Re-embroidering life

Chapter 121 Exhibition

After careful consideration, Shui Qinghua finally agreed to recruit the women recommended by Mr. Yu. To be on the safe side, she carefully checked their household registration and found that they were all good citizens and all of them were female households. Although Shui Qinghua had some doubts about this, she did not ask too many questions.

She laughed at herself in her heart. When she was in Jiangxia, she recruited refugee women to serve as embroiderers. In the capital, she even employed a group of young ladies in distress. The Water Embroidery Workshop was unique in this way.

A few days later, Shui Qinghua arranged everything and brought all the women to Furong Garden.

Chen Jinlan had been waiting here for a long time. After the divorce, she gradually came out of the nightmare. The pretty and lively Jinlan had returned to her, but her eyes were more tenacious and her brows were more weathered.

This time, she gladly took over the position of embroiderer foreman, and officially moved out of Ji's house and moved into Furong Garden. From now on, she will live and embroider with the embroiderers. Although she is a few years younger than these embroiderers, her experience is very similar to theirs. They are both born as officials, well-read, but have suffered a lot because of the tricks of fate. She can understand the embroiderers from their own perspective, and the embroiderers soon fall in love with this little sister.

In the following days, Jinlan patiently taught the embroiderers natural embroidery and random stitch embroidery, and shared her own experience. Some of the embroiderers who were good at painting would occasionally put forward some suggestions for improvement, which were fed back to Shui Qinghua by Jinlan, and the appropriate ones were quickly adopted.

From then on, their laughter and joy could often be heard from this small courtyard.

Everything is ready, just waiting for the opening.

Recently, many scholars and literati in Beijing have received invitations from Ji Zimo of the Imperial Academy. The invitation said that he had devoted himself to the study of painting techniques and had made considerable progress, so he specially held an exhibition and invited all painting friends to come and exchange ideas. The location was a place that no one had ever heard of, Furong Garden in the suburbs of Beijing.

As a rising star in the painting world, Ji Hanlin is quite famous in Beijing and has accumulated a group of fans. Of course, there are also many senior masters who have always wanted to defeat him and overpower him. Whether it is to show support or to challenge him, I decided to go to this exhibition.

The Hibiscus Garden was decorated with a riot of colour that day. Red flowers as big as bowls, purple flowers as trumpet-shaped, and yellow flowers with double petals were stacked one after another, reflecting the emerald green buds like pompoms. The flower fields spread all the way to the lakeside, and the swaying reeds marked a boundary for this fairy garden. The sun shone from behind the reeds, and in the golden light, a man rowed a wooden boat to the junction of water and sky. With one paddle, the crystal clear water particles jumped into the air, and the sky and earth were filled with colors and light.

A group of scholars stood on the shore, watching this scene, not daring to speak or move, as if they were afraid of awakening something. It was not until they got on the boat and were swaying in the lake that they tentatively started to talk and laugh.

When the boat arrived at the side of the small building, someone led them ashore and into the building.

The entrance and exit of the small building are separated on both sides, and only one-way traffic is allowed. Going straight into the top floor, there is a spacious and bright hall with carved windows open, and a breeze blowing in, bringing a faint scent of flowers. There are scrolls hanging on the walls, which should be Ji Hanlin's new works.

What they saw before their eyes was beyond belief. The new expression techniques, unique composition and realistic light and shadow effects seemed to bring the real world into the picture, subverting everyone's previous understanding of painting.

"This... is this a painting? It's as real as looking in a mirror!" A white-haired old man couldn't help but exclaim. He walked forward, stretched out his hand and wanted to touch the painting, but when he realized that he had lost his composure, he suddenly retracted his hand.

"How did you paint it so realistically? What technique did you use?" A young talent's voice trembled with excitement. He stared at the painting intently, as if he wanted to engrave every detail in his mind.

At this time, there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs, and Ji Zimo walked into the hall.

Talented people flocked to him, surrounded him and asked him how he painted.

"Shape, light and shade, perspective, and color. Only when you master these four key points can you create a realistic painting." Ji Zimo replied with a smile.

Everyone was talking about it, eager to know how to grasp these four keys.

A famous painter who had always been competing with Ji Zimo looked at the paintings on the wall without saying a word. Ji Zimo did not innovate the traditional school, he created a brand new school on his own. Thinking of this, his shoulders drooped.

"Ji Hanlin, can I buy your paintings for my collection? You name the price!" A wealthy scholar in the family made a bold statement.

Everyone looked at this wealthy painting friend with envy. Ji Hanlin's paintings are now worth two thousand taels in the market. Since they are innovative works, it is completely normal for the price to double.

Ji Zimo was still gentle and polite: "My dear brother, I'm sorry, but I don't sell my paintings."

Everyone was disappointed.

"However, my wife is good at embroidery. She made my paintings into embroidery paintings. If you are interested, you may want to take a look."

"Madam, is this Lady Shui who was given a name and honored by the Empress Dowager? I heard that the great scholar Dong also praised her as the Saint of Needle." A scholar asked.

"That's right!" Ji Zimo puffed out his chest, his face full of pride.

If everyone is interested, let’s take a look together!

A child came in and led them down to the second floor. There was also a hall here. The first thing they saw when they entered was the two big characters "Shenpin" hanging high on the wall opposite the hall door. They were written by the Queen Mother. Under the plaque was a glazed niche, enshrining the fourth-class merchant medal bestowed by the Queen Mother.

There are no paintings hanging on the walls here, but screens of various sizes are placed in the hall. Visitors can walk freely among the screens and appreciate every detail.

Looking closely, several screens are embroidered with Ji Zimo's new works. The delicate needlework and realistic colors are no less than the originals, and even in some themes, they have more graceful charm of embroidery. Many ancient paintings by famous artists of the previous dynasties have also been made into embroidered paintings, such as "Squirrel and Grapes" and "Lentil Dragonfly", which are really exquisite and vivid. There are inscriptions by Ji Zimo on each screen.

"It is truly a masterpiece, and its reputation is well-deserved!" The scholar in purple robes exclaimed in admiration. He reached out and gently touched the screen, feeling its delicate texture. "The couple is good at painting and embroidery, and both are top masters of the world. They really complement each other!"

The scholar from the wealthy family was thinking, such an exquisite embroidery painting is already a top-grade one, and it is based on Ji Zimo's draft. How precious is it? He asked tentatively: "If Ji Hanlin's paintings are not for sale, then this embroidery painting can be sold?"

Ji Zimo smiled and said, "I can't make the decision. I have to ask the owner of this place, Mr. Ye."

Everyone followed his gaze and saw a tall and burly man standing in the hall. When he walked forward, everyone couldn't help but exclaim in their hearts: What an outstanding man!