Ningguang looked at Jiang Yan's gentle smile, her eyes slightly stirred.
"Alright then, these grilled fish are mine now."
Jiang Yan scooped up all ten fish in one hand and grinned at her.
Ningguang fell silent for a moment. Clutching the Mora pouch tightly, she suddenly asked:
"Why… do you want to do business with me, big brother?"
Merchants never rise early without profit. Ningguang didn't believe she possessed anything valuable enough to attract his attention.
"Heh. I think you have talent. I want to test you."
Jiang Yan answered plainly.
Children as precocious as Ningguang were often sensitive. Rather than deceive her kindly, it was better to be direct.
Sincerity was the ultimate trump card.
"Test me?"
She blinked.
"Yes. A test."
Jiang Yan smiled.
"If you pass, you can choose to become my disciple and inherit my mantle in the future."
"How about it? Want to give it a try?"
Anyone who knew Jiang Yan would be ecstatic hearing this.
Who was he?
The Grand Steward of Liyue. Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing.
To become his disciple—or even inherit his legacy—was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
But clearly, Ningguang didn't recognize him.
After all, this was their first meeting.
She hesitated.
Her innate business instincts told her that if she were chosen by this man, her future would change completely.
She decided to take the gamble.
"Okay!"
Her little face turned serious as she nodded.
"I'll work hard to earn your recognition, big brother!"
"Then I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow, little Ningguang."
Jiang Yan gently patted her head and turned away, grilled fish in hand.
Ningguang watched him leave.
This white-haired big brother was no ordinary person.
His refined clothing and the faint aura he carried spoke of status and power.
After he disappeared from sight, she clenched the Mora pouch tightly.
"Once I get home, I'll start figuring out what's worth ten thousand Mora!"
Her porcelain-like face was filled with determination.
She knew very well—he could have ignored her entirely.
Instead, he bought all her fish and even offered to cultivate her.
Before meeting him, Ningguang had always felt Liyue was vast yet suffocating.
Vast—so vast that one could walk for a month and never leave its borders.
Suffocating—so crowded that there wasn't even space for her to belong.
Her home was a small mountain village near Guili Plains, close to Mt. Tianheng.
Her family ran a modest roadside stall.
Thanks to national support policies, they had never been wealthy—but they had managed to survive.
Poor, yet happy.
Until a new village chief was suddenly appointed.
Everything changed.
He began imposing excessive fees on small vendors like them.
Those who resisted were beaten.
Her father resisted.
He was beaten until his lower body was paralyzed, confined to bed.
Her mother fell ill soon after.
And all the pressure fell onto Ningguang's small shoulders.
To support her family, she carried baskets larger than herself into the mountains, gathering whatever she could to sell in Guili Plains.
The fish had been a stroke of luck.
She caught many by chance and decided to sell them in Liyue Harbor.
And because of that—
She met a benefactor.
She carefully tucked the Mora pouch into her clothes, hugging it tightly, afraid it might fall or be stolen.
Then she ran home as fast as she could.
With this ten thousand Mora, her parents' medicine was secured.
—
A modest wooden house near Liyue Harbor.
Jiang Yan pushed open the door, grilled fish still in hand.
"You're back?"
Ganyu stepped out from the dining area.
"Mm. Has the Ministry been busy lately?"
Jiang Yan smiled.
"It's manageable. What's that in your hand?"
"Ah, this?"
He walked over and handed her the fish.
"At the harbor, I met a little girl…"
As he unwrapped the fish for her, he told her about Ningguang.
"I see…"
"So young, and yet…"
Ganyu frowned deeply.
She sensed something wrong as well.
"You noticed too, didn't you?"
Jiang Yan's voice remained light, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
"Some people… have grown restless."
He tore off a piece of fish and popped it into his mouth.
"I'll head to Yuehai Pavilion later and investigate."
Ganyu's eyes turned cold.
Such things happening under their watch was a failure of the Secretariat.
"No need."
Jiang Yan's tone was calm.
"Liyue is vast. Too many shadows hide in its corners."
"I'll handle this personally."
"Don't act recklessly."
Ganyu frowned.
"I know what I'm doing."
He handed her the prepared fish with a smile.
"Come on. Let's eat."
Since Jiang Yan insisted on handling it himself, Ganyu chose not to interfere.
After dinner filled with laughter, Ganyu returned to Yuehai Pavilion to work overtime.
Jiang Yan, with nothing urgent to do, wandered through Liyue's streets.
The city was prosperous and lively.
As he walked, he couldn't help but think of little Ningguang.
She should have reached home by now.
With the ten thousand Mora he gave her—
She must be very happy tonight.
Jiang Yan smiled faintly at the thought.
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