Genshin Impact's Sweet and Hard Free People

Yun Jin's opera performance doesn't start until 8 PM, and it's only around 5 PM now. Even if we go to Liuli Pavilion, we might not be able to stay there.

Xingqiu wasn't as impatient as him; he continued walking leisurely, but he was also reminding Xinhui to be more careful with his words.

"Go early so you can grab a good spot and order a table full of food to enjoy the opera at your leisure. And how can you call Yun Jin by her full name? In front of Yunhan Society, you should address her as Mr. Yun."

People have various ways of addressing Yun Jin. Some call her Boss Yun, others call her Mr. Yun. She is called Boss Yun because Yun Jin is the head of "Yunhan Society". Although the manager supports her with miscellaneous tasks, major decisions are still made by Yun Jin. Therefore, many business people affectionately call Yun Jin Boss Yun.

The title "Mr. Yun" has a story behind it. When Yun Jin's grandfather managed the "Yunhan Society," the old opera fans all respectfully called him Mr. Yun. When Yun Jin took over, these old opera fans often came to see her perform. One opera fan, who thought Yun Jin's performance was quite good, said half-jokingly while chatting with others after the show, "This Mr. Yun nowadays sings quite well too."

A dissenting voice immediately arose from the crowd: "Can a young woman be addressed as 'sir'?"

Yun Jin overheard this and chuckled softly, “As a gentleman, he is older and naturally has more experience, so everyone naturally calls him ‘Mr.’”

"But people with broad knowledge are not necessarily old, and why can't women have great knowledge?"

“Sir, you are quick-witted and can be called sir. The young woman answered your questions, so she is also worthy of being called sir.”

The theatergoers present found it very amusing and kept mentioning it. In the end, regardless of whether they had met Yun Jin in person or not, they all habitually referred to her as Mr. Yun, just like everyone else.

Seeing Xingqiu's serious expression, Xinhui readily agreed, "Okay, Mr. Yun it is."

In a world that Xinhui once visited, the title "Mr." was a respectful term for intellectuals and adults of high status. Regardless of gender, those who deserved the title "Mr." were people who had left their mark on history.

Given Yun Jinli's status as a famous actress in Yuegang, calling her Mr. Yun is indeed not an exaggeration.

The location of the Crystal Pavilion is in the heart of the most bustling area of ​​Liyue Harbor. The antique-style pavilion goes without saying, but the plaque it uses is shaped like a "white cloud supporting a folding fan," which is eye-catching.

Since Liuli Pavilion invited Yunhan Society to perform opera, in order to better retain guests and leave a good impression on the audience, the stage for Yunhan Society's performance was set at the main entrance of Liuli Pavilion.

This was only approved after Liuli Pavilion intervened and consulted with the Qianyan Army; ordinary people wouldn't have such influence.

Liuli Pavilion has opened all the windows, both upstairs and downstairs, for guests to enjoy the view, and has also placed new tables in front of the door in case there are too many guests to sit down.

Tables like these are priced according to their distance from the stage. The tables in the very front row each cost tens of thousands of moras, which shows how popular Yun Jin's opera is.

Fortunately, Xinhui and his companion arrived early, and since the stage was still being set up, there weren't many people seated yet.

At this moment, Xingqiu demonstrated his power as the second young master of the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce, directly explaining his purpose to the owner of Liuli Pavilion and successfully securing a front-row, center position on the stage.

"This seat was originally reserved, but since it is Young Master Xingqiu who is visiting, please allow him to enjoy the view." The owner said politely with a smile, and invited Xingqiu to sit down. Noticing that Xinhui was also present, the owner looked him over carefully and found that he was an acquaintance.

"Isn't this Mr. Xinhui, the owner of Yiyuge? The dress you designed at the Lantern Festival was truly outstanding. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Finally, I can bask in Xingqiu's glory. I never expected that anyone would still remember me.

This spot, being the best in the room, cost a whopping 20,000 Mora. Xingqiu waved his hand at the owner, paid immediately, and ordered a whole table of dishes.

When Xinhui saw the menu he was holding, she was still a little uneasy. Is this the life of the rich? Ordering food can cost nearly ten thousand moras?!

"Um...isn't that a bit too much?" Xinhui kindly reminded him.

"What are you thinking about?" Xingqiu's expression became puzzled. "I didn't order all of this for you. Let me brew another pot of good tea, and after Mr. Yun finishes her performance, I'll invite her to come and enjoy it with us."

While talking, she also introduced several dishes that Yun Jin liked to Xin Hui.

For example, Yun Jin loves meat; she craves dishes like braised pork belly, boiled black-backed bass, and dry-pot cured pork. Unfortunately, she rarely gets to eat them. Yun Jin's favorite thing is trying all sorts of drinks. She's tried all the elaborate teas invented by the older generation, such as Pine Dew and Plum Snow.

Then Xingqiu showed off a small jar of tea he carried with him: "I went to great lengths to get my hands on this [Fulong Fragrant Tea]. Even the Rock King Emperor praised its exquisite taste. I used my connections in the Chamber of Commerce and spent 100,000 Mora to acquire just one ounce."

After saying that, he looked at Xinhui with a hint of smugness, which inevitably hurt the latter.

Is this person here to show off? So what if you're rich? Believe me, I'll scare you to death with Gan Yu's dowry book!

Of course, these words could not be spoken openly; they could only be thought about in one's heart. Besides, he dared not take any more of Gan Yu's dowry money, for fear that he would really not be able to repay it.

Since the performance hadn't started yet, Xingqiu specifically instructed the owner not to serve the dishes so early, just a plate of peanuts would be fine first.

When the plate of peanuts coated in purple sweet potato powder and deep-fried was served, Xingqiu pushed it next to Xinhui, saying, "Here, you can eat this first."

This time it was Xinhui's turn to be confused. "Wait, you just ordered such a big table of dishes, and all you're giving me are peanuts?"

How desperate must someone be to curry favor with Yun Jin to treat her so differently!

Xingqiu naturally noticed his slightly distorted expression. "Don't refuse to eat them. What will you do if the peanuts get cold? I like to eat them hot. It'll be a good way to pass the time while watching the show. After Mr. Yun finishes his performance, let's try some of Liuliting's specialties together."

His words were sincere and earnest, which somewhat soothed Xinhui's already wounded spirit. He casually grabbed two peanuts from the plate and put them in his mouth. Crispy, fragrant, soft, and slightly sweet, even peanuts seemed like a decent choice?

As they waited in silence, the stage was completed, which piqued the interest of the onlookers, who knew that the star of Liyue Harbor was about to appear from behind the stage...

Chapter Ninety-Three: Interpreting the Hearts of the People

Experiencing Yun Jin's opera up close reveals a wonderful quality.

Whether portraying a delicate and dignified young lady or a righteous and heroic woman, she can capture the essence perfectly. Even more remarkable is that this young actress also understands scriptwriting. Besides "The Goddess Splits the Temple," Yunhan Society has produced many other new plays in recent years, all written by Yun Jin.

These operas created by Yun Jin, which incorporate modern elements, are also deeply loved by the older generation in Liyue, and even some young people have come to love these cultures because of Yun Jin's operas.

The moment she leaned the gun against the wall, stretched out her hand, and twisted her neck, the rhythmic, staccato movements exuded a theatrical flair, which was part of Yun Jin's charm in her purplish-black theatrical costume.

"Indeed, Mr. Yun's opera is always very charming!" Xingqiu seemed to be listening intently, his thoughts still immersed in Yun Jin's singing.

Although he couldn't understand some of it, Xinhui was still deeply moved. At least, he felt that Yun Jin's opera was full of emotional expression.

As a result, some of the passersby came to sit in the Liuli Pavilion, while others just stood by and watched. The large number of people almost caused a traffic jam on this wide road, which shows how popular Yun Jin's Yunhan Society is.

It's no wonder that when veteran opera fans get excited, the first thing they think of is going to He Yu Tea House to ask when Yun Jin will start performing.

Xinhui watched with Xingqiu, occasionally sipping tea and eating a peanut, quite content.

The performance lasted for about an hour or two, and finally came to an end as Yun Jin sang her last note. The owner of Liuli Pavilion was beaming from ear to ear.

The profits that Yun Jin's performance brought to their Liuli Pavilion were enough to make them lose money for half a month. Then they urged the shop assistants to keep a good record in the books so that nothing was missed.

By this time, the pedestrians had dispersed, some still sighing on the road, seemingly still wanting more. Seeing that the other members of the Yunhan Society had begun cleaning up the stage, Xingqiu invited Yunjin to come down and sit for a while.

"It's Young Master Xingqiu! You've come to watch the opera again." Just from Yun Jin's words, one could tell that Xingqiu was a regular at their Yunhan Society.

"Come, Mr. Yun, I've prepared a pot of fine tea for you. Please have a taste." Xingqiu warmly invited him without saying a word.

He brought over a porcelain cup and slowly poured a cup of tea. The owner of the Liuli Pavilion was also perceptive; without waiting for Xingqiu to ask, he ordered his servants to bring out all the dishes Xingqiu had ordered, which was perfectly timed.

Tian Shu meat, blackwater perch, dry pot cured meat... In addition, there are Liuliting's signature golden crab and Xian Tiao Qiang (a type of soup), which are incredibly fragrant.

"Let's eat together. These dishes are incredibly delicious, especially while they're hot," Xingqiu said with a smile to the two of them.

Yun Jin agreed with his words; just looking at the dishes made her appetite increase. Since it was his kind offer, she didn't refuse: "Just call me Yun Jin. Since Young Master Xingqiu is so hospitable, then I won't be pretentious."

Despite saying this, Yun Jin still maintained a ladylike demeanor. Although she was already taking big bites, there was not a trace of rudeness or barbarity in her expression; instead, she exuded elegance and charm.

Xinhui and Xingqiu also picked up their chopsticks and savored the colorful and glossy dishes together.

He couldn't help but exclaim after taking just one bite. As expected of a famous restaurant in Liyue, the elegant and tranquil Liuli Pavilion also had a unique flavor. For example, the Tian Shu meat, Xin Hui felt that he still couldn't make it as tender as it was, but still maintain its texture.

At this moment, Yun Jin took a small sip of tea, her expression suddenly changing. She looked at the slightly bluish tea in the cup with surprise, "What kind of tea is this?"

Yun Jin had drunk many teas, but very few had given him such a direct and profound experience. It was refreshingly delicate, with a lingering aftertaste, and most importantly, it assaulted the taste buds upon first sip, invigorating the spirit.

"This is the finest [Fulong Fragrant Tea]." Seeing Yun Jin's shocked expression, Xingqiu knew that his plan had succeeded.

"Young Master Xingqiu, you're so thoughtful."

"No, no, I'll be satisfied as long as Miss Yun Jin can sing more of the Legend of the Strange Heroes. Since you like to drink it, these tea leaves are for you."

As he spoke, he pushed the small can of tea over.

Then came the mutual refusal between the two. Yun Jin knew the value of the [Fulong Fragrant Tea], so she dared not accept it, while Xing Qiu, purely for fun, insisted on stuffing the tea canister into Yun Jin's hands.

"I'd like to ask, how did Yun Jin come up with the idea of ​​innovating in opera?" Seeing that their argument was fruitless, Xin Hui simply changed the subject.

“Well…” Yun Jin’s expression suddenly softened as she spoke, as if it were a story from her memory, “Because I started learning from my mother when I was a child, and at that time, traditional Liyue opera was also popular among young people…”

Traditional Liyue plays often feature fixed themes, mostly telling stories of immortals or the Geo Archon himself. Plays like "Goddess of the Moon" fall into this category. Because people have a romanticized view of immortals and enjoy watching them on stage, these kinds of stories make up the majority of Liyue plays.

In her childhood, these stories resonated with Yun Jin, but after performing countless tales of immortals, her perspective gradually shifted. Why not try other themes? Perhaps… telling our own stories?

It chronicles the joys and sorrows of life, praising the loves and hates that belong to humanity. Perhaps these mundane tales aren't the mainstream of Liyue's narrative, but they are certainly worthy of being sung. Love, attachment, greed, anger, and infatuation—people establish their state of mind and savor their souls amidst beautiful or tragic emotions.

Yun Jin is not an immortal, so she cannot put herself in the shoes of an immortal to understand their thoughts and feelings, but she is most familiar with the various emotions of humans.

“From then on, I decided to use my opera to sing about the stories of people themselves, and to use my humor and my voice to interpret the hearts of people all over the world.”

This seemed to be a wish that Yun Jin had never confided to anyone, and it was reflected in her beautiful, bright eyes, giving it a somewhat dreamlike quality.

After hearing this, Xin Hui and Xing Qiu also admired Yun Jin's rare wish. The former couldn't help but sigh, "Yun Jin is able to have such a big stage in Liyue Harbor now because of her unique style, right?"

"Not at all. If you ask me, I'm still far from being a match for those famous opera performers." A humble smile suddenly appeared on Yun Jin's made-up face. "Besides, my little stage can't be compared to grand festivals like the Lantern Festival, the Moon Festival, or the Sending-Off-the-Fairy Ceremony..."

Chapter Ninety-Four: The Premonition Period

The first full moon night of each year is the Lantern Festival in Liyue. The spectacular scene of lanterns dancing in the air still lingers in Xinhui's mind.

As for the Moon Chasing Festival, it was originally a celestial ritual. At that time, the people of Liyue did not perform celestial rituals, but they still imitated this ritual and used the name of the Moon Chasing Festival to evolve into several festivals. Later, the Geo Archon, in order to commemorate a friend, combined various festivals with the name of the Moon Chasing Festival, using the heavens and earth to observe the earth, taking the moon as a vow, remembering the past and present, and reuniting in joy.

Yun Jin mentioned these two festivals and the Sending-Off-the-Immortals Ceremony, probably to show humility by referencing their grand and joyous atmosphere, since the influence of Yunhan Society is still limited.

However, Xin Hui heard a different meaning in Yun Jin's words, which was also her wish and expectation—Yun Jin needed a bigger stage.

Perhaps this is the common aspiration of every artist.

"Don't worry, with Miss Yun Jin's talent, she already shone brightly at the previous Lantern Festival. Perhaps, at this year's Moon Festival, the Yun Han Society's performance will be valued by Lord Ning Guang."

This was all the encouragement Xin Hui could offer Yun Jin, who also expressed her determination to work harder and strive to create even more beautiful operas.

After some casual conversation, she couldn't resist Xingqiu's enthusiasm and had no choice but to accept the [Fulong Fragrant Tea]. Although it wasn't much, Yun Jin felt very warm in her heart today.

The Yunhan Society staff had already taken down the stage they had set up, and someone could be heard softly calling Yun Jin's name.

"Mr. Yun, it's time to put the music down."

Usually at this point, Yun Jin would excitedly agree and then return to Yunhan Society.

“She’s gone,” Xinhui said to Xingqiu. To his surprise, Xingqiu remained unmoved and continued to enjoy the food with a look of satisfaction.

Xingqiu glanced at Yun Jin's departing figure and said with some regret, "It's a pity that inspiration can't be determined by will. If only Yun Jin could create operas according to my ideas."

Xin Hui chuckled, surprised that Xing Qiu had such a plan. With his wildly imaginative ideas, using them to create opera would probably drive Yun Jin crazy, wouldn't it?

About fifteen minutes later, Xinhui and Xingqiu finished their dinner and midnight snack.

As the two were about to say goodbye, Xingqiu patted Xinhui's shoulder with his seemingly thin hand and said, "Your Yiyu Pavilion will probably be very busy for the next month."