—Real World
"Oh? So that's why the two grand events are together." March 7th looked at the event page with a sudden realization.
The version grand event page was split in two.
One half was full of sky lanterns, with the event name Bright Firmament Rises Over the Sea—still gray, meaning the event hadn't started.
The other half was a table full of sumptuous dishes, with Yiya, Paimon, Lumine, and Jun Bai beside it. The event name was lit up, meaning the event had already started.
From experience, events require prerequisite story to unlock, and these two events' stories were one after the other, both during Lantern Rite—so they were placed together.
March 7th opened the Lantern Rite Grand Celebration event page.
The event showcase filled the whole screen. Six icons representing six minigames rose up.
Only three were lit—interactive.
The back three, when clicked, prompted one more day until unlock—meaning playable on New Year's Eve.
The three unlocked minigames all had prerequisite tasks.
Full-of-energy little March completed them one by one.
The first task: A handicraft master making New Year reds suddenly received a large order and needed someone dexterous to help with simple orders.
The corresponding minigame involved cutting window decorations, writing blessing characters, or drawing New Year paintings according to requirements.
[This window cutting is so easy, and they turn out pretty nice.]
[It's easy because it's a game within a game, the patterns are simple, and there are even helper tools.]
[In real life, window cuttings are those complex patterns—the beautiful ones you can't even figure out how to make.]
[Do we have to draw New Year paintings too? Can someone help? My drawing talent is pretty bad.]
[It says drawing, but it's actually just placing system-generated patterns as required. Of course, you can draw yourself—there's a DIY function.]
Little March wasn't abstract like Stelle—she had no resistance to pretty things.
So little March cut window decorations with great joy.
The feeling of exquisite window cuttings appearing from her own hands—who gets it? It was really fun!
If it weren't for the water friends urging the next one, little March felt she could play all afternoon.
The second task: A merchant hiring temporary workers to write couplets had unreliable help—the originally sorted couplets got mixed up.
Players needed to find the matching lower line for the given upper line.
[The episode little March and Sushang are worst at.]
[This one I'm…]
[These days, people with poor Chinese grades can't play games anymore?]
"This… let's handle it later! On to the next!" March 7th decisively chose to skip playing this one on stream.
Better to leave this to Dan Heng or Firefly.
Stelle? If Professor Ratio hadn't seen her thesis with its bizarre logic, she almost wouldn't have graduated. Asking her felt pointless.
The third task: Some Fengdeng Lou staff hadn't finished buying New Year goods. Chen Yuan, as manager, had to buy them for those delayed by work—then Paimon volunteered to take the job.
"Paimon really… takes any job that comes!"
Little March condemned Paimon's lack of boundaries.
And thinking seriously, she realized most world quests and event quests were Paimon stirring up trouble for no reason.
Just as March 7th was about to rant about this behavior, she saw the Liyue version of Liben appear.
Submitting the required materials to Chen Yuan would directly give Primogem rewards.
"…Next time you take commissions on your own, please follow this standard." March 7th muttered quietly.
[Liben—Guili Assembly Fengdeng Lou exclusive skin]
[Paimon always takes commissions for us, but this time she took a good one.]
[Chen Yuan is so kind! He even takes money out of pocket to buy New Year goods for employees!]
"Really has that New Year atmosphere." March 7th controlled her character walking around Guili Assembly and sighed.
"I remember this scene—I only saw it in old New Year videos before. Now…"
March 7th suddenly stopped, hesitating: "I think I've never seen this scene in real life…"
[Sigh, the game is getting more and more New Year flavor, but in real life there's barely any red to be seen during New Year.]
[I vaguely remember—when I was little, New Year was very particular—even underwear had to be red. Now we just wear last year's clothes.]
[No one said that when we set off fireworks back then, foreigners thought our house was at war?]
Seeing the stream atmosphere gradually turning low, March 7th thought—oh no.
These water friends who came to comfort her now seemed to need her comfort?
She had to find a way to turn their mood around.
But March 7th wasn't a natural talent like Stelle, so she could only awkwardly change the subject:
"We've seen the activity games in Guili Assembly—next, let's take everyone to see the situation in Liyue Harbor."
Then she directly teleported to Liyue Harbor.
Liyue Harbor was also decorated with lanterns and bustling, but for players coming from Guili Assembly, it still felt lacking.
[The New Year flavor is still best in Guili Assembly.]
[After all, Liyue Harbor split off from Guili Assembly—when it comes to tradition, it naturally can't compare.]
[Even the meaning of the event—Guili Assembly is closer to reality…]
The character walked to the quest location and triggered the story:
Paimon: "As expected, just like Jun Bai said—Liyue Harbor has already prepared the prerequisite work for Lantern Rite."
Paimon: "But though it's lively, it always feels like it's missing the atmosphere compared to Guili Assembly."
At this moment, a merchant-dressed uncle approached.
Merchant: "Excuse me, can this floating little thing next to you be sold?"
(1. Just 10 Mora and you can take her home)
(2. This is emergency food—if you want her, treat me to a meal at Fengdeng Lou)
(3. You can't afford my price)
[March, think about how she makes you run up and down taking tasks every day. Quick—10 Mora to get rid of her, let Yiya be the guide!]
[10 Mora is too much of a loss—back in Mondstadt story, she ate 50,000 in one meal! Choose Fengdeng Lou, eat it back.]
[1 or 2—March, you only have two choices. Otherwise we'll unfollow!]
[March, you don't want Stelle's hard-earned million fans to drop, right?]
"Where's the hardship? Isn't it pretty relaxed?" March 7th complained.
Then she gave up on originally choosing the third option and followed the barrage's advice to pick the second.
Lumine: "This is emergency food—if you want her, treat me to a meal at Fengdeng Lou."
Paimon: "Hey! Am I only worth one meal?"
Lumine: "Makes sense—then add dinner too."
Merchant: "Deal!"
Paimon: "I haven't agreed yet!"
Paimon: "She agreed on her own—anyway, let me state upfront, I'm not going with you!"