Huang Zhongren safely stored away Anning’s embroidery after receiving it.
On the day of Old Mrs. Huang’s birthday, all the descendants of the Huang family ca to wish her longevity.
Even the Magistrate’s Madam attended, and moreover, prestigious families of Prefecture City sent representatives. For a ti, the entrance to the Huang household was bustling with the flow of carriages and horses, a scene of grand hustle and bustle.
During the presentation of birthday gifts, as the eldest son, Huang Zhongren should have been the first to offer his gift.
However, Huang Zhongren was well aware that once he presented his gift, others would truly dare not bring out theirs. He chuckled and said, "You all present first. My gift is a bit special, I’ll talk about it last."
His words undoubtedly aroused Old Mrs. Huang’s curiosity.
"What is it?"
Old Mrs. Huang asked.
"I can’t say now, but Mother will definitely like it."
Huang Zhongren smiled, observing the younger generation presenting various birthday gifts.
There were exceptionally lifelike longevity peaches, as well as jade articles that Old Madam liked, and most notably, Huang Zhongren’s nephew brought several pots of prized chrysanthemums.
Old Madam was very pleased, marveling at the pots of chrysanthemums.
Finally, it was Huang Zhongren’s turn. He had soone bring out the embroidery.
His attendant held a tray, covered with a piece of red cloth, and when Huang Zhongren lifted the cloth, countless eyes turned to look in its direction.
Even Old Madam sat upright, looking over.
As the red cloth was lifted, Huang Zhongren picked up the embroidery and unfolded it.
"Ah?"
Old Mrs. Huang exclaid, "Is this, is this the Bodhisattva?"
Beside her, Huang Zhongren’s Madam inquired, "Whose famous painting is this?"
Huang Zhongren smiled, "This is not a painting, this is embroidery."
Madam Huang approached to carefully inspect it and after a long ti she said, "Indeed, it is embroidery. Such ingenuity is truly like capturing the heavens."
Indeed, the embroidery was even more exquisite than a painting; on first glance, one really could not tell it was embroidered.
Moreover, the Guanyin in the painting seed almost alive, even the lotus platform appeared to emit a golden light.
Old Mrs. Huang pressed her palms together in veneration and bowed before attempting to take a closer look. Just as she was getting up, she exclaid again, "The eyes of Guanyin have co to life; she, she is looking at ."
Madam Huang and several other Ladies also hurried over beside Old Mrs. Huang to see, and indeed, Guanyin’s gaze seed to watch over them.
Then, Old Mrs. Huang, feeling childlike wonder, shifted to another spot only to see Guanyin’s gaze still fixed on her.
"It truly seems alive."
Madam Huang also shifted to several positions, each ti feeling as if Guanyin was looking back at her.
"Whose masterpiece is this embroidery?"
One of the Ladies who greatly admired embroidery asked Huang Zhongren.
Huang Zhongren smiled and answered, "That lady’s na is not widely known; you have surely not heard of her. Her family is currently facing so difficulties, hence she sold her embroidery to make so money."
"It’s also a stroke of fate."
Madam Huang, supporting Old Mrs. Huang, said, "It seems this embroidery was destined for Mother. Why would it be sold at no other ti but right before Mother’s birthday?"
This remark catapulted Old Mrs. Huang into high spirits.
Old Mrs. Huang truly loved the embroidery and hung it in the small temple next to her room on her birthday night, reciting sutras and praying for blessings in front of it every day.
As it happened, Huang Zhongren’s nephew, Huang Xi, was about to participate in the rural examination. Old Mrs. Huang was very fond of Huang Xi and adored him the most among her grandchildren. Knowing he was going to the examination, she would mutter daily to the Guanyin in the embroidery, "Bodhisattva bless my grandson to achieve high honors. If he could beco a scholar this ti, it would be your blessing, Bodhisattva."
When the results for the rural examination ca out, Huang Xi indeed beca a scholar.
To speak of Huang Xi, he was a very diligent child, but he lacked natural brilliance. He studied till late into the night every day, yet his teacher still said his learning was insufficient. This ti, he was just trying his luck in the rural examination, fearing he would not pass.
But against all odds, Huang Xi did pass the examination, and with a decent ranking to boot.
According to his account, he felt rather confounded upon entering the examination room and felt sleepy as soon as the papers were distributed. Involuntarily, he leaned on the desk and fell asleep.
In his dreams, he saw the Bodhisattva smiling at him, which startled him awake. Upon awakening, his mind felt exceptionally clear, and all the questions seed like child’s play to him. He completed them effortlessly.
After hearing Huang Xi’s story, Old Mrs. Huang thought that the Guanyin in the embroidery might truly have the power to bless people.
She beca even more passionate about incense burning and praying to Buddha, babbling daily to the Guanyin statue.
Coincidentally, after becoming a scholar, Huang Xi ca to speak with Old Mrs. Huang, and upon seeing the Guanyin embroidery hanging on the wall, he exclaid, "Grandma, how co this Guanyin looks so much like you?"
Old Mrs. Huang hadn’t noticed this before, but after Huang Xi pointed it out, she took a closer look and realized it was true.
The Guanyin in the embroidery did indeed bear a striking resemblance to her, especially those eyes - they were almost identical to hers when she was young.
She called over her sons, Huang Zhongren and Huang Zhongyi, to look as well.
The brothers also agreed on the likeness.
Old Mrs. Huang valued this Guanyin embroidery even more and took care of it herself, never allowing the maids to touch it.
One day, when Huang Zhongyi was about to leave for a distant journey, Old Mrs. Huang made him pray to the Guanyin statue in the temple before setting out.
Actually, Huang Zhongyi was not a believer in this, but since Old Madam had requested, and he himself was a filial son, he obediently paid his respects to the Guanyin statue before leaving ho.
Huang Zhongyi’s distant journey this ti was by water.
They traveled southward along the Grand Canal by boat, and after a few days, they encountered water bandits. So of the adept swimming water bandits managed to drill a hole into the boat Huang Zhongyi was on during the night.
That night, Huang Zhongyi had a restless sleep and dreamt of the Guanyin, who bore a strong resemblance to his mother, warning him to wake up quickly, or his life would be in danger.
Huang Zhongyi woke up alard and heard so noise beneath the boat. He promptly had soone check and discovered several water bandits.
Huang Zhongyi had a fair number of people with him, and they fought with the bandits. While directing his n on the deck, Huang Zhongyi accidentally fell into the river.
Ordinarily, anyone falling into the river at this ti of year would either drown or be severely injured.
But instead of sinking, Huang Zhongyi felt a force supporting him, and he floated lightly on the surface of the water.
When his followers fished him out, they found his clothes completely dry, not a drop of water on him.
This was truly a strange and curious happening.
Huang Zhongyi thought of his son Huang Xi, who also dreamt of Guanyin during the rural examination and then passed it.
He too had dreamt of a Guanyin warning.
A bold guess occurred to him, and after reaching safety, Huang Zhongyi imdiately wrote a letter ho to Old Mrs. Huang about the incident.
If Huang Xi’s case could be considered a coincidence, what happened to Huang Zhongyi was certainly no re chance.
After all, a man had fallen into the water, yet when he was pulled out, he was completely dry. If this wasn’t Guanyin’s protection, what could it be?
After reading the letter, Old Mrs. Huang repeatedly told Huang Zhongren, "That Guanyin has spiritual power. It’s protecting our family. Where did you buy that embroidery? The embroiderer must be extraordinary, truly extraordinary."
Huang Zhongren thought of the eyes in the Guanyin embroidery and, considering the series of bizarre events, felt there was sothing significant about it.
While they were discussing, Huang Zhongren’s youngest son ran in.
"Dad, Dad, my wife is pregnant, I’m going to be a father."
Old Mrs. Huang was startled and sprang to her feet.
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