715: Chapter 71 Suzhou Embroidery

A family that made even Ning Ke reluctant to speak of them, a family whose guards would change their attitude by one hundred and eighty degrees over a mere cat—the hidden power behind them was certainly not something that could be measured by money.

"Then we shall impose upon you," Shen Yan spoke, his voice steady.

Lin Chuxue said no more, cradling Snowball as she turned to lead the way.

The group passed through the ancient-looking gatehouse, and the scene before them suddenly opened up.

This was not a villa or estate in the traditional sense, but a meticulously sculpted hilltop.

The entire mountain was a massive Suzhou-style garden.

Underfoot were winding, curving corridors, outside of which flowed gurgling streams, with a few water lilies floating on the surface.

In the distance were layered rockeries, fantastically shaped, with clouds and mist swirling among them, resembling an immortal realm.

The air was permeated with a faint fragrance of orchids, mixed with the freshness of earth after rain.

Every step, every vista, exuded an elegance and composure that had been tempered by the passage of time.

There was no gaudy splendor here, only the profound essence of returning to simplicity.

Youyou’s small mouth formed an 'O' shape, and she whispered into Liu Hui’s ear, "Mom, this place looks like where immortals live."

Liu Hui smiled and patted her head, equally stunned in her heart.

She knew Shen Yan was now wealthy, but the scene before her made her realize that some things in the world could not be easily accumulated through mere fortune.

Passing through several moon gates, they arrived before a spacious hall.

The hall was constructed of precious golden-thread nanmu wood. Beneath the eaves hung a plaque with gold characters on a black background, inscribed with three flowing characters—Listening to the Rain Pavilion.

Before they even approached, a gentle woman’s voice drifted out from within.

"Chuxue, have you brought Snowball back?"

As the voice faded, a woman dressed in a light purple qipao stepped out to greet them.

She appeared to be around fifty, extremely well-preserved, with a gentle countenance and a graceful, orchid-like temperament. Her eyes and brows bore a slight resemblance to Lin Chuxue.

When she saw the ball of white in Lin Chuxue's arms, her face immediately broke into a joyful smile.

"You’re finally back! You little thing, you were truly going to drive us crazy with worry."

Her gaze then fell upon Shen Yan’s family, showing no hint of scrutiny or arrogance, only gentle curiosity.

"And who are these guests?"

"Mom, they are the ones who brought Snowball back," Lin Chuxue introduced.

Upon hearing this, the woman’s smile became even more sincere.

She nodded slightly towards Shen Yan and Liu Hui, her demeanor elegant and proper.

"Thank you so much. Please come in quickly; it’s damp outside."

She warmly welcomed Liu Hui and Youyou inside, her amiability making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

Stepping into Listening to the Rain Pavilion, Shen Yan realized there was a world within.

The hall was vast but did not feel empty.

A set of zitan wood table and chairs was placed in the center. Several landscape paintings with distant artistic conception hung on the walls. On the curio shelf in the corner sat several pieces of porcelain whose age was hard to determine.

A middle-aged man, dressed in a Chinese-style cross-collar shirt with his hair meticulously combed, was seated, savoring tea.

On the tea tray before him, an exquisite Ru ware tea set was emitting wisps of hot steam.

The man put down his teacup and stood up upon seeing them enter.

His aura was completely different from the woman's gentleness; he was as steady as a mountain, possessing an imposing dignity without needing to display anger.

It was presumed this must be the head of the Lin family.

"Dad, the guests have arrived," Lin Chuxue said softly.

The Lin Family Head, Lin Boyuan, fixed his gaze on Shen Yan.

It was a calm assessment, without pressure, yet it seemed capable of seeing right through a person's heart.

"You must be Mr. Shen," Lin Boyuan spoke, his voice resonant. "Thank you, Mr. Shen, for your righteous assistance in recovering my little daughter's beloved pet."

"Mr. Lin is too kind; it was just a small matter," Shen Yan replied, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Mom, Dad."

A clear, bright male voice came from behind the screen.

A young man wearing a white shirt and possessing a refined, scholarly air walked out.

His appearance resembled Lin Boyuan by about seventy percent, but his brows held a touch of the shrewdness of a modern businessman.

"Big Brother," Lin Chuxue called out.

The young man smiled and nodded, his gaze shifting to Shen Yan, and he proactively extended his hand.

"I am Lin Zhiyao, Chuxue’s older brother. I heard from the guards that it was Mr. Shen’s family who found Snowball by the seaside?"

"Hello," Shen Yan shook his hand. "It was just a coincidence."

The family was now complete.

The woman, who was Mrs. Lin, Ms. Su, took Liu Hui and Youyou to sit down, personally pouring them hot tea and ordering exquisite Suzhou-style pastries to be brought out.

"This child is so adorable. What is her name?" Ms. Su looked at Youyou, her eyes full of affection.

"Hello, Auntie, my name is Youyou," Youyou replied in a milky voice while holding a piece of osmanthus cake.

Her well-behaved cuteness instantly eased the atmosphere in the hall considerably.

Lin Boyuan invited Shen Yan to take a seat and personally brewed him a cup of tea.

"Mr. Shen is young but possesses extraordinary bearing. May I ask where you are employed?"

This was probing his background.

Shen Yan picked up his teacup and took a small sip. The tea was crisp with a sweet aftertaste.

"I run a small company doing software development. It’s nothing worth mentioning."

His words were modest, yet they caused Lin Zhiyao’s eyes to flicker slightly.

In Lingnan, anyone who dared to call their own achievements 'nothing worth mentioning' in front of the Lin family was either truly incompetent or possessed sufficient confidence.

And Shen Yan clearly belonged to the latter.

"Software development?" Lin Zhiyao became interested. "Artificial Intelligence is the major trend nowadays. I wonder if Mr. Shen’s company is also involved in this field?"

"We are preparing to step into it," Shen Yan set down his teacup. "I have recently been quite interested in modular design for robots and AI applications in extreme environments."

A flicker of surprise crossed Lin Zhiyao's eyes.

These two directions were not areas a regular software company would touch; they required extremely deep technical accumulation and massive financial backing.

"Oh? I didn't expect Mr. Shen to be a fellow enthusiast," Lin Zhiyao smiled. "I also recently invested in an AI project, mainly researching how to apply AI algorithms to improve traditional craftsmanship."

What seemed like casual small talk was, in fact, a test.

Shen Yan understood; this was the real topic.

He glanced at the beautifully framed embroidery screen on the wall. The double-sided embroidered phoenix on it was lifelike, the craftsmanship bordering on divine skill.

"The Lin family's Su Embroidery lives up to its reputation," he said.

Instead of directly answering Lin Zhiyao's question, he offered a compliment.

For the first time, a look of appreciation showed in Lin Boyuan's eyes.

"Mr. Shen has a good eye."

Ms. Su also explained with a smile, "Our family’s ancestors started in silk and embroidery. This craft has been passed down for hundreds of years."

The mystery was solved.

A family specializing in silk and embroidery, with a heritage spanning hundreds of years.

It seemed traditional, perhaps even somewhat outdated, but to establish their own domain on Wuyin Mountain, their strength was far from what was apparent on the surface.

Shen Yan smiled faintly and picked up the thread of Lin Zhiyao's conversation.

"Applying AI to traditional craftsmanship is a very good direction."