Even though she inwardly sneered, her expression remained harmless.
However, Shen Yan perceived this silent demeanor as a sign of guilt!
"Could it be... you don't know Grandfather's birthday?"
"Enough, Xiao Yan." Shen Chunjiang frowned. "Just eat your meal."
"Dad—don't be angry! I was just asking. It seems she actually didn't have a gift prepared?" With that, she prodded at the rice in her bowl, displaying her frustration as she mumbled softly, "It's Grandfather's birthday, a once-a-year occasion. Naturally, I wanted to bring a smile to his face, but certain individuals just don't seem to care at all..."
Her rosy lips pouted, and her words carried a touch of affection for Grandfather.
No one would find her domineering; she was simply innocent and candid.
As expected, a warm smile graced Shen Zongming's face, and he was about to respond when Shen Wan intervened—
She gestured with her hands, quickly clarifying, "No, that's not the case... I do know about Grandfather's birthday..."
"Since you know, where's the gift then?" Shen Yan coldly chuckled, a hidden glint passing through her eyes.
The more she tried to clarify, the more her words seemed off; her attempts at cleverness only made her appear more agitated. While she might have gotten away with feigning ignorance earlier, Shen Yan's remarks had now cornered her.
What a fool!
Either being unfilial or admitting to lying, either situation would incur Shen Zongming's displeasure. Unless she could conjure a gift out of thin air.
Clearly, that was impossible.
Shen Yan wiped her mouth with grace, using the motion to hide her subtle smile of delight at another's misfortune.
All eyes instantly focused on Shen Wan, including Shen Qian, who had been silent all this while.
Under the scrutiny of everyone, the young girl seemed even more nervous. Her tightly gripped knife and fork, along with her trembling hands, revealed her inner unease and anxiety.
Shen Zongming retracted his gaze. While he didn't have much sentiment toward this unexpected granddaughter, he couldn't help but feel disappointed. Just as he was about to say "never mind", he suddenly caught sight of the girl raising her head—
A pair of clear, deep black eyes sparkled with a glint, appearing somewhat profound. Then, they turned toward the elderly man sitting at the head of the table.
She took a deep breath and took out a... handkerchief?
"It's not something valuable. Originally, I didn't want to show it and embarrass myself," the young girl pursed her lips, looking at Shen Yan across the table, then she smiled gently. "But Sister is right, the sentiment matters more than the price."
"Do you think you can just take out a handkerchief, say a few words, and consider it a birthday gift for Grandfather? Who knows where you scavenged it from?" Shen Yan sneered.
The young girl's gaze dimmed, her lips moved, but she ultimately didn't retort.
Perhaps, she truly embarrassed herself...
For some reason, Shen Qian could interpret the girl's thoughts from her expression and actions at this moment.
"Let me see."
The distinct knuckles of a large hand came into view as Shen Wan obediently handed over the handkerchief.
The man held the item in his hand, carefully inspecting it. Suddenly, he raised his eyes, his sharp gaze fixating on the young girl, revealing a touch of scrutiny and evaluation, accompanied by a sense of wariness.
Shen Wan appeared utterly bewildered.
What did she... do wrong again?
"Ah Qian, what's wrong?"
"Grandfather, if I'm not mistaken, the pattern on this silk handkerchief should be Suzhou embroidery..."
In a modern society where machine production and assembly lines had become standardized, for anyone outside of collectors, the term "embroidery" was an ancient craft preserved only in old texts.
Especially considering that craftsmanship was often passed down within families, genuine embroidery skills were held by a select few, with Suzhou embroidery being among the most renowned.
Today, works that could truly be called authentic "Suzhou embroidery" had been divided among wealthy collectors, making them exceedingly rare in the present world.
However, scarcity increased value, and the rarer something was, the more people coveted it.
Old Master Shen was one of those people.
In his own words, "When it comes to inkstones, only the finest quality is acceptable, and when it comes to embroidery, only the exquisite craftsmanship of Suzhou embroidery is truly exceptional."
In the realm of inkstones, only the finest inkstone is cherished; in the realm of embroidery, only Su embroidery is revered.
In Shen Qian's grasp, there lay a genuine Suzhou embroidery pattern on this delicate silk handkerchief.
"Brother, could you please take a closer look? How could she possibly afford Suzhou embroidery? It's most likely a counterfeit." Shen Yan's expression was exaggerated, with a hint of sarcasm in her eyes and brows.
Shen Qian shook his head, "It's not a counterfeit. And it wasn't bought."
Shen Yan pretended to grab it, but the man lightly evaded her and handed it over to Grandfather. "Please take a look."
As an expert in the field, Shen Zongming had developed a discerning eye. In an instant, he nodded, confirming his eldest grandson's judgment. "It's genuine."
Shen Yan couldn't believe it. She stood up with a sudden movement, reaching across the table to grab Shen Wan's hand. "You, you little thief!"
Shen Wan was stunned. "I'm not!"
"Then how did you get this handkerchief? Tell me—anyway, I won't believe that this poor girl, Shen Wan, could afford to buy collectibles as a gift."
"I embroidered it myself to give it to Grandfather!" Shen Wan suddenly exerted force, shaking off Shen Yan's grip.
Shen Yan was taken aback, nearly stumbling and falling back into her chair. It was a tremendous embarrassment!
However, Shen Wan's demeanor changed. Her eyes turned red, and she raised her voice to near-shouting, "You can dislike me, but you can't defame me!"
This statement silenced the entire room with the force of her sudden outburst.
But soon, sobbing sounds brought everyone back to reality. Even though a little kitten could bare its claws, it was still just a kitten, unable to transform into a tiger.
Shen Wan held back her tears, but her trembling lips and reddened nose revealed the strain behind her outward strength. "I embroidered this handkerchief myself. I didn't steal it!"
She emphasized each word, vigorously defending herself, "If you don't believe me, you can examine the embroidered characters in the upper right corner. Grandfather's name is written there."
In tribute to the 75th birthday celebration of Mr. Shen Zongming— Wan.
The handkerchief was relatively small, measuring only about the size of two adult men's palms, and the characters embroidered on it were even smaller.
Shen Zongming had to bring it close and examine it carefully before he could see clearly. Then he observed embroidered design of Peng Zu and Ghost Messenger Play that perfectly aligned with the theme of the birthday.
It was unlikely that there existed another piece of Suzhou embroidery in the world that matched the one he held now. In other words, this was tailor-made for him, Shen Zongming!
"Oh? This is a superb representation of intricate Suzhou embroidery!"