In my heart, I was just feeling quite happy!
Who knew I hadn't even been happy for a moment when suddenly there were three people with grim faces standing at the entrance.
Ling Yunkong saw the three masters at the door as if he had seen a savior and excitedly shouted, "Master! It's great that you're here! If you didn't come now, this place would have been torn down!"
The people who were passionately fighting froze when they heard that the masters had arrived, and with a thud, they all knelt on the ground in unison.
Xu Yeping's face turned dark, his brows tightly knit, his eyes sharp and angrily shouted, "What's going on here! Why is there flour all over the floor!"
Xu Zhengran and Zhou Si buried their faces even lower in fear, not daring to say a word.
It was the first time Ling Yunkong saw the usually gentle Sect Leader Xu so angry, and the words just stuck in his throat.
Seeing no one responding, Xu Yeping's eyes landed on Ling Yunkong and ordered, "Xiao Ling, you're the most obedient in the sect, come over here and tell me exactly what happened!"
Ling Yunkong lowered his head and walked timidly to Xu Yeping, explaining the whole story truthfully. After hearing it, Xu Yeping's face turned even darker, and he thundered, "Xu Zhengran, Zhou Si, step forward!"
Xu Zhengran and Zhou Si shivered, pulled their necks back, and slowly walked up to Xu Yeping.
"What's the matter with you two! I knew you both have been at odds for a long time, I tolerated your petty quarrels on normal days, thinking you were old enough to have a sense of propriety. But today, you involved your fellow disciples in your squabble over personal grievances! And wasted so much food! Do you even know how hard it is to produce grain! As senior disciples, you should set an example for your junior brothers and sisters. How could you make such a grave mistake!" Xu Yeping reprimanded earnestly.
Xu Zhengran and Zhou Si knelt down sharply in front of him, sincerely admitting their mistake, "Sect Leader, we were wrong! We are willing to accept any of your criticisms! And we promise not to quarrel in the sect or waste food from now on! We will also lead our juniors by example!"
Xu Yeping sighed heavily, "You both have been through hardships, how could you not know the value of food! I'm so disappointed!"
"Sect Leader, we were wrong! Please punish us! We promise to mend our ways in the future! We beg you to forgive us!" The two admitted their mistakes in perfect agreement, saying exactly the same words.
Shen Yanli persuaded Xu Yeping from the side, "Master Xu, since they have admitted their mistake, why not punish them and forgive them? They are young, and who doesn't make mistakes?"
Xu Yeping coughed and said seriously, "Since Grandmaster Shen is pleading for you, I will temporarily forgive you, but you must be punished. Are you willing?"
The two kneeling on the ground spoke in unison, "As long as Sect Leader forgives us, we are willing to do anything!"
"Then you both shall go to the back mountain and plant a peach orchard. Once the peaches grow in spring, I will forgive you!" said Xu Yeping.
He just wanted them to understand how hard it is to produce food!
"Yes, thank you Sect Leader for forgiving us." After saying that, they bowed slightly.
"Then stand up!" said Xu Yeping.
The two stood up from the ground, their necks withdrawn, not daring to speak much.
Xu Yeping walked to the area full of flour, sighing helplessly at the waste of such good food!
Xu Yeping had traveled long distances in his life, experienced countless trials in the Mortal World, and seen scenes of devastation and war, he knew that to a starving person, a bite of food was more precious than gold, yet these people wasted food over personal grievances, truly disgusting and hateful!
Chu Lin knew Xu Yeping felt sad deep down, so he said, "Sect Leader, it was my negligence in discipline that led them to make such a mistake. I will strictly enforce discipline in the future to ensure this doesn't happen again!"
Xu Yeping waved his hand, smiling faintly, "What's done is done, let's not dwell on it. Today is the Winter Solstice, a day meant to be happy. Since the flour is already ground, everyone should make dumplings together! Celebrating the festival happily is more important!"
Then he had the dining hall disciples clean up the flour on the floor and let everyone start making dumplings. Soon, the unpleasant atmosphere eased, and the disciples sat together, laughing and joking while making dumplings harmoniously.
Shen Yanli understood that Xu Yeping organized this activity to show them that even if their parents were not around, those who sat together making dumplings were family.
Shen Yanli sat beside Mo Bai, who was tilting his silly little head, making his ugly dumplings. Shen Yanli couldn't help but frown at the sight of those unattractive dumplings.
This dumpling is so fat, that dumpling is so small, the stuffing in this dumpling is bursting out through a hole, and the skin of this one is so thick, can it be cooked?
Shen Yanli's face turned black; are these really okay?
"Master, look, look at this pretty dumpling I made. Does it look like you?" Mo Bai's eyes sparkled as he looked at Shen Yanli.
Shen Yanli looked at the dumpling in his palm, which was pinched into the shape of a little rabbit.
"This…" Shen Yanli's eye twitched, speechless.
So ugly! Adorably ugly!
Mo Bai knew he wasn't smart, so he was clumsy at whatever he did, his handwriting was poor, couldn't do magic, and even his dumplings were uneven, but he tried his hardest to make Shen Yanli happy.
"Master, later you have to eat the dumplings I made for you! I made them especially for you! These are my intentions!" Mo Bai lifted his expectant face.
Shen Yanli glanced at him, responding softly, "Hmm."
Seeing Shen Yanli agree, Mo Bai worked even more enthusiastically.
Shen Yanli lifted the teacup from the table, took a sip, and asked Mo Bai, "What do you think of Master Xu punishing Xu Zhengran and Zhou Si earlier?"
Mo Bai continued making dumplings earnestly, answering, "I think Master Xu is right because Senior Brother Xu and Senior Sister Zhou did something wrong. If I make a mistake in the future, I think Master would punish me the same way."
Mo Bai's words touched Shen Yanli's heart. He hadn't expected Mo Bai to understand right and wrong so well.
While thinking, Mo Bai finished making a large plate of dumplings and hurriedly rushed to the kitchen to cook them, refusing the old woman's help and pushing her out.
The fire in the stove was blazing, and the large plate of dumplings was ready in no time. Mo Bai carefully carried a bowl of boiled dumplings to Shen Yanli, proudly introducing them, "Master, these are the dumplings I made especially for you. You must taste them well!"
Looking at those steaming dumplings, though not pleasing to the eye, it was clear Mo Bai had done his best to pick the better-looking ones, Shen Yanli understood this was Mo Bai's heartfelt gift, so he picked up a spoon, scooped one, blew on it, and ate it.
Mo Bai's face was full of anticipation and joy.
The warm food in his stomach spread warmth to his insides.
Ugly as they were, they were heartwarming.
"Master, are they delicious?" Mo Bai's bright eyes looked at Shen Yanli.
"Delicious." Shen Yanli barely curled her lips, and Mo Bai bounced around happily.
Under Mo Bai's watchful eyes, Shen Yanli finished the whole big bowl of dumplings, and even found five copper coins in them, almost chipping her teeth.
"Master, I heard that whoever finds a copper coin will have good luck, so I gave you all the dumplings with copper coins, wishing all the luck next year goes to you!" Mo Bai smiled brightly.
Shen Yanli didn't like smiling in front of people; she was used to savoring her joy in private. This time was no different, she quietly cherished the happiness and warmth Mo Bai brought her.
She also disliked saying sweet words, only managing, "These copper coins nearly killed my teeth!"