That was how she'd first met Xiangling.
After tasting Xiangling's cooking, Beidou had made a bold prediction on the spot: given time, this little chef would make a name for herself across Liyue Harbor.
And sure enough, that prediction had come true.
Xiangling's reputation now echoed through the harbor, and Beidou's relationship with her was excellent. Whenever possible, she'd take Xiangling out to sea to hunt for exotic marine ingredients.
"I was just thinking I missed her cooking," Beidou sighed. "I haven't had Xiangling's food in ages."
"Xiangling's in the kitchen," Chef Mao said with a chuckle. "Please wait a moment, Captain Beidou."
He knew full well how much Beidou adored his daughter's dishes. In the old days, before Xiangling officially took over as Wanmin's head chef, she would often run off to sail with Beidou.
"Xiangling! Captain Beidou's here!" Chef Mao called toward the back. "She wants your cooking!"
"Huh? Captain Beidou?!"
Before his voice had even faded, an excited shout came from the kitchen.
A few seconds later, Xiangling rushed out, eyes sparkling.
"Beidou! You're here!" she cried, practically bouncing.
Aside from Yanfei, Beidou was one of her dearest friends. Before she settled into her role at Wanmin Restaurant, she had spent a lot of time traveling with the Crux Fleet, constantly looked after by Beidou and the crew.
Back then, she never would have imagined that someone who "couldn't boil water" like Beidou would be so insanely knowledgeable about seafood and ingredients. Beidou's palate and experience with marine life had shocked her.
"Hahaha, I thought you might be out playing," Beidou laughed heartily. "I came specifically to eat our little chef's cooking."
"I'm Wanmin's head chef now, Beidou!" Xiangling protested shyly. The nickname "little chef" still made her blush.
"It's fine, it's fine," Qianyan chimed in with a grin. "We heard Liyue's been changing a lot lately, so we came to take a look—and to eat your food."
"We're sailing out again in a few days. Want to come along?" she added. "It's been a while since the crew's seen you. Everyone misses you."
She was the one who had originally sweet-talked Xiangling into boarding The Alcor, which led to the young chef winning over the entire crew with her cooking.
"Another long voyage?" Xiangling's eyes lit up.
The Crux Fleet's expeditions always traveled far, stopping at countless islands with all kinds of rare ingredients. With Beidou around, every giant sea beast they felled turned into premium meat.
"I'd really like to... but I'll have to think about it," Xiangling said.
She still had Instant Noodles recipes to refine, and new coffee drinks to perfect. She doubted she'd have the time.
"Come sit! What do you want to eat? I'll make it right now," she smiled. "It's only early afternoon, but that's still a perfect time for lunch."
"Same as always. Mapo Tofu and stir-fried pork with chili," Beidou said decisively. "Food fried in a big wok over roaring flames just hits different from grilled fish on the deck."
"Got it!"
Xiangling nodded, then sprinted back into the kitchen. Oil sizzled. Aromas soon followed.
Beidou and the three crew members sat down at a table.
"Since Xiangling's cooking and you're all settled in, I'll head out for a bit," Chef Mao said after checking the time. "I have an appointment about some equipment orders. Enjoy your meal, Captain Beidou. I'll be back soon."
"Alright. Don't worry about us," Beidou waved him off.
"Beidou, we still haven't asked about the instant noodles," Furong blurted, watching Chef Mao leave. "Isn't that why we came?"
"Xiangling's here, isn't she?" Beidou said with a grin. "We'll ask her in a bit, get the details, then swing by Liyue Bank this afternoon, and do some shopping before heading back tonight."
"Sounds great," Furong and the others agreed happily.
Time slipped by.
Half an hour later, Xiangling emerged with dish after dish.
The table quickly filled with food, the rich aromas wrapping around everyone like a warm blanket.
"As expected, nothing beats Xiangling's cooking," Beidou sighed contentedly. "I really missed this."
"Beidou, here's the stir-fried pork with peppers," Xiangling said, setting down another plate. "If it's not enough, I can make more."
"This is plenty."
Beidou eyed the spread—six dishes and a soup—and grinned. "Sit and eat with us. We can chat, and you can come shopping with us later."
"Okay!"
Xiangling took the seat next to Beidou without hesitation. Their relationship was close enough that there was no need for formality.
"Still the best," Beidou mumbled around a mouthful of food. "Xiangling, have you ever thought about becoming the Crux Fleet's full-time chef? You'd only have to cook, and I'd give you anything you want."
"I'd be too embarrassed to leave now," Xiangling rubbed her head. "I've taken over Wanmin's kitchen, and I still haven't surpassed Liyue Pavilion's dishes or Xinyue Kiosk's banquets. I can't leave yet."
She smiled. "Once I've made Wanmin the best restaurant in Liyue and fulfilled my dream, then I'll sail with you again, Beidou."
"Fair enough."
Beidou laughed. She had only been half-serious, anyway.
"Oh, right. When Wang Ming came back earlier, he brought some Instant Noodles," Beidou said. "He said they're your restaurant's new invention. Can you get us a bulk order?"
"You know we're setting sail soon. There are days when we barely have time to cook, and all we can do is gnaw on dried meat and grilled fish. Those noodles were amazing. Can you make a few thousand packs for us?"
The number rolled off her tongue naturally: a few thousand.
"Bulk is fine. A few thousand might be tricky, though," Xiangling tilted her head.
"My dad's out talking to someone about making machinery. If they finish the equipment in the next couple of days, we can mass-produce them. Then a few thousand is doable. Without the machine, we can't hit that volume."
"Lu—"
A squeaky cry sounded.
A black blur darted out from the kitchen with Guoba chasing behind it.
The blur leapt up and landed squarely on Xiangling's head.
"Hey! Roastie!"
Xiangling puffed out her cheeks. "You were licking the sauce again, weren't you? I told you, no licking! No more!"
"And stop jumping on my head! You're all greasy! Now I have to wash my hair again!"
She grabbed the creature by its ears and lifted it off.
It was indeed a Roast Suckling Pig—dripping oil, emitting a mouthwatering roasted aroma... and very much alive, trembling in her hands.
Gulp.
Qianyan and the others froze mid-bite, staring.
They weren't imagining things. That was a living Roast Suckling Pig.
Since when did roasted pigs move?
The intoxicating scent made their mouths water. Their brains screamed "pet," but their stomachs screamed "food."
Beidou stared, dumbstruck.
She had seen many bizarre sea beasts in her life, but this was a first. A fully cooked pig. With crackling skin. Running around.
The sheen of oil on its body made her fingers twitch. Every instinct told her to carve it up and eat.
The poor pig shivered harder under her gaze and dove headfirst into Xiangling's arms, refusing to come back out.
"Xiangling, this is...?"
"It's a creature kind of like Guoba," Xiangling said quickly, clutching the pig protectively. "It just happens to look like a roast suckling pig. It's my pet now."
"Oh. Your pet, huh..." Beidou sighed, disappointed.
If it was Xiangling's pet, then eating it was clearly off the table.
"A pet?" Furong and the others exchanged looks.
What kind of pet looked like that?
"Right, Beidou, I was just about to tell you," Xiangling said suddenly. "Besides Liyue Bank, you should check out the Jar Shop later."
"Jar Shop?" Beidou blinked. "What's that?"
"It's a mysterious little shop that sells jars. Inside them are all kinds of incredible things," Xiangling explained. "Each jar costs 100,000 Mora. And each person can only buy ten per week."
She patiently went over everything she knew, from Experience Orbs to Devil Fruits to living roast pigs.
By the time she finished, Qianyan, Huixing, and Furong were all staring at her in stunned silence.
Liyue had a place like that?
Why had they never heard of it?
"So you're saying Liyue Bank, your pet here, even people pulling new Visions... all of it came from that Jar Shop?" Beidou's eyes widened.
The scale of it hit her all at once.
The recent upheavals in Liyue were all linked to that one shop.
Even Visions—things granted by the gods themselves—could be drawn from jars.
Add in Ageless Pills, bizarre tools, and ungodly powers... It was enough to shock anyone.
"Yup," Xiangling nodded, then took out her spear to show her. "I pulled this there too."
"That's... quite a weapon."
One glance was enough for Beidou to sense its quality. This wasn't something you could simply buy with Mora.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Thanks to Xiangling's thorough explanation, she now had a clear picture.
The Jar Shop wasn't just some quirky curiosity. It was a force altering the balance of power in Liyue.
She had originally thought all these changes came purely from Ningguang's ambition.
But no. Ningguang was only one beneficiary. The real source was that mysterious shop.
Nothing in this world came without purpose.
More than opening jars, Beidou suddenly wanted something else.
She wanted to meet the person behind the counter.
Anyone who could sell jars that contained new bloodlines, Dragon Balls, and living food... was no ordinary merchant.
Getting to know that man would be the greatest treasure of all.
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