Chapter 315
Today, Yiyan Temple was as bustling as ever.
Zhongli stood at the entrance of the grand hall, watching the throngs of devout worshippers offering incense and prayers to the statue of the Geo Archon inside. His expression remained calm and composed.
"Mr. Zhongli, come over and offer incense!"
"Mm."
Zhongli stepped inside and took three sticks of handmade incense from Xia Zhi's hands, lighting them.
A faint, elegant fragrance wafted from the incense in his hands.
Holding the incense, Zhongli bowed three times to the statue of the Geo Archon before placing the sticks into the incense burner. He turned his head to see Xia Zhi standing with his palms pressed together, silently murmuring a prayer.
"Geo Archon, the shop has been busy lately, and I haven't had the chance to come here to offer incense. Please forgive me."
"Last time, I asked for your blessing for my business to prosper and everything to go smoothly. It has indeed been so. Thank you for your hard work."
"This time, I have another matter to trouble you with. I've earned some money and plan to build a school in Liyue. Construction begins tomorrow, so I hope you'll bless the project with safety and success."
Zhongli glanced at the others.
The girls were also standing with their hands clasped, silently praying: "Geo Archon, please bless the boss…"
As for Xia Ci, she was also praying, but the words coming out of her mouth were: "123, 123, 1234567…"
Zhongli withdrew his gaze, his expression unchanged.
After the prayers were finished, Zhu Zi and the others quickly packed up the offerings on the table to make room for the next group of worshippers.
However, the enticing aroma of the offerings attracted several curious visitors, who came over to ask where they could buy such delicious items. Upon learning that the offerings were homemade, they left with expressions of regret.
The group left Yiyan Temple together.
Xia Ci looked up with curiosity and asked, "Mr. Zhongli, why didn't you ask the Geo Archon for blessings just now?"
Zhongli replied calmly, "It's better to rely on yourself than to rely on others."
"But the Geo Archon is a god!"
"It's the same. The Geo Archon has long departed. Offering incense is merely a way to find peace of mind."
"Mr. Zhongli makes a good point!"
"…"
Since the shop was closed for the morning, as per the notice they had posted, the group wasn't in a hurry to return. Instead, they wandered around the plaza at Yujing Terrace.
Zhu Zi pointed to a nearby area and exclaimed, "Look! Even in this cold weather, there are flowers blooming!"
Although it was already autumn, a patch of half-bloomed Glaze Lilies could still be seen, creating a beautiful scene.
Xia Ci glanced over and sensed traces of Dendro elemental energy lingering in the area.
"I've heard that Ningguang loves Glaze Lilies. She must have hired a Dendro Vision holder to maintain the environment here."
"Oh!"
"Isn't that Granny Ping standing over there?"
"Let's go say hello!"
"Granny Ping!"
Granny Ping stood under a tree, her face warm and kind as she nodded in response.
"What brings you all here to visit this old lady today?"
"We came to offer incense!"
"To the Geo Archon at Yiyan Temple?"
"Yes! Mr. Zhongli is heading to the construction site tomorrow, so we prayed for his success."
Huh? Granny Ping glanced at Zhongli discreetly.
I don't understand the situation, but I'm deeply shocked.
"Mr. Zhongli is going to a construction site?"
"For the school!"
"A school?"
Xia Zhi patiently explained the plan to Granny Ping.
"I see."
"And it's at the site where the Jade Chamber was rebuilt."
"Mr. Xia, do you need money?"
"With Ningguang involved, there's no shortage of funds. Thank you for your kindness, Granny Ping."
"What about Yaoyao?"
"She's at home studying."
"Yaoyao is so diligent!"
"Yes, she's very sensible!"
"We brought some offerings this time. If you don't mind, please take them."
"Ha ha, Mr. Xia, you're too kind. Yaoyao brings back plenty of food from your shop every day."
"Well, Yaoyao is one of our shop's employees. It's part of her benefits—this is a separate matter."
"Then I'll accept them. These offerings have been blessed by the incense at Yiyan Temple. Eating them might even bring the Geo Archon's favor."
"Exactly."
Diona's eyes widened. "Is that really true?"
Ying'er nodded. "It is."
Zhu Zi also nodded. "In Inazuma, the Grand Narukami Shrine has a similar belief. Children who eat offerings blessed by the Electro Archon are said to grow up healthy and free of illness."
"Did you eat them as a child?"
"Of course."
"Did you ever get sick?"
"Well… I did catch a few minor illnesses."
"…"
Xia Zhi chuckled. "It's just a way to seek good fortune. There are too many people in a nation for the gods to personally watch over each one."
"That's true!"
"Since we're here, why don't we go to my place for tea?"
"No need to trouble yourself, Granny Ping. Since Yaoyao is studying, we'd better not disturb her."
"When the school is built, Granny Ping, you might consider letting Yaoyao attend."
"Well…"
"Mr. Zhongli will be the vice principal."
"I think Mr. Xia makes a good point. There will be more children her age there, which would be good for Yaoyao."
"Mm."
After chatting for a while, the group bid Granny Ping farewell.
On the way back, Mr. Zhongli parted ways with the group.
"Boss, are we heading back to the shop now?"
"No rush. Since we're free this morning, let's stop by Bubu Pharmacy to buy medicine for Ying'er."
"Alright!"
Ying'er blushed slightly.
After all, her condition was a bit embarrassing to talk about, and going to the pharmacy with such a large group made her feel a little self-conscious.
But the boss was being kind, so she didn't want to refuse.
On the way to Bubu Pharmacy, Qiqi's steps seemed unusually light.
As always, Bubu Pharmacy was crowded with people.
Many were waiting outside for Dr. Baizhu to see them.
If you were just picking up medicine, however, you didn't need to wait in line and could go straight inside.
Qiqi led the group into the pharmacy and called out, "A'Gui, we need to pick up some medicine."
A'Gui greeted them with a smile and nodded. "Alright!"
He reached out to take the prescription Ying'er handed over and glanced at it.
Sure enough, it was another prescription full of poisonous ingredients.
His heart skipped a beat, but he didn't dare question it like he had the first time. He glanced at Mr. Xia, then obediently went to prepare the medicine.
On the other side of the pharmacy, Dr. Baizhu was busy seeing patients, with Changsheng coiled around his neck.
Seeing how busy he was, the group didn't disturb him. They simply greeted him with a smile, picked up the medicine, and left.
As they passed the line of patients, Zhu Zi whispered, "Boss, your medical skills are as good as Dr. Baizhu's. Why don't you write the medical textbooks yourself?"
"I could, but there's no need."
"Huh?"
"Because I don't have the same authority as Dr. Baizhu. If I say something, you all would believe me, but others wouldn't. If Dr. Baizhu says the same thing, most people in Liyue would trust him. After all, he's the best doctor in Liyue."
"Oh!"
"What my cousin says is true. The same goes for Mr. Zhongli, Ms. Yanfei, and Ms. Ningguang. Ningguang's legendary rise from Yaoguang Shoal to becoming one of the Qixing is well-known throughout Liyue. Even a casual remark from her would be analyzed for hidden meaning. Countless merchants even treat the scraps of paper she discards as treasures. If she wrote a textbook on commerce, it would undoubtedly be considered a classic by the people of Liyue."
"I see!"
Diona sighed. "Ms. Ningguang is amazing!"
Xia Zhi smiled. "When you brew the best wine in the world, your words will also be treated as treasures."
"Mm! I'll work hard!"
"Good luck."
Xia Ci watched Diona's determined expression and shook her head internally.
This silly cat has been manipulated by my cousin again.
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