"Yes."
Hearing Chef Mao's words, Yanfei, clutching her book, giggled. "I'm not busy this morning. I have an appointment with a client at noon to handle a legal case, so I have time to visit Xiangling now."
As she spoke, Yanfei scanned Wanmin Restaurant but didn't see Xiangling.
"Xiangling is inside making instant noodles."
Seeing Yanfei looking for her, Chef Mao smiled. "Just go directly to the back kitchen to find her."
They were all acquaintances, so he didn't mind Yanfei entering the back kitchen.
"Okay, thanks."
Yanfei nodded and walked into the kitchen.
"Huh?"
The moment Yanfei entered the kitchen, her eyes widened in shock as she stared dumbfounded at a roast suckling pig that was jumping around energetically.
Yanfei rubbed her eyes in disbelief, then opened them again.
It was still a lively, jumping roast suckling pig.
Because of Yanfei's arrival, the pig noticed her, stopped moving, tilted its head, and blinked its big eyes at her.
"Yanfei!"
Xiangling also noticed someone entering and instinctively turned around.
Seeing Yanfei, her face lit up with joy. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you."
Yanfei swallowed hard. "We haven't seen each other in a long time, so I came to visit. Also, what is that?"
As she spoke, Yanfei pointed at the roast suckling pig.
What on earth is that?
She had seen many strange things, but a living roast suckling pig was a first.
"Oh, that's Piggy. It's my new pet, just like Guoba."
Seeing the shocked Yanfei, Xiangling laughed. "Just treat it like Guoba."
Yanfei: "..."
Hearing Xiangling's words, Yanfei looked at Guoba, then at the roast pig, and fell into deep thought.
Xiangling's new pet was too weird.
"I'm busy making instant noodles right now, so I can't play with you yet."
The next second, Xiangling spoke apologetically. "The machine for the noodles isn't ready yet, so I have to make them by hand first."
"Instant noodles?"
Hearing this, Yanfei looked curiously at the noodle block in Xiangling's hand. "Is this something new you invented? I'll help you. Teach me how to do it."
Yanfei put her legal codex aside to free her hands.
She looked at the instant noodles with curiosity.
She had never seen this kind of noodle before.
It must be something Xiangling invented. After all, Xiangling had created many dishes.
"Yeah, it's a new food for Wanmin Restaurant."
Xiangling chuckled. "But I didn't invent it. It came from the Jar Shop. Do you know about the Jar Shop in Liyue?"
"Jar Shop? You mean the one where someone pulled a Vision...?"
Yanfei paused, then nodded. "I know it."
She had been running around for clients these past few days, so naturally, she heard many people discussing a magical Jar Shop.
They said it was on a street near Chihu Rock, selling magical jars filled with all sorts of things.
Lady Ningguang, the Tianquan, had personally visited and pulled an Eternal Youth Pill.
Besides that, a gambler had pulled a Vision.
Although the news hadn't spread widely yet, circulating only in small circles, she still knew about it.
She had planned to visit that magical shop to open jars when she had time.
But she was too busy. Even if she wanted to see it, she didn't have the time.
"I was actually planning to find you today and drag you to the Jar Shop to see the magical jars."
Yanfei laughed. "I didn't expect you to already know about it."
She had come to find Xiangling this morning specifically to take her to open jars.
"I've already opened mine."
Xiangling laughed. "You're too late."
"Eh????"
Yanfei's eyes widened. "You already went?! That's too mean! You didn't even take me with you."
Yanfei puffed out her cheeks.
"I thought you were busy, so I didn't want to disturb you."
Seeing Yanfei pout, Xiangling quickly explained, "I went with my dad. We came back right after opening them. I was planning to find you after finishing these noodles. You're my best friend, after all."
"It's fine. You can accompany me to the shop later. Even if you've opened yours, you can watch me open mine!"
"I forgive you."
Yanfei huffed playfully. "At least you have some conscience."
Saying that, Yanfei looked at the instant noodles. "So, these came from the Jar Shop?"
"Yeah."
Xiangling nodded. "Not just the noodles. Other things too. Look, that Deathmatch Spear in the corner is my new weapon. And there was a Treasure-Seeking Fishing Rod, but I lent it to Hu Tao. She came to see me yesterday."
"She said she'd come back to find me after opening jars, but she left and never came back. It's been a whole day."
Speaking of this, Xiangling pouted.
Hu Tao had stood her up last night!
"Director Hu must have opened jars already."
Hearing Xiangling mention Hu Tao, Yanfei tilted her head. "When I walked here today, I passed Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. I saw Old Meng announcing that they're open during the day now, with new services: Out-of-Body Experience and Moving/Unloading."
"There were so many people watching. Although I arrived late and didn't see much, I heard them discussing how Director Hu took a stick and knocked someone's soul right out, letting them experience leaving their body."
"It sounded mystical. Now hearing you, I think Director Hu's sudden new ability must be related to that magical Jar Shop."
When she walked over, she had passed Wangsheng.
There were still many people gathered at the entrance.
Even though Hu Tao wasn't at the door, people were discussing the "Out-of-Body" service, which shocked Yanfei at the time.
Since when was Director Hu that powerful?
Now, putting it together with Xiangling's words, if she guessed correctly, Hu Tao must have gone to the Jar Shop last night.
And pulled something magical.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have suddenly opened Wangsheng during the day.
She had never heard of Director Hu being able to knock souls out with a stick before...
"Eh????"
Hearing Yanfei's words, Xiangling's eyes widened, and she puffed out her cheeks just like Yanfei. "That Hu Tao! She pulled something so fun and didn't come to tell me! I'm going to find her later!"
Yanfei: "..."
A weirdly familiar feeling.
"Did you pull this from a jar too? It's very nice."
Yanfei picked up the Deathmatch Spear leaning nearby. Examining the weapon, she exclaimed, "Such a beautiful weapon. I can feel the material isn't simple. It suits you perfectly."
Just one glance told Yanfei this weapon was extraordinary.
"Hehe, I spent 100,000 Mora to pull it."
Seeing Yanfei admire the spear, Xiangling grinned. "But the shopkeeper didn't seem to care much about it at the time. Speaking of which, I really have to thank Shopkeeper Felix."
Xiangling thought of Felix.
"The owner of that magical shop?"
Yanfei mused. "I heard he's very young. I actually want to meet him and get to know him. Xiangling, you've opened jars. What kind of person do you think he is?"
"Very young, very handsome, and very strange."
Xiangling thought for a moment. "He looks so young, but he speaks like an elder. And he sells these strange jars."
To Xiangling, although the shopkeeper was mysterious, he was also a weirdo.
"By the way, how long are you going to be busy?"
Yanfei looked at the spear, then tugged at Xiangling's arm, acting spoiled. "Hurry up and finish so we can go open jars. Hu Tao opened hers, you opened yours, only I haven't."
Hu Tao had opened jars. Xiangling had opened jars. She was the only one left out.
"Okay, okay."
Seeing Yanfei act spoiled, Xiangling smiled helplessly but nodded. "Once I finish this batch of noodles, I'll take you. It'll be quick."
"Okay, I'll help you!"
The two of them got busy.
About half an hour later, they finally stopped.
"Done!"
Xiangling clapped her hands and smiled. "Let's go! I'll take you to open jars!"
"Yay!"
Yanfei smiled happily.
Being with Xiangling always made her happy.
"Dad, Yanfei and I are going to the Jar Shop."
Xiangling called out to her father as she walked out of the kitchen. "We made some noodles. If you need them, you can take them out."
"Alright, got it."
Chef Mao nodded and smiled. "Go ahead."
"Let's go, Yanfei."
"Coming!"
Xiangling dragged Yanfei out of Wanmin Restaurant and headed straight for Felix's shop.
When they arrived, they saw five or six people gathered at the entrance.
"Strange. Why aren't they going in to open jars? What are they doing outside?"
Seeing this, Yanfei looked puzzled. "The shop isn't restricted to one person at a time."
"Let's go in and ask."
Xiangling stepped into the shop and called out crisply, "Shopkeeper! Shopkeeper! I brought my friend to open jars!"
Inside the shop, Felix, who was handing jars to a customer, raised an eyebrow when he heard Xiangling's voice.
Xiangling's friend?
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