aircannonsinc Chapter 1036 The Elephant in the Room
Chapter 1036 The Elephant in the Room
After hearing the system's answer, Shao Yun couldn't help but feel puzzled.
He didn't have much opinion on Merino sheep, after all, he hadn't originally planned to raise meat sheep.
However, when he heard about Florida cows, his brows furrowed tightly.
"Isn't this Florida cow a bit too common?" Shao Yun complained. "Why don't you prepare some high-milk-yielding breeds for me? Like Holsteins or something like that?"
The system was obviously a little surprised by Shao Yun's reaction.
How do you know about Holstein cattle?
Shao Yun (Arthur) sneered, pointed to his head, and replied slowly, "I worked on a ranch before. Although not for long, it's not like I'm completely unfamiliar with these things."
The system gave its own reasons and said:
Florida cows can graze naturally, but Holsteins require meticulous care. Where you live, you'd have to pay for feed and meticulously raise them. Do you have the energy and space for that?
Shao Yun complained, "But the milk production of Florida cows is too low. If we raise too few, there won't be enough for our family to eat..."
The system directly hit the pain point in Shao Yun's heart and said:
If you were to start a ranch in Windy Land, you could raise a large herd of Florida cows on the grasslands of Windy Land, or raise Holstein cattle. It doesn't matter...
[But the key is, in Natana, the optimal solution is to raise cattle like Florida cows, which are suitable for grazing! If you use intensive farming, then your ranch won't be inhabited, right?]
Shao Yun covered his chest, feeling deeply hurt again. Why did he keep getting angry?
"Okay, stop rubbing salt into my wounds!"
After rubbing salt into Shao Yun's wounds, the system also provided a compromise solution.
"Okay, when the time comes, I'll arrange for you to raise one or two Holstein cows at home. If you feel too busy to handle it, you can return them to me, okay?"
Shao Yun thought this was not bad, and nodded in agreement, "That's about right... When the time comes, the wool can be sold to the Yanmi Lord Tribe to make fabrics. Wool and other things should be very popular!"
"The milk produced can be made into cheese or something, or sold directly to the Hanging Wood Tribe or the Holy Fire Arena. Not bad, not bad."
The system didn't want to interrupt Shao Yun's imagination of the future, but the reality could not be solved by simply covering it up.
It's like the elephant in the room. Even if you try your best to ignore it, it's still there!
[Although your ranch life plan is very good, there is one thing I need to remind you of. Are you really sure you can live in Nata forever in the future?]
[While Wendy is a bit of a jerk, Ying is definitely the key to saving the world. She might not be that strong, but she has a high destiny... ha... 'Adventer'.]
Shao Yun looked at the text that popped up on the system and sneered, "If Ying is a hero who saved the world, please treat her accordingly instead of tricking her into being a gas filter canister."
Immediately afterwards, Shao Yun emphasized to the system what Ying had said to him more than three years ago.
"Also, don't forget that Ying's first priority is to reunite with her brother! I chose to retreat in the snowy mountains back then, but now, I won't back down again."
"As Javier Escuela said..."
At this point, Shao Yun stated seriously: "When we have to fight, we will fight to the end; when we have to escape, we will slip away; when we have to die, we will face death with equanimity."
"No matter what, we will be free!"
The system also felt that now was not the time to talk about "saving the world", so it changed the subject.
[Okay, okay, but I still want to remind you that you will need to make a decision one day!]
Shao Yun responded indifferently: "Then let's wait until that day comes."
……
The next day, early in the morning, at Qiaoying Manor in Liyue.
As the morning light breaks, golden sunlight penetrates the big trees on the street of Qiaoying Village, casting mottled light and shadows on the bluestone path.
The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of tea and the scent of moist earth, and occasionally the crisp chirping of birds breaks the silence.
After several days of careful care, most of the patients who were once haunted by the aura of death have recovered.
Bai Zhu was amazed at how quickly the patients affected by the death energy recovered.
After a brief inquiry, I found out that most of the patients were well cared for by Miss Barbara.
Finally, Keqing was ready to express her deepest gratitude to Barbara on behalf of all the patients.
In the small courtyard where Barbara temporarily lives.
Barbara, who had just gotten up, was combing her slightly messy blonde hair. The morning light fell into her light blue eyes, casting a soft halo.
At this time, Keqing was already waiting in the yard.
Seeing Barbara come out, he stepped forward and bowed solemnly.
"Thank you Miss Barbara for your great help these days. The patient has almost recovered. Please accept Keqing's greeting." As she said this, she was about to bow down.
Barbara quickly stepped forward and held Keqing's arm.
Seeing the undisguised trust in the eyes of this high-ranking figure from one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, her heart moved slightly, she clasped her hands together, and spoke with a tone of deliberately created piety.
"Lady Keqing, there's no need to be so polite. On the one hand, it's because of my care, but more importantly, it's the power of faith!"
"Faith?" Keqing was stunned when she heard this, and her delicate eyebrows wrinkled slightly. She obviously didn't expect to hear such an answer.
Healing and saving lives rely on medical skills and medicine, and the word "faith" is a bit of a castle in the air...
Barbara noticed Keqing's confusion and worried that her words were too abrupt, so she quickly explained with a smile, "In other words, you can also understand it as the desire to survive and spiritual sustenance."
"Think about it, when people are in despair due to illness, if they pray to God in their hearts, this thought will become the motivation that supports them to get through it."
“This is actually the power of faith!”
When Keqing heard the easy-to-understand explanations of "desire to survive" and "spiritual sustenance", the confusion in her eyes dissipated like clouds illuminated by the sun.
She nodded slightly, and replied as if suddenly realizing something, "I see... I was thinking too much about 'faith'."
Seeing that she had let down her guard, Barbara's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible smile, and she said:
"Actually, many truths are like this; once explained, they become simple. So, while we have some time, why don't we continue our conversation? There might be more to discuss about this 'spiritual sustenance'."
Upon hearing this, Keqing's face instantly showed genuine anticipation and she nodded vigorously.
"Of course! Ever since my last conversation with Miss Barbara, I've felt like a window has opened in my heart. Many things that I couldn't figure out before have become much smoother now. I feel so much better than I've ever felt before."
"It just so happens that I have some ideas I want to discuss with you."
As they talked, they walked to the stone table in the yard. Just as they were about to sit down and talk in detail, a steady figure slowly walked in from outside the courtyard gate.
Zhongli stood with his hands behind his back, his brown-gold robe looking particularly solemn in the morning light.
He glanced at the two of them calmly and asked, "Do you mind if I join you?"
Keqing was stunned when she saw the newcomer, then she stood up and bowed, "Mr. Zhongli? Why are you here?"
She really didn't expect that the guest from the Wangsheng Hall would suddenly appear here and take the initiative to join their conversation.
Barbara remained calm as she explained to Keqing with a smile, "Mr. Zhongli is very knowledgeable and has unique insights into many things."
"I had the opportunity to talk to him several times a few days ago, and he quite agrees with some of the points I mentioned earlier."
Zhongli nodded noncommittally, then took over the conversation, saying calmly, "Indeed, I think some of these ideas are worth further investigation."
"I came here today to hear Miss Barbara's talk about promoting Liyue's traditional culture and using it to control ourselves."
"Promote traditional culture and restrain ourselves?"
Keqing chewed over this sentence carefully in her mouth, thinking about the "faith" they just talked about, and muttered thoughtfully:
"Is there a connection between faith, Liyue's traditional culture, and self-discipline?"
Barbara heard Keqing's answer and nodded secretly.
This was the entry point she carefully selected. It not only fits Liyue's current situation, but also naturally leads the topic to the importance of faith. It was simply perfect.
She looked at Keqing sincerely and inquired, "Yes, by the way, I'd like to ask, how long has it been since Liyue held an event like this to praise the gods?"
Keqing scratched her head subconsciously, quickly understanding the meaning of Barbara's words, while carefully recalling it, and then replied:
"Miss Barbara, do you mean celebrating festivals? Well, apart from the Lantern Festival, other traditional festivals haven't been celebrated much in recent years."
"After all, Liyue hasn't been quiet these past few years... I really don't have the extra energy to plan those events."
When Barbara heard this, a look of pain appeared on her face, and she said earnestly:
"This is the problem! Failure to cultivate and pass on faith has led to Liyue's current situation."
“Faith is like a foundation. If the foundation is unstable, how can the building be strong?”
Keqing was shocked by Barbara's words. The word "frightened as a cicada" was the most appropriate to describe her current state.
When she thought about Liyue possibly being destroyed by the sinking of desire, she felt a strong panic in her heart and asked anxiously:
"So, Miss Barbara, is it too late to make amends now? Do we still have a chance to salvage things?"
Barbara held Keqing's hand tightly and said firmly, "It's better to do something than nothing! We must act now while there's still time."
"Hold a good event, make it grand, and ideally, get everyone involved. An event truly about faith in the gods! Build a solid foundation for Liyue."
Keqing tapped her fingertips lightly on the stone table, Barbara's proposal running rapidly through her mind.
She repeatedly compared Barbara's emphasis on "universal participation" with Liyue's millennium-old cultural traditions. Her brows gradually relaxed, and she looked up thoughtfully and spoke.
"Miss Barbara, do you mean to hold a temple fair in Liyue for all to participate in?"
When Zhongli heard the word "temple fair", a distant look flashed in his deep eyes.
This word was like a key that opened the floodgates of his long-forgotten memories.
Aren’t the red lanterns at the temple fair, the storyteller’s gavel, the hawkers’ shouts, and the blessing rituals passed down from generation to generation the best vehicles to integrate faith and life?
It not only fits the roots of Liyue, but also allows everyone to feel the power of culture in the bustle.
When the people of Liyue gathered in Guiliji, the temple fair was almost a weekly event.
I often walked side by side with the immortals in the bustling crowd, watching the children running with sugar paintings in their hands, especially "Gui Zhong"...
Oh, wear and tear...
Zhongli collected his thoughts and brought them back to the present.
"Holding a temple fair to promote Liyue's traditional culture? I think it's a good idea. It allows the people of Liyue to revisit the wisdom of their ancestors and remember where they came from. This is particularly meaningful."
Besides, Zhongli felt that Liyue had been in turmoil in recent years, and taking this opportunity to make the people happy could also be considered a good omen.
……