Spirit City's Great Reforms

"This is delicious!"

Hu Liena's eyes immediately lit up.

The taste of the zongzi was truly beyond her expectations.

When she had smelled the savory cured-meat zongzi, she had been utterly disgusted.

Peeling open the plain zongzi had been her last act of stubborn resolve.

It was out of respect for Li Mubai's customs.

Otherwise.

She would never have peeled open even this plain zongzi.

Much less put it in her mouth!

However.

What she had not expected was.

Although the savory smell made her uncomfortable.

But.

The plain one did not disappoint her.

Compared with the food in Spirit Hall.

This food was quite novel, and it tasted good too.

Hu Liena had only taken a small bite before she fell in love with the taste of the plain zongzi.

Then she began eating it in great mouthfuls.

Bibi Dong, who sat beside her, had a different opinion of the plain zongzi.

Since they were wrapped in bamboo leaves, the zongzi were small to begin with.

She had already finished the savory one in a few bites.

And now she had opened the plain one.

Seeing Hu Liena eating so happily.

She took a bite without a second thought.

The combined flavors of sweetness, glutinous rice, and bamboo leaves gave her an indescribably strange feeling.

Just one bite.

And she found it hard to swallow, with no desire to take another.

This plain zongzi tastes absolutely awful!

Bibi Dong frowned deeply.

Hu Liena, beside her.

Noticed the change in Bibi Dong's expression and could not help asking:

"What's wrong, teacher? Doesn't the plain one taste good?"

Isn't the plain one delicious?

Why is teacher making that face?

Teacher could even eat that disgusting savory zongzi, so why can't she eat this delicious plain one?

How strange.

Could it be that teacher only likes strong flavors?

Bibi Dong said nothing.

She merely looked at the zongzi in her bowl, its surface still coated in white sugar, with a hint of distaste.

It tastes terrible!

The plain zongzi with sugar is truly hard to swallow!!

Seeing Bibi Dong's expression.

Li Mubai could not help chuckling as he said:

"Boss, choosing between salty and sweet has always been a matter of personal preference."

"Some people like salty food, and others like sweet food. It's nothing more than personal taste. If you don't like it, then don't eat it."

Li Mubai's words immediately brought a look of relief to Bibi Dong's face.

She had been thinking.

If she stopped eating it and left it in the bowl, or threw it away.

It would be somewhat disrespectful.

She had even considered forcing down her disgust and eating it.

Fortunately.

Li Mubai's words had come like rain in a drought.

And freed her from her predicament.

For a moment.

Her impression of Li Mubai deepened once more.

I thought he was rough and careless, but I didn't expect him to be so attentive. He really does have some strategic ability! Now I can't let him get away! I must find a way to keep him in Spirit Hall, serving me and devising strategies!

The meal soon came to an end.

On the table.

Scraps lay scattered here and there.

The food on the plates had long since been polished off.

Mindful of her status, Bibi Dong had not eaten much.

Hu Liena was different.

She was now leaning back against her chair.

Her face was full of satisfaction.

And on the table before her, all kinds of bones were piled like a mountain.

Red-braised ribs.

Sweet-and-sour carp.

Chicken stewed with mushrooms.

More than half of it had gone into her stomach.

Watching her, Bibi Dong's eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness.

She had not expected.

Hu Liena to show no restraint at all while eating.

Her manner was uninhibited, with none of the bearing a Holy Maiden should have.

She had simply feasted to her heart's content at the table.

Anyone who did not know better would have thought she was at home; she had completely forgotten that she was only a guest.

She had shown no manners whatsoever.

It was truly a disgrace to Bibi Dong as her teacher.

Could it be because I let her spend too much time with Xie Yue and the others?

Did she casually become this carefree and careless?

At that thought.

Bibi Dong could not help making a decision.

From now on, she would have Hu Liena spend less time with Xie Yue and the others.

She had only this one disciple.

If Xie Yue and the others ruined her.

That would be bad.

Spirit Hall's future still rested on Hu Liena's shoulders!

"Sister Xiao Qian, your cooking is simply delicious. It's much better than the food I eat in Spirit Hall!"

Hu Liena leaned back in her chair, eyes half closed, enjoying this wonderful moment.

"It's not that good, but thank you for the compliment."

Xiao Qian smiled as she cleared away the bowls and chopsticks.

Listening to their conversation.

Bibi Dong was somewhat displeased.

She had brought Hu Liena here in the hope that she would fall for Li Mubai.

That way, she would not need to rack her brains trying to win Li Mubai over.

With that connection, wouldn't getting a firm hold on Li Mubai be as easy as grabbing something within reach?

Then she would no longer have to worry about such a talent running off and leaving Spirit Hall.

But she had never expected.

That as soon as they walked through the door.

Hu Liena's impression of Li Mubai would apparently sink to rock bottom.

She had not even greeted him, showing him no courtesy at all.

Instead.

Hu Liena had become friendly with Li Mubai's concubine.

However.

This incident.

Had also made Bibi Dong notice a problem.

Namely.

Hu Liena was somewhat inclined to let her emotions guide her actions.

This.

Was clear from the way she had entered without greeting Li Mubai.

Bibi Dong naturally knew what had caused it.

But.

Surely she should not have shown him a sour face?

Li Mubai was, after all, still the Tenth Elder of Spirit Hall.

His status and position were plain to see.

No matter how much Hu Liena disliked him, she should still have observed the proper courtesies.

What she had never expected.

Was that Hu Liena would not even say a word of greeting.

In fact.

As for the reason Hu Liena disliked him, in Bibi Dong's view.

It was not even worth mentioning.

Li Mubai did not have women by the handful, with wives and concubines in droves.

Even if he hired a woman to attend to his daily needs, that was perfectly normal.

Didn't she have people attending to her in the Pope's Hall too?

As she saw it, Li Mubai's situation could not have been more normal.

How was that debauchery?

Some of the other elders.

Had wives and concubines in droves at home, singing and dancing, indulging in wine and women every day.

That was true wanton debauchery!

In her view.

Li Mubai was undoubtedly an astute man of great wisdom who appeared foolish and knew how to keep himself out of trouble!

If an ordinary person had become an elder.

They would probably have run wild long ago.

In their daily lives, they would surely make a great show of their power, oppress the common people, and abduct young women by force!

Before this.

Bibi Dong would not have thought there was anything wrong with that.

After all, the strong should enjoy the rights that belonged to the strong.

And the weak.

Should be as lowly as ants, left for the strong to crush as they pleased.

But.

Only yesterday.

After hearing Li Mubai's theory that "the ruler is a boat and the people are water; water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it."

And after lying in bed and pondering it for a long time.

Did she understand the importance of Li Mubai's brief statement.

She wholeheartedly agreed with it!