He changed Tiwat

“So it’s Vice Minister Han… You’ve come at the right time. Last time you came to my shop to get medicine, you left a money pouch behind. I was going to go to Yuehai Pavilion to return it to you, but this saves me a lot of trouble.”

As Bai Shu spoke, he took out a small bag of Mora from his pocket and handed it to Han Fulai.

Han Fulai raised his eyebrows slightly, and Bai Shu nodded at him.

Although Han Fulai used to frequently visit Bubulu to get medicine—or more accurately, to buy groceries for Gan Yu and Shen He—since the introduction of Liyue currency, he's been using paper money at Bubulu. And his money pouch is still safely lying in his satchel.

"Thank you, Mr. Bai!"

Han Fulai cupped his hands in greeting and calmly accepted the money bag that Bai Shu handed him.

When he visited Bai Shu in Bubulu last time, he reached a cooperation agreement with Bai Shu. Presumably, this Mora bag contains information that Bai Shu wants to convey to him.

Uncle Tian also came up to greet him, warmly taking Han Fulai's hand. "Brother Han, you've arrived. This matter has troubled you greatly. I'll make some tea for you later so you can taste my cooking."

"Given your health condition, choosing the next Tian Shu Star isn't that urgent," Han Fulai said with a smile.

It had been a few days since I last saw Uncle Tian, ​​and he seemed to be in much better spirits than before, which was all thanks to Bai Shu. Uncle Tian had seen Ye Lan's men going to the General Affairs Department to transfer people out of the city, and he knew that the whole matter was nearing its end. So he went to Bu Bu Lu to seek treatment from Bai Shu, and his health had improved significantly in the past few days.

After the two sat down, Uncle Tian dismissed Hui Xin, who was standing by, and personally brewed a pot of tea for Han Fulai. Then he asked about the situation of the trip to Qingxupu.

Han Fulai recounted the entire process to Uncle Tian in detail and explained the plan to send Zhiyi to Zhidong as a spy.

Uncle Tian sighed deeply, his face showing desolation.

"Sigh... They say people's hearts are fickle, but after actually experiencing it, there's still a sense of desolation."

Han Fulai also sighed, "I'm sorry, given the current situation, this is all I can do. Although this trip is dangerous, if Zhiyi can truly make great contributions to Liyue, when he returns, our Yuehaiting will recommend him to become the new Tian Shu Star."

"Brother Han, you're too kind. I only wanted to save his life, which would be enough to repay this kindness. What you've done has far exceeded my expectations. I, Yun Tiancheng, am deeply grateful for your kindness."

As Uncle Tian was speaking, he was about to get up and bow to him, but Han Fulai quickly stopped him.

“Assisting the Seven Stars of Liyue is simply the duty of our Moonsea Pavilion secretaries, so Uncle Tian need not worry about it. Besides, this was also Lord Ganyu’s instruction. Furthermore, since I promised to help you, Uncle Tian, ​​I must keep my word.”

"Sigh..." Uncle Tian sat back in his chair, staring at the tea stalks in his cup, and let out another long sigh.

"Actually, when I first met Zhiyi, I suspected that he had ulterior motives for approaching me, so I secretly did a lot of investigation. The conclusion was that at that time, he really didn't have any other intentions and only regarded me as an elder. When did even he change..."

“I originally intended to give him a fair competition in this selection. Background and reputation are important to many people, but I don’t value them that much. When I first became the leader of Tian Shu Star, I wasn’t famous either, and I had to ask Sister Gan Yu for help with many things. What I really admire is that Zhi Yi is smart and competitive. But this kid is too impatient… always thinking about proving himself.”

Uncle Tian tilted his head slightly, recalling the time when he had just met Zhiyi.

Back then, the old man and the young man were fishing side by side by the water. Uncle Tian's fish was overflowing, while Zhiyi's had caught nothing. He had once spoken some heartfelt words to the dejected Zhiyi, but now it seems that Zhiyi had not truly understood.

“Life is like fishing; it doesn’t allow for any impatience. When I was young, I was just like him, always trying to prove myself. Later, I realized that things don’t always go as I expect. Trying to prove your worth through external things is actually a form of inferiority complex. I wonder if he can understand this now.” Uncle Tian chuckled bitterly a few times and shook his head.

"I believe he will understand," Han Fulai said softly.

Even though Uncle Tian was mentally prepared, being betrayed by a student he regarded as his own son was still a heavy blow to the old man.

Once Uncle Tian had calmed down a bit, Han Fulai asked a crucial question.

"Speaking of which, since you suspected Zhiyi of poisoning, why didn't you expose him back then?"

This question remains unresolved for Han Fulai. Although he suspects that Uncle Tian noticed something was wrong with the fish soup ingredients provided by Zhiyi, why would Uncle Tian rather be poisoned than expose Zhiyi on the spot? He remembers that Uncle Tian already looked listless and weak after being poisoned during the Seven Stars Conference.

If Uncle Tian had exposed Zhiyi back then, although Zhiyi wouldn't have become Tian Shu Xing, he wouldn't have been simultaneously controlled by the Fools and Ye Lan, nearly losing his life, and Uncle Tian wouldn't have had to seek help from Yue Hai Ting. Things clearly didn't have to be so complicated.

At this moment, Uncle Tian suddenly burst into laughter, laughing heartily.

"Because that kid has surpassed his master!"

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Chapter Thirty-Nine: Willing to Take the Bait

"Huh?" Han Fulai was puzzled after hearing Uncle Tian's words.

"The student surpasses the master"? What does Uncle Tian mean?

"Brother Han, guess when I discovered that Zhiyi had poisoned the fish soup?" Uncle Tian laughed.

"At the very beginning?" Han Fulai blinked.

"No. It was when he secretly poured out the fish soup that was brought to my door!" A strange look appeared on Uncle Tian's face.

"Actually, I only had his fish soup twice, both times when I was fishing at the beach. To be honest, because this guy is so good at cooking, I didn't notice anything wrong with the fish soup at all. I even told him to remember to bring a pot of freshly made fish soup when he comes to my house next time."

“When he brought the fish soup to my door, I smelled it and deliberately complained loudly to Huixin, saying that Zhiyi hadn’t come to see me for so long, and if he didn’t bring a pot of freshly stewed fish soup, I wouldn’t let him in!”

"Then this kid just walked into my house empty-handed as if nothing had happened... Hey, why won't Zhiyi make me fish soup a few more times? He even thought I didn't know, hehe... Hahaha..."

Uncle Tian laughed and laughed until tears streamed down his face.

"...Like bait, medicine requires precise proportions. Too much or too little bait, too strong or too weak a flavor, and the fish won't bite...I taught him these principles. Take this poison from the depths of winter, for example; it's potent, with a pungent, spicy smell that ordinary methods simply can't mask..."

"But in order to deceive me, he actually went so far as to study cooking techniques for this poison, and developed a new way to make fish soup from scratch, so that the taste of the medicine and the flavor of the fish soup would be perfectly blended. Without this medicine, the fish soup wouldn't even be fresh enough! Tell me, if he's not a genius, then who is?"

So that's how it is! Han Fulai finally understood what Uncle Tian meant by "the student surpasses the teacher".

As Yusupov said, Zhiyi was a genius at poisoning, but even geniuses must start from the basics. Who taught him about drugs? Of course, it was his master, Uncle Tian!

How could Uncle Tian not be amazed by a poisoning method that even his master, Uncle Tian, ​​couldn't detect?

What is particularly astonishing is Zhiyi's way of thinking.

If others were to poison someone, they would usually try to figure out how to mask the taste of the poison. But Zhiyi took a different approach, creating a new way to make fish soup, making the taste of the poison an integral part of the soup. It was precisely because of this that he was able to fool the experienced Uncle Tian.

Moreover, Zhiyi displayed the same approach when cooperating with Ambassador Yusupov of the Winter Solstice. Despite being controlled by the Fools, he instead considered how to bring their power under his own control, even going so far as to turn Yusupov's adjutant against him. Han Fulai believed that even without Yelan's instructions, Zhiyi would have sought cooperation with Theofan on his own.

Just as Zhiyi himself said, he is unwilling to bow down to anyone, and he is always "taking the initiative"!

Han Fulai could already imagine that if Zhiyi really became an executive officer of the Fools, he might even try to manipulate other executive officers for his own use!

"Having navigated the treacherous waters of the business world for decades, and being a member of the Tian Shu Star, what methods haven't I seen? Extortion, theft, false accusations, espionage, hiring assassins, poisoning... I've survived them all, yet I almost fell into this kid's trap. I must admit, as his mentor, besides feeling disheartened, I also felt a sense of pride. To cultivate a disciple who surpasses oneself is the proudest achievement for any teacher! I even irresponsibly considered that dying at his hands wouldn't be so bad..."

As Uncle Tian spoke, he raised his hand to wipe the corner of his eye.

"To be honest, he is my most outstanding disciple in this life, more than Qianwei, Mingbo, Huixin... He makes me proud. I really can't bear to see him go to destruction."

“But in the end you still chose the responsibility of Tian Shu Star,” Han Fulai replied in a deep voice.

“I must live up to the ‘Willing One’ rod that the Emperor bestowed upon me back then. Having taken the fishing rod, I must not only have the pride of an angler, but also the responsibility of an angler.”

Uncle Tian took out a lab report from his pocket and pushed it onto the table for Han Fulai. This was a poison test report that Bai Shu had given him earlier, which clearly stated the poison components in Uncle Tian's body and the poison formula from the Kingdom of Zhidong.

“We anglers have an old saying, ‘Those who are willing will take the bait.’ This is evidence that led to Zhiyi’s defection… Brother Han, you’d better hold onto this fishing rod tightly.”

"Uncle Tian, ​​please rest assured. Since I proposed the Zhiyi undercover plan, I will take responsibility. This operation, codenamed... let's call it 'Willing People Take the Bait'."

Han Fulai took the test results and sighed inwardly.

None of the fishermen in Liyue are simpletons.

Uncle Tian picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Han Fulai hesitated for a moment, then said, "Uncle Tian, ​​Zhiyi may not be able to return from this trip..."

"It's alright. He chose it himself... and we chose it together."

Uncle Tian looked up and glanced at Han Fulai.

“I have told Zhiyi, Qianwei and Mingbo that while scheming and plotting are important, it is even more important to stick to one’s principles. Zhiyi and Ambassador Yusupov have been cunning and calculating, treating each other as pawns. However, in Ningguang and Pantalone’s eyes, they are just playing on a much larger chessboard.”

"The schemes and plots never end. If you can't handle them, it's better to stay out of it. You'll see things more clearly that way. Everyone has desires, but you can't let them control you. Don't worry about temporary gains or losses. Just move in the direction your heart desires."

By listening carefully to the underlying meaning, Han Fulai naturally understood the deeper meaning behind Uncle Tian's words.

Yes, am I not also on an even bigger chessboard?

Once you step onto this chessboard, how easy is it to remain uninvolved?

Han Fulai sighed inwardly, recalling the scene of meeting Zhongli at the rock teahouse that day.

"Thank you for your teachings, Uncle Tian. A friend of mine once told me, 'Just do good deeds and don't worry about the future.'"

"I see." Uncle Tian nodded gently. "By the way, Zhiyi... let him stay with me for the next two weeks. There are still many things I haven't had time to teach him."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Han Fulai said with a smile.

According to his plan, he would arrange for Zhiyi to meet Uncle Tian tomorrow. Given the bond between the master and disciple, Uncle Tian would surely impart all his knowledge to Zhiyi. The deeper Zhiyi's feelings for Uncle Tian, ​​the more firmly Han Fulai could hold onto his "fishing rod."

"Thanks to you for everything this time. If you ever run into trouble again, Brother Han, you can come to the dock and talk to me. Although I'm old, I still have some people who will give me face," Uncle Tian said.

Uncle Tian's gift of thanks is quite substantial.

"Then I'll have to ask Uncle Tian to take good care of me from now on."

Han Fulai raised his teacup, using tea instead of wine, and clinked glasses with Uncle Tian.

Chapter 40 Ye Lan, this woman is quite petty.

After finishing his tea, Han Fulai asked, "I have another question for you, Uncle Tian... What do you know about Pantalone?"

The "willing to take the bait" plan was aimed at catching the big fish, Pantalone. Although Han Fulai had already clashed with Pantalone during the Lantern Festival, more information was always better.

“‘Rich Man’ Pantalone… As far as I know, his wealth may be second only to Ningguang, but his vision extends far beyond wealth. In fact, he has many unique understandings of wealth…” Uncle Tian’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if recalling some past events.

"Oh? What do you mean?" Han Fulai asked curiously.

“If I had to describe it in one word… it would be ‘distorted’.” Uncle Tian frowned. “We businessmen are naturally profit-driven, and it’s normal for us to understand wealth as interests, or power and influence. But in Pantalone’s eyes, it seems that everything that wealth brings is not as important as wealth itself.”

Han Fulai lowered his head and pondered. Uncle Tian's description reminded him of someone—his sister Ningguang.

He remembered that during the Lantern Festival, Ningguang had complained to Keqing about an interview with the Liyue Daily. The Liyue Daily had asked Ningguang why she continued to run a business despite having immense wealth. Ningguang's reply was, "Having immense wealth is certainly good, but what's wrong with earning an extra mora?"

Given the level of social development on the continent of Teyvat, it might be difficult for them to understand this concept. But as a modern person who had traveled from another time, thanks to the old man named Karl, Han Fulai knew very well what it meant—"The sole purpose of capital is to achieve self-proliferation."

If someone like Uncle Tian, ​​who makes money but spends his days thinking about fishing and retiring, is a big businessman, then someone like Pantalone, a tireless banker, is more deserving of the name.

“I’ve heard rumors that Pantalone is plotting something big that could even shake the foundations of the world. But whether he’s actually planning something, and what that thing is, I don’t know.”

"...The foundation of this world?" Han Fulai murmured, repeating the same question.

Uncle Tian smiled and said, "Actually, I don't have much information about him. Instead of asking me, you should ask Ye Lan. If we're talking about who in Liyue has the most experience fighting Pantarone, it has to be her."

But I just offended Ye Lan... Han Fulai looked embarrassed.

"Speaking of Ye Lan... When I first met Ye Lan, she was still very young. But even then, she had a ruthless streak, and her personality was unpredictable. An old friend of mine once privately commented on Ye Lan, saying that she 'always had a smile on her face, but her eyes were devoid of any smile, and she was a very dangerous person.' However, in my opinion, it wasn't that exaggerated. At least, she wouldn't hurt people who trusted her."

Having heard Han Fulai recount his experiences at Qingxupu and seeing Han Fulai's expression, Uncle Tian knew exactly what Han Fulai was thinking. Over the years, he had also frequently interacted with Ye Lan and knew her to be a trustworthy person. In Uncle Tian's view, if Han Fulai and Ye Lan could cooperate seamlessly, it would be an immense benefit to Liyue.

Han Fulai knew what Uncle Tian wanted to say, but it wasn't about how he viewed Yelan, it was about how Yelan viewed him... In fact, on the way back to Liyue Harbor from Qingxu, Yelan's attitude towards him had been quite cold, and she had no intention of easing their relationship at all.

Although Ye Lan had deceived him first, his retaliation wasn't exactly friendly either. In Han Fulai's mind, this would have evened things out. But Ye Lan clearly didn't think so.

In the past, Han Fulai wouldn't have cared about his relationship with Yelan, since the two hadn't interacted much before. But now his opponent was Pantarone, and Yelan, having fought against Pantarone the most, possessed the most valuable intelligence. Moreover, Yelan was Liyue's top intelligence expert. If he could get Yelan's help, his chances of defeating Pantarone would naturally increase significantly.

Of course, he could also shamelessly ask Ningguang for help and order Yelan to cooperate with him, but that would definitely make Yelan even more resentful.

Judging from what Uncle Tian said, he has a good relationship with Ye Lan. Perhaps we can ask Uncle Tian for help?

Han Fulai thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, "Speaking of which, you and Ye Lan seem to be quite familiar with each other. Did you really consider letting Ye Lan inherit the position of Tian Shu Star back then?"

Uncle Tian smiled and replied, "Of course. If she's willing, that would be great, but if Ye Lan were here, she'd probably say..."

"She said she still prefers her current life, which has both danger and excitement," Ye Lan's voice came from the stairs.

"Uncle Tian, ​​you know that although we operate in the shadows, once you're promoted to Tian Shu Star, you can no longer truly immerse yourself in darkness and danger. As for me, I hate sitting in an office the most."

The last sentence was barbed, clearly aimed at Han Fulai, the "office worker".

Han Fulai grinned and forced a smile.

"Oh, it's Miss Yelan. How have you been lately?"

"Thanks to Deputy Minister Han, I not only got injured, but also got a lecture from my superior." Ye Lan's tone was unfriendly.

Han Fulai's smile froze on his face.

Ye Lan ignored Han Fulai and continued talking to Uncle Tian.

"Uncle Tian, ​​you look well, so you must be much better now?"

Uncle Tian chuckled, "Doctor Bai Shu has already prescribed medicine for me. It seems I can work for Liyue for a few more years."