"If you haven't eaten, I have some grilled fish I made myself. Would you like to try one?"
Little Ningguang worked hard to promote the neatly wrapped grilled fish in her basket.
"I caught these fish myself. They're very fresh! And I mixed the seasoning on my own too. They're really tasty!"
Looking at the little girl acting like a tiny adult, Jiang Yan couldn't help but smile.
Seriously… was Ningguang this adorable when she was little?
"You've got sharp eyes, little one."
Jiang Yan chuckled as he crouched down to meet her at eye level.
"Give me one to try."
"Okay!"
Ningguang hadn't held much hope to begin with.
Why would someone who looked so well-off eat street food sold by a little girl?
She had expected he might even ignore her and walk away.
After all, the merchants at the harbor always seemed to be in a rush.
Some ignored her outright. Others even stepped aside with looks of disdain.
She hadn't expected this handsome white-haired big brother to actually stop, smile, and listen patiently to her sales pitch—
And even kneel down to talk to her.
A small warmth bloomed in her heart.
This big brother is really gentle!
"Here you go, big brother!"
Ningguang quickly took out a wrapped grilled fish from her basket and handed it to him.
"You can try it first. If it tastes good, you can buy more. If it doesn't, you don't have to pay."
Jiang Yan accepted the grilled fish and gently ruffled her hair.
Though young, her business instincts were already showing.
He unwrapped the fish and took a bite under her expectant gaze.
It was still warm. The flavor was decent—nothing extraordinary.
But what could you expect from such a young child?
At her age, being able to grill fish to this level was already impressive.
"It's very good."
Jiang Yan quickly finished the entire fish and smiled at her.
"How many do you have left?"
The moment she heard him praise it, Ningguang's eyes sparkled.
At his question, she lowered her head and carefully counted.
"Big brother, there are ten left!"
She beamed brightly.
"I'll take them all."
As the highest authority in Liyue aside from the Archon, buying a few grilled fish was nothing to Jiang Yan.
He could probably declare he wanted to buy all of Liyue Harbor and Morax would happily hand him the Geo Gnosis.
That old fox had suggested it more than once!
All because one day he overheard a ship captain tell a laborer, "You've fulfilled your duty. Now go rest."
After that, Morax kept trying to hand over the Gnosis.
"Liyue has always been under your management," he had said. "In governance, talent, and strength, you are the best candidate."
Jiang Yan had nearly fainted from frustration.
Over thousands of years, aside from appearing once a year to prove you're still alive, what exactly have you done?!
Liyue's been run by me this whole time!
He had been so annoyed he couldn't eat for three days.
So yes—buying these fish was nothing.
But to Ningguang, it could ease her family's burden.
Sure enough, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Big brother, are you serious?"
"But… you can't eat all of them…"
"If they sit overnight, they'll go bad!"
Her worried little expression nearly melted Jiang Yan on the spot.
So cute!
If I were to raise her from—
[Ding! Host, please stop your dangerous and criminal thoughts. The laws of Liyue were personally drafted by you!]
Even the system couldn't stand it.
Three years minimum, up to the death penalty!
"Cough—cough!"
Jiang Yan coughed violently.
Right. Let's not go there.
Ganyu would skin him alive.
"Don't worry. I don't need to lie to a child."
He smiled gently.
"They're delicious. I'll bring them home for my family to try."
Ningguang looked at him carefully.
She knew her grilled fish wasn't that amazing.
But this big brother was still willing to encourage her.
In the two days she'd been selling at the harbor, he was the gentlest person she had met.
"Okay! Ten fish at six hundred Mora each."
She counted on her fingers.
"I'll give you a discount. Five thousand Mora is fine."
Jiang Yan nodded and took out a bulging money pouch.
"There's ten thousand Mora inside. No need for change."
Ningguang froze, clutching the heavy pouch.
"N-No! That's too much!"
"Five thousand is enough! I can't take more!"
She grabbed his sleeve, her eyes firm and serious.
Even though ten thousand Mora could feed her family for nearly a month—
She wouldn't take what wasn't hers.
If she did, it would burn her hands.
Jiang Yan smiled.
"It's fine. Think of the extra as a deposit."
He stood and gently patted her head.
"Tomorrow afternoon, same place."
"You need to deliver something worth ten thousand Mora."
"It can be anything. As long as you can bring me something of equal value."
"When you deliver it, I'll pay the remaining balance."
Yes.
From this very moment—
Jiang Yan had already decided to start grooming Ningguang as his successor.
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