Inside the Jade Chamber.
"I… I… I can still drink eight more bowls! Bring the wine!"
"You ask why I'm good to Liyue? Is that even a question? hic… It's because this place is just like my hometown. Who wouldn't want their home to become a better place?"
Watching the drunken, rambling Su Han, Ningguang, who was sitting by the bed, didn't feel annoyed in the slightest.
Instead, a faint smile graced her lips.
They say that one speaks the truth after drinking.
Perhaps these were his true feelings.
"My lady, the warm water is ready."
"Mm, let me do it."
Ningguang removed her finger guards and, under the astonished gaze of Baixiao, picked up the towel and began to gently wipe Su Han's face.
The next day, at ten in the morning, Su Han emerged from his room, rubbing his groggy head.
He swore he would never drink again, especially not with a drunkard like Beidou.
They had agreed to a light drink, but by the end of it, she had her arm slung around his neck, forcing wine down his throat.
She even said something like, "How can you pick up women if you can't drink? You only get a chance when they're drunk!"
He couldn't believe he'd fallen for her nonsense.
Just as he stepped out the door, Kaedehara Kazuha appeared before him.
"My lord, you're awake?"
"Yeah, just woke up." Su Han yawned and accepted the breakfast Kazuha offered him.
Just then, a notification flashed in the group chat. He glanced at it and saw that someone had tagged him.
Ningguang:@Su Han, Sucrose and the assistants have arrived at the Liyue laboratory.
Su Han:Mm, you can handle things as you see fit.
When it came to alchemy, he was truly clueless. It was best to leave it to Ningguang to manage.
Xiangling:Don't tell me you're just waking up now, Su Han.
Su Han:Uhh… I did just wake up. I'm never drinking again, it's such a waste of time.
Zhongli:I happen to have some sobering tea. You can come and get it when you have time.
Thanks to a certain drunkard of an old friend, Zhongli always kept a supply of sobering tea on hand.
Su Han:Alright, I'll have Kazuha make a trip over later.
Having a subordinate really made things convenient. As for Baiwen and the others, they were busy from dawn till dusk and naturally had no time for such trivial matters.
Meanwhile, at the Guili Plains, Sucrose and the alchemical assistants from Mondstadt were staring at the laboratory before them, their faces filled with shock.
It occupied an area of over ten-thousand square meters, resembling a small city.
Although some parts were still crude, just a week ago, this place had been nothing more than a simple village!
The location had been chosen with great care.
Firstly, it was at the center of a transportation hub, making it perfect for both transporting ore from Mingyun Village and for building the future train station.
Furthermore, a small port could be built here, making the transport of goods very simple.
"This place will become Liyue's second most important developing city in the future," Ningguang explained. "Miss Sucrose, if you need anything, just tell Uncle Tian. He is one of the Liyue Qixing. No matter what your request is, he can fulfill it."
"Th-thank you, Miss Ningguang," Sucrose said, pushing up her glasses and nodding shyly.
However, it was the first time she had ever been valued so highly, and her heart was pounding with excitement.
Just then, Ningguang handed a transcribed copy of the engineering book to Sucrose. "This is the tome I promised you. The rest is up to you," she said with a smile.
"Is this really knowledge from another world? Let me see…"
Sucrose immediately began to flip through the pages, her gaze instantly captivated by the contents.
The book covered knowledge from many different fields, but as an alchemist, she could understand it with ease.
"So electrical energy has so many uses…"
"Rune batteries."
"Rune steam trains… incredible. To think it could be done like this."
The more Sucrose read, the more engrossed she became, to the point where she forgot where she was.
The assistants next to her were also given copies.
The information recorded within was all related to civilian applications.
As for any weapons of war, Ningguang had removed them all.
After some discussion, they had decided to make the rune steam train their first research goal, with the rune-powered steamship as the second.
However, to Ningguang's surprise, in just a few short hours, Sucrose had already given her a surprise.
An electric street lamp had been created.
"Our world is abundant in elemental energy, but its application is severely lacking," Sucrose explained. "Following the instructions in the book, I made a simple street lamp."
"It absorbs Electro energy during the day and can release a whole night's worth of light."
As Sucrose activated a rune, the street lamp instantly lit up.
"I didn't expect you to give me such a surprise right after arriving, Miss Sucrose. Is a street lamp like this difficult to make?" Ningguang asked.
"It's very simple. It only requires some Electro Crystals and some special alchemical potions and runes."
"In that case, I will have to ask you to instruct the alchemical apprentices. If we can install these street lamps here, we can save entirely on candles and lamp oil."
"Mhm, that's very simple," Sucrose replied, her face full of smiles.
In reality, even Mondstadt was still illuminated by candlelight, which was far less bright and energy-efficient than electric power.