Force the Cow's Head Down if It Won't Drink / The Power of Cooking

"There's no way around it. It's probably an order from above. She usually keeps at least three meters away from me, there's no reason for her to approach me on her own initiative," Si Ming thought for a moment and then reminded, "This person has a somewhat eccentric personality, so please bear with her."

Yao Bilian sighed, "Why are there so many Anomalies people here? When will we get a normal person?"

You have no right to say such a thing!

Chapter 207 Forcing a Cow to Drink Water

Si Ming, at least, had the self-control of an adult and did not continue playing with the Vermilion Bird Machine all night. He got up on time the next day for his morning exercise.

When it was time for breakfast, Yao Bilian and Hongdou were once again pulled out of bed by Murong Qing. With sleepy eyes drooping, they sat down at the dining table, swaying as if they might fall to the ground and sleep at any moment. The latter, in particular, almost immediately fell asleep the moment she sat down, displaying an amazing talent comparable to Nobita Nobi.

Actually, before the Lunar New Year, the two had already been forced to develop good living habits. However, because of the Mohist Knight Guard assessment, Murong Qing was not at home for the entire winter vacation. As a result, the two, who lacked self-control, reverted to their disordered day-night schedule and had to be reformed again.

Si Ming looked around and, finding the number of people the same as before, asked, "Is Yu awake yet?"

Without hesitation, Murong Qing replied, "There's no one in the room, and I've been exercising in the courtyard the whole time. Excluding the possibility of her climbing over the wall, she must have gotten up earlier than us."

Originally, the spare keys for each room were in the hands of Yao Bilian, who was in charge of the management. However, because she lacked the self-awareness to set an example, Murong Qing took over and, after a democratic vote, she was stripped of her management rights over the spare keys.

"Doesn't she want to go to school with us? She's such an unsociable person. If this continues, forget about teamwork, we won't even be able to communicate properly. Being her partner is going to be a really tough task."

Si Ming couldn't understand what those senior experts were thinking. Why did they think so highly of Yu Shuying? Was it because she didn't have many friends and wouldn't be bound by social obligations after becoming Grandmaster?

In comparison, Si Ming felt that Murong Qing was more suitable to be the Grandmaster, at least in terms of work attitude, he was impeccable, and absolutely devoted himself to the cause until his dying breath.

Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered that Murong Qing was Ling Huanxi's disciple, and Ling Huanxi seemed to be a member of the Heaven's Will Palace, also possessing the qualification to recommend Grandmaster Candidate...

Snoring

A series of loud slurping sounds at the dining table interrupted Si Ming's thoughts, followed by Murong Qing's stern rebuke. "Little Wu, have you forgotten the rules of not talking while eating or sleeping? Making such a loud noise is not only impolite, but it will also disturb others."

Murong Wu smacked the soup stains from the corner of his mouth and said, "Brother Ying Zhou told me that making noise while eating shows the manly spirit of eating large chunks of meat and drinking large bowls of wine."

"Hmm?"

Murong Qing a nasal sound, her stern gaze sweeping across the other side of the dining table.

The culprit froze slightly, then picked up the bowl and silently swallowed, finishing the bowl of slightly hot porridge in the blink of an eye. Then he picked up a steamed bun, stuffed it into his mouth, picked up his schoolbag, and got up to leave.

Ever since discovering that her younger brother had become a delinquent student, Murong Qing had started paying close attention to Ying Zhou's behavior. Every time she saw impolite words or actions, she would correct them. With her meticulous attitude, when she got serious, she could be a 24/7 monitor.

Ying Zhou was annoyed by the constant harassment, but he was no match for Murong Qing. Every time he resisted, he was ruthlessly suppressed and punished with the bone-chilling Glacier True Qi. The feeling was unforgettable. After being taught a lesson many times, he developed a conditioned reflex. Every time Murong Qing swept his eyes with a stern look, he felt as uncomfortable as a mouse being stared at by a wildcat. After all, he was a sadist, not a masochist.

Among the residents of the orphanage, Yao Bilian lacked any sense of management and never took on the responsibility of discipline. Si Ming did guide Ying Zhou on the principles of being a good person, but he was the kind of person who didn't delve deeply into what he read. In education, he focused on the big picture and let go of the details. As long as Ying Zhou didn't make mistakes in the major direction, he didn't care about the details. Only Murong Qing could truly play the role of a strict teacher.

Ying Zhou felt like a delinquent student who was usually carefree and irresponsible, who had been thrown into the army for rigorous training. He had neither the right nor the strength to back down, so he could only hide and avoid the situation.

Murong Qing didn't stop Ying Zhou, but earnestly instructed Murong Wu: "Remember, this isn't manliness, it's rudeness and lack of manners. True manliness is never about outward appearances. As long as you have courage, responsibility, and keep your word, even if you dress politely, others will still acknowledge you as a man."

Murong Wu nodded as if he understood, agreeing verbally but secretly preferring Ying Zhou's approach—simple, clear, and effective.

At this moment, Yao Bilian suddenly suggested, "Let's hold a welcome party for the new tenants. This will help break down barriers and foster friendship. After all, we'll all be living under the same roof and seeing each other all the time. We can't be like those people living in big city apartments, who are neighbors on different floors but can't even remember each other's names or faces."

Si Ming exclaimed in surprise, "I'm truly astonished that you would make such a serious suggestion."

"Hey, hey, hey, I always feel like I'm being looked down upon as an adult and a guardian. Is it just my imagination?"

"Search your conscience, don't you feel ashamed to ask this kind of question now?"

"Sorry, my breasts are too big, I can't reach them."

"This joke has been used before, can't you come up with something new? Also, you could say that whatever you wanted before, but now that Yu Shuying has moved in, you absolutely mustn't say it in front of her."

Among the previous tenants, Hongdou clearly belonged to the wealthy class, and although Murong Qing was not a tycoon, he was at least middle-class. In contrast, Yu Shuying was a scavenger from the slums. Although it was unclear whether she cared about such things, calling her a poor wretch in front of others would undoubtedly be detrimental to building cohesion among the group.

Yao Bilian understood and laughed, "Saying such things, you're not a good person either. If she finds out, she'll make trouble for you first."

Si Ming coughed a few times deliberately to steer the conversation back on track. "I agree to hold a welcome party. It just so happens that today is Friday, and Lu Mao is returning from the Soaring Blue Academy. We can ask him to cook a delicious meal."

Yao Bilian said proudly, "Delicious food and fine wine, exquisite dishes and fine spirits—it's been so long since I've had such a good time!"

Since Murong Qing arrived, a little drinking is fine, but forget about having a proper drink.

"You didn't suggest this just so you could drink openly, did you?" Si Ming questioned.

How could that be?

Feeling Murong Qing's sharp gaze, Yao Bilian guiltily looked away.

Murong Qing sighed. None of the people living here were easy to deal with. She looked at Si Ming, "Then you have to consider another possibility. Given Yu's personality, she might not be willing to attend the welcome party. If she is rejected, then it will be a one-sided effort."

"But if I ask her beforehand, not only will the surprise be ruined, but even if she might have agreed, she might refuse. These things can only be done by surprise."

Si Ming stroked his chin and thought for a while, but unfortunately couldn't come up with a good way to invite her. He could only say, "Never mind her. If she doesn't want to come, then it'll just be a group dinner. We all have the right to enjoy ourselves."

Murong Qing frowned and said, "But wouldn't that make it seem like we're ostracizing her?"

"What else can we do? We can't just kneel down and beg her, can we? I'm a modern, well-rounded young man; I don't do that kind of groveling to beautiful women. Besides, it's not that we're ostracizing her, it's that she's ostracizing us."

Murong Qing still disagreed. "If we do that, the rift between us will never be eliminated. Rather than recklessly gambling everything, I'd rather not hold the event and instead spend time with her over a long period, subtly changing her and gaining her trust."

"Why does this feel like a confession scene from a second-rate shoujo manga? Because she's worried about losing friends if she confesses, she decides not to confess at all, thinking feelings will develop naturally over time, only to end up with a cuckold out of nowhere..."

Si Ming muttered a few words, then finally decided, "Whatever, I'll just use force if necessary. You can't force a cow to drink water! Last time she was able to beat me by half a move only because I had just used my ultimate move and my Qi Sea was empty, which allowed her to take advantage of my weakness. As long as I'm prepared, even if she uses her counter-attribute True Qi again, she won't be able to shake me off."

Murong Qing was initially reluctant to agree, but unable to think of a better solution, she could only say, "Alright, I'll lend you a hand then."

Chapter 208 Cooking Power