Chapter 103

Everyone had lunch at Wanmintang, prepared by Xiangling.

During the meal, Xiangling joined them after serving the food. She had left the store in the hands of her staff to manage.

"Xiangling, your business seems to be doing very well," Beidou remarked while drinking and eating. "It's almost as busy as Liyue Harbor. Are you managing alright?"

Hearing Beidou's words, Xiangling smiled.

"Although it's really busy, I'm happy. The only issue is that many customers don't want to wait. They have to get back to work after eating, so some people leave without ordering."

When she said this, she couldn't help feeling a little regretful. This meant losing potential business.

Beidou chuckled.

"After all, people don't have time to wait for their food," she said. "It's understandable."

With so many construction sites around, workers didn't have the luxury of waiting.

Xiangling sighed. "It's a pity that so many customers can't enjoy my cooking."

Takumi, listening to the conversation, suddenly spoke up.

"You could consider offering fast food options," he suggested. "Prepare some dishes in advance and keep them warm. That way, when customers arrive, they can just grab a plate and eat quickly."

He continued, "Have someone build a square iron shelf. Put slimes underneath with a container of water on top. The heat from the slimes will warm the water, which in turn will keep the food warm. It might slightly affect the taste, but given your cooking skills, I doubt it would be a big issue."

Xiangling's eyes lit up at the idea. "That actually sounds doable! If I prepare everything in the morning, I won't have to worry about getting overwhelmed at lunchtime."

She felt excited about the idea. At night, she would find someone to build what Takumi described.

Hearing this suggestion, the others nodded in agreement.

"You should try it, Xiangling," Beidou said. "If food is ready as soon as people arrive, no one will refuse."

Most people preferred hot meals, but not everyone had the time to wait. Wanmintang was already popular because of its affordability and delicious food. If it became more convenient, even more customers would come.

Encouraged by Takumi's advice, Xiangling quickly finished her meal and got to work.

After everyone had eaten, they headed toward Wangshu Inn.

Upon arrival, Takumi led them to the conference room where he worked. Beidou's eyes widened as she took in the massive model in front of her.

"So this is the blueprint for the new city? Not bad!" Beidou grinned. "Leave a place for me—I want to build my shipyard and fleet headquarters here."

Hearing this, Takumi nodded. "How about this building? The warehouses are nearby, and there's an open area perfect for a shipyard."

He pointed to a remote location on the pier, near some ruins. It was an ideal spot for a shipyard, even though it was a bit far from the main dock. With some modifications, it could serve as a private pier for the Southern Cross Fleet.

Beidou fell into thought. "But it's far from the pier..."

Takumi shook his head. "If you're building a headquarters, why not build your own private dock? That way, your fleet will always have a place to anchor."

"This way, merchants needing supplies can come directly to your headquarters. You can also sell ships here. You don't want to stay at your current scale forever, do you? Don't you want to expand?"

Beidou's eyes lit up. Becoming stronger and bigger—achieving even greater glory? The thought excited her.

She wasn't one to hesitate. "Alright! It's decided. I can't build it myself, so I'll leave it to you. But if it doesn't meet my expectations, I'm not paying!"

Takumi rolled his eyes and led her to the planned location.

"I'll draft the blueprints now. Come take a look."

With that, Takumi began designing structures in the open space.

"The shipyard will be here, right next to the water. Your fleet can return and dock for repairs anytime. We'll build multiple docks. Your fleet headquarters will be right here. Merchants can come to buy goods directly, and you can manage operations efficiently."

One by one, Takumi brought the models to life.

Beidou's eyes sparkled as she examined the designs. The buildings weren't tall, but they covered a massive area, perfect for storing goods. It was exactly what she needed.

Takumi turned to her. "What do you think? If you need adjustments, I can modify the layout. The structures are made of reinforced concrete, and I've based the design on Liyue Harbor's architecture."

The buildings were three to four stories tall but styled like a palace, embodying the grandeur of Liyue's seafaring strength.