"oh."

Bai Qiyun was not surprised by this answer.

The world is like this. Just because you work hard doesn’t mean you will definitely be rewarded. There are many people who are betrayed by their own efforts. It’s better to say that this is the norm.

If you think about it carefully, there is no difference between the shrine maiden of Narukami Taisha Shrine and the ordinary three-level official. How could an ordinary child from a poor family be allowed to become one? The resources and background are completely different.

If there really is such an opportunity, it is because the situation requires it.

For example, the palace secretary of Narukami Taisha Shrine probably doesn't want to see that his subordinates are all eldest ladies from noble families, and occasionally he will find a few commoners to come in.

This is a good time for ordinary people to join the shrine.

"Why don't you feel surprised?"

"Well, it's easy to guess. If it were so easy to become a shrine maiden, then Shadow Mountain would probably be full of people by now."

However, considering the girl's mood, Bai Qiyun decided to ask the reason.

He looked at Qing Shui's face, as if he wanted to see through the girl's thoughts, and slowly spoke.

"But looking at you like this, there should be some twists and turns in it."

"Um."

Suzuki Shimizu lowered his head and recalled the scene on the exam day in his mind.

She did fail, but it was not because of her performance in the examination room, but because the scope of the examination was not limited to the few materials she had finally obtained.

Just like the Liyue exam requires Chinese language and mathematics, but if a student who has only studied Chinese language steps into the examination room, it is impossible for her to pass the exam no matter what.

She still remembered that among the candidates in that session, a girl with long green hair sat next to her. She heard that she passed the exam that day, but she didn't know whether it was true or not.

But the most profound scene in her memory was not the moment when she failed the exam, but the night when she returned home with the news that she had failed to pass the exam and was greeted by her parents.

Hearing the news that she failed in the exam, a trace of regret inevitably appeared on their faces.

It was also that night that she lied to her parents for the first time.

Reasons for failing the exam?

'Of course it's because I was nervous during the exam and didn't perform well.'

She kept the real reason for her failure in her heart and never told her disappointed parents.

After all, he had already lost the election, and speaking out would only make his father blame himself even more, which would not help matters.

"I see."

The girl revealed all the secrets she had held in her heart for many years, and she seemed much more relaxed.

Bai Qiyun sat on the chair, shaking the back of the chair while chatting with Qing Shui.

"I think it's great to be able to freely express your inner thoughts to unrelated people like this. At least I won't hate such people."

"I feel the same way."

The two looked at each other and smiled, diluting the melancholy atmosphere in the restaurant that had been filled with memories.

"Boy, the food is ready."

Just as the two were reminiscing about the past, the old man came over carrying several plates of food.

They are all ordinary dishes, nothing out of the ordinary - or so for Inazuma locals.

Looking at Li Yuecai, who had been transformed by magic, Bai Qiyun felt the corners of his eyes twitching slightly.

What is this? This white and smooth tofu can also be called Mapo Tofu. Why does this Kung Pao Chicken put tomatoes? Where does this dark cuisine come from?

Also, what the heck is this dumpling with rice? Carbohydrates and carbohydrates, you will grow as much as you eat, right?

"Forehead..."

Although the dishes were all served, Bai Qiyun was holding chopsticks but didn't know what to eat. On the contrary, Suzuki Shimizu on the side was eating enthusiastically.

It seems that Mrs. Dao has no objection to these magically modified Liyue dishes.

Bai Qiyun tried to pick up a piece of tender tofu and put it in his mouth.

As soon as you take it in, the strong aroma of seafood mixed with a hint of fishy taste spreads in your mouth.

The sweetness of the crab meat and the tenderness of the tofu itself are cleverly combined. However, due to the processing method, there is an extra fishy smell in the dish, but it is not unpleasant to eat.

But this dish called Mapo Tofu doesn't have any spicy taste at all. The tofu is extremely white, without any red oil coating it.

I asked him to tell me that this dish should be renamed Seafood Grilled Tofu instead of Mapo Tofu.

"Hmm...the taste still hasn't changed much."

After finishing the food in the bowl, Qing Shui collapsed on the chair and rubbed his belly with his hands.

Perhaps due to her childhood experience, her appetite is not that big. She only eats a few bites of each dish before she is full. It is really easy to feed her.

Bai Qiyun ate all the rest by himself.

This was very painful for him, a native of Liyue. Faced with so many magically modified dishes, he felt like he was going to suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

After finishing their not-so-good meal, the two of them continued walking leisurely along the street.

Of course, the main thing is that you are full from eating and need to digest it first.

The two of them walked from the bustling street to a somewhat remote place, where stood a tall building that looked incompatible with the simple bungalows next to it.

The two stood on the hillside and looked down, and found that the crowd was divided into two distinct groups in front of the tall building.

People wearing gorgeous clothes pushed open the door and walked in, while those wearing only coarse cloths kept a distance and passed directly by the door without even looking at it, for fear of getting into trouble.

"Ah, that's..."

When Suzuki Shimizu saw the strange building, his eyes were blank for a moment.

"What's wrong? It feels like the people down there are all weird."

Seeing this strange vision, Bai Qiyun had a trace of doubt in his heart.

Even in the most prosperous places, passers-by can't help but look around, but the people here seem to be deliberately avoiding this luxurious-looking building for fear of being associated with it.

There must be something hidden in this.

"Well, what should I say here...it's not a place where common people should come. In other words, the common people who come here are basically desperate people."

Looking at the crowds of people coming and going in front of him, Qing Shui was reminded of those not-so-good memories.

She sighed quietly.

"I don't know if there is such a place in Liyue. We usually call this place 'Cinnabar Square'. It sounds like a very bright place, but it is also a veritable gold-selling cave. It is said that as long as you spend enough money here, you can do anything to it.

Take charge of your waiter and do whatever you want.”

Hearing this, Bai Qiyun felt clear in his heart.

It feels like a place similar to Baht Tian Fang.

He smiled and said.

"No matter how you say 'anything', it's a bit too much. After all, it's done in broad daylight. Even a love based on money must be restricted by the law."

But his words did not bring him a proper reply, only a pair of gloomy eyes flashed in front of him.

It was clearly noon, but Bai Qiyun suddenly felt a cold sweat forming on his back, soaking his back.

"No, I'm right, it's 'anything'. As I said before, those civilians who come here are a symbol of desperation. They often come here to sell themselves to survive, or to sell their children at home in exchange for money.

, then naturally, the guests can also use money to buy these people from Cinnabar Square."

Qing Shui spoke so easily and simply, as if everything should be taken for granted.

But it is precisely behind this "as it should be" that it conceals the life and death of countless people.

And this is just a glimpse behind the decay of Rice Wife.

The vast gap between the prosperous Inazuma City and the slums on the outlying islands is a true reflection of the increasingly severe class gap in Inazuma.

"How do you know so clearly? Could it be..."

Facing the young man's subtle look, Suzuki Shimizu rolled his eyes and said angrily.

"Where are you thinking? Everyone on the outlying island knows these things, otherwise why do you think they would avoid this place?"

That's right. Otherwise, why would pedestrians behave so strangely? It's obvious that they know the story behind this building.

"What you said does make some sense."

But just because they can't go doesn't mean that Bai Qiyun can't go either.

Now that he has come to Daozuma, he must go and see places like Baht and Tin Fang.

Last time he was put in a fight by Ye Lan and Beidou at the Baht Tian Fang. He was unfamiliar with the place here, so no one would be able to disturb him.

The young man opened his legs and walked straight towards the tall building at the bottom of the hillside, startling Qing Shui.

"Hey! Where are you going!"

Her shouts attracted the attention of passers-by around her, and strange looks fell on her, making her feel uncomfortable all over.
To be continued...