Under normal circumstances, in everyone's eyes, the earliest wages should be paid at the end of the month. After all, in Liyue Harbor—a nation that values contracts above all—one must first complete the corresponding work to receive Mora compensation.
On this point, the workers of Liyue had no objections whatsoever. Their greatest worry now was the sheer amount required to pay so many people at once. They feared Luya might not be able to bear such enormous financial pressure, leading to delayed—or even unpaid—wages.
Yet the moment Luya appeared, he dispelled all their doubts with ease.
Luya said he would pay wages in advance.
Simple words. Albeit, they felt like a stabilizing charm, filling the workers with trust and confidence.
Then Luya turned to Keqing, Shenhe, and Ganyu. "Let's hand out the wages together, haha!"
The three immediately understood and began working.
As one of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing displayed exceptional leadership, calmly coordinating the shop's staff—each one manifested from Duel Monster cards. Shenhe, quiet and steady, assisted and guided everyone, while Ganyu, gentle and kind, offered warmth and encouragement to every worker.
Under their leadership, the shop grew busy yet orderly. The staff carried out their tasks efficiently, smiling as they handed each worker a pouch containing two million Mora.
The workers received their early wages in perfect order. Those who had doubted Luya only moments before now wore expressions of gratitude and surprise.
They held the Mora pouches tightly, as though feeling hope and warmth take root in their lives.
"This is amazing!"
"By the Archons! Two million Mora!"
"This job is incredible!"
"High-paying employment, finally~!"
...
At that moment, the crowd outside Luya's shop was overflowing with excitement. Some were moved to tears, repeatedly thanking Luya and promising to work hard in the future.
Luya's plan was simple: he wanted the workers to have money early—so they could spend it at his facilities.
Whether in The Chasm's mining sites, the electronics factory, or the entertainment facilities built near the Guili Plains factory, Luya had already prepared multiple recreational venues. It would be all too easy to draw Mora back from his workers.
As the saying goes: "The factory earns, the factory spends; not a single coin returns home!"
That was the idea.
However—despite the saying—Luya would never drain his workers of all their money. Otherwise, Mora would stop circulating, harming not only Liyue Harbor's economy but the whole of Teyvat.
Excluding one-time, high-profit items like game consoles, Luya estimated he could earn around 400,000 Mora per worker per month through the factory's basic entertainment facilities. This would greatly reduce labor costs.
...
Soon, with the assistance of Keqing, Ganyu, and Shenhe, all wages were distributed. The area bustled with life—four thousand workers chatting excitedly, eager to learn more about Luya's electronics factory.
The Guili Plains factory was built to accommodate five thousand workers, with room for future expansions.
Luya looked over the crowd and felt it was time to guide them to their workplace. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he softly said to Keqing:
"Alright, let's take these hardworking folks to the electronics factory in Guili Plains…"
"Go to the electronics factory…" Keqing repeated, her bright violet eyes widening, shimmering with intense curiosity.
Though she had heard the term countless times from Luya before, this mysterious "electronics factory" still remained hidden behind a hazy veil—like seeing flowers through fog.
Keqing wondered: What is an electronics factory exactly? Why does it require so many workers…?
A flood of questions filled her mind, making her all the more eager to uncover the truth.
However, soon… everything would be revealed.
...
After a few minutes of preparation, Luya and Keqing led four thousand workers toward the Guili Plains factory. The journey was smooth, with no danger along the way.
After crossing terrain and rivers for some time, they finally arrived.
Guili Plains was no longer what it once had been.
The land was covered in Glaze Lilies, blooming like a sea of flowers. The blossoms looked exactly as depicted in Liyue's ancient texts—radiant and fragrant.
Standing upon the soil of Guili Plains, Keqing was captivated by the breathtaking scenery. Her eyes widened as she gazed at the endless field of Glaze Lilies, emotion swelling inside her.
It felt as though the flowers whispered tales of Guili's ancient glory, stirring memories of old legends.
A gentle breeze swept through—flower petals drifting like snow.
Keqing reached out, catching one between her fingertips, feeling its softness and delicacy.
In that moment… the Goddess of Dust—Guizhong—descended lightly from the sky.
She floated down before them.
Instantly, the workers gasped.
"Ah!?"
"Another Adeptus!?"
"Why have I never seen her before!?"
"She's so beautiful!"
Seeing the confused crowd, Luya explained:
"Everyone, this Goddess of Dust will be your supervisor from now on."
"You may call her Factory Chief~."
...
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