Shi Yan, Yang Qi, and Hang Ding, who had returned after leaving, burst into laughter upon hearing Quan Jiu's words.
Shi Yan, with undisguised mockery, laughed exaggeratedly, "Listen, listen, such big talk. If one didn't know better, they'd think this Embroidery Bureau was opened just for her."
"Perhaps she paid, and now she truly believes it was opened just for her," Yang Qi sneered at Bai Jing. "Supervisor Bai, although I don't know what benefits she gave you, one must have principles. So many people are desperate to get into the Embroidery Bureau, and you recruit someone so unsuitable. Aren't you afraid the former director will crawl out of his coffin to find you?"
Bai Jing's face turned red with anger. "With a bunch of inactive parasites like you in the Embroidery Bureau, it's the Master herself who should be rattling her coffin lid. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Aren't you just Che Fengqiong's lackeys? Hah, this ability to bite anyone you see is just like that person surnamed Che. She's trained you well."
Shi Yan's face turned pale with anger. "Speak properly, why are you cursing? We tried to advise you, but you wouldn't listen and instead responded with venom. Don't blame us for bringing in the elders to uphold justice."
Hang Ding also glared with fury. "You always pretend to be a good person, but it turns out you're two-faced. You've been putting on a great act all these years. Finally, your true colors are showing today."
Just as Yang Qi opened her mouth to retort, Shi Yan gave her a look, then, without further ado, pulled her and Hang Ding away from the office.
Yang Qi was furious. After leaving the office, she said unhappily, "Why didn't you let me argue with her? She called us dogs, and if you can tolerate it, I can't."
Shi Yan snorted, "Why pick a fight with her now? There's no need. We'll go invite Elder Lou to uphold justice. Conveniently, she's on-site today."
Hang Ding worriedly asked, "Even if we invite her, under what pretense? Elder Lou probably won't bother with our petty squabble."
Shi Yan said smugly, "Isn't someone trying to get into the Embroidery Bureau? Elder Lou won't be able to ignore that, will she?"
Yang Qi and Hang Ding immediately understood. The three, harboring ill intentions, went to find Lou Mingfang.
Lou Mingfang was in the exhibition hall, looking at Wang Huiping's embroidered work with great absorption.
When the three approached, Shi Yan first stated their purpose, "Elder Lou, there's something we'd like to discuss with you."
Lou Mingfang grunted, her gaze not leaving the embroidery, and said curtly, "Speak."
Shi Yan briefly organized her thoughts before speaking, "This genuine work by the elder Wang Huiping was sent by Supervisor Bai. The three of us went to communicate with Supervisor Bai, hoping she could mediate with the collector to part with this work and allow it to remain in the Embroidery Bureau. After all, compared to personal preferences, this embroidered piece can only achieve its greatest value if it stays in the Embroidery Bureau."
Lou Mingfang nodded, "If it can remain in the Embroidery Bureau, that would indeed be best."
Yang Qi immediately chimed in, "But after we mentioned this matter, not only were we scolded, but we were also kicked out. She is, after all, a supervisor, so we have nothing to say. However, we must speak up about her accepting bribes."
Lou Mingfang's gaze finally shifted from the embroidery, and she asked with a frown, "Bribes? What bribe did she accept?"
Shi Yan glanced at Yang Qi and Hang Ding before saying, "After we were driven out, we thought that since she is the supervisor, we should apologize. So we went back, only to overhear her telling an outsider about the Embroidery Bureau's affairs. I questioned her, and that person then said she was going to join the Embroidery Bureau.
Elder Lou, if you were to see that person, you would know that she is absolutely not suited for embroidery. From head to toe, there's nothing about her that suggests she's an embroiderer. Yet Supervisor Bai insists on letting her join the Embroidery Bureau. I don't know what her intentions are. That person was also very arrogant, even saying things like 'I'm definitely getting in'."
Lou Mingfang's face darkened. "You're definitely getting in? She decides? With me here, I'd like to see where she gets her confidence."
Shi Yan continued to embellish, "When we left, that person was still chatting in the office. Supervisor Bai seems to trust her very much, telling her everything about the Embroidery Bureau."
Lou Mingfang snorted, "Let's go and see. She, Bai Jing, isn't the director of the Embroidery Bureau yet. Who can enter the Embroidery Bureau isn't up to her."
...
Meanwhile, Quan Jiu and Bai Jing had finished their conversation, but Quan Jiu did not rush to leave.
Seeing that Quan Jiu seemed determined to fight Shi Yan and the other two to the end, Bai Jing advised, "Those three are just like that. Don't take it to heart."
Quan Jiu smiled gently, "They want to take the opportunity to make a fuss, and I also want to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys. Don't worry, I will definitely help you secure the position of director of this Embroidery Bureau."
Bai Jing was startled, feeling both grateful and guilty. "This... how can I trouble you like this? Every time we meet, you help me, and I haven't even thanked you yet. Please don't get involved in this, lest you make yourself uncomfortable."
"I simply don't want that group surnamed Che to gain the upper hand," Quan Jiu shrugged lazily. "After all, I hold grudges."
Bai Jing was amused and exasperated. Although she thought it impossible, after all, Quan Jiu was an outsider. While she had some connection to the Chu family, the Embroidery Bureau and the Chu family were different matters.
However, she was grateful and sighed helplessly, "I'm so sorry for causing you such big trouble."
Quan Jiu saw a few figures passing by the window and smiled, "They're quite fast."
Bai Jing followed her gaze and her brow furrowed slightly. "That's Elder Lou. She has a very good relationship with Che Fengqiong's group."
"I can understand that. After all, when you need someone to back you up, you naturally find your own people."
Quan Jiu stood up, just as Lou Mingfang and the four, including Shi Yan, entered the room.
"Hello, Elder Lou," she greeted with a smile. At least she had to be polite and not give them any ammunition.
Lou Mingfang had been wondering what kind of person would cause Shi Yan and the other two to call her "unsuitable." Now, she finally understood.
Indeed, she was unsuitable. Her appearance clearly indicated she was a pampered young lady from a wealthy family, exuding an air of nobility from head to toe. Just as Shi Yan had said, there was nothing about her that looked like an embroiderer.
Lou Mingfang put on airs, scrutinized Quan Jiu from head to toe, and then asked with a stern face, "Are you the one who declared you must join the Embroidery Bureau?"
Bai Jing immediately explained, "Miss Quan is my guest. It was Shi Yan and the others..." who spoke rudely.
However, before she could finish, Quan Jiu interrupted her.
Quan Jiu nodded emphatically, with a hint of innocence and entitlement, "There's nothing I want to do that I can't achieve. If I want to join the Embroidery Bureau, I definitely can."
Lou Mingfang did not hide her sarcasm. "Big chest, no brain. What do you think the Embroidery Bureau is? What do you think embroidery is? To utter such ignorant words! If you could achieve anything just by shouting a few slogans, then embroidery masters would be everywhere."
Quan Jiu retorted indignantly, "Why not? Isn't embroidery just needles and thread? What's so difficult about it? I can paint, so embroidery shouldn't be difficult for me either."
Lou Mingfang was speechless for a long time. After a while, she looked at Bai Jing and accused, "Is this your guest? Bai Jing, are you regressing with age? Or is it true, as Shi Yan and the others said, that you accepted 'gifts'?"
Bai Jing's expression immediately soured. "Elder Lou, Shi Yan and the others are slandering me without any basis, and you believe them? I told you, Miss Quan and I are friends who met late in life. We are friends."
"Then you're acting out of personal bias, using your friendship to give her preferential treatment. Is that more glorious than accepting bribes?" Shi Yan immediately retorted.
Quan Jiu looked innocently confused. "Are there prerequisites for the Embroidery Bureau's embroiderer interviews? Is it stipulated that friends cannot interview? Haven't you heard of the internal recommendation system? But I heard that you three also joined the Embroidery Bureau through Supervisor Che's introduction. Did Supervisor Che act out of personal bias? Or did she accept bribes from you?"