Jade Chamber.
"Lady Ningguang, the price of grain has already soared to two hundred and fifty Mora per catty this morning," Kaiyang reported with excitement. "If this trend continues, the price is expected to hit three hundred Mora per catty within two or three days."
However, not a trace of joy appeared on Ningguang's face. She calmly instructed, "In that case, starting this afternoon, we will begin selling off our grain at a price of two hundred Mora per catty."
Kaiyang was stunned, his face filled with confusion. "Lady Ningguang, the price of grain clearly has significant potential to rise further. Why would we sell at this price point?"
A flicker of disgust crossed Ningguang's eyes. "Kaiyang, as one of the Qixing, do you not understand the impact that a continued surge in grain prices will have on the people of Liyue? If we continue to drive up the price, it will attract more merchants to join this carnival of capital, frantically speculating on grain prices. And once that happens, it will become exceptionally difficult for grain prices to return to a reasonable level."
Kaiyang was unwilling to concede, with such immense profit right before his eyes. He tried to persuade her again: "Lady Ningguang, if we sell now, I'm afraid it won't be enough to completely crush the Feiyun Commerce Guild and the West Factory."
A cold smile touched the corners of Ningguang's lips. "It is enough to crush the Feiyun Commerce Guild. Xingyun privately abandoned his cooperation with the West Factory, borrowing money to purchase large quantities of grain, intending to make a fortune from this opportunity. When the price of grain falls back to one hundred Mora per catty, the Feiyun Commerce Guild will collapse along with it."
A jolt went through Kaiyang 's heart. He realized this was also Ningguang's veiled warning to him. If he insisted on continuing to speculate on grain prices, his fate might be the same as the future of the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
"Lady Ningguang, I understand," he said respectfully, the flames of greed in his heart extinguished by the cold water of reality.
...
In the afternoon, the price of grain plummeted without any warning, instantly dropping from a high of two hundred and seventy Mora per catty to two hundred.
This sudden price drop was like a bucket of cold water poured over Xingyun's head.
The Feiyun Commerce Guild had built its own position, with the average cost of the grain it acquired being around two hundred and twenty Mora per catty, accumulating a total of one billion Mora worth of grain.
Now, with the price of grain falling to two hundred Mora, it meant the Feiyun Commerce Guild would face a loss of at least two hundred million Mora.
The reason for this situation was obvious. The funds Xingyun used for grain speculation were borrowed from money-lenders, resulting in relatively high capital costs. At the same time, if he chose to sell off the grain, the market price would inevitably slide further.
After a brief deliberation, Xingyun decided to take a gamble and continue borrowing funds from the money-lenders in an attempt to drive the grain price back up. He firmly believed that as long as the grain shortage in Liyue Harbor persisted, the price would eventually recover.
However, what he did not know was that the grain in the Liyue market was inexhaustible; it simply could not all be bought.
...
Mt. Aocang.
A sea of vibrant green stretched from the foot of the mountain to its peak, like a giant green scroll unfurled between heaven and earth, seeming to embrace the clouds.
Following the winding mountain path through layers of green, one finally reached the summit.
Here, there was a secluded platform, a seemingly secret corner of the world, tranquil and mysterious.
In the center of the platform lay a shallow, still pool of water. The water in the pool was crystal clear, its surface shimmering like a mirror, reflecting the azure sky and the white clouds.
And in the middle of the pool stood a majestic, ancient tree. Its branches and leaves were as lush as a canopy, casting a cool shadow over the platform.
Under the protection of the ancient tree, a quaint stone table was quietly placed. A woman sat quietly at the stone table, gazing at the distant scenery.
She was tall and slender, her figure graceful and perfect in every curve. Her black silk bodysuit clung to her like a mysterious black veil, accentuating her graceful figure while adding a touch of mystery and nobility.
Her face was delicate and beautiful, and a pair of red-framed glasses added a touch of intellect and refinement. These glasses not only adorned her face but also infused her gentle grace with a unique allure.
Suddenly, she sensed something. With a thought, her form instantly transformed into a white crane.
A moment later, the figures of Yide and Ganyu appeared on the platform. Their gazes searched and finally settled on the white crane in the center of the pool. The two then walked towards the pool.
Arriving in front of the white crane, Ganyu asked with concern, "Master, have you been well lately?"
The crane raised its head, a hint of complaint in its tone, "Ganyu, you finally remembered your master?"
Ganyu looked embarrassed. "There have been many affairs in Liyue recently, I really couldn't get away."
The crane snorted coldly. "Of course, you're busy. Although there are seven Liyue Qixing, you are the only secretary. How could you not be busy doing the work of seven people?"
Changing the subject, she began to complain about Zhongli, "Back then, the Lord told me that the secretary to the Qixing only needed to handle communication between the adepti and the Qixing. Now, the duty of communication has been abandoned, and you've become the Qixing's full-time drudge..."
Once she started, she was like a bursting river, flowing on and on, as if she had been holding it in for a long time and had finally found someone to confide in.
Yide, standing to the side, began to understand why Ganyu was reluctant to return to Mt. Aocang.
After speaking for a long time, she finally turned her attention to Yide. "Ganyu, who is this?" she asked, curiously sizing up the unfamiliar visitor.
Ganyu quickly introduced him, "Master, this is Yide, the director of the West Factory. He has come this time hoping that you will come out of seclusion to assist in overseeing the affairs of Liyue."
Hearing this, she was momentarily stunned. Unlike the other adepti, she often walked among mortals and knew of Yide, a famous figure throughout the continent of Teyvat. But she still couldn't understand why he, a Fontaine native, had suddenly come here to ask her to supervise Liyue.
Ganyu noticed the bewildered expression on her master's face and began to recount in detail all the changes that had occurred in Liyue Harbor during this time.
After hearing Ganyu's account, a look of anger appeared on her face. "I never thought the Qixing would fall to such a state. It is truly disappointing."
At this moment, Yide spoke with a sincere tone: "Now, with the Lord's retirement, Liyue is weary. This is a time of crisis and survival. Only you, Cloud Retainer, can support the collapsing mansion, turn the tide, and save the people of Liyue from fire and water."
Cloud Retainer felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her, wishing she could emerge from seclusion right now to save Liyue.