I am the savior, but I am being asked by Alicia and the others to pay me back.

The night outside the window is not lonely. The moonlight and starlight embellish each other, like children playing on the black curtain.

But inside the window, the oil lamp was so bright that it made Keqing look lonely.

"Are you talking about Liyue's economic reforms and the establishment of a special coordination department to interfere with Liyue's finances?"

Hearing Ye Ming's statement, Keqing widened her eyes in surprise:

"H-how did you know?"

"I just saw your proposal."

Ye Ming suddenly realized that he had crossed the line and asked hurriedly:

"Is it some confidential document? I won't pass it on."

"Ha ha……"

Keqing couldn't help but laugh at herself:

"It should be confidential, but it's useless even if it gets out."

"why?"

"Because most people don't understand this plan, and even if they can understand it, they don't understand the principles behind it."

"We want to stabilize the economy, establish a risk protection mechanism, reduce speculation, and improve the investment environment..."

After Ye Ming pointed out the core idea of ​​"Keqing Economics", he said calmly:

“Isn’t this easy to understand?”

270. It is easy to get money, but hard to find a true friend

"You...can understand what I want to do?"

Keqing stood up excitedly, and even the chair beside the desk was knocked aside by her.

"Ah? Isn't that normal?"

“That’s not normal!”

Keqing pressed Ye Ming's shoulders and almost cried for joy.

"No one understands why I do this. Almost everyone thinks I am doing useless work."

"How can it be useless... Oh~~ I think I understand."

Although Keqing's economic philosophy is commonplace in her era, it is indeed a bit ahead of its time for the current Liyue.

The most important thing is that Liyue has not yet reached the point where it must be changed.

After all, Liyue is one of the most commercially prosperous countries in the continent of Teyvat. No one would think that there would be any hidden dangers in Liyue's economy, right?

"It's hard for others to understand why you're still trying to make reforms when the economy is booming."

"Can you not only understand my intentions for reform, but also understand why I am not understood by others?"

Keqing still remembers how many meetings she had held and how many speeches she had given in order to promote reform. She had wasted so much time and energy, but still failed to gain other people's understanding.

But the young man in front of him only took a quick look at the few words in the plan, and he understood his thoughts and unspeakable secrets clearly...

It feels like finding the only bright star in the dark wilderness of the universe.

Even if the other person is a complete stranger, that light is enough to warm people's hearts, not to mention that Keqing was already very familiar with Ye Ming before.

"Why do you look like you're about to cry?"

From Ye Ming's perspective, he just saw an ordinary thing and made a very objective evaluation.

But for Keqing, who had just found a confidant, tears welled up in her eyes.

"It's just a little touching, but far from crying."

Keqing closed her eyes and took a deep breath. After just a few seconds, she returned to her normal self.

"Could it be that... our Lord Yuhengxing suffered a lot of grievances when promoting the new policy?"

"There are difficulties in every profession. If you stop moving forward because of a little grievance, then don't do anything."

After speaking in her usual crisp and clear manner, Keqing began to get down to work, but Ye Ming heard other meanings in Keqing's answer.

"Don't you deny that you were wronged?"

After realizing this, Ye Ming moved a stool, sat next to Keqing, and said softly:

"So, can you tell me what troubles you have encountered recently?"

"Don't worry so much. I'm not so weak that I need to talk to someone about my troubles all the time."

Keqing's words became increasingly stronger, but her tone sounded increasingly softer. Under the candlelight, she had begun to unconsciously avoid Ye Ming's sight.

"I just want to see what pitfalls you've fallen into, so I can laugh at you systematically."

"Systematic ridicule...Pfft!"

Keqing couldn't help but laugh out loud:

"You mean systematic guidance?"

"You were the one who said you weren't that weak. If that's the case, I'll use ridicule to give you some strength."

Ye Ming looked at Keqing, his eyes full of gentle smiles.

"So the unsung hero who saved Liyue is actually such a mean person in private?"

Keqing looked at Ye Ming, her eyes full of sweet longing.

[Are these two people...arguing? ]

[I am sending dog food (I am sure)]

[They are trying a very new way of communication]

[It turns out that the lines themselves are not important, what is important is the tone and expression]

[Next time you play like this, I suggest adding translated subtitles]

The video continues, and Keqing tells Ye Ming that the biggest obstacle to implementing reforms is that most people cannot see the potential problems.

"For thousands of years, Liyue's prosperity has been inseparable from the Emperor. He always guides us on the most correct path to wealth."

"Over time, just one word from the Emperor will cause a huge shock to Liyue's economy."

“An obscure industry may be pushed to the forefront, and the previous industry at the forefront may decline.”

What Keqing described is exactly the current situation in Liyue, and it is something everyone knows.

Whether it is businessmen, ordinary people, or officials and leaders, no one has ever thought that there is anything wrong with this.

But Ye Ming understood Keqing's worries:

"This economic system is already very distorted."

If things continue like this, there will be more and more speculators and fewer and fewer pragmatic people.

After all, if you can get rich quickly by seizing the opportunity, who would want to work diligently?

“Although the economic structure is very unhealthy, fortunately, the Emperor has continuously injected vitality into the market, which is why Liyue is so prosperous.”

Having said this, Keqing unconsciously clenched her fists.

"But now, the Emperor is gone. If we don't change this crude way of development, we will suffer the consequences one day."

Ye Ming probably understood that most people in Liyue had become accustomed to the existence of the Emperor, and no one realized the potential risks of the current economic system.

After all, the current prosperity is a fact that everyone can see, but who would care about the undercurrents surging beneath the calm sea?

"I really underestimate you."

Keqing saw this problem earlier than anyone else, and her vision was at least 30 years ahead of her time.

"Perhaps you can be called a pioneer."

"pioneer……"

Keqing didn't expect Ye Ming to have such a high opinion of her. She was delighted but also ashamed.

She lowered her head, completely losing her previous momentum, and her tone became much softer:

"I still don't know if I'm right, after all, there are so many people who oppose me."

It was the first time that Ye Ming saw Keqing with such a bitter expression. It was also the first time that he knew that Lord Yuhengxing, who relied on himself for everything, would also have moments of insecurity.

Perhaps the opposition she faced was why Keqing acted so abnormally.

"Just now I said that I wanted to hear about the troubles you encountered, but you were talking about some macro problems."

Ye Ming consoled:

"Now can I hear about those topics you're trying to avoid?"

"..."

Keqing was silent for a moment, then sighed as if giving up resistance:

“It is almost impossible to change deeply rooted social patterns through natural means.”

“Now that new rules have been formulated, it is inevitable that some vested interests will suffer losses during the implementation process.”

"I have done my best to ease everyone's burden, but I still offended a lot of people."

This is exactly what Ye Ming is most worried about. No matter which era or world, reformers will suffer from open and covert attacks from all sides.

271. Fight with Keqing until dawn

"Is someone trying to harm you?" Ye Ming asked worriedly.

"That's not the case. The prestige of the Liyue Seven Stars is still there. No one would be stupid enough to have a head-on conflict with me."

"It's just..." Keqing looked very lonely.

"Although on the surface they are still harmonious, the voices of opposition behind the scenes are getting louder and louder."

Recalling these things, Keqing rubbed her brows tiredly.

During this period, she worked more than 16 hours a day in order to reduce everyone's losses and use the most gentle way possible to make more people accept the changes.

Most of the documents piled on the desk are related to this matter.

"Maybe it's because I'm not capable enough. No matter how hard I try, I still hear people's dissatisfaction."

"From the initial misunderstanding, to the subsequent rumors and slander, and even more excessive defamation..."

"After facing so much opposition, I can't help but wonder if I've done something wrong and if I shouldn't have sought change in the first place."

Ye Ming is well aware that changes in the economic structure will inevitably lead to a period of pain, but the extremely small-scale economic downturn will be exchanged for long-term and stable prosperity.

This is definitely a cause that will benefit the present and future generations, so Ye Ming encouraged Keqing:

"You are right, time will tell."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Ming felt that what he said was too empty. After all, the future outcome was an extremely long and distant process for Keqing.

So Ye Ming added:

"I also think you are right. If the obstacles of reality make you lose confidence in yourself, then try to trust my judgment."

"Ye Ming..."

Since the day the new policy was planned, Keqing, who lacked relevant experience, had been walking on thin ice every day.

And now, she, who was crossing the river alone by feeling the stones, finally found a companion who could support her.

"So... cunning..."

An irresistible sense of security was enveloping her whole body. After realizing this, Keqing felt as if she had been tricked by Ye Ming.

"Binding my ideals with yours, do you know what this means?"

"Yeah~~It means that no matter what happens, I will stand by your side."

"This is a difficult promise to keep, Ye Ming. Few people can do this."

"But I think that standing on your side is the easiest decision I have ever made in my life."

Because this is the fact, Ye Ming said this without thinking.

No matter who comes, there is no trace of falsehood in that relaxed and straightforward look.