He changed Tiwat

Han Fulai certainly understood Ningguang's meaning. The broadcast during the Battle of Ocel had shown all of Liyue Ningguang's determination to protect Liyue Harbor; and the credit for killing Barchak was entirely claimed by the Seven Stars government, represented by Ningguang. Even if the merchants of Liyue had been wary of Ningguang before, these two enormous achievements were undeniable.

The Liyue faction is now implicitly led by Ningguang, which is undoubtedly related to Han Fulai's instigation. However, these matters are not for outsiders to know.

If behind every successful woman is a man, then Han Fulai is that man standing behind Ningguang—although their relationship is anything but that…

Chapter 57 A Date with Sister Ningguang (Part 4) [Bonus Chapter for Monthly Ticket Bounty]

After a moment of contemplation, Xingxi's face lit up with understanding: "I understand! Lady Ningguang protected Liyue Harbor without regard for losses, which also brought her a good reputation. Making chess pieces without asking for anything in return must be a way of commemorating Lady Ningguang's past contributions to Liyue Harbor, right? As long as the influence of these things remains, business will continue to go smoothly. As expected of Lady Ningguang, she is truly a role model for us merchants."

Ningguang sighed softly and nodded.

"...Yes, you're right."

“I understand now. This set of chess pieces should indeed be made very well, even if it doesn’t make money,” Xingxi said with a smile.

"Then I'll leave the rest of the processing to you."

"Don't worry, we will do our best." Xingxi nodded vigorously.

"By the way, I left a repair item with you before. I wonder if it's been fixed yet?" Ningguang asked again.

"Oh, Lady Ningguang, please wait a moment, I'll go get it right now." Xingxi said as she left the counter and went to the inner room of the shop to retrieve the goods.

"Yes, no need to rush, but it's best to be careful," Ningguang advised.

It's rare to see Ningguang so interested in something. Speaking of which, Mingxingzhai sells antiques and precious jewelry. The item Ningguang asked Mingxingzhai to repair must be a priceless treasure, right? Han Fulai also became curious.

At this moment, Xingxi took a small box from the inner room and handed it to Ningguang.

"The comb has been repaired, Lady Ningguang. Please confirm."

Ningguang opened the box, and Han Fulai followed her gaze, discovering it was a wooden comb with a very ordinary design. Han Fulai didn't know much about these kinds of grooming items and couldn't tell what kind of wood the comb was made of, only guessing that it might be a rare and precious wood.

Seeing Ningguang repeatedly examining the wooden comb, Xingxi said apologetically, "We tried our best to restore it to its original state, but due to the severity of the damage, there are still traces of repair left on the comb."

"Hmm, it's alright, thank you for your trouble." Ningguang nodded expressionlessly and put away the comb.

After the two left Mingxingzhai, Han Fulai finally couldn't help but ask about the comb.

Ningguang smiled and replied, "You mean that comb? Actually, it's quite ordinary in terms of value, and the repair cost even exceeds its original value."

"Then... this comb must hold Ningguang's memories, right?" Since it doesn't have much physical value, it's clear that this comb has spiritual value.

Han Fulai's conjecture was quite reasonable, but it was only half right.

"It's not my memory, but the memory of one of my intelligence agents. For that intelligence agent, it was a very precious thing, as it contained her memories of her mother."

Intelligence agents! Han Fulai's eyes sharpened. It seemed that the matter of "meeting with three intelligence agents" that he had been concerned about was related to this comb.

Ningguang continued, "They often give me very important intelligence, so when they need my help, I should do my best to repay them. For us, mutual trust is much more important than interests."

"Speaking of which, I saw on the schedule that Sister Ningguang was supposed to meet with intelligence personnel today. I wonder if I have disturbed your plans..." Han Fulai brought up the matter casually.

“I see…” Ningguang lowered her head and considered for a moment. “Actually, the intelligence personnel we’re meeting this time are quite special… To be honest, I’m really looking forward to meeting them. If you’re willing, Xiao Han, why don’t you come with me to meet them after lunch today?”

"If Sister Ningguang doesn't mind, I will gladly accompany you." Han Fulai nodded calmly.

Before long, the two arrived at the Liuli Pavilion, the venue for the luncheon.

I've been busy all morning working on the new "Liyue Millennium" outfit, and now the sun is almost at noon, which is just the right time.

Hongru, the attendant of Liuli Pavilion, had been waiting outside for a long time. When Ningguang arrived, he hurriedly led the two into Liuli Pavilion.

The banquet for Ningguang was indeed of an extraordinary scale; the private room booked by the merchant Luo Qiao was even more luxurious than the one where Dadalia had once invited Zhongli to dinner.

Luo Qiao was a rather plump middle-aged woman with a round face and waist. Although her youth had faded, her clothing and appearance were still extremely luxurious, clearly demonstrating that a woman's love of beauty is unrelated to age. Upon hearing that Ning Guang had arrived, she quickly rose from her seat to greet her.

"Lord Ningguang!"

Ningguang greeted Luo Qiao, "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

Luo Qiao quickly shook her head, "No, no, not at all. Lady Ningguang is very busy, I am very grateful that you can take the time out of your busy schedule."

Social etiquette can easily become endlessly polite, but Ningguang clearly didn't care much about such formalities. She casually waved her hand and said, "Then let's not be polite and just be natural."

As she spoke, she stepped slightly to make way for Han Fulai behind her, and gestured to Luo Qiao to introduce him: "This is Han Fulai, the Executive Vice Minister of Yuehaiting. You should have heard of him. He happens to be on leave today, so I invited him to come with me. I think it's a rare opportunity to have a meal and chat with him. I wonder if you mind if he sits with us?"

"Not at all, of course not! In fact, it's quite a surprise. I didn't expect the famous Deputy Minister Han to be here. I even heard your story at Yutai Tea House, hehe." Luo Qiao's face lit up with a smile. Han Fulai's reputation has been quite prominent in Liyue Harbor recently. This meal of hers can be described as buy one get one free, excellent value for money.

"It's just an empty title, Ms. Luo Qiao is too kind. It's my honor to be seated with you both. Today I'm serving as Ningguang's... Lord Ningguang's 'temporary secretary.' Please forgive me for any inconvenience."

Han Fulai bowed politely to Ms. Luo Qiao, and his tailcoat gave him a handsome and dashing gentlemanly air, which made Luo Qiao beam with joy.

"I've always been curious about your deeds, and it seems I can finally satisfy my curiosity today... Oh dear, my apologies." Luo Qiao said, tapping her forehead. "I was so excited to see this unexpected guest that I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Luo Qiao, and I'm a businesswoman, mainly dealing in fabrics. Recently, I've been looking to expand into other businesses. That's why I wanted to ask Lady Ningguang for some advice."

After the pleasantries were over, the group took their seats. Luo Qiao looked at the perfect couple before her and covered her mouth to laugh.

"Heh, it seems the rumors circulating are true..."

"What exactly are these rumors?" Ningguang asked with interest.

Luo Qiao's face showed an expression that Han Fulai was very familiar with—the expression of the female colleagues he used to work with when they were watching dramas and shipping couples.

"Of course, it's about the unusual relationship between Vice Minister Han and Lady Ningguang."

Chapter 58 A Date with Sister Ningguang (Part 5) [4k]

The ambiguous smile on Luo Qiao's face could be summed up in one word—a "motherly smile."

Han Fulai frowned slightly, thinking to himself that it was one thing for Ying'er to joke, but now even Luo Qiao was saying the same thing. It seemed that there really were rumors circulating that Ningguang and I had an unusual relationship? And it seemed that the rumors had been going on for a long time.

He and Ningguang address each other as brother and sister, and their relationship is certainly not unusual, but they have never shown any intimate behavior in public. This invitation is the first of its kind, so there shouldn't be any rumors about them. As for the rumors circulating in Liyue Harbor, his story with Shenhe in the Battle of Bazhe has been adapted into a storybook, so the rumors should be about him and Shenhe.

In fact, when investigating Zhiyi before, the little boy Dugu Shuo at the dock had mentioned the story of "Hero Han and Heroine Shenhe".

Of course, rumors are unpredictable. For example, someone with a vivid imagination like Ying'er once joked that he was "dating several people at the same time"...

Ningguang, however, seemed unmoved. After all, as the Tianquan Star of Liyue, she frequently appeared in public and received widespread media attention, so gossip was never lacking. Especially those gossip magazines; one day they would say she was dating a wealthy merchant from Fontainebleau, and the next day they would rewrite it as her having a forbidden love affair with Beidou. She was already used to it.

Seeing that the two didn't respond, Luo Qiao seemed to realize something: "Oh dear, I misspoke. Haven't you two heard this rumor?"

"Such unfounded rumors may damage Lord Ningguang's reputation, so it's best not to spread them," Han Fulai solemnly refuted.

"I'm so sorry," Luo Qiao quickly apologized. "Every move Lady Ningguang makes is watched by millions of eyes, and her interpersonal relationships are no exception. Actually, I didn't really believe the rumors before, but seeing Vice Minister Han today, who is so handsome and talented, wow... even I couldn't help but be moved."

"...Aunt Luo Qiao, please have some self-respect... Never mind, I'll take that as a compliment." Han Fulai thought helplessly to himself, "I'm a man who could easily make a living off my looks, but I choose to rely on my talent!"

Ningguang smiled and smoothed things over: "Hehe, it's alright. Actually, Han not only played a big role in the battles against Oser and Bazhe, but he also contributed to the prosperity of Liyue Harbor. Regardless of my official status as one of the Liyue Seven Stars, I admire him very much from my personal perspective."

"Lord Ningguang's evaluation of Vice Minister Han reminds me of Captain Beidou. Hehe, Lord Ningguang has gained another talented person by his side. It's truly a cause for celebration." Luo Qiao said, pouring a full glass of wine for both Ningguang and Han Fulai.

"Oh dear, it's best not to compare these two. Every time Beidou returns to Liyue Harbor, she only gives me a headache. She's made me miss out on excellent investment opportunities more than once, and the timing is so coincidental that I can't help but suspect she did it on purpose..."

Ningguang, while complaining about Captain Beidou's absence, raised her glass: "Gentlemen, let's drink to our gathering today."

The three of them drank a full cup, and Luo Qiao steered the conversation back on track—"Lady Ningguang mentioned investment earlier, was it referring to the very popular 'Radiant Essence' business?"

The market for luminous marrow is booming? Han Fulai blinked. He knew what "luminous marrow" was; it wasn't some rare item, but rather the glowing part of the fireflies on the Teyvat continent. For fireflies, luminous marrow was merely an organ used for courtship, but for humans, it seemed to have medicinal uses, supposedly having health-strengthening effects—in a sense, it was a case of "you are what you eat."

For gamers, luminous marrow is a rare material, and Han Fulai had never paid it any attention before. Hearing Luo Qiao mention it reminded him of some strange businesses, like mass-producing small blue pills using luminous marrow…

However, Ningguang directly denied it: "No, I invested in other commodities. As for 'Luminous Essence,' it's just that some people are speculating on it."

"But wasn't there supposed to be a novel technology in Fontaine that would use a lot of 'luminous marrow'?" Luo Qiao asked, her face full of doubt.

Ningguang pondered for a moment, then shook his head again. "If it can really make money, then the fewer people who know about it, the better. Why make a big fuss about it everywhere? I had my secretary do some analysis before, and now the price of 'Luminous Marrow' far exceeds the profit that its processed products can bring. So, it's best to be cautious."

"I see..." Luo Qiao stroked her double chin, looking rather disappointed. "I was originally going to seriously ask Lady Ningguang to consider this business for me. I heard that many people have already profited from it."

"In my opinion, many of these people have ulterior motives, and this business will face significant risks in the short term." Ningguang's tone was serious, indicating that she had reached this conclusion after conducting thorough research and data analysis.

“Risks…” Luo Qiao lowered her head and carefully considered the situation, but the look of doubt on her face did not lessen in the slightest.

Han Fulai suddenly asked, "Ms. Luo Qiao, you just mentioned that you are a fabric merchant. Is this luminous essence related to fabric?"

“It’s alright.” Luo Qiao shook her head. “I just heard from a businessman I know that the price of luminous marrow has recently soared, making it a good investment, so I got the idea.”

"So, do you know what that so-called 'novel technology of Fontaine with extensive application of luminescent marrow' is?" Han Fulai continued to ask.

“Hmm, I don’t understand these things…” Luo Qiao continued to shake her head.

"Then what makes you so sure this technology has investment potential? As Lord Ningguang said, this business is very risky. It's possible that the development of an unprecedented new technology could fail... What if you buy the luminous marrow, and then the Fengdan technology suddenly announces that it no longer needs the luminous marrow?"

Han Fulai also looked puzzled. In his opinion, Luo Qiao's cross-industry investment and lack of knowledge about the project was undoubtedly throwing money into the water. But Luo Qiao was a wealthy man who could afford to spend tens of millions of Mora to treat Ningguang to dinner. He didn't seem like a fool.

“But the value of luminous marrow is really rising… Even if the price of luminous marrow drops later, it doesn’t matter. I just need to buy a batch of luminous marrow and sell it when the price reaches its peak.” Luo Qiao said her thoughts.

To put it bluntly, Luo Qiao's idea was to treat the luminous marrow as a short-term futures contract, or to engage in short-term stock market trading, buying low and selling high.

This ideal is as voluptuous as Luo Qiao's figure, but as for reality... this is Liyue, there is no online trading platform where you can watch the K-line chart at any time and make money come in and out with a simple click of the mouse.

For businesspeople, time is an important factor that cannot be ignored.

Han Fulai shook his head. "It takes time from acquisition to sale. If the price of luminous marrow suddenly drops sharply during the period between when you buy it and when you wait for the price to rise, you will lose everything. This is the risk that Lord Ningguang just emphasized. Although the price of luminous marrow seems to be rising right now..."

“...But the future is uncertain.” Ningguang continued, “The money you have now was earned one mora at a time. When using it, you must be as careful and thorough as when you earned it.”

"Lord Ningguang's words are spot on. I also suggest that Ms. Luo Qiao first investigate the market situation related to Luminescent Essence, for example, what exactly is this 'Fontaine Technology'? If the popularity of Luminescent Essence is due to the new technology from Fontaine, then the price of Luminescent Essence should naturally be determined by the application prospects of this technology."

"...Since you both say so, I understand. I should calm down a bit. It seems that it would be better to invest this money in the industries I want to develop next."

Although Luo Qiao looked unwilling, she still made a rational judgment. She was indeed reluctant to give up the opportunity to earn a lot of Mora through short-term investment, but since she had paid to learn from Ningguang, she was more inclined to believe in Ningguang's judgment.

"Then, I'd like to ask Lady Ningguang what her insights are regarding the fabric industry? For example, is there any remaining share of the silk monopolized by the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce..."

Over the next few minutes, Luo Qiao and Ningguang discussed many business topics, covering virtually all of Liyue's popular industries. Although Ningguang avoided answering any questions about policy, her understanding and grasp of the development trends in various industries were unimaginably profound. Not only Luo Qiao, but even Han Fulai, who was listening in, felt as if he had learned a valuable lesson, gaining a deeper understanding of Liyue's current business landscape.

The luncheon lasted until after 2 p.m., and the guests and hosts chatted happily.

The table full of delicacies had long been enjoyed, and even the drinks had been refilled twice. Luo Qiao was finally satisfied.

“Thank you so much, Lady Ningguang, for taking the time to come here today. All my questions have been answered. Now I finally understand why you are the most successful businesswoman in Liyue Harbor.” Luo Qiao’s face showed admiration. “Clear thinking, extensive knowledge, and excellent intelligence—each of these qualities is worth learning for a long time. I feel that spending those Mora to buy Lady Ningguang’s time is the most valuable investment I have made so far!”

"As long as you feel it's worth the price, that's good enough." Ningguang maintained her usual elegance and nodded slightly.

"Even I, an observer, have benefited greatly. I must thank Ms. Luo Qiao for allowing me to benefit from this opportunity," Han Fulai added at the opportune moment.

Ningguang smiled at Han Fulai, "Well, Han, have you also developed an interest in business?"

"After hearing so much theory, you might feel the urge to put it into practice. There's no rule in Liyue that says civil servants can't do business, is there?" Han Fulai teased.

Ning Guangfeng raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So, Xiao Han, you also want to be my rival. If it's you, then I have to be on my guard."

"Not at all, Lord Ningguang is joking," Han Fulai said with a smile.

“I’m not joking.” Ningguang narrowed her eyes, her face serious. “I will invest in you before you grow up, and if the opportunity arises, I would also like to… acquire you.”

At this moment, Luo Qiao suddenly stood up with a big, maternal smile on her face.

"Then I won't disturb you any longer. I thoroughly enjoyed this lunch, and after listening to Lady Ningguang's insightful opinions, I'm now eager to try it myself."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Luo Qiao, please take care." Han Fulai quickly stood up.

Ningguang also stood up to see her off, saying, "Goodbye, I hope to hear good news from you soon."

After seeing Luo Qiao off, Ningguang looked at Han Fulai again, "Lunch is over, what's next..."

"You went to see your three informants, right?" Han Fulai thought of the wooden comb Ningguang had put away earlier, and was also curious about what kind of informants Ningguang valued so much. Ye Lan could probably be ruled out; she didn't seem like the type to ask Ningguang to fix a comb. As for Wu Pei and those rough men, it was questionable whether they even needed a comb.

Ningguang nodded.

“Now is the time. Those few should be gathering near the notice board at Tiger Rock this afternoon. Let’s go. Maybe we can get some clues about the ‘Radiant Marrow’ from them.” With that, Ningguang took the lead, and Han Fulai quickly followed.

Just before leaving the private room, Ningguang suddenly turned back and whispered, "By the way, when I said I wanted to invest in you, I wasn't joking."

Han Fulai maintained his smile: "But when I said I wanted to do business, I was really joking."

When the two arrived near the Tiger Rock bulletin board, it was around 2:30 PM. The sun was still scorching, and many pedestrians walked along the eaves of the shops on both sides. The street vendors seemed listless, while the children gathered in the shade of the large tree behind the bulletin board to play.

Their elaborate attire was quite eye-catching even in a bustling area like Feiyunpo, and even more so in a place like Chihuyan, a gathering place for the common people.

Under the watchful eyes of passersby, Ningguang led Han Fulai toward the big tree behind the notice board.

Upon seeing Ningguang arrive, the children who were digging in the mud under the shade of the tree suddenly cheered.

A little girl with chubby cheeks and a bun hairstyle skipped and hopped toward Ningguang and hugged her slender waist.

"Sister Ningguang! It's Sister Ningguang!"

A little boy next to her, his face full of envy, bit his finger and greeted her shyly, "Hello, Sister Ningguang!"

"Zhizhi, Xiaolong, hello there, it's been a long time." Ningguang stroked the little girl's head with a big smile.

This was the first time Han Fulai had ever read something called "gentleness" in Ningguang's wine-red eyes.

"So, Sister Ningguang... Lady Ningguang's informants are actually these children?" Han Fulai was initially surprised, but then he remembered that Yelan had also asked the children for information that day, and he understood.

Ningguang glared at him and said reproachfully, "Are you embarrassed? Are you afraid that if I call you 'sister,' I'll treat you like a child?"