Zongman: Beginning and Snow under the Rain Escape from Raccoon City

"Sir/Madam—! Please wait! Please wait!"

She darted up to an uncle who was buying soy milk, smiled, and stood on tiptoe: "Look at your rosy complexion and energetic spirit, you must be a person of long and healthy life!"

"However... anything can happen at any time, so how about we book the Worry-Free Package at the Rebirth Hall in advance?"

"Order now and receive a free longevity lock specially made by Wangshengtang!"

The middle-aged man's lips twitched: "Little girl, I just had breakfast..."

Selling funeral services so early in the morning, how thoughtful of you!

"Oh dear, breakfast and funeral arrangements don't conflict!"

Hu Tao blinked and magically produced a gold-embossed price list: "Look, we recently launched a group-buying discount—a family of three buried together, save 300,000 Mora!"

"If you refer a friend, you can get an additional 10% discount!"

The uncle was speechless and left without looking back. This wasn't the first time he had encountered this young girl from the Rebirth Hall.

You can't pay attention to her; the more you pay attention to her, the more she gets worked up.

Refusal is ineffective with her.

"Hey, don't go!"

"Can I send another urn instead?"

Hu Tao watched the departing uncle and helplessly put down the sign in her hand.

Another sales attempt failed.

Fortunately, the temple is not short of money at present.

Although there was never any business, and although there was a guest in the Rebirth Hall who just loafed around all day waiting to die.

Fortunately, the existence of Qunyu Pavilion, like a lifeline, has allowed Wangshengtang to continue operating.

Of course, the price was that she sold herself.

When Hu Tao was thirteen years old, her grandfather passed away, and since then, Hu Tao has taken over the management of the Rebirth Hall.

Unfortunately, even though Hu Tao had been learning about funeral-related matters from her grandfather since childhood and was already very familiar with the business,

But it seems I haven't learned anything about how to take on business.

We've always relied on word-of-mouth recommendations from our long-time customers.

However, the number of loyal customers is always limited, and Wangshengtang's business inevitably began to decline.

It was at this moment that Ningguang made her appearance.

At first, Hu Tao actually refused.

However, the business of the Rebirth Hall was getting worse and worse, and the bills owed by a certain unreliable guest master were piling up.

In the end, Hu Tao signed her name on the contract.

Actually, the main thing was that Hu Tao found out something.

That is, the contracting party has not appeared for more than ten years, and the last time it appeared was more than four hundred years ago!

This illustrates two things.

First, the other party is most likely an immortal. In Hu Tao's opinion, marrying an immortal is not an unacceptable thing.

Second, the other party may not reappear for hundreds of years. Even if she lives to old age, she will not have to fulfill the contract. Wouldn't that allow her to get a large sum of money from Qunyu Pavilion for free?

Moreover, the latter is highly likely!

Hu Tao felt this was a sure-fire way to make money.

Just then, she suddenly spotted an elderly woman walking shakily past the street corner. Her eyes lit up immediately, and she rushed over to help her up: "Grandma! Your legs aren't very strong, would you like to try our newly launched wheelchair-assisted funeral service? We guarantee it will save you... no, I mean, your family time and effort!"

The old lady patted her head affectionately: "My dear, my husband used your services sixty years ago, and they were indeed very affordable..."

Walnut instantly became solemn: "Thank you for your support, loyal customer! Renewing your subscription now also entitles you to the referral bonus. Would you like to give one to your grandson too...?"

"walnut!"

Finally, unable to stand it any longer, Ke Qing appeared out of nowhere: "If you harass passersby again, I'll have the Qianyan Army post your name on the Feiyunpo bulletin board for disturbing the city's appearance!"

As the Yuheng Star of the Liyue Seven Stars, Keqing could easily mobilize the Thousand Rock Army.

"Hey? Don't be so harsh. In a way, we're family now too."

Walnut stuck out her tongue.

Ke Qing blushed slightly upon hearing this, but quickly regained her composure: "Don't try to get close to me, I won't fall for that."

"Hey, but seriously, Keqing, why did you agree to sign that contract with Lady Ningguang? Haven't you always been at odds with our Lord Tianquanxing?"

Walnut said with a smile.

She was quite surprised when she learned that Keqing had also signed the same contract as her.

It's unclear what Ningguang's purpose was, but every time she signed a contract with a new person, she would notify the other people who had already signed contracts.

At the same time, it will also inform the new contract holder who has previously signed the contract.

Therefore, Keqing and Kurumi are aware of each other's situation.

"What do you mean by 'not getting along'? We just had a disagreement, a normal difference of opinion among the Liyue Seven Stars."

Ke Qing said, embarrassed and annoyed.

Keqing comes from a prestigious family in Liyue and received an elite education from a young age, but she is tired of the traditional aristocratic lifestyle.

Through her personal abilities, she became the Yuheng Star among the "Liyue Seven Stars," responsible for land management, public welfare construction, and urban planning. She is also one of the de facto rulers of Liyue.

However, as the Star of Yuheng, she had never been particularly close to the other seven stars of Liyue.

It's not that she's unsociable.

Her views were simply difficult for most people in Liyue to accept.

She disrespects gods and immortals.

Keqing has publicly opposed the current situation of "Liyue being able to make decisions with just one word from the Emperor" on many occasions, and has also spoken rudely to many immortals.

They believe that Liyue should belong to the people of Liyue, not be dictated by these gods or immortals.

Ningguang is different. Although she is also one of the Seven Stars of Liyue and has the responsibility of managing Liyue.

But she only cares about making money and running her business empire, and she has a noncommittal attitude towards the ideas that Keqing had previously proposed.

This made Keqing somewhat resent Ningguang, feeling that she was not considering the future of all Liyue people and was not worthy of being one of the Seven Stars of Liyue.

until a certain day.

Ningguang offered to support Keqing's reforms in Liyue, shifting Liyue from divine to human rule, in exchange for Keqing signing the contract Zero.

It wasn't until that day that Keqing realized that merchants used more than just Mora and goods as bargaining chips.

Even political leanings can be used as bargaining chips.

And that Tianquan star Ningguang actually used divine power as a tool all along.

Keqing felt a slight joy upon hearing the news.

Finally, someone among the Seven Stars of Liyue is as fearless as she is of gods and immortals, even though that person is a merchant.

But at the same time, there are some troubles, because the conditions proposed by Ningguang are really...

Chapter 170 Qunyu Pavilion

Although I was very conflicted at the time.

But Keqing ultimately signed the contract.

Besides the information they had gathered, just like Hu Tao, the reason was...

Another reason is that Ningguang's energy in Liyue is truly immense. As the Tianquan star, Ningguang wields extremely high decision-making power among the seven stars of Liyue, especially in commerce and diplomacy.

Moreover, Ningguang's wealth is so vast that few in the entire continent can rival it.

Moreover, while controlling the commercial lifeline of Liyue Harbor, she also has the support of Tianxuan Star.

If Keqing can gain Ningguang's support, she will have more than half of the say among the seven stars of Liyue.

She herself is the Jade Balance Star, and the Kaiyang Star is also her political ally.

With that added up, they got 4 votes.

This is enough for Keqing to realize her dream.

Eliminate all interference from outsiders.

With the Emperor absent, the Seven Stars of Liyue are the de facto decision-makers in Liyue.

With their support, many things can be carried out.

But that's not all.

……

During her years as one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, Keqing discovered that Liyue's long-term reliance on the Geo Archon's oracle decisions had led to a rigid bureaucratic system.

Especially in the years since the Emperor disappeared.

Ke Qing even saw in the General Affairs Department's files that over half of the proposals were marked as requiring the Emperor's approval.

Some livelihood projects have not been able to start for more than ten years.

For example, the repair of the Qingcezhuang irrigation canal was delayed for ten years because she did not receive a divine oracle, until she forcibly started the project.

To Ke Qing, this was completely incomprehensible. Did the Emperor not take care of anything just because he wasn't around?

What's the point of having the Seven Stars of Liyue then?

Isn't the existence of the Seven Stars of Liyue precisely for the purpose of governing Liyue?

As a result, Ke Qing used a tough approach to push forward many projects that had been stalled for many years.

But her efforts soon encountered obstacles.

She wanted to build the new city of Guiliyuan, but the immortal said no, warning her that it would disrupt the balance of the earth's veins and demanding that construction be stopped.

She wanted to build a canal in Qingce Village, but a certain immortal directly cut off the tributary flowing from Luhua Pond to the construction site, claiming that "the water veins have their own way of Heaven."

This was simply too much for Keqing to see.

This is hardly a shelter for Liyue.

This is clearly a restriction on Liyue's development.

Therefore, Keqing believes that she must find a way to break the immortals' control over Liyue.

"So that's why you agreed to Ningguang's request."

Hu Tao rested her chin on her hands, blinking her big eyes as she looked at Ke Qing with a mixture of understanding and confusion. The two of them had somehow ended up sitting in Wanmintang's shop.

"But... back then, it was the Emperor and the immortals who signed the contract, entrusting them with the protection of Liyue. Even if you, the Seven Stars of Liyue, reach an agreement, you can't break this contract, can you?"

Hu Tao didn't understand much about the affairs of the upper echelons, but she did know a little about the Immortal Contract.

Or rather, everyone in Liyue knows.

It's supposed to be a contract to protect Liyue, but there's no mention of Liyue people among the signatories.

Those who protect them don't care whether they accept protection or not.

"That's why I signed the contract with Ningguang."

Rarely having a listener willing to listen, Ke Qing also shared her thoughts: "I heard Gan Yu say that this Ye Hai knows the Emperor and is most likely also an immortal."

"If I marry him, it will be through him that I persuade the Emperor to break off the contract."

"It would be much more convenient for him to negotiate with other immortals, relying on his status as an immortal."

Hu Tao's eyes widened, and she said with some admiration, "As expected of Lord Yuheng Star, your goals are too lofty."

"Unlike me... I'm just trying to ensure the continuation of the Hall of Rebirth..."