In Manfang Embroidery Workshop, Bai Xiu Niang was concentrating on embroidering her leaves when she saw Shopkeeper Zhou coming over with an invitation.
Ever since Lin Ye came to Manfang Embroidery Studio to challenge her, Bai Xiu Niang would be frightened whenever she saw an invitation or something like that, for fear that it would be another declaration of challenge.
She put down her needle and thread, covered up the uneasiness in her heart, and said calmly: "Shopkeeper Zhou, what is that in your hand?"
"Oh, this is an invitation. I don't know who organized an embroidery event and invited embroidery girls from all over the city to participate. This invitation is for you, Bai embroidery girl."
Bai Xiu Niang took the invitation and saw that it said that she was invited to participate in the embroidery event in ten days with her best embroidery.
All the famous embroiderers in Fucheng received such invitations.
Originally the embroiderers didn't pay much attention to this invitation, until someone spread the word that at this embroidery event, the three best ones would be selected based on the works of the embroiderers.
Once selected, the embroiderers will receive a reward of one hundred taels of silver.
One hundred taels of silver is quite a lot, almost equivalent to a year's wages of an ordinary embroiderer.
After the news spread, many embroiderers were indeed moved.
But this is not enough.
One hundred taels of silver can only attract some ordinary embroiderers, but those who have been famous for a long time will not be tempted by this one hundred taels of silver.
Shen Xiu quickly used the second move.
She let people spread the word that on the day of the embroidery event, several highly respected people would be invited to judge.
In today's world where reputation is important, some embroiderers cherish their reputation more than money.
If Shen Xiu used silver as a reward to attract money-loving embroiderers, then this move will attract fame-loving embroiderers.
This trick is indeed effective. Several famous embroidery ladies, led by Bai Xiu Niang, do care more about their reputation. If their embroidery can be praised by noble people, it will be a good thing for their reputation.
All is ready except for the opportunity.
Shen Xiu picked up the pen and wrote down the last line of text, and then browsed it again to make sure that there was nothing wrong with the schedule of the embroidery event, and then stretched out.
Rou Niang duly brought a bowl of peanut cheese.
"Madam, you must be tired after working for such a long time!" Rou Niang put the peanut cheese in front of her, "This is made according to the method taught by Madam. I don't know if it tastes like what Madam said."
A cook has been invited to the family. The cook is from Shandong and is good at Shandong cuisine. She is just not good at making snacks and soups.
Shen Xiu tasted the peanut cheese and thought it tasted okay. She didn't insist on it, as long as the taste was acceptable.
"Is your husband back?" Shen Xiu asked after taking a sip.
Rou Niang said with a smile: "I have asked this question ten times, and Mr. Wei has not come back yet!"
Shen Xiu smiled and said nothing. She had already negotiated with Old Mrs. Meng and the eldest wife of the Yu family, and agreed to go to this embroidery event and be the judge mentioned by Shen Xiu.
But these two noble ladies alone were not enough. Shen Xiu came up with a good idea at noon today, which was to invite Mr. Meng over.
As long as Mr. Meng is willing to participate, this grand event will attract more talents.
With this idea in mind, she hoped that Wei Yan would come home so that he could help persuade Mr. Meng.
However, Wei Yan did not return home for a long time that day. It was not until Shen Xiu couldn't help but look for him in person that Wei Yan arrived home in the last glow of the sun.
As soon as he arrived at the door, he saw Shen Xiu opposite.
"Ms. sir, you're finally back." Shen Xiu stepped forward with a smile, "I've asked the kitchen to make your favorite vegetarian assortment, and I've also boiled the peanut cheese. I'll give you a bowl later to warm you up.
"
Next, Shen Xiu greeted Wei Yan with greetings and was extremely attentive.
In the past, Shen Xiu could not be said not to care about Wei Yan, but she always had her own things to do, and sometimes when she was busy, she would inevitably ignore Wei Yan.
So it's really rare to be so diligent.
Wei Yan guessed that she had something to ask for, but he had always been calm. Seeing Shen Xiu being so attentive, he just accepted it calmly and waited for the other party to reveal his purpose.
Shen Xiu worked hard and saw that Wei Yan didn't respond at all, so he knew that he had to take the initiative to speak up about this matter.
"Ms. sir, I have something to discuss with you."
"Say it!" Wei Yan blew on the peanut butter and drank a few sips slowly.
Shen Xiu coughed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, you should know about the embroidery event I have prepared recently!"
"I heard you said this, tell me, what do you want me to do?"
This was what Shen Xiu was waiting for. She looked outside, closed the door again, and sat next to Wei Yan with a smile on her face, "My dear husband, can you help me invite Mr. Meng?"
Mr. Meng, Wei Yan paused for a moment while drinking peanut cheese, and then said thoughtfully: "Sir, he doesn't like crowded places. I'm afraid this matter will be difficult to handle."
"Just because it's difficult doesn't mean there's no solution at all." Shen Xiu simply hugged Wei Yan's shoulders and shook it gently, "My husband is so smart, there must be a solution."
"There are ways, but how can you thank me?" Wei Yan lowered his head and said with a smile.
When Shen Xiu saw his smile, she still didn't know what it meant. She simply risked it and said: "As long as you can invite Mr. Meng here, I will comply with any conditions you have."
"This is what you said, but you must keep your word."
Shen Xiu nodded heavily, "Of course I mean what I say."
Seeing how serious she was, Wei Yan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Okay, I'm teasing you. It's just a trivial matter, why do you need to sacrifice your life to ask for it?"
It turned out that he was teasing her, and Shen Xiu became a little angry, so she scratched him several times before venting her anger.
"You have posed such a big problem for me. It's not too much for me to tease you a little!" Wei Yan let her scratch her a few times and still smiled in a good-tempered way.
Shen Xiudao: "I don't care, anyway you have to invite Mr. Meng over."
Wei Yan smiled and said: "Okay, okay, I will definitely help you with this."
Shen Xiu knew his character, and since he agreed to this, he would definitely be able to do it.
However, even though she believed in Wei Yan, Shen Xiu was still a little worried, fearing that Mr. Meng would reject them.
The next day, when Wei Yan came back from outside, Shen Xiu, who had been waiting all day, couldn't wait to greet him.
"How about it? Will Mr. Meng come?"
Wei Yan's expression was the same as usual, and the result could not be seen from his face at all.
At this time, Shen Xiu felt a little disgusted. If Wei Yan was a moody person, she might have known the result by now.
Wei Yan didn't know Shen Xiu's dislike at this moment, so he smiled lightly and said: "I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Why are you so anxious? I'll tell you later when I change my clothes."