The Lost People of Teyvat

Chapter 172 Hibiscus emerges from clear water

With the help of Walnut in the courtyard kitchen, the originally leisurely and dull cooking became interesting, and even had a twist and turn. Naturally, the time spent on cooking also increased.

It was not until mid-morning that the smoke from the kitchen in the courtyard finally stopped.

Chen Tianfeng walked out with some dishes that didn't look good, but looked like they were cooked, non-toxic and edible, sighing as he walked. Zhongli followed closely behind him, his expression still calm, the quality of the dishes in his hands looked much better than Chen Tianfeng's, at least they could be called delicious dishes.

Hu Tao walked at the back, with a few black and gray marks on her delicate face from the backs of her hands. Her big eyes blinked, looking extremely innocent.

"Hall Master Hu."

Chen Tianfeng put down the dish in his hand, turned around and looked at Hu Tao. Just as he was about to say something, he saw the traces of soot on her face. He shook his head and smiled, raised his hand and pointed to the back of the house and said, "There is a well in the backyard. Master Hu, go wash some water first."

"Oh."

Walnut nodded, being so well behaved.

Chen Tianfeng watched Hu Tao go to the backyard, then he turned his gaze back to the two cooked dishes, then looked at Zhongli, half laughing and half puzzled: "Alas... I still don't understand how Master Hu could get all the steps right but the results were all wrong."

Just now in the kitchen, Hu Tao suddenly got excited and begged Zhong Li to teach her how to make two simple dishes, saying that she wanted to try and see if her cooking skills would improve or decline after not cooking for a while.

Zhongli had no objection and not only agreed, he also asked Chen Tianfeng to give him guidance.

As for the result...it's obvious.

"The hall master..."

Zhongli's calm expression showed a hint of helplessness. After pondering for a few seconds, he said, "She is gifted and cannot be judged by common sense."

God is so gifted that he cannot be judged by common sense!

Chen Tianfeng twitched the corner of his mouth and made up his mind that if Hu Tao had any thoughts of cooking again in the future, he would find a way to tactfully dissuade her from such dangerous thoughts - at least she must not destroy his kitchen.

"I am back!"

Hu Tao returned with brisk steps and a big smile on her face, her two ponytails swaying, her long eyelashes seemed to be hung with tiny water droplets, and her face was slightly moist, which made people subconsciously think of the poem "Water lilies emerge from clear water" - she looked so well-behaved and cute.

It would have been better if she hadn't stood on tiptoe and tried to flick the water drops on her hands onto the raccoon lying on the wall in an attempt to scare it.

The raccoon cat glanced at the strange human who was standing on tiptoe and seemed to be waving his hands, opened his mouth and yawned, still lying there lazily, unmoved.

Most animals are very sensitive to danger and hostility. The raccoon cat's behavior clearly shows that it senses that Walnut has no ill intentions.

"What happen to you guys?"

The girl blinked and looked curiously at the two people who had suddenly become silent for some reason.

"I thought of something. It's okay. Let's eat first."

"Yeah, yeah, eating is important."

"baffling."

Walnut wrinkled her nose and decided not to bother with the two guys. She picked up the chopsticks and took the lead in picking up her own work, putting it into her mouth and tasting it carefully. Then her face turned bitter: "Eh - it tastes so bad!"

This cute and lively girl complained that the food was unpalatable, but she had no intention of throwing the two dishes away. She also did not ask Chen Tianfeng or Zhongli for help. It was obvious that she had already decided to solve the trouble she had caused by herself.

Zhongli looked at her, his lips full of "the old father's satisfied smile" that he couldn't suppress. He picked up the chopsticks and tasted her dish under Hu Tao's surprised eyes. Then he paused and said in a gentle voice: "Not bad, at least there is a lot of room for improvement."

"Wow, Zhongli, this is the first time I've discovered that you're so good at praising people." Hu Tao puffed up her cheeks and rolled her eyes at him.

Yes, yes, there is a lot of room for improvement. Isn't that terrible?

Chen Tianfeng was watching the show happily on the side. Then he saw Hu Tao and Zhongli looking at him at the same time, both with smiles. The meaning was obvious.

Chen Tianfeng's smile froze. He looked at the horrible side dish, then at the two people beside him, and tried to struggle: "I don't need it, right? Well, I saw Hall Master Hu cook it with my own eyes, and I already know what this dish tastes like. There's no need to take the risk again..."

"What does it mean to take a risk?"

Walnut stared at him without any power, raised his smooth and round chin slightly, and snorted softly: "Humph, this is cooked by the master himself, the guest should at least give some face, right?"

"What the hall master said is right." Zhongli nodded in agreement.

Chen Tianfeng: “…”

In the end, I still couldn't escape. Fortunately, the two side dishes only looked a little strange, and the taste was not particularly bad, but somewhere between generally bad and extremely bad.

After the meal, Zhongli followed Hu Tao to show his face at the Wangsheng Hall. Chen Tianfeng followed Zhongli very sensibly, so as not to embarrass the old man who was about to retire but encountered such a trouble with him, and whose retirement plan showed signs of being postponed.

After all the trouble, when Chen Tianfeng and Zhongli arrived at Heyu Teahouse, it was already noon - the lonely Tartaglia had been drinking tea in Heyu Teahouse for the whole morning.

"You guys are here!"

Tartaglia quickly put down the teacup, asked the two to sit down, and waved his hand again: "Hey, two more pots of tea and two snack platters!"

"Okay, sir, wait a moment!"

"Why are you two so late today?"

Tartaglia turned his gaze back, hesitated for a moment, and said half seriously and half jokingly: "Is someone causing trouble for you two? Just tell me, and I promise to help you deal with it quietly."

Although Liyue is not his home ground, the Fatui still has some strength in Liyue Harbor, and they can still help ordinary people like Zhongli and Chen Tianfeng solve some minor troubles.

"Sir, you've misunderstood. These are just some trivial daily matters. They're not a big deal." Zhongli's voice was as gentle and mellow as ever, and his tone was very calm.

"It's just that Mr. Zhongli didn't go to work these days and his boss blocked his door."

Chen Tianfeng took the tea and snacks brought by the waiter, thanked him, poured a cup for himself and Zhongli, and said with a smile: "It's really not a big deal."

"So it's a work matter... I can't interfere then."

Tartaglia scratched his head and immediately felt the same way: "But going to work is indeed a headache. If the colleagues around you are not easy to get along with, it will be even more uncomfortable."

"Oh?" Chen Tianfeng seemed to be interested, raised his eyebrows and smiled: "It sounds like Mr. Gongzi has such a group of colleagues who are difficult to get along with?"

"Not only are they difficult to get along with, sometimes I can't even understand their thoughts."

Tartaglia sighed and said, "For example, my colleague who came with me on a business trip to Liyue Harbor this time, for some reason, sent all the people who followed him away in the past few days... Fortunately, I withdrew my people in advance."

No matter what Dotore wants to do, he will not allow those who follow him to lose their lives for Dotore's plan.

Colleagues...all the people have been sent out...There really is another executive officer in Liyue Harbor, and he's secretly planning something.

Chen Tianfeng glanced at Zhongli secretly, feeling a little sympathetic.

The old man had planned well, and was ready to fake his death and enjoy his retirement life once the traveler arrived. But now he has to focus on himself as a pollution source, and not only can he not start his retirement plan, but there are also Fatui executives in his territory who are always thinking about making trouble.

Zhongli noticed Chen Tianfeng's gaze, but pretended not to see it and drank his tea in silence.

Speaking of which, I’ve been so busy with Chen Tianfeng’s affairs these days that I almost forgot that there’s a small trouble in Liyue Harbor... Well, I can go and take a look when I have time.

Zhongli put down his teacup and took over the topic in just a few words, turning the topic to the cultural landscape of Liyue. At the same time, he silently cooperated with Chen Tianfeng, and while chatting, he allowed Tartaglia to inadvertently reveal more things.

Chen Tianfeng silently gave Zhongli a thumbs up, and his eyes looking at Tartaglia became more sincere and kind.

After three or five cups of tea, Tartaglia, unaware that he was almost selling out his teammates, felt that he had found a confidant. The topic of his conversation with Chen Tianfeng had changed from the scenic spots in Liyue to how to be a good brother, how to get along with younger siblings, and what to do when his younger siblings reached puberty.

The three of them left the teahouse and, under the guidance of Zhongli, went to some of the most popular places in Liyue Harbor for foreign tourists. They didn't say goodbye to each other until sunset.

Tartaglia turned around and went back to the Northland Bank, while Zhongli and Chen Tianfeng walked towards the Chihuyan courtyard.

At this moment, the sky was dim and the lights in the streets were not on yet. As soon as the two entered the alley in front of the courtyard, they saw a figure sitting on the stone steps in front of Zhongli's courtyard, with large and small bags of things beside him. He held his cheeks with his hands and hummed a little tune.

"The first one is sick, the second one is going to take care of it, the third one is going to collect herbs, and the fourth one is going to wait for the day~"

"Five Hills..."

The girl stopped singing, stood up with a smile, and waved to the two of them: "Oh my, you're finally back."

"Master, what is this...?"

Zhongli looked surprised. He looked at Hu Tao and the bag beside her. He guessed something but was not sure.

"Of course I'm moving here to supervise you at work every day."

Hu Tao put her hands on her hips, looked up at Zhongli, and smiled proudly: "Hehe, this hall master has checked during the day. There are quite a few empty rooms in this small courtyard, and they have all been cleaned!"

(End of this chapter)