While Ningguang was setting her plan into motion, the city of Liyue had already noticed the papers drifting down from the sky.
Snow-white sheets filled with black ink fluttered from the Jade Chamber above, falling like a sudden winter storm. From afar, it truly looked as if Liyue were caught in heavy snowfall.
"It's paper snow! Paper snow!"
"Lady Ningguang is making paper snow again, come look!"
"Archons above, it's happening again. Whenever the paper snow falls, Liyue's business world is turned upside down."
"It's been so long since we last saw it. I thought I wouldn't witness it again in my lifetime, and now... here it is."
"Hurry, see what is written! What is Lady Ningguang doing this time?"
"What the... doesn't she usually tear them into little pieces? Why are they whole sheets this time?"
"Who cares, just grab one!"
...
One after another, people looked toward the Jade Chamber as the "snow" fell and cried out in excitement.
As citizens of Liyue, they knew exactly what this phenomenon meant.
Drifting and swirling, like snow falling from the clouds.
Crowded and scattered, each stroke of ink more precious than gold.
In a single thought, mountains and rivers bend.
All know this: where Tianquan acts, the world of commerce trembles.
"Paper snow? What is that?"
Newcomers to Liyue stared blankly at the sight, watching the locals scramble madly to snatch the falling documents. Confusion filled their faces.
What was going on? Why were papers falling from the sky? And what did it have to do with the Tianquan?
"What do you mean, 'paper snow'?"
"When Lady Ningguang handles a major commercial reform, she always scatters documents from the Jade Chamber like this, creating a sudden blizzard of paper."
A local quickly explained. "To every merchant in Liyue Harbor, the writing on those pages is like black ink on fresh snow. Whenever the 'paper snow' falls, the business world of Liyue is guaranteed to be turned on its head."
"Seriously?"
The newcomer was stunned. "Why not just issue an official notice?"
"Official notices are slower. The paper snow is like an advance signal. At the same time, Lady Ningguang has the Millelith post formal bulletins across the city. The snow is for those who want to react first."
The local spoke with open admiration. "I heard that when she deals with major commercial affairs, Lady Ningguang seals herself in the Jade Chamber, allowing only three personal aides inside. They sort the documents and consolidate the information. Once the final plan is ready, they post the summary on the walls."
"Lady Ningguang then leans on the balcony, gazing at Liyue while she thinks. By the time the walls are covered in notes, she has already found the optimal solution. Finally, she creates the paper snow. The Jade Chamber is a place countless people dream of entering."
The newcomers listened in shock.
So this was the Tianquan of Liyue.
"I got one! I got one!"
"Hurry, what does it say?"
"Oh my... Lady Ningguang is opening a bank. A Liyue Bank!"
"Huh? A bank? But we already have the Northland Bank. Why open another?"
"Idiot, the Northland Bank belongs to Snezhnaya. This one is ours. It says all of Liyue's money houses will be upgraded into branches of the Liyue Bank."
"That's amazing. Finally, a Liyue Bank. The Northland Bank is disgusting. I hate those leeches. I always wondered why Lady Ningguang allowed them here."
"Who knows. Only merchants go there anyway. People like us never step foot inside."
"Wait, look at this! It says deposits in the Liyue Bank will have no handling fee, and you even earn extra interest. Withdrawals are also free of charge. This is huge."
"What? Read that again!"
...
Those who managed to grab a sheet scanned it quickly. Their expressions shifted from confusion to raw disbelief.
No deposit fee. No withdrawal fee. And interest on top of that?
That was insane.
At the Northland Bank, you were charged a fee to deposit and another to withdraw.
Liyue's traditional money houses also took a cut, but they did it differently. They charged a small safekeeping fee only when you withdrew your money. It was considered a fair service fee for keeping your savings safe.
People understood that. Money houses had to earn something. They were not charities.
But now the paper snow claimed that the new Liyue Bank would charge no fees for deposits or withdrawals and would also pay interest?
How was that possible?