The Jade Chamber.
"So, you're saying that Melusine has started writing cooking guides in our Liyue?"
Yelan leaned against the table, playing with her dice. "Yes, as I mentioned before, she is harmless to Liyue, and even... quite a breath of fresh air. Compared to some people, her behavior is practically 'proactive and positive'."
"Indeed." Ningguang walked back to the table, her fingertip tapping the copy of a bite of liyue. "One has elevated the style of Liyue's dishes and enriched the dining tables of its people; the other, though its tastes are peculiar, has broadened our horizons. At the very least, it proves the inclusiveness of Liyue's culture. As long as it doesn't cause any food poisoning disputes, there's no harm in letting her write."
She pondered for a moment before making a decision. "You handled this well. Since she chose to integrate in this manner, we shall go with the flow. As long as she doesn't expose herself or cause a diplomatic incident, let her continue being her 'Housewife Cook'."
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The new book, history of jars, had been placed in a prominent position by the Bookshop owner. Its gimmicky subtitle, 'Liyue Harbor was built from pickle jars', had indeed attracted many eyes.
It was nearing noon, and several readers were still gathered by the bookshelves, flipping through the book and talking in low voices.
"Tsk tsk, Mister Lovia really dares to think and write. Resisting a God with pickle jars... unheard of." A middle-aged scholar shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of disapproval yet unable to hide his curiosity.
The young companion beside him was clearly more invested, arguing, "I don't think it's all empty talk! Look at what's written in the second chapter—that genius architect was inspired by jars to create Glazed tiles. Isn't that perfectly reasonable?"
An older merchant nearby stroked his short beard, also intrigued. "That's nothing! Look, this passage is the interesting one. It says that later, the Sea God was unwilling to give up and sent the 'Acid Jellyfish God'—which could corrode anything—to erode the Jar Embankment. Guess what happened? Old Pickler had a flash of inspiration and led everyone to pour out the leftover sour brine from the pickles, which instead pickled that jellyfish into a tasty snack to go with wine! Hahaha, it's an exaggeration, but it's certainly satisfying to read!"
Another female reader chimed in, "Yes, and don't you think the tradition of 'Establishing the Foundation' is particularly moving? The book says that later, when burying the jars, people would put a pinch of ash from their own kitchen stoves or a peach wood talisman with their family's names written on it inside. They weren't just praying for physical stability, but for the peaceful continuation of their homes. Compared to simply building a wall with stones, this has so much more warmth and sentiment!"
"Haha, hearing that makes me want to go home and bury a jar myself! But in the end, this is just an unofficial history legend. The real Liyue Harbor was fought for and won by the Lord of Rock himself with his Jueyun Chili Spears. How much could it possibly have to do with pickle jars..."
Their laughter and conversation clearly reached the ears of Zhongli, who happened to be strolling past. He was still dressed as the Caretaker of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, his posture upright and his temperament steady.
Hearing such a tall tale as 'pickle jars building Liyue Harbor', a faint trace of surprise flickered through his Zhongli-like golden eyes, which then turned into a knowing smile.
It was that author with the pen name 'Lovia' again.
In his memory, there was no leader of the early people named 'Old Pickler', nor did he remember Liyue ever performing the feat of turning the tide with pickle jars. However, hearing others describe it, the way this book wove together mortal skills, collective wisdom, and the process of history was quite unique and interesting.
Zhongli paced into the Bookshop and, on the shelf displaying bestsellers, immediately saw the book with the striking title, history of jars.
He picked up a copy, his fingertip brushing over the slightly rustic line drawing of Liyue Harbor on the cover, and nodded slightly to the Shop Assistant who came forward. "If you please, I'll take this one."
Zhongli paid the Mora (charging the bill to the WangSheng Funeral Parlor) and held the book in his hand, his fingertip brushing over the character for 'Jar' on the cover, his gaze distant.
"This Lovia again..." Zhongli thought to himself.
————————————————————————————
Finding a quiet teahouse, Zhongli poured a cup of clear tea and slowly opened the pages. As he read deeper, he occasionally smiled or nodded slightly.
The contents of this book were seventy percent fiction, yet there was thirty percent true sentiment buried within.
The quick wit and unity of those fishing village ancestors, who used everything at hand to survive in desperate straits, were indeed the true character of Liyue's early people. And giving everyday objects a meaning beyond themselves to unite people's hearts and pass down a spirit was also a common phenomenon in Liyue culture.
Old Pickler resisting the wrath of a God with pickle jars was a whimsical idea, yet it was also reasonable. In fact, it wasn't pure fantasy; if one examined the logic, the way the jar's curved body dispersed impact, the natural solidification of the gaps between jars, and even the later inspiration for the birth of cylindrical and Glazed tiles, all actually aligned with the principles of engineering and the nature of materials.
This book, throughout its entirety, did not speak of divine power, only of human affairs. Facing the encroachment of Gods, no Adeptus descended, and no Lord of Rock performed miracles. It relied entirely on the quick wit of an old man and the unity of the villagers. With the most ordinary of life's utensils, they actually built a barrier to protect their home!
This spirit of 'man's will conquering heaven', though not explicitly stated, was felt through the writing. It traced the foundation of Liyue back to mortal wisdom and unity, rather than being entirely dependent on divine miracles... This theme was lofty and profound, faintly resonating with the present day.
However, the true changes of the world were far more magnificent and far more cruel than the story of pickle jars.
Zhongli closed the book and looked out at the bustling Liyue Harbor. His gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, returning to that chaotic era of the war between Gods.
————————————————————————————
"The Rex Lapis descended, pushed back the tides, established Mt. Tianheng, and quelled the currents."
At that time, Gods stood like trees in a forest, and battles were unceasing.
The initial city defenses of Liyue Harbor (it wasn't called that then) primarily relied on natural defenses. The place was surrounded by mountains on three sides, forming a natural shield. The towering mountain masses on the west, north, and south effectively blocked threats from the land.
The main threat came from the vast, boundless sea to the east.
What the ancestors of Liyue Harbor faced was by no means just the encroachment of a single 'Sea God', but the covetousness and attacks of a united force of multiple oceanic Gods.
The coastline then was far from the peaceful state it is today. Violent elemental forces churned the seawater, and the pressure of the Gods caused the world to change color.
The oceanic Gods drove raging waves and sea beasts, constantly attacking this newborn land in an attempt to incorporate it into their own territories.
He ruled the mortal world, and under his Jueyun Chili Spears, the multitude of demons bowed their heads. Facing the combined invasion from the eastern ocean, he personally took charge, fighting side by side with the Adeptus under his command.
It was an earth-shattering battle.
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