture on paper?"
Su Shi smiled and said, "I know nothing about painting."
At this time, Su Shi said again: "But I can describe the embroidery to everyone in Tang Dynasty. Maybe everyone in Tang Dynasty will understand it after listening to it."
Xiu Niang couldn't help but frown, because she had a very strange feeling that Su Shi seemed to have another purpose when she saw her.
"Master, please speak."
"It is a one-foot-square handkerchief. On the lower right side of the handkerchief is a solitary plum blossom. The trunk twists upwards, and a red plum blooms proudly on the branch."
Su Shi spoke very slowly, observing the embroiderer's expression as he spoke.
But what disappointed him was that after he finished speaking, Xiu Niang's expression did not change at all.
She smiled and said: "I don't know how many people in the world use lonely plum blossoms in their paintings. I'm afraid you are embarrassing me."
Su Shi said quickly: "I don't dare. Your skills are unparalleled. I can't even admire you. How dare you embarrass everyone in Tang Dynasty?"
"But the young master didn't explain clearly. How do you ask me to give the injection?"
Su Shi said: "Besides the solitary plum tree, does that handkerchief have another strange feature?"
"What's so strange about that?" The embroiderer said silently, "What's so strange about that handkerchief?"
Su Shi stared at the embroiderer and said slowly: "There are four strange patterns on the handkerchief. Each pattern is as big as a fingernail. The embroidery is simple and elegant. It is obviously made by a master. I wonder if everyone in Tang Dynasty knows the embroidery of this handkerchief. Which master’s masterpiece is it?”
The embroiderer was silent for a long time and looked up at Su Shi. Her lazy expression was no longer there, and her eyes were blazing, as if she wanted to see him through.
Su Shi did not avoid her gaze, and his expression did not change at all.
After a long time, Xiu Niang finally said slowly: "I have been chatting with the young master for so long, but I still haven't asked him for his surname. It's the fault of Xiu Niang."
"My name is Su Shi."
Xiu Niang looked very surprised when she heard this name. She couldn't help but ask: "General Su's second son?"
"yes."
"The chief poet of Jinghu Poetry Club?"
Su Shi sighed: "That's right."
"Really?" Xiu Niang didn't understand.
Su Shi smiled bitterly and said: "Because strictly speaking, I didn't participate in the poetry meeting at all, and I don't know why I got this title."
"Young Master is so humble. He can compose eight poems in a row, and each one is stunning. Who else could this Jinghu Poetry Society's top poet be if he didn't belong to Mr. Su?"
Su Shi didn't expect that the Jinghu Poetry Club would be discussed in a place like this, but he never came here to talk about the Jinghu Poetry Club, so he couldn't help but ask: "Does everyone in the Tang Dynasty really have no interest in that handkerchief?" Any impression?"
