2024, Late autumn.
In the corner of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall in the provincial capital, 76-year-old Su Jinxiu stood in front of her entry and remained silent for a long time.
It was a double-sided three-dimensional embroidery of "A Hundred Birds Paying Attention to the Phoenix", which took three years to embroider. The front side shows birds flying and flowers blooming, while the reverse side shows independent phoenixes and pines proud of snow. The same base material, the front and back sides have completely different patterns, colors, and stitching methods - this is the most advanced unique skill in Su embroidery, and no more than three people in the world can do it.
However, the booth was arranged in the deepest part of the exhibition hall, with dim lights and very few people walking by. Next door are machine-embroidered cultural and creative products, colorful and crowded.
"Old aunt, what are you embroidering? I can't see clearly." A young man held up his mobile phone and waved over without even stopping.
Su Jinxiu opened her mouth but said nothing.
She had never married or given birth to a child in her life, and she devoted all her energy to her embroidery needles. When she was young, people said she was stupid, but she didn't believe it; when she was middle-aged, people said she was stubborn, but she didn't care; in her old age, the studio closed and her apprentice left, leaving her alone to guard the room full of embroidery.
When we walked out of the exhibition hall, it was raining lightly and the steps were slippery. Her feet stumbled, and she fell forward——
The last thought before her consciousness dissipated was: If she could do it again, she would not only do embroidery, but also live a good life.
Then, everything turned dark.
…
