"Keqing, you should take a look too." Ryou handed the file to Keqing.
Keqing took it and skimmed through a few pages. "The design is beautiful. I think it's worth this price."
"Maybe even more. Is Adeptal Dandelion Wine like those fruits?"
Ryou nodded.
"If it has that kind of effect, then this price is too low," Keqing said.
Diluc froze. The price was already five times higher than the market rate, far more expensive than even wine reserved for royalty.
And Keqing was saying it was too cheap?
"Keqing-san, could you explain a little?" Diluc asked. "I… don't quite understand what you mean."
"It can extend one's lifespan," Keqing said.
Diluc stared at her for a long while without speaking. Then he said, "I've only ever heard that drinking shortens your life. You're saying this extends it?"
"No one would believe that."
"It's true," Keqing said.
"Oh… truly?" Diluc asked.
"It's absolutely true," Ryou said with a nod.
Diluc sucked in a breath. "If it really has that effect, then the price is far too low. I'll raise it to ten times the usual price."
He looked at Ryou and Keqing. "If it has that effect, I'm sure people will want to buy it. Once word of mouth spreads, the reputation will grow on its own."
"Ryou-san, what do you think…?"
"Fine," Ryou agreed.
"I've already prepared the contract. Please." Diluc let out a breath of relief and took out the contract.
In the end, the contract was signed, and Diluc also promised to open a tavern in Liyue Harbor.
Ryou suggested placing it near Third-Round Knockout, since it was the only tavern in that area.
Once the agreement was finalized, Ryou asked Diluc a few follow-up questions, then set up an Adeptal spring for him.
It would keep the Adeptal energy stable for an extended period, giving Diluc enough time to brew Adeptal Dandelion Wine.
When Ryou walked out of Diluc's study, he saw Lumine, Xiangling, Hu Tao, and the others sitting in the hall eating grapes.
"If you like them, I'll have some prepared for you to take back and enjoy," Diluc said.
"Thank you, Diluc-sama," Xiangling said.
"Thanks," Hu Tao said.
Diluc waved it off. "No need to be polite. Please sit for a while. Dinner will be ready soon."
"Mm-hm." Everyone nodded.
Diluc sat down and said, "I heard about what happened in the city. You made quite a fortune from the lottery."
"Eighteen million Mora in just a few days. A very successful venture."
"You flatter me. It was all thanks to everyone's support," Ryou said with a smile.
"E-Eighteen million Mora?" Chongyun's eyes widened in disbelief.
"This is only the beginning. No need to be so surprised." Ryou glanced at Chongyun, then asked, "Chongyun, who was that adventurer you ran into?"
"The Cryo Regisvine is packed with Cryo energy. How did you manage to deal with it?"
"Ryou-nii, I don't like the way you're saying that. I just swung my claymore a dozen times and finished it off."
"Tell the truth." Ryou looked at him.
"Uh… fine. The adventurer had Pyro elemental power, so…" Chongyun scratched his head as he explained.
"Ah!"
Ryou turned toward Xiangling when he heard her cry out, puzzled.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I forgot something really important!" Xiangling said.
"What?" Ryou asked.
"Olaf was frozen for hundreds of years, right? Then… wasn't that boar frozen for hundreds of years too? The meat must be amazing."
"Chongyun, do you remember the location? Let's go get it right now!" Xiangling stood and looked at Chongyun.
"Well…" Chongyun hesitated.
"We can go, but it's already evening. It won't be safe," he said.
"I have a Pyro Vision. I'll go with you!" Hu Tao stood and walked over to Xiangling.
"Hu Tao, I have one too!" Xiangling said.
"Oh, come on. I just want to join the fun. Let's go." Hu Tao grabbed her arm.
Ryou watched them leave and shook his head.
"They won't get into trouble, will they?" Keqing asked.
Ryou lightly stroked Keqing's hand. "Xiangling learned polearm techniques from Ping-sensei, and Hu Tao often runs into trouble when she goes out for work. She's not weak either."
"With Chongyun there too, there's no way anything will happen to them."
"Y-Yeah, that's true." Keqing gave a dry laugh.
As they spoke, Ryou saw Kaeya come in.
"Diluc-sama, you don't mind if I join the fun, do you?" Kaeya asked.
"You're already here. What can I say?" Diluc shook his head.
"How generous of you, Diluc-sama." Kaeya sat down without hesitation. "When Klee was in Liyue Harbor some time ago, she didn't cause you any trouble, did she?"
"No. She was very well-behaved," Ryou said.
"Very… well-behaved?" Kaeya seemed to fail to process that for a moment. He coughed and said, "Then that's good."
After dinner, the group sat outside Dawn Winery, enjoying the cool evening air.
Ryou saw Xiangling come over, then heard her ask, "Can you give me some pointers later?"
"Uh… sure." Ryou glanced at her and thought of that piece of boar meat. "What dish do you want to make?"
"Hmm! I haven't decided yet. Do you have any ideas?" Xiangling looked at him.
"I do!" Ryou thought of a dish, then turned to Keqing. "Want some mini meatballs?"
"Yes!" Keqing nodded.
"Come on. Let's go to the kitchen!" Ryou stood, took her hand, and led her toward the kitchen.
"Tabibito, I heard Ryou is going to cook that boar meat, and Xiangling is making Golden Shrimp Balls," Paimon said to Lumine.
"Let's go take a look!" Lumine got up and followed.
"Ehe, I'm curious too!" Hu Tao rubbed her head.
Mona pressed a hand against the door and poked her head inside. "Your cooking is so good that even though I'm full, I still want to eat!"
"Me too!" Paimon said.
"I want some," Shenhe said, looking at Ryou.
Ryou placed the boar meat on the cutting board, then took out the ingredients for Golden Shrimp Balls and set them to the side.
Xiangling moved closer to him. "What are you making?"
"Didn't you and Hu Tao say last time that you wanted meatballs? I'll make pork meatballs for you on the spot."
"And you can make Golden Shrimp Balls. My wife wants to eat your cooking," Ryou said.
"What nonsense are you saying?" Keqing saw everyone looking at her, and her face instantly turned as red as a tomato.
Ryou said, "Then I won't make them."
"No!" Keqing glared at him.
"Haha, then it's settled. Let's get started." Ryou rolled up his sleeves, took out the boar meat, began mincing it, and set a pot of water to boil.
He chopped the boar meat finely, added the seasonings, then placed everything into a basin to rest.
After that, he took out the sauce he had prepared.
While he had the chance, Ryou breathed out three streams of energy, directly enhancing the taste, quality, and appearance of the dishes.
Xiangling's cooking would also be affected by it, but he did not activate the adeptal energy or holy light state.
Those two buffs could raise the quality of any food by two levels and help close the gap a little.
The base quality of his dish was +3, so the taste would definitely be excellent.
But Xiangling's side would probably be completely different. Her Golden Shrimp Balls had clearly been affected by the kitchen's effect as well.
Half an hour later, Ryou finished the pork meatballs and placed them in a large bowl on the empty table. Beside them was a bowl of Golden Shrimp Balls.
Ryou looked at the pork meatballs.
[Special Pork Meatballs]
[Quality: +3]
Then Ryou looked at the Golden Shrimp Balls.
[Fine Golden Shrimp Balls]
[Quality: +5]
Ryou stared at the Golden Shrimp Balls, then looked up at Xiangling. "Xiangling, your cooking is better than mine!"
He had stacked several buffs and only reached +3, while Xiangling had reached +5 with ease. That was enough to prove her cooking skill was far above his.
If he added two more buffs and infused the dish with spiritual energy, its quality might even reach +7 or +8.
At that level, the taste would be almost impossible to describe. Even a god might be moved after eating it.
"Ehe, you're giving me too much credit," Xiangling said.
She lowered her head and sniffed the aroma coming from the bowl. "Your cooking is really impressive too. Besides… making pork meatballs this way is pretty rare."
"Can you two stop praising each other already? As far as I'm concerned, you just steamed it a little and somehow made one giant meatball ooze oil."
"Hurry up and let us taste it," Lumine said impatiently.
Ryou picked up a Golden Shrimp Ball and fed it to Keqing. "Xiangling's cooking really is incredible. My wife, you're in for a treat."
"Mm! It's s-so good!" Keqing's eyes widened in shock.
The texture of the Golden Shrimp Ball was simply perfect.
She said, "These Golden Shrimp Balls are so delicious I feel like my stomach is about to jump out and get addicted!"
"Keqing, you're exaggerating. I'll try one." Xiangling scratched her head, then lowered her gaze and picked one up to taste it.
After eating it, even Xiangling was stunned for a moment, because she knew exactly what level her own cooking skill was at.
But the taste, color, and overall quality of these Golden Shrimp Balls were much better than usual.
The difference might not have been huge, but once she ate it, the improvement was obvious.
This was the kind of improvement Xiangling had always pursued but had never managed to reach. So why had she suddenly reached it today?
No.
If her skill had improved, Xiangling would have felt it clearly. But… she knew she had not changed.
Was it because of Ryou?
Xiangling knew Ryou could infuse all things with adeptal energy and enhance them. Perhaps he had other effects too.
Otherwise, there was no way she could have suddenly improved so much. The reason had to be him.
Xiangling looked at Ryou with excitement, because she saw hope in him.
When Keqing saw Xiangling's burning gaze, her expression darkened. Xiangling, what is that supposed to mean?
Yes, your Golden Shrimp Balls are delicious, but why are you staring straight at my husband like that?
You look like you want to eat him instead.
[End of chapter]
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