Needlework was always Zhuang Qingning's Achilles' heel. Although she could handle sewing shoe soles because it was a task of mechanical precision that could be done with brute strength and a minute level of skill
But the matter of embroidery...
The embroidery needle was so small, the patterns so complex, changing and pressing the thread over and over while making sure the pattern and colour matched. It was too hard!
Just now, Zhuang Qingning, clutching her embroidery needle, had intensely scrutinized her work and out of sheer frustration, had for the thirteenth time, undone her messy embroidery.
The embroidery had been perforated beyond recognition by Zhuang Qingning's relentless needlework, particularly one small section, which had been embroidered and undone so many times that it was now riddled with small holes.
Zhuang Qingning, having no other alternative, had to start on a new section of the cloth.
