The shopkeeper let out a sigh and said, "It's because I didn't study well when I was young that I ended up doing this."
Hu Tao responded, "Why? Do you think this line of work is shameful?"
The shopkeeper replied, "It's not that it's shameful, exactly. It's just… this kind of job feels like something people only do when they have no other choice, when they're completely out of options. A normal person wouldn't choose this path."
Hu Tao pouted slightly. "I don't see it that way."
"Oh? What's your perspective, young lady?"
"I believe that every profession has its own value and purpose. There's no such thing as high or low, noble or lowly, when it comes to work.
At the same time, our line of work is definitely not something for the desperate, nor is it disgraceful.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death—these are natural laws, things everyone goes through eventually.
So why is it that doctors are celebrated, yet we have to hide in the shadows?"
The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned.
"Besides," Hu Tao continued, "if you really regret it or dislike this profession, you can always change paths. It's not too late to start studying even if you didn't take it seriously when you were young."
The shopkeeper sighed again. "Sigh… it's too late now. I'm getting old."
Hu Tao looked at him seriously. "Shopkeeper, you look like you're in your thirties, maybe early forties. That's still considered the prime of life. How can you say you're old?"
"Even so, my memory and thinking aren't as sharp as they used to be…"
"And what of it? In Liyue, we still occasionally see elderly folks, even in their eighties, taking the imperial exams held once a year.
Aren't they older than you? Isn't their memory and thinking ability worse than yours?
Yet even so, they keep working at it year after year, hoping to improve this nation through their own efforts.
Some of them know full well that age is against them and that they likely won't pass, yet they still maintain a thirst for learning. Why is that?
Shopkeeper, what you're saying are just excuses. You're simply running away."
Hearing this, the shopkeeper fell silent for a long time. His thoughts drifted into the past, and only after a while did he speak.
"…You're right."
"Since I was a child, I disliked studying. I started working in my early teens.
Luckily, Mondstadt is a free-spirited city-state. It's not like Liyue, where education is held in such high regard.
I thought not needing to study and not being forced to do so—that was the freedom of Mondstadt.
But over the years, I never really amounted to anything, and eventually I ended up in this line of work.
But I was wrong… All these years, I've just been avoiding responsibility."
"Only today did I finally understand—true freedom isn't about running away.
It's about having the courage to make choices, and the bravery to face the fear of the unknown."
"Miss Hu Tao, thank you for your words today. I feel like I've finally come to understand life.
Miss Hu Tao, I'm closing this shop—I'm going to face the fears in my heart and fly toward true freedom!"
Paimon: ?
She felt like she understood every word they said, but when strung together, none of it made any sense.
"Mhm, good luck! Uh, by the way, shopkeeper…"
"I know what Miss Hu Tao wants to say. To me, you're my benefactor. How about this—I'll sell this shop to you at half price. How's that sound?"
"Really? Thank you!" Hu Tao then turned to Zephyr.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Ehehe… Traveler-sama, could you please lend me fifty thousand Mora?"
"…"
In the end, after much coaxing and pestering from Hu Tao, Zephyr reluctantly handed over fifty thousand Mora.
Paimon was completely dumbfounded.
What just happened? A few lines of conversation and she actually managed to talk the shopkeeper into selling his store? Is this Hu Tao some kind of demon?!
The shopkeeper tidied up quickly and soon left. No one knew how exactly he planned to chase his so-called freedom.
Paimon muttered, "What just happened? Paimon don't get what the shopkeeper meant at all…"
Zephyr replied, "It was simple. You really didn't get it?"
"Nope…"
"Then tell me what you understood."
"Uhh… it's hard to explain. If you get it, you get it. If you don't… well, then it's really hard to explain."
"Paimon feel like you're just messing with Paimon! So what is he going to do, anyway?"
"How would I know? You'd have to ask him yourself."
Hu Tao said, "If I had to guess, the most likely thing is that he'll either go back to studying or become an adventurer."
Paimon scratched her head and said, "It's so strange. He clearly hated studying the most, yet in the end, he willingly gave up his business just to go study."
Hu Tao sighed, "Yeah, people really are strange creatures."
Zephyr added, "You're one to talk. Like you—after a meal, don't you always say you're full and can't eat another bite, and then go ahead and eat dessert anyway?"
"Cough cough… Well, that's a little different…"
…
Hu Tao clapped her hands and said, "Alright! Since this shop is ours now, we should clean it up and renovate it today."
"Renovate it?"
"Yep, of course! We've got to remodel it to look like Liyue's Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. After all, this is a branch office."
Zephyr replied, "Mm-hmm, well then, you go ahead. I've got stuff to do, so I'll head out first."
Hu Tao grabbed his hand. "As my subordinate, shouldn't you be helping this Hall Master reset the branch of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
"When did I become your subordinate? Wait—don't tell me you want me to pay for the renovations too?"
Hu Tao blinked and nodded. "Yup! Isn't that only natural?"
"…"
"I'm out of money."
"Huh?!"
"I'm not some rich lady like Ningguang, alright? I've only got so much money—between upgrading weapons, buying intel, and now buying a house—what money would I have left?"
"Well… I guess that makes sense…"
Hu Tao said tentatively, "Then… should we borrow from Amber?"
Zephyr glared at her. "Do you even have any shame?"
"Sure I do."
"Then you go ask. I'm not doing it."
"Cough cough… I was just joking, geez."
Zephyr said, "If you're going to renovate, shouldn't you at least go around Mondstadt and check which shops have cheaper materials first?"
"You're right, you're totally right! That's why you're the top aide under this Hall Master!"
"Who's your aide?!"
"You, of course. Don't worry—stick with this Hall Master, and I'll have your back in the future."
The group headed out in search of renovation supply stores. They hadn't gone far when they heard someone crying over a funeral.
Paimon said, "Uhh… did someone pass away?"
Hu Tao immediately perked up, "Let's go check it out!"
"No, seriously, why would we go look at a dead person?"
"Of course we should check it out! This is a prime business opportunity!"
"…"
They arrived at a fork in the road.
Down the left path, someone was mourning in a courtyard—it was clear someone had died.
But down the right path, someone was giving birth, and they were holding a celebration, handing out red envelopes and wedding candies.
Zephyr murmured, "Sigh… People's joys and sorrows are not the same."
A funeral on the left, a celebration on the right—how absurd, how ironic.
And if you had to blame something, you could only curse the heavens.
//END
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