Quan Jiu's words caused the expressions of Che Fengqiong and others present to darken.
Shi Yan said angrily, "What do you mean? You're exposed and still not satisfied? Who are you calling names?"
Quan Jiu shrugged innocently, "Misunderstanding, I'm actually a screenwriter. It's professional jargon, don't take it to heart."
"Screenwriter?" Shi Yan looked at her suspiciously, then after a moment, burst into laughter, "You, a screenwriter, are now trying to switch careers into the Embroidery Bureau? I can only say, your courage is commendable."
"If I remember correctly, this should be an interview. But you're all saying one thing after another, making me confused. Is this an interview, or something else?" Quan Jiu chuckled, "Or perhaps, some people have ulterior motives?"
Che Fengqiong looked at Quan Jiu coldly, "You are here for an interview, wanting to join the Embroidery Bureau. Aren't you putting yourself in too high a position?"
Quan Jiu chuckled, "Am I not born into a society where everyone is equal? Should I beg on my knees to join the Embroidery Bureau? A company and its employees are a mutual choice. Why do your words make it sound like I'm inferior? If you were the director of the Embroidery Bureau, would you manage with such class distinctions, treating employees as subordinates?"
"You're talking nonsense," Che Fengqiong slammed the table angrily, "This is an interview. Don't try to twist things and talk about irrelevant matters. If you want to be interviewed, be interviewed. If not, get out."
Quan Jiu nodded slightly, her gaze shifting to Lou Mingfang above, "Supervisor Che has already spoken. This is an interview. Everyone, don't talk about irrelevant matters anymore."
Lou Mingfang's face turned purple with anger. This damned girl dared to insinuate and curse them.
Che Fengqiong, having already spoken, only then realized she had said the wrong thing in her anger.
She gritted her teeth in hatred, clearly feeling the anger radiating from Lou Mingfang's side, and could only glare at Shi Yan.
Shi Yan also felt wronged, but outwardly, she was creating a way for her superior. She said to Quan Jiu, "Third question. I hope you still have the same confidence as before."
She signaled to Yang Qi and Hang Ding, who quickly brought forward a massive embroidery screen three meters wide. It was embroidered with eight different landscapes, elegant and refined, beautiful and captivating, making it impossible to look away.
Quan Jiu's eyes widened slightly. She walked up to the screen and examined the embroidery closely, her eyes gradually moistening.
This was her grandmother's embroidery. She had never seen this particular piece before.
Shi Yan said proudly, "This screen uses a total of over one hundred and twenty million stitches, with countless needlework techniques. Especially the variations in the 'Yun Guang' needlework, which are infinite.
As of now, the Embroidery Bureau has explored thirty-two variations of needlework. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of this work. If you can find the thirty-third needlework technique and replicate it, your interview will be considered passed."
Bai Jing's gaze suddenly deepened, "I didn't know the interview questions for the Embroidery Bureau had reached this level. Does it mean that if one cannot answer, they are not fit to be an employee of the Embroidery Bureau?"
Shi Yan instinctively replied, "Of course."
However, after saying it, she regretted it. Just as she was about to try and salvage the situation, Bai Jing cut her off.
"If that's the case, then everyone present, including you, me, the elders, and Supervisor Che, must voluntarily leave the Embroidery Bureau. After all, the elders have been pondering the thirty-third needlework technique for one to two years without finding it. For us lesser individuals, it's even more impossible."
Shi Yan was choked, paused, and then forcefully retorted, "The person recommended by Supervisor Bai must not be ordinary. The Embroidery Bureau currently does not lack basic employees, and it's even less likely to recruit someone with zero foundation. If we are to recruit, it will be for high-level positions, so the interview questions naturally cannot be too easy."
Bai Jing chuckled, "High-level positions? So, if the interview is passed, she will become one of the elders of the Embroidery Bureau?"
Lou Mingfang and the others all had dark expressions.
Lou Mingfang immediately sneered, "Is the position of an elder in the Embroidery Bureau so easily attained? Your ambition is quite something."
"But if she can truly find the thirty-third needlework technique, doesn't that indicate her ability is already on par with the elders?" Bai Jing did not back down.
Wang Shuan added, "Bai Jing is right. Since you've set such a difficult question, it's fine if it's not answered. But if she actually passes the interview, we need to agree on a position beforehand, so that some people don't go back on their word later."
Che Fengqiong couldn't help but retort, "Elder Wang, if I understand you correctly, you have great confidence in this screenwriter? If so, you should vouch for her."
Bai Jing looked at Quan Jiu. The latter was calm, showing no emotional fluctuation from their previous exchange.
She secretly cheered herself on, thought for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at Wang Shuan with a look of certainty.
Wang Shuan was slightly surprised. He understood Bai Jing's meaning, which was for him to "follow suit." But... he looked at the interviewee in the center of the hall and was momentarily unsure.
"Does this young person really have the ability?" Before he could figure it out, Liu Quan beside him said, "From Bai Jing's demeanor, it seems she has confidence in her."
Wang Shuan subconsciously disbelieved, "How is that possible? Even if she truly understands embroidery, finding the thirty-third needlework technique is simply impossible. We've looked at that piece of work at least eight thousand times, if not ten thousand. If you and I can't see it, can this young person?"
Lou Mingfang mocked, "Wang Shuan, Liu Quan, can you lower your voices? Everyone can hear you."
Liu Quan retorted unhappily, "I speak openly and honestly, not doing anything shameful. Why should I speak so quietly?"
"Then make a decision quickly. If you ask me, since she has the courage to challenge the Elder Council, not giving her a chance would seem too inhumane. But the authority of the Elder Council cannot be challenged by just anyone. There are gains and losses, right?"
If you challenge the Elder Council, you must go down with the ship.
Lou Mingfang rejoiced inwardly. If he could use this opportunity to oust Wang Shuan and Liu Quan from the Elder Council and promote two of his own people, then the Embroidery Bureau would be under his sole control, and no one else would have a say.
Wang Shuan was still hesitating, but Bai Jing's gaze fell upon him again, signaling continuously. Finally, she got up from her seat and went to Wang Shuan's side, lowering her voice, "Let's gamble."
Wang Shuan shook his head, "This is a trap set by Lou Mingfang. We can't fall for it."
Bai Jing affirmed, "I know what I'm doing. I have a guess."
Wang Shuan continued to shake his head, "The risk is too great. So many people in the Elder Council haven't seen more needlework techniques. How could she possibly see them? Let alone the thirty-third, she might not even be able to find the first thirty-two. Wang Huiping's original needlework is too mysterious. Without disassembling the work, it's very difficult to replicate."
And disassembling the work is even more impossible. Such a priceless treasure, who would dare to dismantle it? They wouldn't even dare to touch it lightly. Therefore, this question is unsolvable, unless Wang Huiping herself comes.
"Believe me, I think it's highly probable. If it weren't for the first two trials, I wouldn't be so sure. But she answered the first two questions correctly, so she must be capable," Bai Jing said with certainty, then added, "They set this up to corner us. I won't be satisfied if they don't lose something. You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a lamb."
"But if we lose, our positions as elders will be gone," Wang Shuan worried.
Bai Jing shook her head, analyzing calmly, "You know what kind of person Lou Mingfang is. If we don't take a gamble today, and Che Fengqiong gets the position of director tomorrow, will she still keep you? Their first action will be to eliminate dissenting voices."
This... was indeed true.
Wang Shuan and Liu Quan looked at each other. Liu Quan asked again, "Are you really confident?"
Bai Jing turned her head and looked at Quan Jiu again. Strangely, although they hadn't interacted much, she could understand the look in her eyes. It was telling her to go for it.
"I am certain. I am confident," she took a deep breath and nodded with conviction.