One of Chen's most unforgettable experiences occurred when an elderly German couple asked her to decorate a jade sculpture they particularly treasured, with her knotwork.
德國老太太捧出玉雕合歡，請陳夏生編一個結來襯托，陳夏生義不容辭地答應了。那對德國夫妻千謝萬謝地離去，那喜悅的表情叫她久久不能忘懷。在追索「結」之源流的進程中，陳夏生對每個裝飾結的寓意，都曾做了相當深入的考據功夫。