Chapter 82 - 82: Put it on Childe's Tab
Liyue is a city that stands in stark contrast to Mondstadt.
Towering mountain slopes and stone forests, vast plains and vibrant riverbanks all create Liyue's rich and diverse landscape, which bursts with vibrant colors in its distinct seasons.
Although nad "Stone Gate," the place is actually a natural rift resembling a gate, hence the na.
Stone Gate is strategically defensible. Although Liyue and Mondstadt have always had good relations, Millelith troops are stationed here year-round—not to protect against neighboring Mondstadt but to deter treasure hoarders and other bandits from using the area as a base for ambushes and looting.
As one of the major routes connecting Liyue and Mondstadt, it sees a steady flow of rchants.
Over ti, the influx of travelers inevitably attracted the attention of so unsavory characters, but with the Millelith army's presence, cri has beco a rare occurrence.
Over the years, an old man set up a small tea stand here. Known as Uncle Zhou by all, he ca from Qingce Village and didn't start the stand for profit but simply because he enjoyed the lively atmosphere.
He liked listening to travelers' stories, or sotis sharing stories he'd heard with the visitors, and found it all a pleasant way to pass the ti.
However, his tea-making skills were exceptional, and his large-bowl tea beca sothing people craved, with so even traveling from Liyue Harbor just to enjoy it.
It's said that two well-known restaurants from the city once offered him high pay to work as their tea master, but Uncle Zhou turned them down without a second thought. "I'm just here for the convenience," he explained. "If soone's thirsty and out of money, I'll pour them a cup anyway. It's not about the money."
That was his reasoning. In old age, why turn sothing you love into work and make it a burden?
So, Stone Gate remains Stone Gate. The tea stand remains the tea stand. And Uncle Zhou remains the sa Uncle Zhou. Nothing has changed in all these years.
Today, as always, the tea stand bustled with activity. Uncle Zhou, though slower with age, made tea with the sa tiless taste.
Custors waited patiently as he brewed and poured tea, and then accepted the large bowls with respect and gratitude.
Many of these travelers were rchants who, not always finding success, returned ho dejected.
During these difficult trips, without so much as a sip of warm water, Uncle Zhou would always hand them a bowl of tea. "It's nothing, nothing—just a bowl of tea."
And whether or not these down-on-their-luck rchants managed to bounce back, they'd always co back to repay their debt when they could.
Gratitude, kindness, and the repaying of debts—such is the way of Liyue's people.
Yet, the peaceful scene at the tea stand was interrupted by a group arriving from Mondstadt, unsettling so patrons, who quietly slipped away.
The Fatui.
Recently, however, the Fatui's reputation in Liyue had seen so improvent. Snezhnaya had established diplomatic relations with Liyue, and the Fatui had even volunteered to help subdue the malicious forces in the Chasm, leading many in Liyue to view them less harshly.
But for rchants, the Fatui remained a nightmare.
They had established a profitable institution in Liyue Harbor known as the Northland Bank, essentially a bank but run by the Fatui. Despite their reputation, the bank was the most reliable on the continent, with no instances of theft or damage to valuables. Most importantly, no one dared to provoke the Fatui, hence, many trusted Northland Bank with their prized possessions.
In addition to deposits, the bank also offered loans. If repaid on ti, the Fatui remained welcoming and cordial.
But if anyone dares to default on their debt, the Pyro Agents will certainly step in, and they're not known for leniency.
So of the business people gathered there had unpleasant run-ins with the Fatui over loan issues, so when they saw this new group arriving, they instinctively began to leave.
This reaction spread like a contagion through the entire tea stand; even those who didn't know what was happening quickly followed suit.
In the end, only one person remained in the now-empty tea stand.
"Sir, aren't you leaving?"
The tea-seller, Uncle Zhou, couldn't help but ask the finely-dressed man who continued sipping his tea with a calm deanor.
The man had been visiting the tea stand regularly for so ti now.
Despite his impressive attire, he was refreshingly free of any aristocratic airs.
He not only seed to appreciate tea with a discerning palate, but he had once made a remark that Uncle Zhou found both intriguing and puzzling:
"Your tea carries more stories than your grandfather's."
Strangely, though, this man never brought any money and acted as if this were entirely normal.
So locals had even offered to help Uncle Zhou chase off this "pretender," suspecting him of being a con artist wrapped in fine clothing. But Uncle Zhou always laughed it off.
"It's just a bowl of tea. If he likes it, I'll make it for him. Besides, back when I was giving out free tea, no one was trying to chase you all away, were they?"
Hearing this, people would drop the issue. And so, every day, the man appeared at the tea stand like clockwork, listening to travelers' stories with Uncle Zhou and occasionally offering his own comntary.
"Just the Fatui, nothing to be scared of," the man said calmly, taking a small sip from his bowl.
The rough bowl contrasted sharply with his elegant clothing.
Recently, he'd even tried to drink tea like a common traveler, taking big gulps, but he still preferred sipping it slowly, savoring it.
Unlike those hurried passersby, he had all the ti in the world.
"Ah, these people are different from an old man like . When they co, mind your manners and don't offend them. Even the Millelith troops might not be able to protect you," Uncle Zhou cautioned him. Seeing the man's stubbornness, Uncle Zhou gave up on convincing him and turned his attention to the Fatui group.
He'd seen this group rushing towards Stone Gate earlier and assud they were heading to Mondstadt on business, so he was surprised to see them return so quickly.
Hopefully, they'd finish their tea without incident and leave in peace.
Among the Fatui, a man dressed in black descended from a floating sli-drawn carriage, glancing over at him.
"Sir, care for so tea?" Uncle Zhou greeted them just as he did every other custor, placing bowls on the table.
"A large bowl of tea for each person. Hmm...do you have any snacks?"
"Only peanuts and so pickled vegetables."
"Then bring so peanuts."
"Alright, thank you for your patronage. That'll be 28,000 Mora."
Charging such a high price was Uncle Zhou's subtle way of giving the Fatui a hard ti. However, to his surprise, the group didn't mind the steep fee.
"Very well, put it on Childe's tab."
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