Chapter 198: Chapter One-Hundred and Ninety-Eight: Embroidered Portrait
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Yun Nan was a woman of action. Early next morning, she brought Shi Nian, Ye Kun, and Fang Xi to the mayor’s office to listen to the mayor and the town’s resident representatives talk about their plans and the difficulties they encountered.
Shi Xiu had instructions from Fang Xi asking her to stay behind under the excuse of sleeping in to take care of Xiang Yang. Although Xiang Yang was very tired, she was in much better spirits after a night of physical and mental rest. Shi Xiu and her went out to enjoy the scenery hand in hand.
Shi Xiu led the way for Xiang Yang, telling her, “We filmed some of our movie scenes here, so I’m quite familiar with a few places here. Xiang Yang, how about I take you to see the hand-woven work here? They’re very stunning.” Xiang Yang nodded in agreement.
The town’s bluestone road was particularly charming. The two chatted and laughed as they walked down the paths and met a few tourists.
“Hey, girls! Why are you also here?” Hai Hua spotted Shi Xiu and Xiang Yang straightaway and exclaimed in surprise.
“Oh, it’s you, Hai Hua!” Shi Xiu rushed over to hug Hai Hua enthusiastically. “Why are you here?” Shi Xiu asked, shouting and jumping like a little child.
Hai Hua and Xiang Yang also greeted each other before Hai Hua replied with a smile, “Your brother, Shi Nian, invited me here. I was supposed to come with you guys, but something came up at my work, so I was delayed and came a day late. But it just so happens that I have a few friends interested in tourism-related projects, so I came with them.”
Hai Hua introduced her friends to the two girls. Then, Xiang Yang told them, “Shi Nian and Yun Nan have gone out. Why don’t you guys come to our place first? You can sort out your accommodations after they come back. We’re unfamiliar with this place, so it’s better to let Yun Nan set you guys up.”
Hai Hua readily agreed and went home with them. “Where were you two originally heading?” Hai Hua inquired as they walked.
“Shi Xiu has been here before. She said the hand-woven work here is quite beautiful and wants to bring me over to take a look,” Xiang Yang smilingly replied. Hai Hua had some history with her grandmother’s family, so she knew Hai Hua.
Hai Hua chuckled, “So, Shi Xiu, can you be our guide?”
Shi Xiu shook her head. “I was here with the production crew to film our movie; we only stayed for a few days, and we spent most of our time here filming, so I haven’t really had the chance to explore this place yet. I’m not here for work this time so I’ll be able to enjoy myself. Hai Hua, have you been in contact with the others?” Shi Xiu was asking Hai Hua about the others on the show ‘ Embracing Life.’
Hai Hua smiled and answered, “I met up with Xiao Zhao and Yan Tang a few days ago. They want to reform their band.”
Shi Xiu was surprised. “Oh? That’s great, but why didn’t you guys invite me to your get-together? That’s so mean!”
Shi Xiu pouted. Hai Hua explained, “Yan Tang said that she would ask you out on her own later. Xiao Zhao and her invited me out because they wanted to find a sponsor. There’s nothing to be jealous of, you silly girl.”
Shi Xiu giggled, “That’s because I like them. I’ll be sad if they forget me.”
Hai Hua sighed at Xiang Yang, “This girl is a chatterbox. You’re the cool and aloof type, and Yun Nan is gentle, so I reckon that with her around, the two of you don’t have the chance to speak.”
Xiang Yang smiled, and Shi Xiu remarked, “But I’m empathetic. If Xiang Yang and Yun Nan have something to say, they don’t have to speak up because I’ll directly express it for them.”
Her words amused everyone. They arrived at Yun Nan’s house as they spoke. When Hai Hua saw the embroidered portrait in the middle of the restaurant hall, she looked as if she’d been electrocuted and froze.
“Who—who is this?” she questioned with a trembling voice.
Shi Xiu didn’t notice it. She took two steps forward and went on her tiptoes to point at the portrait, saying proudly, “Yun Nan embroidered this. Isn’t it so nice? It’s simply a work of art!”
“That’s not what I’m asking. I want to know who the person in the portrait is!” Hai Hua stated, voice tense.
Xiang Yang looked at her strangely. Shi Xiu realized that something was wrong and stopped smiling. She told Hai Hua, “They’re Yun Nan’s adoptive parents.”
After a moment’s thought, she added, “Yun Nan said that they didn’t have any decent photos when they were alive, so she drew a portrait of them and embroidered it. When the townsfolk came to eat yesterday, everyone said it was a good likeness and very lifelike!”
When Hai Hua heard this, she took a few steps forward and looked up at the portrait. She muttered, “She looks so similar… She’s so alike…”
Xiang Yang and Shi Xiu were puzzled. “Did you know Yun Nan’s mother, Hai Hua?” Xiang Yang inquired.
Hai Hua shook her head. “No, but she looks very similar to my aunt.”
Shi Xiu was surprised. ‘Your aunt?”
‘ What’s her aunt got to do with anything? she thought.
Hai Hua took out her phone and snapped a few photos of the portrait. Then, she agitatedly questioned Shi Xiu, “I remember that you—or was it Yun Nan— you girls mentioned that Yun Nan’s adoptive mother was kidnapped and sold to the mountains?
Shi Xiu gently nodded. “Yeah. Yun Nan wrote a novel about it, and the movie I acted in was based on that novel. The character I played was Yun Nan’s adoptive mother..”
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