Chapter 377 - 376: The Decline of Traditional Craftsmanship

The next morning, Guo Zhaoyang finished his assignment. Seeing him enter Xue Yue’s office again, an uneasy Deng Weiwei crept toward the door.

Zhao Li pretended not to see.

But Ding Ruzhi wasn’t the type to hold her tongue. She always spoke her mind.

"Hey, colleague, have you forgotten? The department rules the supervisors had us read on our first day? Don’t listen to what you shouldn’t, and don’t speak of what you shouldn’t."

Zhao Li was surprised. She couldn’t believe Ding Ruzhi actually remembered the department rules. ’I thought this young miss only cared about sleeping and dressing up.’

After hearing what Ding Ruzhi said, Deng Weiwei was too embarrassed to keep eavesdropping on the conversation inside.

She returned to her seat sheepishly, biting her lip and staring at the office door as if trying to see right through it.

Inside, Xue Yue reviewed the summary report Guo Zhaoyang had submitted. "This is very well organized. You finished it so quickly."

Guo Zhaoyang chuckled. "Team Leader, I pulled an all-nighter to get it done."

Xue Yue raised an eyebrow. "Young man, you need to balance work and rest. Your health is your most important asset."

Feng Yujie had said the same thing to Xue Yue before. Xue Yue had found it very reasonable, and now she was passing the advice on to the younger generation under her.

"Team Leader, why do you sound so old-fashioned? You can’t be that much older than me, right?"

Xue Yue paused. "A few years is still a few years. Now, get back to work."

Guo Zhaoyang instantly straightened up and responded loudly, "Yes, ma’am!"

His response startled Xue Yue. As she watched Guo Zhaoyang leave and close the door, she reflected on her own behavior. ’Am I usually not serious enough? How has this kid gotten bold enough to tease me?’

Seeing Guo Zhaoyang come out of the office, Deng Weiwei immediately went up to him. "What did the Team Leader want to see you about?"

Guo Zhaoyang gave her a strange look. "Why are you asking?"

Deng Weiwei forced a slight smile. "I was just asking. It just seems like you’re running to her office quite often."

Guo Zhaoyang stared at Deng Weiwei for a few seconds, noticing her avert her gaze.

"The Team Leader assigned me work yesterday. I finished it, so I turned it in. What else would I be doing in there?"

Deng Weiwei looked at Guo Zhaoyang doubtfully. Seeing him sit down and start organizing things on his desk, she began to have her own suspicions. ’Maybe Zhao Li misunderstood something.’

Ding Ruzhi scoffed. "My, my, coming to work is like watching a play every day. Xiao Guo, why don’t you just take her with you wherever you go from now on? That way, when you go in to report on your work, she won’t have to press her ear to the door to eavesdrop. Doesn’t she know what kind of department this is? Confidentiality is rule number one."

Guo Zhaoyang frowned at Deng Weiwei. Deng Weiwei quickly shook her head and explained, "I didn’t."

But seeing the panic on her face, Guo Zhaoyang clearly started to doubt her.

Deng Weiwei glared daggers at Ding Ruzhi.

Ding Ruzhi just smiled nonchalantly and said leisurely, "Don’t look at me like that. I know I’m pretty, but you’re not my type, sweetie."

Deng Weiwei gritted her teeth but didn’t dare to actually argue with Ding Ruzhi. She was afraid of making a scene and losing her job. This position hadn’t been easy to get, and not just anyone could work at the Ministry of Commerce.

The department had already held several large meetings about the upcoming trade fair, specifically emphasizing the event’s importance.

Jin Shaoming had told them, "Don’t be timid. We not only need to understand others’ products, but we must also have a thorough understanding of our own domestic products. That’s the only way we can effectively promote what we have to offer."

After returning, Xue Yue had made a special effort to research the Chinese products at this trade fair, taking detailed notes.

On the day of the trade fair, Xue Yue arrived at the venue early. She was just coming out after a quick tour when she ran into Zheng Guofeng.

"Uncle Zheng."

Zheng Guofeng looked at her attire. "This is what you’re wearing?"

Xue Yue was in professional business attire. She looked down at herself. "Is this not okay?"

Zheng Guofeng shook his head. "I suggest you wear a qipao. Our exhibits today include Su Xiu embroidery. The ones you usually wear look very good on you. You could better represent our country and promote our Su Xiu, as well as our textile industry."

Xue Yue glanced at the time. "But I definitely don’t have enough time to go home and change now."

Zheng Guofeng hesitated for a second. "Come with me."

Zheng Guofeng led Xue Yue into the exhibition hall.

"Master Yang."

Xue Yue saw a woman who looked to be over fifty. The reason for this description was her full head of white hair, yet her face didn’t look old. She was wearing a brown qipao embroidered with flowers. Xue Yue didn’t recognize the type of flower, but she found it beautiful.

"Vice Minister Zheng."

Zheng Guofeng brought Xue Yue before her and said, "Do you have a spare qipao? Find one for her."

Master Yang looked Xue Yue up and down, then nodded. "I do. Come with me."

Xue Yue glanced at Zheng Guofeng. Seeing him nod, she had no choice but to follow.

Once she went into the back, she immediately saw a dozen or so Su Xiu qipaos hanging on a rack.

"Are these today’s exhibits?"

Master Yang nodded. "That’s right. Which style do you like? I brought several similar ones with me."

Xue Yue looked at the Su Xiu garments before her. Each one had a different color or pattern, with variations in the collars and hems. They were so dazzling it was almost overwhelming.

As if sensing Xue Yue’s thoughts, Master Yang took out a black qipao embroidered with green bamboo.

"How about this one? It’ll definitely look good on you."

Xue Yue nodded.

After she changed, Master Yang also redid Xue Yue’s hair in an updo and then looked at her with satisfaction.

"You’re very well-suited for qipaos. They accentuate a woman’s figure and are a refreshing sight to behold."

Xue Yue smiled. "Thank you, Master Yang. How much is this dress? I’ll bring you the money after the trade fair ends."

Master Yang sighed. "To be honest, this is a craft passed down from my ancestors. Hardly anyone wears them anymore. They aren’t worth much money; they’re just time-consuming to make. Vice Minister Zheng and I go way back. Since he brought you here, there’s no charge."

Hearing this, Xue Yue looked at the room full of handicrafts, each one the product of painstaking effort, stitch by stitch. It reminded her of that old man in the alleyway. He was the same—a lifetime of craftsmanship, yet now he struggled just to make ends meet.

When Xue Yue came out from the back, Zheng Guofeng walked over and glanced at her. "Not bad. But why the long face? Don’t you like it?"

Xue Yue shook her head. "No, it’s not that. I just think it’s a shame that no one is buying such wonderful things."

Zheng Guofeng said, "You worry about too much. Times are changing, so it’s normal for people’s aesthetic tastes to change. If everyone likes Western things, then we’ll just sell our things abroad and have Westerners wear our clothes. Fashion might be cyclical. People may not like it right now, but perhaps many years from now, they’ll love it again."

"I hope so."

Sometime after nine o’clock, the venue began to fill up. Ding Ruzhi spotted Xue Yue from a distance and ran over, covering her mouth as she circled her.

"Sister Xue, where did you buy this dress? I want to get one too! It’s gorgeous! Oh my god, look at this fabric! TSK TSK, and this bamboo... it’s so lifelike."