"Cheng Yingchun is a madwoman. She doesn't know how to embroider at all, and she's no embroideress," Qin Yaoyao said, tilting her face up with a triumphant smile as if she had won. "Ever since her daughter died, she's been crazy all day long. She's never been normal and has always stayed in her small courtyard."
"I heard from my parents that she once had a good son - in - law, but I don't know if it's true or not." Qin Yaoyao stuck out her tongue. "Who would believe the words of a madwoman?"
Xiao Yanzhi stood to one side, looking at Jiang Li, who had kept her head down and said nothing from beginning to end. He impatiently pressed his tongue against his back molar.
Her appearance was out of his plan.
"Let's go," Xiao Yanzhi said nonchalantly. "Don't waste time here. It's boring."
After saying that, he took the lead, striding forward with his long legs. He walked right past Jiang Li, almost brushing her shoulder, bringing along the air current from his steps.
Qin Yaoyao wasn't in a hurry to follow. She still wore a smile, looking at Jiang Li as if she were a clown.
After making sure Xiao Yanzhi had walked far enough not to hear their conversation, Qin Yaoyao took two steps closer, with the corners of her lips slightly raised. "Sister Jiang Li, do you know why A Yan came with me to meet my parents?"
"Because I'm pregnant. It's A Yan's baby," Qin Yaoyao said, beaming. "After meeting my parents, A Yan said we'll get engaged right away."
"Sister Jiang Li, you should be happy for me too, right?" She giggled. "I'll definitely write you an invitation myself. You must come then."
The provocation was obvious. Jing Yi beside them couldn't help but look at Jiang Li worriedly.
She was afraid Sister Jiang Li would be sad.
"Sure, I wish you a happy wedding and a healthy birth for your baby," Jiang Li just smiled faintly and replied lazily. "Are you done? We'll leave first."
Qin Yaoyao was stunned.
She had thought Jiang Li would have a strong reaction, but her attitude was so calm. It felt like punching cotton, which was really frustrating.
"Sister Jiang Li..." Qin Yaoyao opened her mouth, but Jiang Li didn't even look at her again. She just turned around and said, "Jing Yi, let's go."
"Okay, got it," Jing Yi was a bit dazed, but she quickly caught up with Jiang Li.
After they walked far away, Jing Yi asked carefully, "Sister Jiang Li, are you unhappy?"
"Why would I be unhappy?" Jiang Li looked straight ahead at the narrowing path, slightly frowning. "It's the other thing she said just now that bothers me a bit."
"You mean Qin Yaoyao's pregnancy?" Jing Yi blurted out.
Jiang Li glanced at her. "No, it's something related to Cheng Yingchun."
"That's impossible," Jing Yi immediately retorted. "Cheng Yingchun's embroidery is excellent. The professor once showed us her authentic work. Her name was embroidered in the lower - right corner of the handkerchief."
Jiang Li nodded calmly. "Let's go and see her. Everything will be clear once we meet her."
Seeing is believing.
After walking for a while, they finally saw an old house at the end of the cobblestone path.
The wooden door was visibly old. The red paint on the doorknob had peeled off, revealing the dark - brown rust underneath, covered with a layer of dust.
The entrance was full of dead branches and leaves. It seemed it hadn't been cleaned for a long time.
It was so desolate that it could be described as having few visitors.
This was completely different from what Jing Yi had imagined. She thought that a famous embroideress like Cheng Yingchun would have a constant stream of visitors.
At least it shouldn't be so deserted.
The confident Jing Yi just now began to feel uncertain. "Sister Jiang Li, this place doesn't look like someone lives here."
Jiang Li took two steps forward and peeked through the crack in the door to see the scene in the yard.
Although the outside was dilapidated, the yard inside was quite different.
There were flowers planted in the yard. There were embroidered clothes drying in front of the hall, billowing in the breeze. Not far away, there was a small tea table.
"Someone is inside," Jiang Li concluded. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I'll knock on the door and try..."
Before she could finish her words, the wooden door in front of her suddenly opened from the inside. A puff of dust came towards them, and Jiang Li immediately covered her nose and mouth.
"Who is it?"
After the dust settled, Jiang Li saw the old woman in front of her.
She didn't look like a ninety - year - old. Her face was full of vitality. Although her eyes were full of wrinkles, they still shone. Only her silver hair showed that she was of advanced age.
"Hello," Jiang Li saw Cheng Yingchun's true appearance and immediately spoke respectfully as planned before. "My name is Jiang Li. I'm a pollster from around here. I'm here to visit you."
After saying that, she turned to look at Jing Yi.
Jing Yi immediately showed the things in her hand. Her round face was smiling cutely. "Granny Cheng, these are the gifts we brought for you."
The things in her hand were not expensive gifts, just eggs, honey, and a small box of milk, just like the things prepared by the community.
Everything seemed seamless.
Cheng Yingchun didn't move at all. She just stared at Jiang Li in front of her, narrowing her eyes bit by bit, carefully sizing her up from head to toe.
Jiang Li felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze, but she was afraid of arousing the old woman's suspicion, so she tried to control her expression and looked sincere. "Are you convenient to cooperate with us?"
After about a minute, Cheng Yingchun suddenly said, "Come in."
Jiang Li and Jing Yi glanced at each other, their eyes full of joy.
It was much smoother than they had expected.
Although Cheng Yingchun was ninety years old, she was in good health. She carried out a long bench and put it in the yard. "Sit."
As soon as they sat down, Cheng Yingchun turned around and went into the house. She walked out slowly after a while, holding two stacked round tin boxes in her hand. They also looked very old.
"Do you want cookies?" She asked stiffly and looked up at Jiang Li silently. "Besides cookies, there's also bread."
Jiang Li was flattered. She immediately stood up to take the box and helped the old woman sit on the rocking chair opposite. "Thank you. You're so kind."
Cheng Yingchun remained calm. She sat on the rocking chair, but her eyes were always fixed on Jiang Li intently.
It was as if she was going to stare a hole through her.
This kind of gaze made Jiang Li a bit restless. She showed a friendly smile. "Do you have something to say to me?"
"Delicious food. Why don't you eat?" Cheng Yingchun repeated seriously. "Don't you like delicious food?"
At this time, Jing Yi also noticed.
Cheng Yingchun really seemed to have some mental problems.
"Sister Jiang Li..." Jing Yi tugged at her gently, a bit worried. "Maybe we should leave..."