Hu Tao's grandfather was a kind man, at least in little Hu Tao's eyes. He rarely lost his temper. His greatest pleasures were going out for tea, strolling through the streets of Liyue with his thrush, and enjoying life's simple joys. Sometimes he would even crack dark jokes with his customers to give them a scare.
But this time, when the teahouse owner brought up buying his thrush, the old man flew into a rage.
"I've walked this bird every single day since I bought it thirty years ago. For thirty years, as long as I live, this bird stays with me. Even if Rex Lapis himself came, I wouldn't sell it!"
Though usually gentle, he could be stubborn as a rock when it came to certain things.
The teahouse owner didn't give up. "Old Hu, think it over. This ordinary thrush of yours could sell for millions, even tens of millions of Mora. Miss this chance, and you'll never get another offer like it."
The old man snorted. "That young man may be knowledgeable, but he wants to buy my thrush the first time we meet? Tell him this: even if I die, I'm not selling my bird."
With that, he chased the teahouse owner out, cursing and shooing him away.
Watching the flustered owner flee, the old man's expression wasn't one of triumph, but of worry. For a moment, he even regretted his decision. If he sold the thrush, he might have been able to hire a professional consultant or two to help manage the parlor. If he died, Hu Tao would have some support.
But he also worried. Little Hu Tao was only seven or eight, with no knowledge of funeral rites or management. He feared that after his death, any consultant he hired might take advantage of young Hu Tao, even push her out and seize the parlor's assets.
That was his greatest fear. Which was why, though he had thought about hiring professional consultants, he had never actually done so. He didn't trust strangers.
Just as he was frowning over how to earn more Mora while he was still alive and save up for Hu Tao, little Hu Tao suddenly spoke up. "Grandfather, what are you thinking about?"
He snapped out of it. "Oh, nothing. Just some business matters."
Hu Tao grinned. "Grandfather, let's play hide and seek. I'm going to hide now. Don't forget to come find me!"
Before he could answer, she had already run off to the coffin hall, picked one that looked good, and climbed inside.
Her grandfather smiled knowingly. He didn't need to guess—she was definitely hiding in one of the coffins. All he had to do was open them one by one. But he didn't go looking right away. Instead, he picked up his thrush cage and strolled out of the parlor to walk his bird. He'd let little Hu Tao nap in the coffin for a while and find her when he got back.
…
Days passed after the old man refused to sell the thrush. As usual, he would go to the teahouse for tea and storytelling in his spare time. Every time he entered, the stories on stage were always about the great Rex Lapis. He had heard them all before and was long tired of them.
But every time he went, he would see that young man sitting there, sipping tea and listening with enjoyment, never seeming to tire of it.
Since refusing to sell the bird, Hu Tao's grandfather had stopped giving Morax any pleasantries. For several days, even when Morax tried to strike up a conversation, the old man ignored him, leaving Morax completely baffled. What had he done to offend this strange old man?
Months passed. The old man finally let go of his grudge, as if forgetting the whole incident, and began treating Morax as a kindred spirit once more. They would chat from morning till night. The more they talked, the more astonished the old man became. This strange young man even knew the history of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's founding—and even ancient history.
Through their conversations, Hu Tao's grandfather came to realize that this "young man" was no villain. He was someone who treated Mora like dirt and power like nothing.
Finally, the old man asked the question that had been on his mind. "Young man, what's your name? I might know your elders."
Because of his work, he had traveled all over Liyue and was familiar with many families. If the young man named his elders, they might even be acquaintances.
Morax was taken aback. Elders? In all his memories, he had none. As for his name, he had already thought of a new one.
"You can call me Zhongli. As for elders—I have none."
He couldn't reveal his name as Morax, so he used the name Zhongli when speaking to the old man.
Seeing Zhongli's indifferent expression, the old man assumed he had touched on a painful subject. He tried to comfort him.
"Ah, to be so young and have no elders—how pitiful. Yet despite having no family to care for you, you've learned so much. You're truly admirable. May I ask you a question?"
At the mention of no elders, the old man's professional instincts kicked in, and a glint appeared in his eyes.
Zhongli blinked. "Please, go ahead."
The old man said earnestly, "Since your elders have passed, have their funerals been held? I offer professional funeral services here... thirty percent off."
It was a lifelong habit—whenever he heard that someone's elders had passed, his professional instincts would kick in.
Zhongli was taken aback. Such strange logic, even for the Geo Archon, caught him off guard. He didn't know how to respond.
The old man quickly added, "Forgive me, I've brought up something painful again. You don't have to answer if you'd rather not."
Zhongli simply nodded.
After chatting for a while longer, the old man finally asked the question he most wanted to know. "Mr. Zhongli, do you currently have a job? Do you work at Yujing Terrace?"
Yujing Terrace was where the Liyue Qixing conducted their affairs.
Zhongli shook his head slowly. "No, I don't."