He changed Tiwat

After serving the dishes, Xiangling noticed Han Fulai and waved to him with a smile, saying, "Mr. Han, would you like to try my new dishes today?"

"I've come to see Miss Xiangling today to ask for your advice, but I don't know if you're available right now?" Han Fulai said.

"Hehe, it's okay, come in and talk."

Xiangling beckoned Han Fulai into the kitchen and casually flipped through the orders hanging on the wall.

"The landlord has booked two tables for a banquet tomorrow night, and the restaurant the landlord ordered needs to be delivered... Hmm, some ingredients need to be prepared in advance..."

"This... I'm really sorry to bother you." Han Fulai felt a little embarrassed seeing Xiangling busy.

"It's alright, it's alright. Being busy is what makes the holiday special." Xiangling waved her hand with a smile.

Han Fulai looked around but didn't see the strange creature.

"How's the rice crust?"

At this moment, a round head suddenly popped out from behind the stove, making a "lou~lou~" sound.

"Hehe, thanks for thinking of him. Everything's lively around the stove, and Guoba is happy too," Xiangling said with a smile. "What brings you here today?"

"Actually, I'd like to ask you to teach me how to cook a dish," Han Fulai said.

"Teach you? Isn't it just helping you do it?" Xiangling asked.

"Because it's a gift for someone important, making it by hand is the only way to show your sincerity," Han Fulai said seriously.

“Okay, I’ll teach you. What dish is it?” Xiangling agreed without hesitation.

“Peace in all directions,” Han Fulai replied.

“Hehe, you’ve come to the right person. This is my dad’s specialty! But I’ve made some improvements to his recipe.” Xiangling smiled and pointed to the ingredients on the cutting board. “Lotus pods, carrots, raspberries, and sweet rice make up this colorful staple food.”

"The sweet and sour dried fruit, like an invisible thread, intertwines with the full-bodied rice. Even after swallowing, the subtle sweetness lingers on the lips and teeth, enhancing the feeling of happiness. To make the perfect 'Peace in All Directions,' the most important thing is to embody the wish for prosperity in all things and peace throughout the world!"

"I would also appreciate Miss Xiangling's guidance," Han Fulai said sincerely.

"Actually, I can just give you the recipes directly. Hu Tao asked me for a few recipes earlier, saying she wanted to try them out when she got back... But since you're here, I'll just demonstrate them for you."

With a kitchen knife in hand, Xiangling's entire demeanor changed. She no longer resembled the girl next door, but rather a general commanding thousands of troops.

"To make this dish well, the first step is to master the right heat!" She pointed to the stove with an air of authority, "Crispy rice crust, spitting fire!"

Inside the Hall of Rebirth, Zhongli sat at the table, his expression unusually uneasy.

"Master, if you want to eat something, why don't you go directly to Wanmin Hall?"

"Oh dear, oh dear, such a wonderful day deserves some special celebration!" Hu Tao's voice drifted from the kitchen. "I asked Xiang Ling for a few recipes and I'm trying them out. Since you're here, why don't you give them a try!"

"You're too kind, Master. I've always been very grateful for your care, and I'm truly ashamed that you've personally cooked for me... Why don't I help out too?" Zhongli said, getting up and heading straight to the kitchen.

"No need, no need, it'll be ready in a minute, Zhongli, please sit down." Hu Tao's voice was full of confidence.

Soon, the sounds of pots and pans clattering together filled the kitchen.

In a short while, Hu Tao lifted the curtain and carried a large basin in her hand.

Hu Tao laughed happily: "Hahaha, sorry to keep you waiting, the chicken soup is here!"

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

At dusk, Qingce Village.

Over the years, Yunhan Society has developed an unwritten rule: every year before the Lantern Festival, they hold a charity performance at Qingce Village.

Yun Jin, the top performer of the popular Yunhan Society in Liyue, finished her afternoon performance, stepped off the stage, and went backstage.

Traditionally, before going on stage, actors would have to bind their heads, paint their faces, put on their costumes, and undergo other miscellaneous preparations. Although this "fully armed" appearance would make them look better, it was also tiring.

So Yun Jin sings a cappella whenever she can, and if she has to sing in full costume, she usually chooses something lighter. There aren't so many rules for charity performances at Qingce Village, and Yun Jin is wearing her lightest outfit today. But even so, performing on stage for several hours straight still leaves her quite exhausted. Especially since the children at Qingce Village kept urging Yun Jin to perform more, she couldn't help but return for encores several times.

"Phew..." Sitting backstage, Yun Jin breathed a sigh of relief and loosened the waistband wrapped around her waist.

Lately, she's been feeling that her waist belt is a bit tight. Could it be... that she's gained weight? No, no, no, it must be her imagination.

Yun Jin secretly pinched the flesh on her waist and made a silent resolution that she would never order two servings of boiled black-backed sea bass at Wanmintang again.

"Yun Jin, you've worked hard."

A gentle voice came from behind.

Yun Jin shuddered and quickly released the hand around her waist. She turned around and saw Grandma Ruoxin's kind smiling face.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Ruoxin. I am delighted to see you today, as you are still in high spirits." Yun Jin stood up and bowed.

"Oh, don't be so formal, please sit down. I also want to thank you for accepting my invitation to perform for the elderly and children in this remote village," Grandma Ruoxin said with a smile.

"I'm satisfied if everyone enjoys listening to this," Yun Jin said with a smile. "If you, Senior Ruoxin, also approve of it, I will be proud of it as well."

"Alright, alright, there's no need for so many formalities. If you keep this up, I'll get upset," Ruoxin said, feigning anger.

Upon hearing this, Yun Jin stood up with a grin and stretched.

"Grandma Ruoxin is still the best."

The Liyue Kingdom's entertainment circle is small, but its rules are strict. Entry into the industry is based on a master-apprentice system, with seniority meticulously defined. Artists in the same field are often related; a master might train two apprentices, each branching out into their own lineage, yet all these apprentices and their descendants trace back to the same lineage.

Therefore, Yun Jin always treats senior artists with the respect due to a teacher. When Ruoxin was young, she was also a famous actress in Liyue Opera. Before Yun Jin was born, Ruoxin was the most popular actress on the stage of Yu Tea House.

Grandma Ruoxin waved her hand, "That's how it is in our line of work. We have to be on stage all the time. Now that we're offstage, we can relax a little."

Yun Jin's eyes darted around, and she said, "I have some excellent tea here. It was given to me by a good friend from the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce. I'll brew you a pot."

Ruoxin chuckled and scolded playfully, "You silly child, you've even learned that gift-giving trick? Tell me, what do you want from me?"

In fact, one of the reasons why Yun Jin brings the Yun Han Society to Qing Ce Zhuang for charity performances every year is because of the renowned veteran actress Ruo Xin. A performance that can be recognized by an expert like Ruo Xin will certainly satisfy others. In addition to having Ruo Xin critique their acting, Yun Jin sometimes asks her for suggestions on the script.

“Actually, it’s about the script for ‘The Goddess Splits the Temple.’” Yun Jin blinked and pulled a notebook from the dressing table behind her. “I’ve been trying to revise this play recently, but I always feel like something’s missing regarding the image of the ‘goddess’…”

"The Goddess Splits the Temple" is an old script with a history of several decades. Yun Jin has performed it more than a hundred times. However, the more she performed it, the more blurred her image of the "goddess" in the script became. She always felt that this was not the play she wanted.

On stage, when the conflict was intense, they would shout loudly, and when the situation was at a low point, they would lower their voices and slowly recite the lyrics... Over time, the characters in the play seemed to have similar faces.

She begins, strikes a graceful pose, and then showcases her beautiful voice; the goddess in "The Goddess Splits the Temple" and the fisherwoman in "The Connected Pearls" seem almost indistinguishable. The audience might accept this, but Yun Jin is not content with that.

Can one tell a moving story simply by relying on singing skills or a beautiful figure? No.

Yun Jin hopes she is not only herself, but also one of the countless characters she has portrayed. She wants to breathe and live like the characters in the play, her emotions moved by their every smile and frown. The intertwined life trajectories of these countless characters create a world of emotions; this is the play she desires, the story she wants to tell.

The script for "Goddess's Cleave" has a flaw—a flaw that only applies to Yun Jin. This play has been popular in Liyue for decades, and veteran performers have never felt there was anything wrong with it, but Yun Jin cannot see a real "goddess" in this script.

Grandma Ruoxin pondered for a long time, then shook her head.

"I'm afraid I can't help you with this."

Upon hearing this, Yun Jin's face darkened. If even Grandma Ruoxin couldn't help her, then who could?

“But I know someone who might be able to help you,” Ruoxin said.

Yun Jin was delighted. "Who are you talking about?"

Grandma Ruoxin smiled and said, "The person who knows the most secrets of Liyue Harbor—Ningguang, the goddess of Tianquan. She may know the secret of this 'goddess'."

At the tea stall in Qingce Manor, Xingqiu leisurely held a teacup, pouring and drinking for himself.

Sitting opposite him, Chongyun scratched his head, looking utterly dejected.

"What, Mr. Yun's performance is still not satisfactory to you?" Xingqiu asked slowly.

Chongyun shook his head. "No, Mr. Yun's performance was certainly wonderful..."

"So you're unwilling to continue protecting Qingce Village?" Xingqiu asked again.

Chongyun continued to shake his head, "No, it is our duty to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path. As long as we can protect the elderly, weak, women and children of Qingce Village from the harassment of those thieving gang villains, I am willing to guard this place."

“But I always feel like I’ve been so busy along the way, maybe I’ve forgotten something…” Chongyun’s face was filled with doubt as he held his head and racked his brains.

Seeing this, Xingqiu chuckled and pointed to the surrounding scenery.

"Chongyun, do you think the green hills and clear waters of Qingce Village deserve the word 'beautiful'? I think..."

"Ah! I remember now!" Chongyun slapped his forehead and stood up. "Where are the demons? Xingqiu, didn't you say you found records of demons in the ancient books? Quickly take out the ancient books and take a good look. We can't delay important matters."

"Oh dear, don't be impatient. Tea should be drunk sip by sip, and things should be done one at a time. What if we find the demon, but Qingce Manor is attacked by the treasure-stealing gang? If we rush things and end up being attacked from both sides, even if the two of us are both highly skilled in martial arts, we will have a hard time dealing with it." Xingqiu still spoke in that old-fashioned tone, slowly sipping his tea.

"Hmm...that makes sense...Alright, I'll trust you one more time." Chongyun sat down with a helpless expression.

A hint of a smile, barely perceptible to others, flashed in Xingqiu's eyes as he murmured, "Stealing half a day of leisure from a busy life."

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

Dihua Isle, Wangshu Inn.

Qiqi skipped and hopped up the long stairs of the inn, with Bai Shu following behind her carrying a medicine box, his face full of smiles.

Ever since Bai Shu told Qi Qi about the fireworks display that would be held this year, Qi Qi has been bursting with unstoppable excitement. Her notebook is filled with notes about the fireworks, taking up an entire page.

“Mr. Bai, I want to go to the rooftop to watch the fireworks. It’s high up there, so it won’t scare the little birds on the ground.” Qi Qi pointed to the rooftop of Wangshu Inn, which she thought was the best spot to watch the fireworks.

"Don't worry, the little finches will fly away as soon as they hear footsteps; they won't be frightened." Bai Shu smiled gently. "We can't stay here too long; we still have to go to the next place for a house call..."

Bai Shu wasn't unwilling to take Qi Qi to see the fireworks, but he knew that the immortal living on the roof of Wangshu Inn didn't want to be disturbed.

Qi Qi's mood clearly dropped, and she lowered her head and twisted her fingers.

"Hmm... the patient is more important, Qiqi, it's okay."

Seeing this, Bai Shu squatted down slightly and coaxed gently, "After we're done with the Lantern Festival, let's take Qi Qi to different places, okay?"

Qiqi happily raised her face and took out her notebook.

"Then I'll write it down in my notebook!"

Bai Shu smiled helplessly, "Alright, alright, here, take this pen..."

Not far from them, a little girl dressed in Mondstadt clothing squatted on the ground, gently stroking the back of a small dog.

The puppy squinted its eyes comfortably and made a "woofing" sound.

"Wangcai, why do you think the adults won't let us go on the roof?"

Wangcai wagged its tail and barked, roughly meaning, "I'm just a dog, how would I know this?"

The little girl sighed, "Sigh... There was another little girl just now, she said she wanted to go to the rooftop to watch the fireworks, but the green-haired brother next to her wouldn't let her..."

“I heard them say it’s because they have other things to do... but I have plenty of time, and Dad still won’t let me go to the rooftop... why is that?”

The little girl tilted her head, and Wangcai tilted his head too.

"Wangcai, if you play with me, we're friends, right?" the little girl asked.

Wangcai stuck out his tongue and licked the little girl's fingers.

The little girl laughed happily, "I'm going to sneak up onto the roof to play later! You're Tia's friend, so you have to keep it a secret for Tia!"

Wangcai shook its head and spun around in place.

Tia pursed her lips. "You don't want to... I understand. Well, I'll tell Wangcai a secret too. In exchange, will you keep it a secret for me?"

“My dad told me that when you meet a stranger, you should always answer ‘He’s a traveling merchant.’ You’re Tia’s friend, not a stranger, so Tia can tell you this secret.”

Night was falling over Liyue Harbor.

On the dock, the "Mingxiao Lantern" shaped like the "True Lord Who Guides the Heavens" has been completed. Its two huge antlers are majestic and powerful, pointing straight to the sky.

A tall woman wearing a red eye patch over her left eye and a red high-slit cheongsam patted her companion on the back and laughed heartily, "Haha! Look, that's this year's 'Mingxiao Lantern'! That deer looks impressive, maybe even stronger than 'Haishan'! I really want to spar with a real immortal!"

"Ah...ah...cough..." The girl next to her had two pigtails sticking up and dark skin; she was coughing incessantly.

"Oops, sorry, did I hurt you?" Beidou withdrew her hand embarrassedly. Having spent so much time with the brothers of the "Southern Cross" fleet, she occasionally forgot to control her strength.

“Cough…cough…no.” Xin Yan, the only rock musician in Liyue Harbor, coughed a few times and looked up. “The atmosphere at the banquet was just too good. I sang so hard that my voice is a little hoarse.”

Because one of the brothers in the fleet was a die-hard fan of Xin Yan, Bei Dou invited her to travel on the "Death Star." Xin Yan had previously performed at a banquet celebrating the Lantern Festival. The banquet was certainly enjoyable, but Xin Yan seemed to have lost her voice from singing.

"You must have had a hard time going back and forth like this." Beidou reached out and helped Xin Yan catch his breath.

"No way! Being able to go out to sea with Sister Beidou to broaden my horizons and celebrate the festival with everyone is more fulfilling than anything else. This is the best Lantern Festival ever!" Xin Yan shook her head and denied it.

"By the way... Sister Beidou, won't you be bored by yourself while the crew members go home to visit their families?"

"Haha, how could that be?" Beidou laughed. "Someone invited me to play chess yesterday. If I want to play, I can just ask her anytime."

"Playing chess is..." Xin Yan asked.

“It’s that ‘Liyue Millennium’ thing!” Beidou shook his head. “I don’t know why she likes playing chess so much, but she wants a match, and I can’t refuse. Next time, I’ll make that woman go bankrupt!”

"So you were talking about Lady Ningguang..." After sailing with Beidou once, Xin Yan had gotten used to her boss's boastful words, so she just took it as a joke. After all, everyone in Liyue knew that Ningguang had never lost a game of chess.