Hearing that the old lady had stopped embroidering and sealed her needles for good, Jiang Li couldn't hide her disappointment. Yet, she was still reluctant to give up. "I still want to meet her," she said.
Jing Yi shook her head, quickly dashing Jiang Li's hopes. "It's impossible. You'd better give up this idea, Sister Jiang Li. She doesn't receive guests."
However, Sister Chen had noticed something crucial. "Jing Yi, how do you know all this?" she asked point - blank.
Jing Yi answered matter - of - factly. "Huacheng used to be called the 'Embroidery Capital'. But later, to develop tourism and because of its suitable climate, it was filled with flowers."
"I heard about her from my professor during a human geography class in college. Her name is Cheng Yingchun, and she's quite famous."
Jing Yi looked dead serious. "There are very few traditional Chinese floral embroidery artisans left in the country. She's one of the few still holding on."
"After all, it's an intangible cultural heritage, and it's really hard to pass it on."
Jiang Li listened thoughtfully.
After about fifteen minutes, Jiang Li lifted her eyelashes. She put down the script in her hand, stood up, took a deep breath, and made up her mind. "Jing Yi, can you help me find Ms. Cheng's address?"
Seeing that Jiang Li was still determined, Jing Yi hesitated. "My college professor once met her by chance. I should be able to get the address if I ask, but..."
In Jing Yi's view, the difficult part wasn't finding where Cheng Yingchun lived, but how to approach this ninety - year - old woman.
Jing Yi remembered that her professor had once described Cheng Yingchun as a rigid and unapproachable person. Moreover, her health had been deteriorating in the past two years, so she might be in a worse mood.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Jing Yi." Jiang Li hardly waited for Jing Yi to finish. She clapped her hands twice. "As long as you can get Ms. Cheng's address, whether this works out or not, Sister Chen will give you a 10,000 - yuan bonus this month."
The words Jing Yi had been about to use to dissuade Jiang Li got stuck in her throat. She quickly changed her tune. "Okay, Sister Jiang Li. I'll go ask right away!"
...
Jing Yi was indeed very efficient. Within a day, she got Cheng Yingchun's address. She also added, "Sister Jiang Li, my professor told me that Ms. Cheng was just discharged from the hospital recently. She's not in good shape."
"I see. Thank you, Jing Yi." Jiang Li nodded and took the iced Americano handed over by Xiaoye.
"Isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to just barge in like this?" Jing Yi still hesitated. "Older - generation artists are very proud. If we show up uninvited, she might get angry."
"She will be angry." Jiang Li agreed. "So we're not going to meet her this time. We're just passing by and taking a look."
Liu Bei in the past had to visit Zhuge Liang three times before he could get him as his military advisor. Jiang Li didn't think she could easily get Ms. Cheng's guidance.
But if she didn't even try, she would always feel it was a great pity.
Following the address provided by Jing Yi's professor, the group drove slowly to a village.
The houses in the village were very densely built, some even overlapping.
There were low - lying houses with blue tiles and white walls. Not far away was a large flower field, and in the middle of the field was a small river. The sound of the flowing water came from time to time.
When they rolled down the car window, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the smell of water vapor, fresh and natural.
The car slowly stopped on the outskirts of the village. Jiang Li and Jing Yi got out of the car and walked in along the cobblestone - paved road.
"The houses here are a bit old. They were renovated and painted a few years ago, but they still retain the most traditional style. It's a very typical folk - style architecture in Huacheng," Jing Yi began to explain to Jiang Li. "The people living here are all locals in Huacheng. They're attached to their hometown and reluctant to move away."
Jiang Li listened while looking up. The structure of the village houses was really special. The low walls were only about as tall as a person. You could touch the tiles on the eaves just by standing on tiptoe.
The whole village was very quiet, and Jing Yi's voice got softer and softer. "My professor said that Ms. Cheng lost her daughter at an early age. She was so sad that she fell ill, and her personality gradually became more and more withdrawn. It's very difficult to approach her. She lives in the house at the end of the village."
Hearing that Cheng Yingchun had lost her daughter at an early age, Jiang Li felt a pang in her heart. She couldn't quite put her finger on the feeling.
For a white - haired person to bury a black - haired one, it was truly a tragedy.
The two walked all the way to the corner of the cobblestone road. As they turned the corner, they unexpectedly ran into two very familiar people.
"Ayan, thank you for taking the time to come with me to visit my parents," Qin Yaoyao's voice was a bit muffled but very recognizable. Her eyes were crescent - shaped with a smile as she nestled against his side. "You don't need to buy so many things next time. My parents will be shocked."
"It's only proper for the first time meeting the elders," Xiao Yanzhi said in a calm tone with a hint of nonchalance. "If you need anything else, just tell Xue An to get it for you."
The two looked up and happened to lock eyes with Jiang Li and Jing Yi, who had also just arrived.
For a moment, the narrow cobblestone road seemed extremely crowded.
The moment he saw Jiang Li, Xiao Yanzhi frowned slightly, but it was only for a split - second, and he quickly regained his usual calm.
He looked at Jiang Li meaningfully and called her name after a few seconds. "Jiang Li."
Qin Yaoyao also saw them. When she looked up and saw Jiang Li, all her vanity was instantly satisfied.
The corners of her lips curled up slightly, and her tone was very light. "Sister Jiang Li, what brings you here? Do you have a friend living here?"
Jiang Li remained silent.
Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Jing Yi quickly spoke up. "Hello, Mr. Xiao. Hello, Miss Qin. Sister Jiang Li and I are here to find someone."
"Find someone?" Qin Yaoyao blinked. "Who are you looking for? My parents live here, and they know all the neighbors."
As she spoke, she smiled and tightened her grip on Xiao Yanzhi's arm. "It's a good thing Ayan is with me to visit my parents today. He can help us look for the person, right?"
So Xiao Yanzhi had come with Qin Yaoyao to visit her parents.
Seeing that Jiang Li remained silent, Xiao Yanzhi stared at her intently with deep - set eyes. After a few seconds, he let out a cold snort. "Jiang Li, the trick of stalking is rather despicable."
"No, Mr. Xiao," Jing Yi quickly explained when she saw Jiang Li being misunderstood. "We're here to find Ms. Cheng Yingchun. She's a famous embroiderer in Huacheng. Sister Jiang Li's next script is related to embroidery, so we came here to visit her specifically."
"Cheng Yingchun?" Hearing this name, Qin Yaoyao was first stunned, then she sneered contemptuously. "You might have the wrong person. She's crazy and doesn't know how to embroider at all."