Chapter 257: I Am Proud of You, Forever

May's sunshine poured through the floor‑to‑ceiling windows into the office, warm and bright.

Su Ruan lifted her head from the design drawings and rubbed her slightly sore eyes.

"President Su, this is the final draft of the Jinxiu River and Mountains series, please review it."

Assistant Xiao Chen placed a stack of documents on the desk.

Su Ruan opened the files and examined each design page carefully.

Five years have passed; Needle and Thread Memory has grown from a simple foundation into a complete Social Enterprise Ecology.

And Jinxiu River and Mountains is the latest work in this series.

"Miao embroidery's butterfly pattern, Yi's sun pattern, Tibetan eight‑treasure pattern…" Su Ruan whispered, "Has Master Wang tried the craft yet?"

"They have, here's a sample photo." Xiao Chen handed over the tablet, "Teacher Xiu Lan and her team worked on it for three months; the result is excellent."

Su Ruan looked at the exquisite embroidery in the photo, a satisfied smile spreading across her face: "Notify production; we can start sampling. The first batch is limited to one hundred pieces, each must bear the Embroiderer's signature and serial number."

"Understood."

After Xiao Chen left, Su Ruan stood up and walked to the window.

From the top floor of the newly built Chongsu Creative Park, she could see the whole park's scenery.

Design Center, handicraft workshop, exhibition space, and even a small inheritance school.

Five years, the change is huge.

"Mom!" The office door swung open as a nine‑year‑old girl ran in, followed by a slightly steadier ten‑year‑old boy.

"An'an, Jinjin, why are you here?" Su Ruan turned, smiling and opening her arms.

An'an leapt into her mother's arms: "Dad said he's taking us to the new ceramic workshop today, and asked us to find you!"

Jinjin stood aside, holding a thick book: "Mom, this is a newly arrived Library book; I want to borrow it to read."

Su Ruan patted her son's head: "Okay, I'll handle the paperwork later. An'an, do you want to go to the ceramic workshop?"

"Yes!" An'an nodded vigorously, "I want to make a little vase to give to Grandma."

Just then, Jiang Ran walked in.

Five years have left a mature trace on his face, but the light in his eyes remains unchanged.

"Everyone's here?" he said with a smile, moving forward and naturally slipping his arm around Su Ruan's waist, "President Su, can we leave early? Family time has arrived."

Su Ruan glanced at her watch: "Half an hour left. You all can go look at books; I'll finish the last bit of work."

"Alright." An'an took her brother's hand, "Brother, let's go to the children's reading room."

After the children left, Jiang Ran embraced Su Ruan from behind: "Are you tired? How's the preparation of the Jinxiu River and Mountains series?"

"It's fine, just finalized the draft," Su Ruan leaned in his embrace, "And you? Was the afternoon board meeting smooth?"

"Smooth." Jiang Ran kissed her hair, "The Needle and Thread Memory Foundation's budget for next year was approved, a 20% increase over this year. We plan to build three new handicraft inheritance bases in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan."

"Great." Su Ruan turned to face him, "Xiu Lan called yesterday, saying their village's embroidery cooperative recruited five apprentices this year, all around twenty years old."

"That's wonderful," Jiang Ran sighed, "Think back five years, she was still worried no one would learn the craft. Now, handcraft has become a profession young people choose."

"Because they see the value," Su Ruan said softly, "Not just cultural value, but economic value too. Handcraft can earn a living, can bring wealth, so people are willing to learn."

While they were chatting, the office door knocked again.

Lin Xiaoyu peeked in: "Professor Su, President Jiang, sorry to disturb?"

"No problem, come in," Su Ruan said with a smile, waving.

Lin Xiaoyu is now the brand communication director of Needle and Thread Memory, responsible for recording and disseminating all handcraft stories.

She carried a thick photo album into the room.

"The sample book of Craft Memory Volume Five is out," she exclaimed, flipping it open, "This issue records the stories of twelve minority silversmiths. Professor Su, look at this one—this Miao senior silversmith teaching his grandson to make silver ornaments."

In the photo, a white‑haired elder holds a teenager's hand, hammering a silver sheet together.

Sunlight streams through the wooden window, falling on the fluttering silver flakes, sparkling.

"Beautiful." Su Ruan praised sincerely, "Xiaoyu, how many handcraft persons have you recorded over these five years?"

"Three hundred twenty‑seven," Lin Xiaoyu recited, "Weaving, embroidery, ceramics, wood carving, silverwork… thirty‑eight ethnic groups, fifty‑six handcrafts."

"Our database has become the most complete folk handcraft image archive in the country."

Jiang Ran opened the album: "These materials are priceless."

"Not just data, they're memory, they're life," Su Ruan said softly, "Xiaoyu, thank you. These five years, you've been on the road, hard work indeed."

"Not hard at all," Lin Xiaoyu's eyes lit up, "Every time I record a handcraft person, every story I hear, I feel especially worthwhile. Professor Su, you gave me the chance to do such meaningful work."

They chatted a while longer, then Lin Xiaoyu left to attend to other tasks.

Su Ruan finished the last piece of work and went with Jiang Ran to find the children.

In the creative park's children's area, An'an was reading a picture book, while Jinjin was focused on a handicraft table, working on something.

"Jinjin, what are you making?" Su Ruan asked as she walked over.

Jinjin looked up, holding a small wooden bird already taking shape: "I want to carve a swallow. Spring is here; swallows should return."

Jiang Ran picked up the half‑finished piece and examined it closely: "Your technique is getting smoother. How's learning from Master Chen?"

"Master Chen says I have great talent," Jinjin smiled rarely, "He promised to take me to the mountains to select wood during the summer vacation."

On the other side, An'an raised the book in her hand: "Mom, this book is about Tujia woven brocade, it's so beautiful! Can I learn it?"

"Sure." Su Ruan sat beside her daughter, "The creative park has a Tujia woven brocade workshop; I'll take you there on the weekend."

"Great!"

The family of four first went to the ceramic workshop.

Inside the workshop, several families were already playing; the sound of the wheel and children's laughter intertwined.

"President Jiang, President Su, you're here," the workshop manager greeted, "We've saved a spot for you."

"Thank you," Jiang Ran said, "Today we're just ordinary customers, no special treatment needed."

The family put on aprons and sat in front of the pottery wheel. After the teacher gave a brief explanation, everyone began to work.

An'an quickly grasped the essentials and focused on kneading the clay.

Jinjin, on the other hand, is more skilled at carving and etched patterns onto the formed clay body.

Su Ruan and Jiang Ran sat together, their hands overlapping on the clay.

"Do you remember when we first did Handcraft together?" Jiang Ran asked softly.

"I remember," Su Ruan laughed, "in Hu Tong, you insisted on fixing my sewing machine, and it got worse the more you tried."

"Didn't it end up getting fixed in the end?"

"I was the one who fixed it."

The two chuckled softly, but their hands were far from idle. A vase's outline gradually took shape at their fingertips.

"Dad, Mom, look at what I made!"

An'an lifted a small bowl; it was crooked but whole.

"Great!" Su Ruan gave a thumbs‑up.

Jinjin also finished her carving—a pen holder with a swallow motif—and said, "This… I'll give it to Dad for his pens."

Jiang Ran took it, examined it closely, and said, "The carving is excellent; Dad will surely use it every day."

After finishing the pottery, the pieces must be fired and can be collected a week later.

The family washed their hands and went to the restaurant in the park area for a meal.

The restaurant was open‑plan, allowing a view of the garden outside.

In the May garden, the flowers were in full bloom.

"Mom, next month is my and brother's birthday," An'an said while eating, "Can we hold a Birthday Party here?"

"Sure," Su Ruan said, "How would you like to celebrate?"

"I want to invite my classmates, give them a tour of the workshop, and teach them Handicraft," An'an said earnestly, "Many kids in our class don't know traditional Handcraft, and I want them to learn."

Jinjin nodded, "I want to too."

Su Ruan and Jiang Ran exchanged a glance and smiled.

"Alright, let's hold it at Creative Garden," Jiang Ran said, "Dad will arrange it for you."

After the meal, the family strolled home at a leisurely pace.

Creative Garden was not far from their home; it took only twenty minutes on foot.

They had deliberately chosen the spot five years ago to better balance work and life.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long.

An'an and Jinjin ran ahead, while Su Ruan and Jiang Ran walked hand in hand behind them.

"Time flies," Su Ruan mused, "An'an and Jinjin have grown up and have their own ideas now."

"Indeed," Jiang Ran squeezed her hand, "And their ideas are great—sharing, Inheritance. That's what we taught them."

"It's not only what we taught, but the environment's influence," Su Ruan said, looking at the surrounding buildings, "Growing up here naturally teaches the value of Handcraft and the preciousness of culture."

By the time they returned home, night had fallen. Li Huijuan and Jiang Jianguo were watching TV in the living room and waved with smiles when they saw the family arrive.

"Back already? How did the pottery turn out?" Jiang Jianguo asked.

"It's fine; we'll pick it up in a week," Jiang Ran sat down, "Dad, is your back better today?"

"Much better; acupuncture worked," Jiang Jianguo said, "We'll be able to return to the workshop next week."

Li Huijuan is now the head of Grandma's Craft Workshop in Creative Garden, teaching elders traditional Handicraft three days a week. Jiang Jianguo helps out in the carpentry workshop.

"Grandma, we have five new students today," Li Huijuan said to Su Ruan, "All of them are retired seniors from nearby who said they have nothing to do at home, so they came to learn some Handcraft and have someone to talk to."

"That's wonderful," Su Ruan said sincerely, happy for her mother‑in‑law. Five years ago, Li Huijuan was a traditional housewife; now she is a respected teacher.

They chatted a while longer, and the children went to bathe and sleep.

Su Ruan and Jiang Ran drank tea on the balcony, watching the city's nightscape.

"RuanRuan, next month is our eleventh wedding anniversary," Jiang Ran said suddenly.

"Eleven years… " Su Ruan leaned on his shoulder, "How fast."

"I'd like…" Jiang Ran paused, "Let's go to Lijiang again, just the two of us, to relive that trip. Then we can visit Grandma Yang and Sister He Xiulan."

"Sure," Su Ruan's eyes lit up, "Grandma Yang should be eighty this year, right? Is she still in good health?"

"She's doing great; last week she posted a video teaching her great‑granddaughter embroidery," Jiang Ran laughed, "Sister He Xiulan is now the president of the Lijiang Handicraft Association, and her daughter returned after graduating university to work at the association."

"That's wonderful," Su Ruan said softly, "One choice changed the destinies of so many people."