Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

Just as Zhang Yi and Lü Yuzhu were talking, the curtain in the inner room of the shop was lifted, and an old woman with a full head of silver hair came out. She was wearing a faded blue cloth jacket, and her hair was tied up with wire hair clips, making her look very capable and neat.

The old woman came out and saw Zhang Yi standing next to her granddaughter, who was playing with the child in the woman's arms. Turning her head and seeing Elena, the blue-eyed, black-haired foreigner, she was clearly taken aback and asked her granddaughter, "Yuzhu, who are these people?"

"Grandma, these ladies are from Nanshan County. They said they'd like to invite you to work with me at their clothing company as an instructor," Lu Yuzhu said with a smile after hearing her grandmother Cao Xiue's words. She then took the old woman's hand and introduced Zhang Yi and the others to her.

Zhang Yi noticed the faded blue cloth jacket Cao Xiue was wearing. The edges of the jacket were probably torn and mended, but the old woman was skillful and meticulous. She had embroidered a begonia on the mended area, which added a lot of color to the faded jacket, making it look exceptionally antique and elegant.

Seeing that Cao Xiue had simply embroidered a single begonia flower on the garment, the originally plain jacket immediately looked more upscale. Zhang Yi and Elena couldn't help but glance at it. Elena looked at the begonia flower embroidered on the jacket and asked in English, "Madam, did you design the embroidery pattern on this dress yourself?"

After listening to Zhang Yi's translation, Cao Xiu'e smiled and nodded, "Yes, it was just a quick embroidery. I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me. This is the only decent jacket I have. I know a little about crafts, so it wouldn't be right for me to go out wearing a patched jacket."

"Just casually? Truly the effortless elegance of a master. This dress, paired with such exquisite embroidery, could easily grace the Milan Fashion Week runway!"

Elena was a little excited. She felt that her trip to Tuocheng, China, was worthwhile. China was indeed a mysterious country. Such an excellent embroidery master was unknown.

After Zhang Yi and Lü Yuzhu helped the elderly Cao Xiu'e sit down on a stool, they brought up the invitation from earlier. "Auntie, is it impolite of me to address you like this according to seniority? I run a clothing company in Nanshan County, specializing in export business. I'd like to invite you and Yuzhu to come and provide technical guidance to our company!"

Technical guidance!

Cao Xiu'e chuckled and said to Zhang Yi, "Child, this old woman can't read many characters, I can only write my own name. You want me to embroider with a needle, that's fine, but asking me to give instructions is something only educated people do, I dare not go!"

After hearing Cao Xiu'e's polite refusal, Zhang Yi gestured to Elena beside her. Elena took out several clothing design drafts she had already prepared and handed them to Cao Xiu'e.

"Auntie, these are some design drafts from our company. Take a look," Zhang Yi said, trying to persuade Cao Xiu'e.

Cao Xiu'e took the sample manuscript handed to her by Elena, squinted and looked at it carefully. Her eyesight was a little blurry because of years of embroidery. Her granddaughter, Lü Yuzhu, brought the oil lamp closer, and Cao Xiu'e was able to see the sample manuscript clearly by the light. After examining it carefully for a while, she couldn't help but smile.

"These clothing patterns weren't designed by someone from China, were they?" Cao Xiu'e asked, pointing at Elena. "Did she design them?"

Zhang Yi nodded. "Yes, this is Elena, a top Italian fashion designer I hired from America. These clothing patterns are all designed by her, incorporating this year's popular styles in Europe."

"Look at these patterns. If you were to design the composition, how would you design it?" Elena said, looking at Zhang Yi and asking her to translate quickly. She was eager to know how the embroidery master in front of her would design the patterns for her and give them a soul.

Cao Xiu'e frowned, staring at the drafts for a long time before saying, "This low-cut dress would be absolutely stunning if plum blossoms were embroidered starting from the side, complementing its natural color!"

As Cao Xiu'e spoke, she picked up a pencil and began drawing patterns on Elena's drafts. As expected, an expert's skill is evident from birth. With just a few simple strokes from Cao Xiu'e, the effect immediately appeared on the paper. The originally monotonous drafts, paired with Cao Xiu'e's patterns, became vivid and dynamic.

Elena had been covering her mouth, not daring to make a sound of surprise, ever since Cao Xiue picked up the pen and started drawing on her design. She was a very proud designer who never allowed anyone to touch her design drafts, but today she was amazed by Cao Xiue's work.

Zhang Yi didn't understand design, but she could tell what was beautiful and ugly, good and bad. After Cao Xiu'e's hands gave these drafts a soul, she felt that she must be the first to try on Elena's drafts after they were produced.

"Oh my god! Ms. Cao, you are simply a design genius!" Elena finally couldn't help but exclaim. Her eyes widened as she picked up the sample drafts and kept speaking in her hometown dialect.

Although she couldn't understand, Cao Xiu'e knew that this Elena must be satisfied with her designs. "They are just ordinary designs. I am old now and not strong enough. I can only draw designs that my granddaughter and I can embroider. I dare not draw anything too complicated or cumbersome."

Zhang Yi's eyes lit up. She believed Cao Xiu'e's words and immediately grasped the old woman's hand. "Auntie, you must come with us to Nanshan County. You're the perfect technical advisor for our Angel Company!"

"No way! I'm too old, I don't have the energy anymore," Cao Xiue said with a smile, waving her hand.

"Auntie," Zhang Yi held Cao Xiu'e's hand tightly, "I won't lie to you, my company is just starting out, and what we lack most is someone who understands embroidery and can make patterns. I have high hopes for Yuzhu, but some things take decades to understand. Without an experienced embroiderer like you to guide her, Yuzhu will hardly make any progress. Are you willing to let your beloved embroidery go to waste like this!"

After listening, Cao Xiu'e remained silent for a long time before asking her granddaughter, Lü Yuzhu, to fetch the cloth bag that was hidden in her wardrobe. Once Lü Yuzhu brought the cloth bag, Cao Xiu'e slowly opened it.

"This was embroidered when I was young," Cao Xiu'e said, opening the cloth bundle. Her tone was calm, yet a hint of pride shone through. "Back then, my eyesight was good, and my hands were steady. I spent a whole year embroidering it. I originally intended it to be my sister's wedding dress, but alas... sigh!"

Zhang Yi and Elena took a closer look and couldn't help but gasp. Inside was a traditional Chinese jacket with a dark blue background and intricate patterns embroidered on the front and cuffs.

The patterns are not ordinary flowers and birds, but folk scenes unique to the Tuocheng area, such as processions, lion dances and operas. Although the figures are small, they are lifelike and have different expressions.