Walnut used me to boost her sales performance.

"Alright! You're so stingy, but every time I come I bring you plum blossom wine!"

"Alright, alright, I forgive you!" Xiangling took the plum blossom wine, took her hand, and the two girls were laughing happily in no time.

Seeing the little guy behind Xiangling, Hu Tao reached out to greet it, "Guoba's here too!"

"Lulu~" The cute creature named Guoba waved its hand, its eyes curving.

"I've come to see you today on important business. I'd like to visit your master. Could you please introduce me?"

Hu Tao looked on expectantly, but saw a conflicted expression on Xiang Ling's face. "I have many masters. Which one do you want to visit?"

Walnut: Σ(OдO|||)ノノ

For once, she didn't know what to say.

Xiangling counted on her fingers, "First Master, Second Master, Third Master, Fourth Master..."

"How come you have so many masters?"

"My first master taught me marksmanship, my second master was good at grilling meat, my third master was good at stewing soup, and my fourth master was good at making porridge..."

"Alright, I understand. I should be visiting Granny Ping, or Master." A bead of sweat trickled down Hu Tao's forehead as she interrupted Xiang Ling from counting.

Aside from this master chef, everyone else is exceptionally skilled in a particular aspect of cooking. Just how many dishes has Xiangling learned...?

"Master? What do you need my master for?" Xiangling asked curiously.

"I want to make a kind of magical artifact..." Hu Tao told her her idea, completely unafraid of revealing her trade secrets.

After all, even if others find out, they don't have the ability to compete with the Hall of Rebirth for the business of collecting corpses.

"Oh, I see. Wait a moment, I'll tell my dad and then bring some dishes over to the master chef."

"And could you give me a bowl of noodles? I came all the way here specifically to eat!"

"okay!"

After breakfast, Hu Tao, Xiang Ling, and Guo Ba, along with their pet, headed towards Yujingtai, chatting as they walked.

"Hu Tao, I heard that there is a person in your Rebirth Hall who came back to life. Is that true?"

"Oh, you've heard about this?" Hu Tao put her hands behind her head, a blade of grass she'd plucked from somewhere dangling from her mouth. As she spoke, the grass bobbed up and down in her mouth.

"I heard it from the customers when I was in the store."

"His name is Jiang Bai. He couldn't really be considered to have come back from the dead; he was just in a state of suspended animation before waking up. He's not some kind of demon or monster..."

"Fake death? Is it even possible to fake death?"

"I don't know. He only remembers his own name now, and has forgotten everything else. Maybe this is a side effect of faking his death!"

"Ah...that's so pitiful...If I forget Dad, forget Guoba, forget Master, forget you all...I'll definitely be very sad..."

Xiangling felt a deep sympathy for Jiang Bai, whom she had never met, for something that touched her heart.

"That's an exaggeration. That guy isn't like you described." Hu Tao didn't sense any sadness or distress from Jiang Bai. He adapted incredibly quickly and was doing exceptionally well.

"How could she not be sad? She must be faking it!" Xiangling disagreed.

"You don't believe me? I'll take you to see him after I'm done with this!"

"It's settled! What kind of food does he like to eat? I'll cook some dishes and bring them over."

Hu Tao revealed a malicious smile, "I'll be your Sweet Flower Stewed with Rainbow Flowers!"

After eating this dish, she had a toothache for three days. The sugar on top of the sugar was so sweet it almost killed her.

"Isn't this a bad idea?" Xiangling knew the power of this dish and seriously suspected that Hu Tao had ill intentions.

“He has such strange tastes; he just likes sweets, the sweeter the better,” Hu Tao said with absolute certainty.

"Okay..." Xiangling was still skeptical, but she still planned to bring a few more dishes in case Hu Tao lied to her.

Jiang Bai sneezed as soon as he got up. He rubbed the goosebumps on his arms. "Did I catch a cold, or is someone talking about me?"

He decided to wear an extra layer of clothing to avoid catching a cold.

......

Yujingtai has always been the residence of high-ranking officials, nobles, merchants and celebrities. Its high elevation and tranquil and elegant environment make it extremely valuable.

Hu Tao rarely comes here; the people here are all arrogant and think too highly of themselves. Even Ningguang, one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, has never acted superior.

This Granny Ping must be a very important person to be able to live in Yujingtai.

Grandma, I've come to see you!

From afar, Xiangling spotted an elderly man watering the glass lilies by the flowerbed. She waved vigorously, successfully attracting his attention.

The old man looked like an ordinary old man, with a kind face and a pair of reading glasses on his nose.

Upon seeing Xiangling, she greeted her with a smile, "It's Xiangling! What brings you here today?"

She then looked at Guoba and patted its head, saying, "Guoba's here too."

"Lulu~" Guoba's eyes crinkled, clearly enjoying seeing her.

Chapter 19 Do you think this is your world?

"Of course I came to see you!" Xiangling placed the food box on the table next to her and opened it. "I brought you some snacks. Quickly try them and see if my cooking skills have deteriorated!"

Looking at the exquisite lotus-shaped pastries in the food box, Grandma Ping smiled and said, "No rush, no rush."

She looked at Hu Tao behind Xiang Ling and asked, "And who is this?"

Xiangling pushed Hu Tao forward, "Master, this is my good friend Hu Tao!"

"Hello, Grandma!" Hu Tao greeted very politely. "I am Hu Tao, the 77th head of the Rebirth Hall. I have come to visit you."

As she spoke, she placed the gift she had prepared beforehand on the table.

Although she usually has a lot of mischievous ideas, likes to scare people, and often acts like a hands-off manager, she is very serious when it comes to important matters.

"Wangsheng Hall..." Granny Ping had clearly heard of this place and the name of this Hall Master Hu.

"I wonder how Mr. Zhongli has been lately?"

“Mr. Zhongli is doing well…” Hu Tao’s eyes lit up when she heard Grandma Ping asking about Zhongli.

Could it be that Mr. Zhongli and Grandma Ping have some kind of story? Otherwise, why wouldn't she let her say that he introduced her?

Her first thought was about love and hate entanglements, but the age obviously didn't match.

Zhongli is still young, but this Granny Ping is clearly over fifty years old, with a full head of white hair.

Zhongli doesn't seem like the type of person who would do something like this.

"Is Grandma Ping very familiar with Mr. Zhongli?" she asked curiously.

"I know him..." Grandma Ping smiled kindly, as if it was just a casual question and she didn't intend to say more.

"What brings you here to see this old man, Master Hu?" she asked with a smile, clearly having already seen through Hu Tao's intentions.

Now that she'd been seen through, Hu Tao cut to the chase and asked frankly, "Here's the thing, I'm planning to make a magical artifact, and I've heard you can make them..."

She briefly explained the cause and effect of the matter, but omitted Zhongli from it.

Grandma Ping quite liked this straightforward young girl. After thinking for a moment, she gave her answer directly, "Making this isn't difficult, but the materials are hard to find... and it would be too wasteful to bind each magical artifact to one person..."

After thinking for a moment, she said, "How about this, you help me find the materials, and I'll only charge you a small labor fee."

Hu Tao's eyes lit up. "Thank you so much!"

She originally thought that this matter would require some twists and turns, and that she would have to make several trips to find someone who could make this magical artifact, but she didn't expect it to be so easy.

It's definitely convenient to have acquaintances around! I'll give Zhongli an extra chicken leg tonight!

Grandma Ping gave her a list of more than a dozen hard-to-find items, some of which she had never even heard of.

Hu Tao frowned, realizing things weren't going to be that easy...

Grandma Ping smiled and said, "You can just come here after you find these things."

After bidding farewell to Grandma Ping, Hu Tao and Xiang Ling returned to Wanmin Hall with sighs on their faces.

"It's so difficult... so difficult..." Where is she supposed to find these things?

Although magic crystal ore and top-grade night-blooming jasmine are hard to find on the market, Wang Sheng Tang does have some stock from Zhong Li's previous gambling on stones in its warehouse, and it would be enough to acquire some more.

But she had never even heard of things like Solid Yellow Jade, Black Rock Sand, Kongtong Hundred Spirit Jade, or Four Directions True Soul.

Ironically, these unfamiliar things are the most important...

This business development has a long way to go...

"What's the rush? This business isn't something we need to do right now. Let's take it slow!" Xiangling comforted her.

"Lulu~" Guoba tilted its head.

"That makes sense..." Hu Tao was too lazy to bother with this. She would just go to the warehouse and rummage through it. She would put away the existing materials and have someone buy the missing ones from the market.

There's also Zhongli at home. If all else fails, she can ask him where these things are, and then she can go outside to look for them. She'll eventually find them.

"Wait for me a moment, okay? I'll prepare a few dishes, and then we'll go to the Hall of Rebirth together." Xiangling still remembered that she was going to see Jiang Bai.

It wasn't just out of curiosity, but more so out of sympathy for this poor man.

"Okay~" Hu Tao sat on the steps by the door, resting her chin on her hand and waiting for her.

......

In the Hall of Rebirth.

Following Hu Tao's advice, Jiang Bai went to visit Zhong Li in his courtyard early in the morning.

Hu Tao told him to consult Zhong Li more, which gave him a legitimate reason to harass this gentleman.

Zhongli didn't go out today; instead, she stayed in her small courtyard planting flowers.

Zhongli's courtyard is quite elegant; although small, it is a picturesque spot.

Various precious flowers, green plants, and rockeries are harmoniously arranged throughout the courtyard. Red carp leap in the pond, and the splashing water shimmers with a golden luster in the sunlight. Emerald green bamboo grows gracefully along the walls and courtyard.

The fact that Zhongli lived alone in such a meticulously decorated courtyard speaks volumes about her status in the Hall of Rebirth.

Zhongli was pruning the flowers and plants in the yard, occasionally cutting off a thin branch with the scissors in her hand, her expression extremely serious.

Jiang Bai knocked on the courtyard gate, attracting Zhong Li's attention.

"Mr. Zhongli, have you had breakfast? I've brought you some." Jiang Bai waved the food box in his hand and walked in from the courtyard gate.

Even though it's a visit, you need to find a good reason; bringing breakfast seems like a nice idea.

"Not yet, young friend, why don't you join us?"

Zhongli put away the scissors, swept up the fallen leaves on the ground, straightened his clothes, washed his hands, and then walked to the pavilion to sit down.

Watching Zhongli's fluid movements, Jiang Bai couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "Exquisite!"

Jiang Bai opened the food boxes one by one and took out the breakfast inside.

He specially went to the kitchen to get this breakfast. Not knowing what Zhongli liked to eat, he brought a little of everything, and also a pot of sake.

Flower cakes, chicken tofu pudding, moon eggs, lotus pastries...

Looking at the plates of breakfast, Jiang Bai gained a new understanding of Wangshengtang's economic strength.

If one's economic strength is insufficient, how can one afford such a lavish breakfast?

Jiang Bai sighed once again, realizing that joining the Hall of Rebirth was truly a good decision...

“I heard that it was Mr. Zhongli who instructed the hall master to give me a traditional burial, thus preventing me from turning to ashes before I even woke up… I have no money and don’t know how to thank you, sir. I can only do this small favor, and I hope you won’t take offense…”

The chopsticks, food, and dishes were all laid out on the table, just waiting for the two of them to enjoy.

"It was just a casual remark, no need to be so polite." Zhongli picked up the wine glass on the table and took a small sip.

"As for you, how much of your past memories do you still remember?" Zhongli looked at the white-haired, smiling young man with a probing expression.

Jiang Bai scratched his head, "I'm not quite sure either... I can instinctively know the function of some things I see... I can also recall some common sense about life... but I can't remember anything about myself..."

"Mr. Bai said it might be a side effect of the apparent death, but I don't know either..."

Zhongli put down her wine glass and asked casually, "Oh? So, do you think this is your original world?"