Feast of Flowers

Hua Jin remained silent, quietly observing the man in the sports car.

Under Hua Jin's gaze, the handsome man's smile gradually stiffened, and he even shifted uncomfortably. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Sir, observing traffic regulations is the responsibility of every citizen." Hua Jin pointed to a nearby road sign that read, "No Parking in This Area."

The flirtatious atmosphere turned awkward as the conversation shifted to traffic laws.

Unfazed by Hua Jin's subtle rebuke, the man glanced at her sideways. "Fine." With that, he stepped on the gas and drove away.

Watching the car disappear around the corner, Hua Jin leaned against a railing, coughing repeatedly. The air quality had been poor the last few days, with willow catkins floating everywhere. Just a few steps from the hotel entrance, the catkins had irritated her nose and eyes, almost choking her.

She hadn't expected so many willow trees in this area. It was pure torture for someone with sensitive airways.

Behind the railing was a large artificial lake, its surface thankfully free of plastic waste. Facing the lake, she took a few deep breaths. Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder. Hua Jin turned to see an elderly couple standing behind her. The woman, with a kind smile, had been the one to tap her.

"Dear girl, don't overthink things. It's windy here, don't catch a cold." The old woman pointed to a public bench in the distance.

"N-no, thank you." Suppressing a cough, Hua Jin pulled a handkerchief from her bag and covered her nose and mouth. "Excuse me, I have some allergies."

"Oh, allergies, that's alright." The old woman nodded repeatedly. "Usually, the catkins only start flying after April. I don't know what's going on this year. It's only the end of March, and they're everywhere."

Turning her head to cough a few times, Hua Jin mumbled, "Y-yes."

"Then you shouldn't stay here. This whole area is planted with willow trees. You probably can't handle it." The old woman was very enthusiastic. She and her husband helped Hua Jin hail a taxi and ushered her inside.

Hua Jin felt a little embarrassed. She was a young woman in her mid-twenties; just because she had a willow catkin allergy, these elderly people were helping her get a cab. "Thank you so much for your trouble."

"It's good that you're alright." The old woman smiled and waved at Hua Jin, signaling the driver to start.

The driver glanced at Hua Jin through the rearview mirror. After driving a short distance, he couldn't help but say, "Young lady, life is long, and there's still a lot of hope for the future. Don't do anything to hurt yourself over something small."

Hua Jin was bewildered by his words, and she gave a dry laugh, nodding in agreement.

Silence fell in the car. Hua Jin took out a compact mirror and looked at her reflection. Who was this woman with red eyes and a red nose? Who was this woman whose beautiful curls had been tousled by the wind?

So, had the elderly couple put her in the taxi because they were worried she was suicidal?

"A few days ago, a young girl, heartbroken, jumped into the lake. When they pulled her out, her body was swollen and pale. Her family cried and fainted on the lakeshore." The driver sighed. "The poor girl, and her poor family. Drowning must be so painful."

"Oh, right. The lake where that girl drowned is right where you got in the car." Seeing Hua Jin's lack of reaction, the driver added, "Don't you young people like to say online that there's nothing that can't be solved with food? If one meal doesn't work, then have two."

Listening to the driver's monologue, which meandered from the meaning of life to the philosophy of food and then to internet trends, Hua Jin felt her mind and soul cleansed and elevated by the time she got out of the car.

Back home, after removing her makeup and showering, Hua Jin was relieved to see that her eyes weren't swollen anymore.

Aunt Gao had said that a craftswoman's eyes and hands were her most important tools. If she wanted to go further and achieve greater heights in the art of Shu embroidery, to become a true artisan, she had to protect her hands and eyes.

So, unless absolutely necessary, she always avoided staying up late to rush embroidery projects, as it was too damaging to her eyes.

Opening the curtains, Hua Jin did a set of eye exercises. Hearing her phone ring, she saw an unfamiliar number. Recognizing the area code, she paused slightly before answering.

"Hello, this is Hua Jin, embroiderer from Fanghua Shu Embroidery Studio."

"H-hello," the person on the other end stammered. "I'm the one who ordered the dragon and phoenix quilt. I was wondering if you could finish it earlier. I'm willing to pay extra, really, I'm willing to pay extra, as long as you can finish it sooner!"

"Sir, please don't worry." The moment Hua Jin heard the voice, she remembered who it was. Sensing the man's distress, she softened her tone. "Please speak slowly."

"The doctor said my wife… doesn't have much time left. She hasn't been able to eat anything these past few days and relies on painkillers to sleep." The man's voice choked with sobs. "I just want her to be able to use such a beautiful quilt. I… I…"

Listening to the incoherent cries on the phone, Hua Jin pursed her lips and glanced at the embroidery frame holding the nearly finished piece. "Five days, is that okay? I'll finish the dragon and phoenix quilt in five days and deliver it to you. Please send me your address."

"Thank you, thank you." The man kept thanking her, but aside from gratitude, he couldn't express himself eloquently.

Hua Jin hung up the phone, looked at the sunlit window, took a deep breath, and sat down at her embroidery frame.

There are many legends about dragons and phoenixes. Some say they are natural enemies, destined to fight whenever they meet, hence the term "dragon and phoenix fight." But the more common belief, especially in traditional culture, is that the simultaneous appearance of a dragon and phoenix is a sign of great auspiciousness, known as "dragon and phoenix presenting prosperity."

Therefore, when embroidering a dragon and phoenix presenting prosperity, it's not enough to simply depict the dragon, phoenix, and auspicious clouds. It's crucial to capture the harmony and charm between the dragon and phoenix, so that the first impression is one of harmony and happiness.

Traditionally, the phoenix's plumage is considered beautiful, and a key characteristic of Shu embroidery is its vibrant and bright colors, making it perfect for depicting dragons and phoenixes.

For the next five days, Hua Jin devoted most of her energy to the dragon and phoenix quilt. When she finally finished it, it was 4:00 AM on the fifth day. She slept for two or three hours before being jolted awake by her alarm's insistent ringing.

For a critically ill patient, every moment of consciousness is precious. Hua Jin couldn't afford to waste any time.

Taking a taxi to the hospital, Hua Jin called the man. He answered after a while, his voice tired and despairing.

Hua Jin said, "Please take care of your wife. You don't need to come down. I'll bring it up to you."

The hospital corridors were crowded with beds, filled with sick people and their exhausted families. When Hua Jin found the man who had commissioned the quilt, he was sitting against the wall, clutching a few pieces of paper. He tried to smile when he saw her, but couldn't manage it.

As Hua Jin handed him the quilt, she noticed a critical condition notice among the papers in his hand. On the nearest bed, a woman with a sallow complexion and an emaciated frame lay unconscious, connected to a respirator.

The man pulled a wad of cash from his bag and offered it to Hua Jin. She took two bills. "You don't need to give me the rest."

"That won't do," the man insisted, his dialect thickening with his anxiety. "No, I have to pay you what I owe. It's not easy for you young people to earn money."

"The deposit and these two hundred yuan are enough." Hua Jin refused the rest of the money. "After all these years away from home, it's rare to meet someone from my hometown. Keep the rest of the money to take care of your wife and your children who are still in school."

The man's eyes reddened. After a long moment, he nodded emphatically. "Thank you."

He looked at Hua Jin intently, as if trying to memorize her face.

Hua Jin didn't disturb the couple further. She walked through the disinfectant-scented corridor and got lost in the hospital's maze-like hallways. Finally finding an elevator, she realized it only stopped on even-numbered floors.

Reaching the second floor, Hua Jin stepped out of the elevator. Before she could take two steps, she heard a desperate cry: "Wait, wait, please hold the door!"

If the person hadn't been running towards her, Hua Jin would have thought it was a talking pineapple. The person wore a bright yellow jacket, had bright yellow hair, and sported gold sneakers.

Such dazzling colors compelled her to press the elevator button. However, it was too late; the elevator was already ascending.

The "pineapple" stood panting in front of the elevator doors and turned to her weakly. "Thanks, beautiful."

"You're welcome." Hua Jin couldn't help but take another look. Young people with such a vibrant sense of style were rare these days and needed to be cherished.

Hospital elevators were almost always crowded, so Hua Jin found the stairwell and headed down. A strange odor permeated the stairwell. Combined with the smell of disinfectant, it made Hua Jin, already exhausted from several sleepless nights, feel lightheaded. She almost tumbled down the stairs.

"Beautiful, it seems we're fated. But falling down the stairs just to throw yourself into my arms seems a bit extreme." Someone reached out and steadied her, then quickly withdrew their hand.

Leaning against the railing to regain her balance, Hua Jin looked up and met a pair of sparkling peach blossom eyes.

It was the man from the sports car, the one who had tried to pick her up outside the hotel five days ago.

This time, he was wearing a white shirt and a blue suit vest, looking much more respectable.

"It would have been a worthy price to pay, considering you've now delivered yourself right to me." Hua Jin pulled a chocolate bar from her bag. The lack of sleep and breakfast had probably given her low blood sugar.

She broke the chocolate in half and offered a piece to him. "Although I don't usually like overly forward men, I find your looks quite pleasing. This is your reward."

They were both adults; who didn't know how to flirt a little?

Author's Note:

Hua Jie, a true woman of the world.

Sports Car Man: I'm not, I didn't do anything.

ʕ◉ᴥ◉ʔ

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