I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

Yes, is this all a woman's life can be like?

Qin Niangzi has been running her embroidery workshop in Liuxi Town for over a decade and has seen far too many submissive women.

Whether forced by livelihood or arranged by their families, they regarded embroidery as a skill they had to learn.

Their hands are skillful, but their eyes lack light.

But the girl in front of me, though trembling with fear, stood tall, burning with an inextinguishable flame.

She hadn't seen this fire in many years.

"That sounds nice."

"A quick tongue doesn't mean skillful fingers. Embroidery is a craft that requires patience and perseverance; it relies on keen eyesight and a patient mind, not just blind courage."

"You want to prove you're not a piece of trash? Fine."

Li Hongyun's eyes lit up.

I'll give you a chance.

Qin Niangzi took out two items.

A needle, a thread.

The surrounding embroiderers gasped.

"That's... the Dragon Needle?"

"Good heavens, Madam Qin actually brought out her treasure!"

"The eye of that needle is finer than a strand of hair. I've been practicing for five years, and I still don't dare touch it..."

"This is a stick of incense."

Qin Niangzi took out a stick of incense from the incense holder and lit it.

"If you can thread this silkworm thread through the eye of the Dragon Needle before the incense burns out, I will accept you as a disciple."

"If I can't get through it..."

She didn't continue.

The woman in charge looked a little pale.

This is clearly an attempt to make things difficult!

This is simply an impossible task.

Li Hongyun walked to the embroidery table and looked at the needle that was almost non-existent.

"I...I..."

She wanted to say that I couldn't do it, but the words stuck in her throat.

She cannot lose.

This is her only chance.

Li Hongyun tried to twist the silkworm thread.

But her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn't pick it up.

Qin Niangzi sat to the side expressionlessly.

She wanted to show this arrogant girl how cruel reality could be.

Having backbone is a good thing, but backbone alone can't put food on the table.

Just when Li Hongyun was about to despair.

"Don't rush."

It's Zhao Zi'an.

He walked up to her.

"Shaking hands are due to panic. Panic is due to disordered breathing."

"Listen to me, try to do it like I do."

"Inhale through your nose, slowly and deeply, feeling the air sink to your lower abdomen, not stuck in your chest. Yes, just like that... and then hold it."

Li Hongyun subconsciously did as instructed.

"Count to three silently in your mind. One, two, three."

"Now, exhale very, very slowly through your mouth. Imagine there is a candle in front of you, and you want to make the flame flicker, but not let it go out."

Li Hongyun exhaled the stale air from her chest.

"One more time. Sigh..."

"……vomit……"

What Zhao Zian taught Li Hongyun was a mental cultivation method recorded in the Shennong Valley Classic.

The Mantra for Purifying the Mind.

Even without spiritual power to activate it, ordinary people who practice this method can still experience the remarkable effects of calming the mind, soothing the nerves, and enhancing the five senses.

Li Hongyun no longer hesitated.

She stretched out her right thumb and forefinger and picked up one end of the thread in one go.

Hold the needle upright on the soft cushion with your left hand.

One delivery.

wear!

Become!

"hiss."

"You...you went through it?"

"Just once? She just went through it like that?!"

"My God! Am I seeing things?"

The embroiderers were in an uproar.

Qin Niangzi stood up and walked to the embroidery table.

She picked up the threaded needle and held it up to her eyes.

That's right!

The silkworm silk truly passed through the eye of the Dragon Needle; there was no falsehood whatsoever!

"How did you do that?"

This Dragon Needle was passed down to her by her master; its eye is so fine that it is unparalleled in the world.

Back then, she practiced for seven days and seven nights without sleep in order to thread the needle.

Qin Niangzi's gaze fell on the young man beside her.

It's him!

He must have done something!

But what did he do?

He just stood there the whole time and said a few meaningless words!

"snort."

"You're lucky."

"From today onwards, you are a disciple of our Ruyi Embroidery Workshop."

"Thank you very much, Madam Qin!"

Li Hongyun's eyes welled up with tears of excitement.

Don't get too excited yet.

Qin Niangzi said with a stern face.

"A disciple on the formal list is basically a jack-of-all-trades. They have to do everything from chopping wood and boiling water to washing clothes and cooking. Only after finishing all the chores can they use their rest time to learn some basic acupuncture techniques."

"I'm not afraid of hardship!"

Li Hongyun answered loudly.

"There will be an assessment in three months. If you pass, you will be promoted to an outer disciple and can officially learn from the embroiderers. If you fail, you will have to pack your bags and leave."

"The apprenticeship fee is fifty taels of silver, not a penny less. It covers your food, lodging, and training expenses for the next three months."

Fifty taels!

Li Hongyun's face turned pale.

Fifty taels of silver was an astronomical sum for her.

Even if you sold her, you still wouldn't be able to raise the money.

Just then, Zhao Zian stepped forward.

"This is one hundred taels."

The woman in charge almost missed catching it.

One hundred taels? Without even blinking an eye?

Who exactly is this young man?

Zhao Zian said calmly.

"The other fifty taels are for Hongyun's pocket money. There are always places where she needs money in the embroidery shop, so don't let her suffer any grievances."

He said this to Madam Qin.

Qin Niangzi understood the warning in Zhao Zi'an's words.

"Our Ruyi Embroidery Workshop does not bully newcomers."

Zhao Zian smiled and left with Li Hongyun.

"Brother Zhao."

Li Hongyun grabbed Zhao Zian's sleeve.

Zhao Zian stopped and turned to look at her.

"I...I'd like to invite you to dinner."

Zhao Zian smiled.

"Treat me to a meal? With the money I gave you?"

It was just a joke.

To everyone's surprise, Li Hongyun's face turned bright red.

"The money belongs to Brother Zhao, but the sentiment behind it is mine!"

"You saved my life and paved the way for me. I can't give you anything more than this gratitude. I have to treat you to this meal! Otherwise, I won't feel right!"

Zhao Zian had seen many women.

Sister-in-law Li Suqin's gentleness and restraint, and Su Mei's shrewdness and charm, each have their own unique appeal.

But this little girl in front of me is like an uncultivated wild grass, full of vitality.

"it is good."

"I know there's a restaurant called Yuelai at the east end of town. The dishes are light and the environment is clean. Let's go there."

Li Hongyun smiled.

"Um!"

She forgot to let go of his sleeve and continued walking forward.

Zhao Zian shook his head helplessly, letting her pull him along.

Yuelai Restaurant.

The waiter had sharp eyes.

"Sir! You've arrived! Please come in, we've reserved a private room for you on the second floor!"

Zhao Zian is now considered a minor celebrity in Liuxi Town.

Li Hongyun followed behind somewhat reservedly.

The two sat down in a private booth by the window on the second floor.

Zhao Zian ordered a few side dishes and a pot of Biluochun tea.

The tea arrived before the dishes were served.

Li Hongyun picked up the teapot and poured a cup for Zhao Zian first.

"Brother Zhao, have some tea."

"You drink too." Zhao Zian picked up his teacup.

The dishes were served quickly.