Chapter 95 – A Flood of Embroidery Knowledge

Chapter 95 - A Flood of Embroidery Knowledge

The wooden treasure chest, the size of a watermelon, swayed so vigorously that it seemed to be dancing like an old-fashioned alarm clock, drawing its owner's attention with its bouncing and swaying motion. The faint white light emanating from its edges grew brighter and more dazzling, temporarily blinding Tang Fei.

I see it! Stop shaking! My eyes are going to be blinded!

Closing her eyes instinctively, Tang Fei's thoughts calmed the chest down. As her focus shifted to the chest, it leaped right into the center of her vision.

Was this the Double Chance Treasure Chest?

She still had Learning Cards and Peeping Cards at her disposal, but only 20% proficiency in Skill Upgrade Cards was insufficient. This lottery guaranteed a minimum 1.1 times boost, which would bring her up to at least 42%.

This had become a question of luck.

Tang Fei felt a sudden clarity. Luck, as it turned out, was something the original host possessed in abundance. If not for her influence, the system would have been a formidable weapon. She was no longer afraid of this challenge.

Even if she only received the minimum reward, she would merely return to square one and continue learning the basics. Losing to the most skilled young embroidery master wouldn't be embarrassing.

Of course, the mischievous Ning Xiaodou would undoubtedly mock her.

Tang Fei could only console herself silently. He was still a child, and she wouldn't hold a grudge against a child.

Hmph!

Humph!

Ah! It infuriates me! Why should I not take offense?

Tang Fei's chest heaved with uneven breaths. This fourteen-year-old boy, who had been itching to kick someone and cause trouble from the moment they met, and had subsequently wreaked havoc along the way, deserved payback if she ever got the chance; otherwise, the indignation in her heart would not subside.

Without provoking him, why does he bear such ill will towards her?

The immediate concern now is to address Wu Xia's psychological issues.

Firstly, she plans to gain recognition through competitions before discussing it with Chen Ming and his spouse. With my astute mind and sharp observations, I've noticed that Comrade Wu Xia finds it challenging to concentrate on embroidery!

Didn't Wu Xia have a car accident before? Could it be that her hand injury is affecting her ability to embroider?

By raising this question and guiding the conversation, they should start taking Wu Xia's mental health seriously.

Only by facing it directly can there be a chance of resolution.

This competition wasn't about acting skills; she wasn't afraid of losing. All she needed to do was charge forward recklessly.

Tang Fei made her plan and, without hesitation, placed the Skill Upgrade Card into the Doubling Chest. Then, she pressed down on the lid, and soon, a white light swirled within the chest. A minute later, the chest automatically opened.

A Skill Upgrade Card with an upward arrow popped out.

"Congratulations, Your Highness. Your Skill Upgrade Card has been multiplied by 12 times."

"Skill Upgrade Card: 20% + 240%"

Tang Fei exhaled in relief. This time, she was on solid ground.

With a 260% skill proficiency, it would be enough to push the skill to its maximum of 100%.

Wu Xia watched as Tang Fei suddenly fell into a daze, which only fueled her frustration. Was this arrogant newcomer being too disrespectful to her opponent, to the point of daydreaming while they were talking?

Unthinkable!

Wu Xia no longer regarded Tang Fei as an unknown figure. For someone to dare challenge her and look down on her, she must possess some substance.

"You're still competing or not? You were the one who proposed the competition. What's with your attitude now? Are you looking down on me?"

Tang Fei came to her senses, realizing that she had been misunderstood. She quickly shook her head. "I was just momentarily distracted. Don't misunderstand, I'm definitely up for the competition."

With the most amiable smile on her face, Tang Fei took out the Peeping Card and aimed it at Lu Yan.

Surely, the master must be more skilled than the disciple, right?

Occasional momentary distractions? !

That still counts as being distracted!

You're even acknowledging it!

You completely disregard me!

A coldness settled on Wu Xia's face. Filled with pent-up frustration, she decided to teach Tang Fei a lesson today! She wouldn't be able to swallow her pride unless she exerted her full strength to overwhelm Tang Fei.

"Snoop Card" "Use"

Tang Fei aimed and clicked on the Snoop Card.

"Why are you looking at my teacher? Your opponent is me!" Wu Xia stepped in front of Tang Fei, finding the girl before her beautiful but impolite, as she would trail off mid-sentence and seemed to only care about her teacher during their match.

What did that mean? Was it regrettable that her teacher's hand was injured and she couldn't compete? So she had to reluctantly choose Wu Xia?

Tang Fei's Snoop Card landed perfectly on Wu Xia's head.

"..."

Tang Fei opened her mouth, staring blankly at Wu Xia. She had messed up; how could she surpass the original owner by mimicking Wu Xia's skill?

It was difficult to determine the odds of winning or losing now.

Please, no Specializations!

Skill Cards couldn't be stacked to achieve a Specialization.

Soon, Tang Fei's screen was flooded with an array of skills.

"Wu Xia"

"The following incomplete skills have been observed."

"Embroidery - Silk Splitting Stitch, proficiency 95%"

"Needlework - Straight Stitch Embroidery, proficiency 94%"

"Finger Dance, 70% proficiency"

"Silk and Cloth Selection Knowledge, 96% proficiency"

"Silk Thread Color Coordination Techniques, 99% proficiency"

"Underdrawing - Sketching, 92% proficiency"

"Underdrawing - Coloring, 98% proficiency"

"Observation - Proficient in Animal Posture and Expressions, 87%"

"Knowledge of Embroidery Materials, Proficient 82%"

"Outline - Ink Painting Techniques, Proficient 95%"

"Outline - Oil Painting Techniques, Proficient 90%"

"Stitching Techniques - Hidden Stitch Embroidery, Proficient 96%"

"Stitching Techniques - Double-Sided Color and Shape Concealed Stitch, Proficient 89%"

"Stitching Techniques - Rolling Stitch Embroidery, Proficient 97%"

"Stitching Techniques - Random Stitch Embroidery, Proficient 93%"

...

The array of embroidery knowledge dazzled Tang Fei. Fortunately, it only compared to the skills of splitting threads and color matching. If she were to participate in an actual embroidery competition, her collection of eavesdropping learning cards would be insufficient.

Just then, the dishes that He Zhou and Ning Xiaodou had ordered arrived, their savory aroma tickling Tang Fei's appetite.

She hadn't really tried spicy flavors before; since she was in Hunan, it was a must-try specialty.

She wondered how it differed from the Hunan cuisine served in the capital.

Ning Xiaodou glanced at her own order, realizing it was identical to Tang Fei's. Her expression soured, as if she had just swallowed a ton of flies, her face contorted in disgust.

"I'm hungry, let's eat first and compare later!" Tang Fei rushed back to her seat, inhaling the scent of the food, causing her mouth to water.

The pain of studying needed a cover, and spiciness was a perfect excuse. Drawing on her previous painful learning experience, she mentally prepared herself, took a bite of the chili, and then activated her Study Card, focusing on the skills of slicing and color coordination.

Wu Xia watched Tang Fei, unable to simply walk away without a word. She turned to look at her teacher, Lu Yan, who quickly waved her over. "Big Mao, come here."

Her teacher still cared for her, giving her a way out. Wu Xia reluctantly returned to her seat.

In front of Tang Fei's eyes, numerous images flashed, overwhelming her as she attempted to learn two pieces of knowledge simultaneously, causing a headache.

From the knowledge of slicing, the first image quickly darted into her mind.

A petite girl with short hair, around four or five years old, sat before a table. The silk threads in front of her were meticulously arranged in neat rows.

Ordinarily, 32 strands of silk are combined to form one thread. The most basic technique in splitting silk involves separating these 32 strands back into individual threads. After splitting it in half 16 times, one achieves this task. However, the most skilled embroidery artists in the nation can split the thread 128 times, dividing it into 256 separate fibers, each thinner than a single fiber, almost transparent when held up to light.

During the process of splitting silk, the thread becomes increasingly finer with each division. If not handled with the right touch, it can easily tangle or break. Therefore, it's crucial to perform this task in a draught-free environment.

In the sweltering summer of Xiangnan Star City, the sun blazed high overhead, baking the ground to a whitish hue. The air was humid, like the entire city was under a collective sauna.

Wu Xia's family wasn't well-off when she was young; they couldn't afford an air conditioner. To practice splitting silk, she had to work in still conditions.

Dressed in a small tank top and shorts, the little girl was soaked through with sweat, even her eyelashes glistened with moisture, and her short hair clung to her head.

With a gentle touch of her tiny finger, she evenly parted the silk thread, then skillfully guided it apart, dividing the thread smoothly into two.

Once all the threads were split and hung in perfect alignment from the table, the sight of those incredibly fine lines standing vertically was awe-inspiring. A smile of accomplishment spread across Little Wu Xia's face, undeterred by the beads of sweat that covered her head.

However, her satisfaction was quickly interrupted by two voices.

"Why haven't you mastered splitting it 32 times yet?"

"Your teacher praised your innate talent. If you can't learn, is it because you haven't put in enough effort?"

"Why are you crying? Do you have the right to cry? Are we spending money for you to study just so you can have fun?"

"One must endure great hardships to rise above others. Go practice more, even if the teacher didn't explicitly demand it."

"Aching hands? Whose hands don't ache? You're the only one who cries about it."

"Wu Xia! Don't waste my money. If you don't practice, don't bother going to class tomorrow."