"Then I'll look forward to seeing what else you can come up with."
Ningguang looked at Bai Ye with anticipation in her eyes.
Without specifically asking what he could create, Ningguang merely waited quietly for his results and sought an opportunity to work with him.
By then, they had finished most of the dishes. Ningguang had someone clear them away, leaving the table free for negotiations.
"Now, let's discuss cooperation regarding your new invention, the truck."
"Alright." Bai Ye nodded.
Then he reminded Ningguang, "However, I personally suggest that our cooperation should not be limited solely to trucks. Vehicles shouldn't be invented merely to transport cargo; they can serve other functions as well. Simply shipping goods may not bring in that much profit."
Hearing Bai Ye's words, Ningguang nodded thoughtfully.
Bai Ye continued, "The trucks I've invented now are for transporting goods, but next I plan to make vehicles for other purposes. For example, we could install seats inside and use them to transport large numbers of people. As far as I know, many people in Liyue Harbor have elderly relatives living out their retirement in Qingce Village. Traveling between Liyue Harbor and Qingce Village isn't easy right now. We could develop a route like that and transport passengers back and forth every day. I'm sure plenty of people would be willing to ride it. And also..."
Bai Ye thought over the various uses for vehicles in his previous life as he explained them to Ningguang.
Vehicles for carrying passengers, vehicles for personal driving, vehicles specifically for mountain off-roading, vehicles fitted with weapons...
As Bai Ye spoke,
Ningguang's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"I, Ningguang, am definitely investing in these vehicles!"
"About these vehicles... now that I think about it, that's rather awkward to say. Bai Ye, shouldn't we give this type of vehicle a name?"
"Hmm... Sister Ningguang, do you have any ideas?"
Hearing Ningguang ask that, Bai Ye was momentarily stumped as well.
They had been called automobiles on Earth, but Teyvat relied on Elemental Reactions now. Calling them automobiles would not make much sense.
"These vehicles are mainly driven by an Elemental Reaction involving electricity and fire. So, how about calling them Thunderfire Vehicles?"
After thinking for a moment, Ningguang proposed the name.
"Let's not use that name. I'll save Thunderfire for when I eventually come up with a sword that uses Elemental Reactions."
Bai Ye had no intention of wasting such a good name.
"I think we should call them Electric Vehicles instead. That will only be a general term, though. We can still give specific categories their own names later."
"Alright."
Ningguang nodded.
Seeing her nod, Bai Ye reminded her, "But all that is secondary. The most important thing is providing suitable space for the vehicles."
"You mean?"
"Building roads. Without roads, the range those vehicles can travel will be severely limited."
Bai Ye pointed this out to Ningguang.
Without infrastructure, the development Bai Ye wanted to pursue would be meaningless.
This was something he could not accomplish himself. Only someone as wealthy as Ningguang could do it.
Ningguang lowered her head and began to think.
Bai Ye waited quietly.
After a long while,
Ningguang stood up.
"I, Ningguang, will do it."
She spoke seriously.
Yelan, who stood nearby, was somewhat surprised to hear this.
To her, building roads was something that only cost money and could not make any.
Ningguang's ability to make such a decision was truly unexpected.
Seeing Ningguang make that decision, Bai Ye's heart was filled with admiration.
All he could say was that, as great merchants, Ningguang surpassed Dori by far more than a little.
Dori could build herself a palace and drive Kaveh, the man who built it for her, into bankruptcy, while Ningguang could bring down the Jade Chamber she had painstakingly built for the sake of Liyue.
The difference between them was plain to see.
Bai Ye immediately said, "I'll design molds for vehicle parts suitable for construction as soon as possible, so we can finish building the roads sooner."
"Mm."
Ningguang nodded in satisfaction.
The two now understood one another. They both knew the other was the sort of person who loved money but still had firm principles.
People like that were the best to work with.
They desired money, so one could expect them to work hard. Yet they also had principles, making cooperation more reassuring.
Looking at Bai Ye's platinum-blond hair, the same color as her own, Ningguang's gaze softened further.
After thinking for a moment, she said to Bai Ye, "I have several unused Floating Stones on my side. Once you leave, I'll have them all delivered to you. If you have any new ideas in the future, you're welcome to come to the Jade Chamber and find me anytime."
After saying that, she instructed her secretary Baiwen to notify Buyun below the Jade Chamber not to stop Bai Ye in the future.
"Mm-hmm, I still have many ideas that will need Sister Ningguang's cooperation."
"Then I'll look forward to you coming to see me more often."
"Of course I will."
After exchanging a few more words with Ningguang, Bai Ye prepared to leave with Yelan.
Both sides had a good impression of each other during their first meeting today, but whether their relationship would deepen still depended on their future cooperation.
Ningguang escorted Bai Ye and Yelan down.
Before they left, she did not forget to give Yelan and Bai Ye separate instructions.
"Yelan, continue investigating the Fatui. I will give you my full support. If you need manpower or funds, don't come looking for me—use them directly. Liyue and Snezhnaya are openly cooperating at the moment, but we cannot let down our guard behind the scenes. Also, help investigate whether the Fatui might make a move against Bai Ye."
"Understood."
Yelan nodded calmly.
Then,
Ningguang said to Bai Ye:
"As for the road construction, I'll make arrangements as soon as possible. However, because building roads concerns all of Liyue, even if I provide all the funding, the Seven Stars will still need to investigate it. I estimate that this matter will be handed to the Seven Stars' secretary, Ganyu. When the time comes, investigate it together with her and calculate what kind of roads are needed for vehicles to travel on. After all, there are quite a few Adepti and ancient god ruins north of Liyue Harbor, so take care to avoid them as much as possible while building the roads."
"Ganyu will investigate with me?"
Hearing Ningguang's words, Bai Ye felt both delighted and worried.
He was delighted because he might be able to ask her about his teacher;
but he was worried that Ganyu might recognize his teacher's identity.
After thinking it over carefully, Bai Ye felt the risk was worth taking.
As long as he concealed himself well, he would not need to worry about being discovered.
He could even temporarily use only the Art of Automata methods he had learned from that automata blueprint.
Before you continue