Azur Lane: I Crossed the Graduation Port Area

Chapter 1237: Harbin, a wealthy family
"Waiter, give me a few more servings of garlic deep-sea prawns... oh, and a few more cups of your specialty rice wine."

"Okay, sir! It will be delivered right away!"

At noon, with lights and decorations everywhere, the bustling streets in the center of Xianluo City were bustling, and the restaurant business was booming.

In the VIP room on the rooftop of the restaurant, Lin Lan and the girls had already eaten and drunk their fill, and there were almost only plates left on the large round table in front of them.

The one who called out to the waiter was Harbin, who was dressed like a chivalrous female warrior.

Hearing that Harbin was going to continue ordering food, Long Wu, who was sitting next to Lin Lan, shook his feet and frowned and said:

"The cooking skills of the chefs here are very average. Harbin, don't you have real estate in the city? If you don't have enough to eat, I can go buy some groceries and cook for you."

At this time, Long Wu changed into a brocade dress like a rich lady. Like the Sakura Empire's ship girls, the dragon tail and dragon horns of the Donghuang little dragon girl could also be hidden.

However, on the way here, Lin Lan had already seen many monsters showing their true forms on the streets of the city and celebrating the festival with the city residents, so he felt that it didn't matter if Long Wu didn't hide these characteristics.

Also dressed as rich girls are the sisters Haitian and Haiqi, as well as the naughty Changchun and the well-behaved Taiyuan.

As for Fushun, he took Anshan, Feiyun, Huben and the two Antiks girls with him, and packaged themselves as accompanying casual cultivators and guards.

In order to make the fake look real, Fushun even went to a street-side spiritual weapon forging shop on his way to dinner and bought a bunch of yellow-grade spiritual weapons and hidden weapons to distribute to everyone.

As for the luggage packages given away by the store, Fushun exclaimed that he had made a huge profit.

Thanks to all that the energetic guiding girl had done, their group was successfully packaged as if some wealthy man had come to Xianluo City with his family and servants to celebrate the holidays.

Even the waiter at the restaurant didn't notice anything.

"We just want to try some local specialties. The only dishes here are the big shrimps."

Harbin smiled heartily, and after speaking to Long Wu, who was pinching his nose to avoid smelling the alcohol, he said to Lin Lan:
"How's it going, Commander... No, husband, would you like to visit my mansion here later?"

Lin Lan was amused when she heard Harbin's changed name.

He signaled Long Wu to go to the balcony to get some fresh air, then raised his glass to clink with Harbin and said with a smile:

"Of course, but I didn't expect you to have real estate here."

On the way here, he accompanied the Donghuang ship girls shopping and bought a lot of new clothes, toys and books.

This was also the first time he felt the living atmosphere of the Natlan people in peacetime since he came to the Natlan Empire.

After all, when they were in Nanzhou, he and the good man Richard were either helping the Natlan people move the city or preparing to move the city.

Finally able to relax and experience and observe carefully, he found that the city of the Natlan people was actually no different from the many Donghuang fairy tales and costume dramas he had seen on Blue Star.

Apart from the thick atmosphere of the Jianghu market, various burly monsters and the monks who occasionally fly low in the sky on their way together create the style of this otherworldly immortal cultivation civilization.

In addition, he learned from the offline database of the experimental agency that the Natlan people have always attached great importance to urban construction and garbage disposal since ancient times.

Local officials in Natlan even recruit independent practitioners to be responsible for greening maintenance and street cleaning.

Because of this, the green plants planted in Xianluo City and the bustling yet almost spotless street environment made him feel much better than he had imagined.

Thinking about it more carefully, when he stayed in Yunze City and Changliu County in Nanzhou, the streets in the city were indeed very clean.

For this alone he had to give the Natlans credit.

After all, he still remembered the descriptions of ancient European cities that he had seen when he was on Blue Star.

He felt physically uncomfortable just thinking about that scene.

"Hey, Commander, don't underestimate Harbin, she's quite wealthy!" Fushun was surprised to hear that Harbin had real estate in Xianluo City, and smiled proudly and introduced it to him solemnly:

"The one toasting with the commander is the largest landlord in the Eastern Province of the Natlan Empire. He has several mansions in every city, countless silver in every bank, and every sect's treasury has... Oh!"

"Go away, you are getting more and more exaggerated. Are you going to encourage the Commander to play Landlord next?"

Harbin teased, reaching out and pinching Fushun's cheek, interrupting the red-haired guide girl's flattery.

"Commander, don't listen to her nonsense. These properties are not worth much in Natlan. Besides, you know that no matter how much silver you have, it is not as precious as spirit stones and elixirs."

Lin Lan smiled and nodded. He knew that what Harbin said was indeed correct.

In the Natlan Empire, where there are those who have reached the limit of immortality, just having money alone cannot be considered as being wealthy.

Even if an extreme cultivator is just a casual cultivator, he still has a way to earn enough money.

Only if one can freely obtain elixirs and spirit stones that are helpful for cultivation can one be truly considered wealthy in Natlan.

However, just as Harbin finished speaking, Fushun, who was still covering his face, whispered dishonestly:
"But the last time you and I went out to deal with the evil cultivators, we controlled the entire spiritual stone vein that the evil cultivators had occupied."

"We only control one spiritual stone mine. Fushun, do you think that's a lot?"

Harbin did not interrupt Fushun this time. Instead, he drank the rice wine in his glass and sighed with some sorrow:

"I heard that some large sects have two mineral veins within their territory. We only control one. There is nothing to brag about."

Originally, Lin Lan did the same as Harbin, pouring the rice wine in the glass into his throat.

But Harbin's Versailles made him unable to hold back, and he was choked and coughed repeatedly.

"No, Harbin, you control an entire spiritual stone vein?"

Lin Lan thanked Anshan and Haitian who brought him tea, and looked at the dark-haired lady in front of him in disbelief:
“Even if a large sect possesses two mineral veins at most, how many disciples and elders do they have to support?
"You guys don't practice the power of the limit, so aren't you just going to spend this mineral vein?"

Lin Lan's speech made Harbin burst out laughing:

"Hey, Commander, you're right, it seems to be true.

"We don't need spirit stones for cultivation. One spirit stone mine is more than enough for us to spend as we please."

Just at this moment, there was a knock on the door as the waiter delivered the dishes.

Harbin signaled the waiter to bring in the dishes, then handed over a few silver coins:

"Pay the bill. No need to give me the change. My husband is treating us. The extra money will be considered a gift."

"Ah! Sir... No, sir, you are so generous!"

Seeing the waiter holding the silver and staring at him for a long time before thanking him ecstatically, Lin Lan was a little amused.

Facts have proved that no matter which camp his ship girls belong to, they can achieve absolute financial freedom in this different world.

But just as he stood up to exchange pleasantries with the waiter, outside the window of the private room suddenly there was the sound of gongs and drums and the cheers of the crowd.

Seeing the momentary puzzlement on Lin Lan's face, the waiter, who was good at observing people's expressions, quickly explained to him:
"Sir, the city's Longmen Festival parade is here. The balcony outside the private room is perfect for viewing the parade's performances. I will go and prepare some exquisite snacks and refreshments for you and the ladies."

After saying that, without waiting for him to speak, the waiter respectfully left the private room, not forgetting to close the door.

Long Wu, who went to the balcony to get some fresh air, also waved to them happily:
"Commander, everyone, come and see, there's a dragon dance being performed on the street!"

(End of this chapter)