On the day before the Double Ninth Festival, Lin Dan finished making the Hundred Butterfly Skirt and asked her Third and Fourth Aunts to send it to the Zhou Mansion for Miss Zhou to try it on. If there was anything that didn't fit, the two of them could modify it on the spot to avoid the trouble of running back and forth. Lin Dan doesn't like dealing with people, so naturally he won't go to the house in person to serve guests.
Miss Zhou didn't need any alterations and paid the money happily after trying it on. Perhaps they were too satisfied, so before leaving, the third and fourth concubines were also rewarded with one or two taels of silver.
Du Ruyan came back a few days ago and brought many gifts to Lin Dan. She chattered non-stop as soon as they met, looking carefree and very happy. She had no idea that while she and her aunt were spending a leisurely time in the mountains, Du Rushong was fighting on the battlefield and escaping death.
Lin Dan didn't intend to tell her this. After she finished speaking, he took out a huge package and said, "This is the leather armor I made for your brother. You can take it back."
"Okay, did my brother give the money?" Du Ruyan asked habitually. If she doesn't pay, she won't allow Lin Dan to work for this person even if he is her own brother.
"Given it." Lin Dan nodded, "Given a golden doll."
"That's about right." Du Ruyan didn't think her brother had given her too much. She planned to pick up the package, but found it was ridiculously heavy. Her hands were almost broken from lifting it, but it was still stuck to the table.
"Dandan, how strong are you? I saw you lifted it up with one hand and placed it lightly on the table. I thought it wasn't heavy at all!" Du Ruyan struggled for a long time but failed to lift the package. Her cheeks turned red and she was panting.
Cuilan then walked over happily and helped her carry the package back home. Du Rushong, who was separated by a wall, stopped practicing martial arts, listened attentively, and the smile on the corner of his mouth looked extremely gentle.
…………
At the hour of Mao the next day, before daybreak, many families were already heading up the mountain in groups. Even the most delicate ladies cannot take the car today. They must walk to the top of the mountain on their own, one to strengthen their bodies and pray for longevity, and the other to get a good omen.
Ever since the three-dimensional floral fabric invented by Lin Dan became popular in Lin'an Prefecture, many women have fallen in love with this style. As a result, today's forest trails are full of noble ladies dressed in flowers. They gathered in twos and threes, chatting, laughing, or playing, looking very beautiful and charming. But no matter how beautiful it is, compared with Xu Qian's wisteria flower dress, it still lacks the light texture and fairy-like charm. It is not surprising after seeing it too many times.
Li Jiarong carefully got off the carriage with the help of her maid, followed by Meng Si. As soon as they appeared, they attracted everyone's attention.
"Oh, it's a butterfly!" Someone shouted in surprise, attracting more people's attention.
Li Jiarong was seen wearing a halter dress with hundreds of butterflies on the pattern, standing gracefully in the woods. Butterflies of various shapes and colors are flying on the satin, and flowers are blooming in the satin, looking lifelike. A translucent smock on the outside isolates these gorgeous colors, creating a hazy feeling and neutralizing the gorgeousness of the picture of butterflies flying through the flowers.
This style of strong yet elegant style is something Meng Si has never tried before, but judging by everyone's reactions, the effect seems to be very good. However, this wrap dress is not the most eye-catching part of the whole outfit. What is even more wonderful is the cardigan. The shoulders, lapels, waist, hem and other parts of the dress are decorated with colorful butterflies. When a breeze blows, the butterflies flap their wings, as if they will fly away with the wind in the next moment, but they always stay still.
Everyone was amazed and when they got closer they found that the butterflies were made of silk and thin iron wire. They were so lifelike that they looked like real creatures.
"Ms. Li, you are so beautiful today!"
"This butterfly blouse is so beautiful and ingenious!"
"Our flowery dresses have become Miss Li's foil."
Everyone rushed over to compliment Li Jiarong, praising her without repeating themselves. But if you look into it carefully, they are not lying. Li Jiarong's dress today is indeed much better than everyone else's.
Li Jiarong listened with a smile, then pulled Meng Si's hand and squeezed it gently. Meng Si's uneasy mood immediately relaxed, and he no longer worried about imitating Lin Dan's style. At this moment, someone jokingly said, "I heard that Zhou Xin also ordered a hundred-butterfly skirt from Lin Xiu Niang. It was sent to Zhou's house yesterday for her to try on. She loved it very much."
"Oh? She's wearing a butterfly skirt today too?" Li Jiarong frowned slightly and asked, "Do you know what style it is?"
"I haven't seen it myself, but I heard from her sister that it was just an ordinary embroidered skirt, not as colorful as Miss Li's."
Only then did Li Jiarong breathe a sigh of relief without leaving a trace. The three-dimensional cut-out fabric was originally invented by Lin Dan. If she had a sudden inspiration and made a lot of lifelike butterflies to embellish the fabric, Li Jiarong would really be embarrassed today. Since Meng Si was her best friend, she was reluctant to tell him some truths, but privately, Li Jiarong fully admitted that Lin Dan's aesthetics, composition and ability to use colors were far superior to Meng Si's.
While Meng Si was still trapped in the framework of traditional patterns and unable to make any progress, Lin Dan had broken free from the shackles and found a new way out. Her tailoring techniques and aesthetic composition are both extremely personal, so strong that others can tell that it is her work at a glance.
Thinking of this, Li Jiarong's heart, which had just been at ease, became heavy again, and she immediately looked for Zhou Xin in the crowd.
As the saying goes, “Speak of the devil and he will appear.” Just as the people finished talking, a carriage slowly drove up and stopped at the foot of the mountain. A tall girl jumped off the carriage without the help of a maid, stretched her body, kicked her legs, and looked very lively. Who else could it be but Zhou Xin, the little monkey of the Zhou family?
In terms of looks, Zhou Xin could only be considered above average, but today for some reason, she looked so cute and charming, with an alluring aura. Her skin was already delicate and fair, like fine porcelain, and she looked even more dazzling in the pink and white jacket and skirt she wore. I don't know what material the skirt is made of. It looks very thick, but when it is tied with a pure white belt, it seems to have no thickness at all. It immediately outlines Zhou Xin's slender waist. The fluffy skirt naturally spreads out to all sides, and it flutters when she walks, looking very light.
From a distance, Zhou Xin looked like she was wearing a pink and white cloud, which made her look gentle and lovely, as well as lively and agile. Compared with the other ladies who were still wearing gauze blouses in such cold weather, she was simply an outlier, yet she miraculously combined beauty, lightness and warmth.
As she came closer, her clothes became clearer and clearer, and the ladies could hardly move their eyes. I saw that her pink and white skirt was not of solid color, but was embroidered with dark and light white and dark and light gray, with a little dark and light pink, to form cabbage butterflies.
They either flap their wings and fly, or fold their wings to take a rest. Each one has a different shape and color. Some have a little pink at the tips of their wings, some have a little pink at the base of their wings. The dots of pink are sprinkled on the pure white cloth like scales, and then blend perfectly together.
The wings of the butterflies are outlined with dark white, bright white or light white silk threads, and the fluff embroidered with light gray silk threads is spread all over their tiny bodies, foot segments and antennae. The shadows drawn with deep gray distinguish each butterfly, yet the transition is perfect.
If you look at them from a distance, they will blend into a piece of white silk with pink tints; but if you look at them up close, they will make the fabric instantly come alive. Zhou Xin stopped when she was tired and patted her chest gently. The vivid little butterflies also trembled along with the fabric, as if they would scatter in the next moment.
If they had not seen this skirt, the ladies would never have imagined that each color, when broken down, could become more shades of color, and that blending these colors perfectly together could create such a colorful picture. Who said Lin Dan’s embroidery skills were not good? She combines the alternation of light and dark colors and the compact white space in the composition in an extremely contradictory yet perfect way, making it appear diverse but not complicated, and complex but not chaotic.
She casually scattered colors of varying shades, and played with the unpredictable light and shadow, like a skilled wizard who used silver needles and embroidery threads to turn dreams into reality. This lifelike and charming picture of hundreds of butterflies is enough to prove the level of her embroidery skills.
The ladies looked at this fresh and refined dress, and then looked at Li Jiarong's colorful butterfly dress, and immediately showed an expression that was difficult to describe. As expected, no matter how beautiful a skirt is, it will immediately become vulgar and gaudy, and unsightly, when set off by Lin Dan's fairy skirt.
"Isn't this dress Lin Xiu Niang's masterpiece? I can tell at a glance!" A young girl said aggrievedly, "Lin Xiu Niang is best at making fairy dresses. I asked my mother to help me order it. Lin Xiu Niang asked for 75 taels of silver as a reward, but my mother was reluctant to give it to me. Now looking back, what's wrong with 75 taels? 75 taels is really worth it!"
"Hey, your skirt is clearly a coat skirt. It looks thick and fluffy, but why does it feel so thin? Oh! The lining is actually pastel-colored satin. It turns out a little bit when you walk, and it actually looks even prettier!"
"Each butterfly is different, but the colors are very harmonious, almost blending into one, yet each one is clearly visible. Lady Lin's embroidery skills are incredible! I have never seen embroidery of this style, it is so realistic and full of spirit!"
A group of young ladies circled around Zhou Xin, all with envious looks in their eyes.
Zhou Xin patted the fluffy hem of her skirt and said proudly, "This is a skirt that Lin Xiu Niang tailored for me. There is only one in the world. If you want to make the same one as me, she won't agree. She said that there is only one of each style of clothes she makes, and they will never be repeated. Moreover, only the person who made it will look the most beautiful when wearing it!"
After hearing this, the ladies became even more eager and wanted to run down the mountain immediately to ask Lin Xiu Niang to make a one-of-a-kind skirt for them.
Li Jiarong, who was completely overshadowed and looked vulgar, was helpless against Zhou Xin even though she was so angry that her teeth were chattering. Zhou Xin's father is the governor of Lin'an Prefecture and holds real power. The Li family also hopes that the Zhou family can help them gain a foothold in Lin'an Prefecture.
No matter how much she liked Meng Zhong, Li Jiarong couldn't help but glared at Meng Si fiercely and said coldly: "Let's go, let's continue climbing the mountain."
When they reached the top of the mountain, the cold wind of late autumn blew, and the ladies, who were wearing gauze and skirts, began to sneeze, have runny noses, and shiver with cold. Only Zhou Xin had a rosy complexion and perfect manners, which made everyone grit their teeth in jealousy. How nice it would be if they could also have such a fairy-like, beautiful and warm skirt!
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