Reading poems from Teyvat

Xingqiu could only admit that Shen Zhigui was ahead in terms of sharpness of words: "Even so..."

It doesn't mean I'm interested in your ideas.

Xingqiu said in his heart.

But Shen Zhigui seemed to have seen through Xingqiu's thoughts. He shook his head and said, "But 'serving the country and the people' is too broad a term."

Chapter 39: Changes and Observation (Part 2)

"As for this statement, you can say you want to maintain the status quo, or you can say you want to change the status quo, because there are always some people who are satisfied with the status quo, and there are always some people who are dissatisfied with the status quo. When you say 'for the country and for the people', do you want to support those who are dissatisfied with the status quo, or those who are satisfied with the status quo?"

Shen Zhigui just said.

Xingqiu was stunned by his words.

But soon Shen Zhigui shook his head again and said, "Of course, I know very well that you are not that radical, Young Master Xingqiu. At most, you just want to partially change the status quo that you don't like. You are just a so-called 'reformist'."

"Then what sect do you belong to?"

But at this moment, the fisherman not far away suddenly raised his head, revealing half of his wrinkled old face under his hat, and said.

Xingqiu and Shen Zhigui looked at him, then exchanged glances, and found that neither of them knew the man. They couldn't help but feel a little surprised that someone could hear their conversation at such a distance. Moreover, that person looked to be gray-haired and did not have the Divine Eye. Could such a person at this age still be sharp enough to eavesdrop on their conversation?

"Your Excellency again?"

"Just call me Uncle Tian."

Shen Zhigui thought about it and immediately said, "Tianshu Star among the Seven Stars of Liyue?"

"Didn't you expect that Mr. Shen Zhigui had heard of my reputation?"

The other party also laughed happily at this time and responded.

Shen Zhigui had never expected that he would run into the retiring Tianshu Star while chatting with Xingqiu. He was silent for a moment, then turned to Xingqiu and said, "I heard that Tianshu Star is about to retire recently, and the position of Tianshu Star does not seem to be selected through an open selection, but is designated by the previous one. Xingqiu, if you try to please this Tianshu Star, take him as your master, and succeed the next Tianshu Star, wouldn't you be able to better benefit the people of Liyue?"

"Even if you really think so, can you say such words so blatantly?"

When Xingqiu heard the young man talking nonsense, he suddenly didn't know what to say.

And it is obvious that Xingqiu does not want to be a Tianshu star.

"But I think you're actually quite suitable."

Shen Zhigui said.

"I have heard that the second son of Feiyun Chamber of Commerce is very talented. If Young Master Xingqiu is really interested in succeeding Tianshu Star, he can indeed learn from me for a while."

Uncle Tian obviously enjoyed the fun and continued talking along the lines of the young man.

Xingqiu immediately looked back and forth between Shen Zhigui and Tianshu, thinking, could this be the price he offered? He wanted to help him get to the position of Tianshu Star, and then secretly use him to promote his plan. In this way, three of the Seven Stars of Liyue would stand on his side!

When Xingqiu thought of this possibility, he felt a little terrified, and immediately stepped back, looking as if he could avoid it.

"It seems that Young Master Xingqiu is not as 'for the country and the people' as you say..."

"What do you mean?"

"As for benefiting the people, according to the methods you know, isn't it the successor of Tianshu Xing that can best realize your ideals? But under this God-given opportunity, the current Tianshu Xing said that you can be the candidate for the next Tianshu Xing, but you are so reluctant to do so. Doesn't this mean that you are not as 'for the country and the people' as you think?"

Shen Zhigui said jokingly.

Xingqiu frowned immediately and said, "Although maybe what you said is right, what does it matter? I don't want to take on such an important position and bear such important responsibilities. It is true that as you said, standing in such a position can indeed realize my ideal of 'serving the country and the people' to the greatest extent, but it may also commit unforgivable sins, and I just don't want to shoulder such responsibilities to do things, so I am just like you said, just wanting to slightly change the bad status quo that I can see. If I can do that, I will be very satisfied."

So the fisherman who was sitting not far away took off his bamboo hat, stood up, revealing his gray hair and cloudy eyes, and looked at the second son of Feiyun Chamber of Commerce who was talking eloquently, smiled, and said, "It seems that the second son of Feiyun Chamber of Commerce is very talented, and it is indeed not just a rumor."

"Let's be honest. It has nothing to do with whether it's a rumor or not, right?"

Shen Zhigui was just complaining out of habit.

"But it's hard for someone not to be bewitched by the idea of ​​taking over the Seven Stars of Liyue, and to lose their mind and not be able to discern their own heart. However, this young hero Xingqiu is still able to clearly recognize his own thoughts. He is indeed gifted."

Uncle Tian casually commented on Xingqiu, then turned around and said to Shen Zhigui, "But if Young Master Xingqiu thinks this way, what does Young Master Shen, who has been getting closer to key figures in the upper echelons of Liyue and has made many contributions, think?"

Shen Zhigui raised his eyebrows and said, "What position do you have to ask me this question?"

Uncle Tian immediately asked curiously: "What position can I take?"

"If you are using the Tianshu Star's perspective, I would naturally have similar ideas to Xingqiu."

“That’s not obvious.”

Uncle Tian said with a smile.

"why?"

Shen Zhigui just asked.

"Because in the eyes of the outsiders like us, Young Master Shen, you have been trying to bridge the conflict between Tianquan Star and Yuheng Star recently, and you almost let Sister Ganyu join them to form a group of one of the seven stars, and even have the intention of secretly dominating the situation. If I didn't know that Yuheng Star, Tianquan Star and Sister Ganyu are not the kind of people who would sell out the interests of Liyue for personal reasons, your recent actions would inevitably imply that someone from another country is suspected of manipulating the internal affairs of Liyue."

Uncle Tian was surprisingly frank with Shen Zhigui.

When Shen Zhigui heard him say that, he immediately turned around and looked at Xingqiu, asking, "What do you think?"

"Why are you asking me? I don't really know what your relationship is with Miss Ganyu..."

Xingqiu just said.

"So you think I am indeed suspected of secretly controlling Yuheng Star and Tianquan Star?"

"Well, didn't you say that Tianquanxing still owes you a promise?"

Xingqiu immediately changed the subject and said.

Shen Zhigui immediately reached out and touched the hair on his chin. The only thing that made Shen Zhigui feel okay about returning to this physiological age was that he didn't have to get up early every day to shave with a razor like before, so he just pondered for a moment and said, "I didn't expect that I would be like this in your eyes..."

Chapter 40: It is difficult to retreat when faced with a head-on blow (Part 1)

Shen Zhigui found this quite interesting.

Is he such an ambitious person in the eyes of these people?

What on earth did he do that made these people unwilling to even call him...

cough cough.

"Then what do you think your image should be in our eyes?"

"Idle and wild crane?"

Shen Zhigui said casually.

"But would an ordinary idler like you associate so closely with people in power?"

"To be honest, this is just a coincidence."

"To be honest, I think you designed it on purpose."

Xingqiu replied neatly.

Shen Zhigui really couldn't refute this statement for a moment.

Because if you say he didn't do it on purpose, that's actually not the case. After all, there are only a few people with the Eye of God in the whole of Liyue who he knows. But if you say he really wants to control Ningguang and Keqing in secret, he is not so ambitious to influence so many people and things. From the beginning to the end, his mind is just to get more martial arts, so at this time he can only sigh:

"Those who know me say that I am worried; those who do not know me ask what I am looking for? Who is this person, O heaven?"

Xingqiu and Tianshu were not people with low literary accomplishments, and they just didn't understand what Shen Zhigui said. However, Xingqiu disagreed with his statement, thinking, aren't you thinking about preventing the Emperor from no longer protecting Liyue? But the Emperor actually didn't express this intention at all. Although he still let Keqing serve as Yuheng Star, it just proved that he was magnanimous. What you people did was to prepare for a rainy day, but to put it bluntly, it was called lip service!

What's wrong with us thinking you're ambitious?

On the other side, Tianshu Xing heard Shen Zhigui's deep sigh, pondered for a moment, and immediately said: "Young man Shen is full of youthful spirit, why do you have to pretend like this?"

He probably didn't think Shen Zhigui needed to make such an exclamation.

Even if this boy was misunderstood, isn't he actively trying to get close to those beautiful colleagues? Even if he didn't have any strange intentions to get close to Keqing, Ningguang, and Sister Ganyu, he has a good relationship with these people at the same time. What qualifications does he have to express such feelings? And to be honest, if Uncle Tian hadn't already started a family and let go of those thoughts, he might have been put in a bag and sunk under the dock of Liyue Harbor. He has already lived in Keqing's house, but he still wants to get close to Sister Ganyu. You can't get involved...

Thinking of the agitated mood, Uncle Tian couldn't help but coughing.

Shen Zhigui looked at him suspiciously.

"What? Am I wrong?"

Uncle Tian said with full energy.

Of course, Shen Zhigui was not aware of his inexplicable thoughts. He just saw Uncle Tian coughing and thought of the incident in Ye Lan's legendary mission where the student he accepted poisoned him. Although the matter seemed to be resolved happily in the end, it would have been possible to provide treatment earlier if the problem was discovered early, right?

Even the fact that he had jokingly asked Xingqiu to become Tianshu's apprentice was based on a similar mentality.

However, it is obvious that Xingqiu is not the kind of person who "worries about his lord when he is far away from home".

So that was just a joke.

"Since you guys think so, I won't say much."

Shen Zhigui was too lazy to say anything more about this matter, as he seemed to be guilty. But when Tian Shu saw him say this, he immediately went on to say, "In this case, it would be better for you to avoid suspicion appropriately. Otherwise, it is inevitable that people will have some bad associations, which will damage the reputation of the Seven Stars today."

Shen Zhigui raised his eyebrows: "Avoid suspicion?"

"I mean, you should reduce your contacts with certain people."

Uncle Tian just said it bluntly.

"Who does that so-called part of the people include?"

"Since you have already moved into Yuhengxing's home, I believe you and Yuhengxing must have a deep affection for each other. No matter what, it's already a done deal, and I can't say much..."

"Wait!" Shen Zhigui couldn't help but shout, "What do you mean by deep affection? What do you mean by a done deal? Did you misunderstand something?"

Uncle Tian looked at the boy deeply and said, "I don't know whether the Zhendan you mentioned is a fabrication or a real thing, but you might as well put yourself in his shoes and think about it. If you were Yuheng Star, and you let a boy of the same age as you live in your home, and you accompanied him on outings many times, and even went with him to neighboring countries to study the customs and habits of traditional festivals, and after returning, you let him idle around in Liyue Harbor all day, what kind of relationship do you think they have?"

"Just friendship?"

Shen Zhigui said.

“Is there a purely friendship between men and women?”

Uncle Tian actually knows this kind of complaints that Shen Zhigui only learned in the Internet age.

But Shen Zhigui did not want to be outdone and asked back: "Then the relationship between you and Gan Yu is not just pure friendship?"

Uncle Tian really didn't expect that at his age, he would still be teased about his emotional problems by Shen Zhigui, a boy who looked only sixteen or seventeen years old. His eyes widened immediately, but he soon regained his composure. However, he didn't know how to respond to this sentence for a while. After all, if he said that he had never liked the half-human, half-fairy Qilin girl, it would be pure self-deception. Even now, he has not changed the name he used to call her in his youth, and has always called her Sister Ganyu. It can be seen that he has never forgotten his dreamlike time and past that has been buried deep in his heart. But to say that they have a pure friendship is, on the one hand, contradicting himself, and on the other hand, saying so would make it seem like he cannot win the argument with this boy...

However, Xingqiu on the side saw that Shen Zhigui actually knew this shocking secret and could even ask Tianshu Xing about it directly, so he could not help but have a deeper understanding of Shen Zhigui's recklessness:

If it were him, he wouldn't have the courage to ask such a question at all costs and uncover the secrets of other people's past.

Although when he heard Shen Zhigui ask this, he was indeed very curious about this kind of gossip.

After all, it was about one of the current Liyue Seven Stars and Yue Haiting's secretary who seemed to never age. It was natural for Xingqiu to be curious, right? So he rolled his eyes, and was also very curious about what kind of response Tianshu would make. Facing Xingqiu's gaze, Tianshu was a little bit in a dilemma for a while.

Chapter 41: It is difficult to retreat when faced with a head-on blow (Part 2)

But the contemporary Tianshu Star is still Tianshu Star after all. As a mature old man who can even be said to be overly mature, he obviously would not get angry with Shen Zhigui at this time, so he finally sighed and said, "So what if it's not a pure boyfriend-girlfriend relationship? There is no point in you getting entangled in this, and rather than saying that she and I are not pure friends, it is better to say that she is not a pure 'person'."

When Shen Zhigui heard Uncle Tian say that, he nodded and said, "But if you say that, it's hard for you to define the relationship between her and me, right?"

Before Uncle Tian could say anything, he heard Shen Zhigui say, "Besides, I didn't initiate the contact with Tianquanxing. As a stranger, I don't seem to have the power to refuse her. If Master Tianshuxing wants to stop me from interacting with her, then you'd better tell her directly instead of telling me, right?"

Uncle Tian took a deep look at the young man and said, "So, you think you have no responsibility for the way things turned out?"

"I don't think there's anything wrong with this situation," Shen Zhigui said. "Of course, if you really want to argue about this, I can continue to talk to you. However, Lord Tianshu, in the final analysis, you think that as a traveler from a foreign land, I have no right to intervene in the disagreements between the Seven Stars, or even to gain their common friendship. Or, in your eyes, I am 'unworthy of my position', so you want to prevent this from happening, right?"

Uncle Tian was silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "Although it sounds hard to hear, I did think so."

“As the saying goes, ‘If one’s virtue is not matched with his position, disaster will surely come’,” Shen Zhigui simply said, “So in your opinion, no matter how fast my martial arts progress is, as long as I have not made any direct contribution to Liyue, even if I have solved the karma of the Great Sage who conquers demons, it is just like I have established a personal connection with Yuhengxing and Tianquanxing. But as a traveler in a foreign land, this behavior will not be recognized by you, but is another proof of my cunning and obvious ambition—”

"You are quite self-aware."

Uncle Tian actually did not gather such complete intelligence on Shen Zhigui. Although Ningguang and Keqing did mention some of Shen Zhigui's deeds at the Seven Stars meeting, and even proposed to learn his martial arts from Shen Zhigui and spread it among the Thousand Rocks Army, Shen Zhigui did not agree to Ningguang at that time, but directly reached a deal with Zhongli, so the proposal was shelved. As for the boy's subsequent mission to Mondstadt with Keqing, in fact, as the boy said, it can be regarded as evidence that he wanted to establish personal relationships with Mondstadt's upper class with ambitions and then influence Mondstadt.

From this point of view, this kid's actions are indeed full of conspiracy.

Could it be that he is actually a spy for the Fatui?

Uncle Tian looked at the young man suspiciously.

Shen Zhigui just nodded at this time: "But what exactly does the 'virtue' that matches my 'position' mean?"

The young man was still looking at Xingqiu, sizing up this androgynous "peer" from head to toe, and said, "Will you become an important part of Liyue like the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce of the second son of Xingqiu, thereby creating countless jobs, supporting many families in Liyue, and making your own interests closely related to this country? Or, like this second son, just wanting to help the weak and change the status quo that you don't like, so as to be praised by everyone? Or, like Keqing said, join the General Affairs Department and serve the people of Liyue diligently?"

Uncle Tian hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "As for running a business, I don't think you have that talent; as for being chivalrous and righteous, I think your existence will become a burden to us, so I recommend you choose the last option."

"To take something, you must first give it. To some extent, I agree with what you said," Shen Zhigui still had that nonchalant and even casual look, "but I think that in this world, besides that kind of behavior, there is also a kind of 'virtue' that is enough for me to make a choice freely."