Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade

Carrying the invitation from the Zhang family, Qian Sangui found himself in a bind. He couldn’t miss his elderly father’s birthday, yet the Zhang family had provided substantial help to his own household, and calling them benefactors would not be an overstatement. If he, the head of the household, didn’t attend Old Lady Zhang’s birthday banquet, he couldn’t help but feel overly indebted to them.

Qian Yixiu couldn’t help but laugh to herself. It was just like being sleepy and finding a pillow; she could take advantage of the excitement at both homes to slip away for a couple of days.

So she smiled and said, "Father, you should attend Grandfather’s birthday banquet. Filial piety should come first, after all. It’s rare for Grandfather to have such a grand birthday celebration, and not only should you attend, but brother must go too, since he is the eldest son and grandson of our branch of the family. Otherwise, it would be easy for others to gossip. I will represent you and brother at Old Lady Zhang’s birthday banquet. She has been wanting me to stay with her for a few days. I’ll stay a bit longer and tell her more jokes as a way to apologize on behalf of you and brother."

Qian Sangui knew his granddaughter’s talent all too well; she could sweet-talk anyone. Despite her young age, Old Lady Zhang actually most wanted to see her. Having her represent the family at the Zhang’s birthday banquet and cheer up the old lady was also a possibility.

After all is said and done, deep down Qian Sangui was willing to listen to his granddaughter.

He nodded in agreement.

They then discussed which kind of birthday gift to give. The family didn’t have much money and couldn’t afford expensive items, but they also didn’t want to give an ordinary gift, considering how much the Zhang family had done for them.

Qian Yixiu thought for a moment and said, "Let’s have Sister Xiaoyu make a spring shirt for the old lady, and then have Mother embroider two rows of ’blessing’ characters on the collar. I heard from Shopkeeper Jin that there are few who can do the water ripple needlework. Mother’s use of this technique to embroider ’blessing’ will surely be unique, with excellent symbolic meaning, and Old Lady Zhang will be delighted."

Lady Wu hurriedly had Huang Tie drive her to the county town. At the Jiusi Embroidery Building, she spent more than a dozen silver taels on four feet of the finest jacquard soft satin and didn’t get home until after dark. She then had Qian Xiaoyu and Qian Manxia work through the night cutting and sewing the garment, including the outfit for Qian Yixiu to wear to the birthday banquet.

Qian Yixiu began to try to persuade her stepmother. Cheng Yue had already greatly recovered from her illness and was now diligently embroidering in the east wing when she had spare time.

Qian Yixiu, hugging her arm, talked about all the help the Zhang family had provided them and how they had saved the lives of Qian Sangui and Cheng Yue multiple times. Since the men of the family, like Grandfather and brother, couldn’t attend Old Lady Zhang’s birthday banquet, it would be improper if she didn’t stay with the old lady for some time.