He changed Tiwat

Compared to other things, the annual Lantern Festival is still the most anticipated event for the people of Liyue.

The festive atmosphere in Liyue Harbor is visibly growing stronger every day.

Since Keqing has been working on the Golden House these days, Han Fulai doesn't need to report to her every day, but he's certainly not idle. While preparing for the fireworks festival, he followed Zhongli's advice from a few days ago and scoured every street and alley of Liyue Harbor.

“If you have some free time, you might as well learn more about the stories and culture of Liyue.” – That’s what Zhongli said at the time. Although Han Fulai didn’t have much free time, he still made time to visit the residents of Liyue Harbor every day. Before he knew it, many residents would greet him on the street.

When Han Fulai walked out of Yuehai Pavilion today, he specially changed into the plaid shirt and jeans that he had brought with him when he traveled through time.

Although he has now fully integrated into Liyue, he wanted to make his first Lantern Festival in Liyue more memorable.

He walked to Yujingtai Square and saw two acquaintances leaning on the railing, gazing into the distance.

Grandma Ping heard footsteps behind her, turned around, and saw Han Fulai. Her face immediately lit up with a smile.

"Hmm? It's you, child."

Grandma Ping had a very good impression of this young man, always feeling as if he were her own nephew or niece.

Yan Fei turned around and waved to Han Fulai, saying, "You've come at the perfect time!"

"Oh? What lucky time have I come across?" Han Fulai asked curiously.

“I’ll make room for you…” Yan Fei’s petite body hopped to the side, beckoning Han Fulai to stand next to her. “Look, the scenery of Liyue Harbor is truly captivating.”

Han Fulai followed her gaze and saw that the streets of Liyue Harbor were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, with wisps of smoke rising from the food stalls and crowds thronging the area—a truly festive scene. Even though he was used to the hustle and bustle of big cities in China, Han Fulai couldn't help but be moved by this sight.

"Haha, I also contributed to the preparations for this year's Lantern Festival," Han Fulai said with a smile. "It's rare to see Miss Yanfei. Don't you have any work scheduled today?"

“Yes,” Yanfei replied. “Speaking of the Lantern Festival, my dad sent me a letter saying that everything was going well with my mom on her trip, and he also wished my grandma and me a happy Lantern Festival.”

"Honestly, they wrote it the same way last year, without even changing the wording." Yan Fei pouted, looking quite dissatisfied, but then smiled again. "However, I guess I've inherited his carefree style. So, I took a few days off and happily enjoyed the scenery."

"The ancients said that seeing a letter is like seeing the person. When you can see a letter from your family, even if you are in different places, you can still feel the warmth of your family," Han Fulai said with a smile.

Mentioning his family, Han Fulai couldn't help but recall the old days. Since arriving in Liyue, he hadn't thought about things back in China for a long time. Now that he thought about it, perhaps it was because he didn't have many attachments there; even if he died, few people there would shed tears for him.

Yan Fei clapped her hands.

"Ah...that reminds me. When I reply, I should mention your story to him too! If you meet an interesting friend, you should definitely tell your family about it."

Thinking about it, it's only been two months since he transmigrated, and he seems to have quite a few relatives and friends in Liyue to visit during the New Year. Han Fulai felt a little sentimental for some reason.

At this moment, Grandma Ping reached out and gently patted his back: "Flowers bloom and wither, people come and go, but the Liyue Lantern Festival will always be held as scheduled. However, this year's Lantern Festival is a little different from previous years. Child, you can wander around more, look around more, and slowly enjoy the scenery of Liyue Harbor, hehe."

“That’s true. After working so long, I finally have a day off today, and I was just about to go for a stroll in the city. By the way, Grandma Ping, Miss Yanfei, I have a plan, I wonder if either of you have time tonight?”

Han Fulai explained his plan to the two of them.

“No problem,” Yan Fei readily agreed.

Grandma Ping nodded and smiled.

After bidding farewell to Granny Ping and Yan Fei, Han Fulai descended from Yujing Terrace and arrived at the streets of Feiyun Slope. Suddenly, he felt someone bump into his lower back. Han Fulai turned around and saw a little boy with his hands behind his back, as if he were hiding some treasure.

The little boy thought he had bumped into a foreign tourist, and he lowered his head nervously, preparing to apologize. But then he noticed the person he had bumped into patting his head. He looked up and realized it was the older boy who had visited his home a couple of days ago.

"Brother Han!" the little boy exclaimed happily.

"Yizhu, what are you doing here? Aren't you afraid Yixian won't be able to find you and will be crying at home?" Han Fulai said with a smile.

Yizhu and Yixian are a brother and sister. Their father died early, and their mother, Hua Nian, also passed away in an accident last year. They were left to depend on each other for survival, and had been relying on the care of their neighbors. A few days ago, Han Fulai heard about their situation while going from door to door, so he went to the General Affairs Department to apply for subsidies for them and sent them to their home, and asked the staff of the General Affairs Department to take care of them regularly.

Upon hearing Han Fulai's question, Yizhu puffed out his chest like a little adult: "Xian'er won't cry! I promised her that I would accompany her to the Lantern Festival this year and stroll through the night market together."

"I want to take her to buy toys, see the lanterns, and watch the fireworks. If she gets tired, I'll carry her on my back!"

"Great job." Han Fulai squatted down and touched Yizhu's face. "I remember you said a few days ago that you wanted to learn how to weave lanterns. Have you learned it yet?"

"Of course!" Yizhu said, taking out an exquisite lantern from behind his back. "Look, a lantern! Xuan'er said she wanted to make a lantern for her mother, so I taught her how to make one. Now she can make one quickly and well all by herself!"

"So, are you here to have fun now?" Han Fulai asked.

"No." Yizhu shook his head. "When I was preparing materials for the lantern, Sister Changshun from the general store gave us some. So, I also made a lantern for Sister Changshun, and I'm here to give it to her! I hope she likes it."

"Good girl. I'll take you to find Sister Changshun." Han Fulai said, standing up.

"Don't bother Brother Han, I know you're busy with work." Yizhu shook his head again. "My brother and I have received a lot of care recently, and we are really grateful to everyone. I can't keep troubling others."

"By the way, Brother Han, you told us the story of 'The True Lord Who Guides the Heavens' last time. You said that people used to make lanterns to help the souls of heroes find their way home. Is that true?"

"Of course it's true." Han Fulai nodded seriously.

"Then, when Mom sees the lanterns, her soul will return with the great heroes, right?"

"Yes, definitely."

"I made a promise with Xian'er that we'll greet Mom with a smile." Yizhu grinned broadly. "Brother Han, you should smile too! Happy Lantern Festival!"

Han Fu returned the greeting with a smile: "Happy Lantern Festival!"

Chapter Fifty-Five: Flying Stars Gather in Splendor, May Our Glory Be Engraved (Part Two)

Han Fulai waved goodbye to Yizhu and continued on his way, preparing to go to the General Affairs Department to have Miss Jiang Zhou confirm the fireworks display arrangements one last time.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the General Affairs Department, Han Fulai found Miss Jiang Zhou talking with two people.

"The next task is... wait, is it really that little?" Jiang Zhou looked at the notebook in his hand, his tone somewhat incredulous.

“Where is it missing…” Xiao Zhao, the clerk in the General Affairs Department, sighed. “Phew… the Lantern Festival is really tiring. I should take a break.”

Ah Xu, a servant of the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce, joined the conversation: "Speaking of work, I heard that the young master took on a lot of work during the Lantern Festival. I wonder if it went well."

Thinking about the theft of his warehouse, Ah Xu shook his head. "After all that has happened, he's still the same as always, nowhere to be seen."

"Hey, I'm telling you, aren't you guys anxious?" Xiao Zhao asked.

"Anxiety?" Ah Xu scratched his head.

“Yes, don’t you feel a strange sense of anxiety as soon as you stop? I was watching Lady Keqing busy with the Lantern Festival and I kept thinking, can I really relax? Do I really have enough time?” Xiao Zhao said.

Jiang Zhou nodded, "Indeed, it's so relaxing now that I can't even remember how I managed to handle so much work before... Even though many of them weren't my responsibility, I just couldn't help but take care of them."

Xiao Zhao nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, it's that feeling of being on rest but having something constantly keeping you on your toes... But I can't just end my rest and go back to work right away... Sigh, humans are such strange creatures."

"If you gentlemen don't mind, I have some work to assign you," Han Fulai said with a smile after listening quietly for a while.

All three were startled.

"I...I'm going back to guard the gate," Ah Xu said, hurrying back to the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce's office.

"I...I still have a lot of work to do," Xiao Zhao said, and ran off as fast as she could.

When Jiang Zhou saw Han Fulai, he took out a plan of the fireworks display in Liyue Harbor from his waist bag and handed it to him.

"This is the 'final and absolutely final revised version,' and it really won't be changed anymore! It really, really won't be changed anymore!"

"I know, I know." Han Fu looked at the planning map and put it away.

Suddenly becoming the client for the fireworks display, Han Fulai couldn't help but offer numerous suggestions for revisions. These past few days, he'd come to understand why Ke Qing loved revising the scroll so much—even you can't resist when you're the client!

Of course, he wasn't some kind of devil; the plan was only revised ten times.

Jiang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him accept the planning map: "Phew... I used to be so powerful."

"You in the past?" Han Fulai asked curiously.

“Oh, I used to be a planner for the Lantern Festival too,” Jiang Zhou said. “Of course, the annual Lantern Festival is a festival celebrated by the entire Liyue Harbor. Such a grand event can’t be planned by just me… but there are still many issues to consider.”

“Indeed.” Han Fulai agreed. Although he was only responsible for Keqing’s fireworks display setup, he was already overwhelmed. “Liyue Harbor has a large population and a complex environment. On average, each staff member has to take on a lot of work.”

“Yes.” Jiang Zhou flipped through his notebook, listing the items one by one, “Like the missing railings at the dock, the crowded food stalls at Tiger Rock, the cats and dogs running around on the roadside, oh my, there are so many things to consider!”

"But... isn't this your job?" Han Fulai asked doubtfully.

“…Oh no, I’ve been working on the Lantern Festival planning for too long…Why am I starting to think about work that has nothing to do with me again…” Jiang Zhou bit his lip in frustration. “I should just be more responsible and leave work on time. I’ve already told my father that I’ll spend time with him tonight.”

"Well, Miss Jiang Zhou, please finish your work and leave early. Don't forget to enjoy this year's fireworks." Han Fulai smiled and waved to Jiang Zhou before leaving the General Affairs Department.

His next destination was Tiger Rock.

He hadn't walked far when someone suddenly called him back.

"Hey~ Isn't this my old acquaintance, Brother Han? Did you come all the way here for the Lantern Festival?"

Han Fulai turned his head and saw a beautiful woman with a single ponytail, exuding mature charm—Ying'er, the owner of "Chunxiang Kiln". During the ceremony of sending off the immortals with Zhongli, he had consulted this owner Ying'er about the making of the perfume that Zhongli liked.

"Oh, Sister Ying'er, it's been a long time." Han Fulai stepped forward to greet her.

"Long time no see, you still look so handsome!" Ying'er said with a smile, covering her mouth.

"Sister Ying'er is still as charming and beautiful as ever." Han Fulai smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Ying'er.

"You have such a sweet tongue," Ying'er chuckled. "It's a pity that even though it's a festive season, my place is just so popular. If I weren't so busy with work, I would really like to bring you in for a deeper conversation."

Han Fulai considered it seriously for a moment. "Well... I'm not too busy right now."

"Hehe, why don't we go inside our 'Spring Fragrance Kiln' and take a look? Maybe we'll find something unexpected. After all, compared to those inside, I'm just an ordinary woman," Ying'er said with a charming laugh.

"Oh, could this be..." Han Fulai leaned back strategically.

“Of course, just as you thought~ Genuine goods at fair prices~” Ying’er whispered in Han Fulai’s ear, “Don’t you know, Brother Han? The upper echelons of Liyue allow us to run these kinds of private kilns, so don’t worry so much. Just imagine, those slender parts like willow branches, those full parts round and lustrous… beautiful beyond compare, yet containing a fiery passion…”

"Oh..." Han Fulai opened his mouth wide in perfect cooperation.

“After all, it takes a full twelve hours of high-temperature firing before the kiln is opened…” Ying’er blinked.

"That's really impressive." Han Fulai nodded with admiration.

"Although the firing temperature is lower than that of the official kilns, the quality of the porcelain produced is in no way inferior to that of official wares. The main porcelain vase shape is, as I just mentioned, a round bottom and a slender neck, which is definitely the most popular style at the time. Usually, the gentlemen who come in will pick one up and take it home, and when they pay the bill, they get so excited that their faces turn red and they stammer, hehe..."

"Yes, I'll definitely do it next time!"

Han Fulai skillfully drove Ying'er's car back to the kindergarten. Ever since Ying'er taught him how to make the Rainbow Flower Perfume Balm, saying, "Like caressing a lover's skin, gently peel back the flower buds... wait until the sap of the petals spreads and the bottom of the mortar is completely wet, then increase the speed appropriately," he already knew how to keep up with Ying'er's driving speed.

Seeing that Han Fulai remained unmoved, Ying'er suddenly lowered her voice again: "By the way, Brother Han, I heard that you've been juggling three relationships lately."

"Huh?" Han Fulai was genuinely shocked this time, his mouth agape.

“Look, first it was Lord Ganyu, then Lord Ningguang, and I heard you’re now with Lord Keqing…” Ying’er said softly.

"This, this is a normal job duty for a secretary!" Han Fulai quickly explained.

"Oh, work... there's an old saying in Liyue: when there's work, the secretary does it; when there's nothing to do..."

"Take a day off if you have nothing else to do! I happen to have a day off today, goodbye!" Han Fulai immediately said goodbye to Ying'er.

Watching his retreating figure, Ying'er revealed a mysterious smile.

"If you want to have your cake and eat it too, you'd better think carefully about which foot to lift first..."

Chapter Fifty-Six: Flying Stars Gather in Splendor, May Our Glory Be Engraved (Part Three)

Before even reaching "Wanmintang", Han Fulai could smell the enticing fragrance.

"Wanmintang" is a well-known name, even rivaling the long-established Liyue Harbor establishments, such as Liyue Pavilion and Crescent Moon Pavilion, but in reality, it has only been in business for about twenty years and is now just a street-side shop. Half of the shop is occupied by the kitchen, and in terms of area, it is even smaller than "Sanwanbuguogang" across the street.

During the Lantern Festival, the large crowds at Wanmintang Restaurant made it difficult to find enough space. To accommodate the many customers, the owner, Chef Mao, had to set up extra tables outside. Even so, many customers still lined up outside for a seat, and some even stood to enjoy their food.

The owner of "Three Bowls and You Can't Cross the Harbour" restaurant, De Gui, is probably the happiest person about the booming business of Wanmintang. After all, customers waiting for their meals will come to his shop to sit down and have a few bowls of tea when there are no seats available.

When Han Fulai arrived at the entrance of Wanmintang, the owner, Master Mao, was shouting in a gruff voice, "Don't miss out! Come and try Wanmintang's culinary skills! Today's head chef is Xiangling, who has returned from her 'culinary training'!"

Han Fulai stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Master Mao."

Master Mao didn't mind that Han Fulai looked like he was from out of town. He waved his hand and handed over a menu: "Take a look and see what you want to eat. I can make anything on the menu, and if it's not on the menu, just tell me and Xiangling can make it too!"

"I actually came to see Xiangling today..." Han Fulai was interrupted by Master Mao's loud laughter halfway through his sentence.

“I know, I know, everyone who comes here is looking for Xiangling. Although everyone who eats at Huyan knows my name, Master Mao, I admit that my skills are still a little inferior to my daughter's. However, it's more than enough to deal with those ‘old brands’!”

Master Mao spoke at length about Xiangling, his face beaming with pride.

"Let me tell you, Xiangling, my daughter, is also my most outstanding disciple! I only taught Xiangling to cook so that she could inherit 'Wanmintang', but I never expected that this little girl's talent would far surpass mine. She will definitely be the one to overturn the Liyue culinary world in the future, hahaha."

Han Fulai became interested upon hearing this: "What do you mean by 'overturning the Liyue culinary world'?"

"Hmph." Master Mao said smugly, "Of course it's 'innovation'!"

"Those 'old brands' in Liyue have always liked to go through all sorts of roundabout ways, trying to come up with some kind of 'cuisine' system. Let me tell you, whether it's Liyue cuisine or Moon cuisine, in front of our 'Wanmintang system,' they're all just Central Plains trash!"

"We use the most common ingredients, the most universal flavors, and the most exquisite skills to make the most delicious dishes! Cuisine itself is simply prepared for all those who are hungry. Those who set those rules and regulations are mediocre people who cannot see the essence of cuisine!"

Just then, Xiangling came out of the kitchen carrying two plates of dishes, announcing the names of the dishes: "Our signature dish—'Wanmintang Boiled Fish'! And your 'Stir-fried Slime'!"

Master Mao pointed to the dishes in Xiangling's hands, "Look, these are all new dishes developed by Xiangling. Those old-fashioned 'established brands' could never make them."

Han Fulai nodded in deep agreement.