Chapter 703: Chapter 704 Yu Mo Succeeds
The next morning, Nian Shutong still arrived at school just in time for the half-past twelve class.
When the students from the previous day arrived, she didn’t say a word, just casually tossed out a ball of fire. This ball of fire divided into several hundred small flames in mid-air, staying in their places from yesterday, and the students understood and began to control them.
Shutong sat under the parasol, watching the always punctual Fu Yunhe, and with a suppressed laugh, she said, "If you can move the flame successfully, you no longer need to come here."
Fu Yunhe, acting as if he were right at home, sat down and with the same actions as yesterday, said earnestly, "I respect the teacher and won’t skip class."
A barely audible grunt made Fu Yunhe, who was peeling sunflower seeds with his head down, smile faintly.
The class ended quickly, and just before it finished, someone succeeded, a familiar figure to everyone, Yu Mo.
Yu Mo, controlling his own flame, walked up to Nian Shutong and said respectfully, "Teacher, I moved it."
"Very good. You can do as you please next class, just remember to come to the following one," she responded.
Nian Shutong beckoned with her finger, and the flame in front of Yu Mo’s forehead was drawn back. Then, all at once, the flames from all the students flew back and merged into one again.
"You have one more class to succeed. Those who fail will be eliminated."
Having finished speaking, Nian Shutong had already stood up, ready to leave.
Fu Yunhe watched Nian Shutong leave a bit hastily, knowing she was going to eat with the kitchen staff; she had brought meat with her.
Lian Qing was still packing up and, after finishing, left on their own.
As soon as Nian Shutong was gone, Fu Yunhe also left without a second’s delay. The crowd of students felt as though after the teacher spoke a single sentence, people and objects had just vanished from their sight.
If not for the feeling of complete exhaustion reminding them, they would doubt that they had actually attended a class.
"I didn’t succeed again."
"I don’t want to be eliminated."
"Who does? Clearly, this is a big shot. If we could continue to learn, we wouldn’t have to worry for the rest of our lives."
"Hey, shall we ask Fu Yunhe or Yu Mo for advice?"
"Would they teach us?"
"Who knows? Why not try? It’s better than doing nothing."
Many agreed, and their first choice was unanimously Yu Mo.
Soon, a group of students surrounded Yu Mo, inquiring about the trick to control the small flames.
Though Yu Mo was a bit of a loner, he wasn’t stupid. To isolate himself at this time would be to cut his own throat.
"Just like the teacher said, communicate with it using your spiritual power and then control it bit by bit; the small flame is very intelligent," explained Yu Mo.
After sharing briefly, Yu Mo nodded to everyone and headed for the cafeteria.
The crowd parted to make way. Things like this were incredibly abstruse, and there wasn’t a concrete solution. Even getting a word from Yu Mo was considered good enough.
"Hey, are we not going to ask Fu Yunhe then?"
"I don’t think it’s any use. Maybe Yu Mo and Fu Yunhe succeeded because both have high spiritual power."
"That’s a possibility."
"I think we should forget it. Teaching this is futile; it’s something you have to grasp on your own."
The last person’s words seemed to resonate with everyone, and somewhat disheartened, they started heading toward the cafeteria.
And now, at the cafeteria, there was another person—Nian Shutong.
However, the cafeteria she was in was just one of the many in the school. Because of the good food, it was an expensive one favored by those with connections and money, where one could order dishes to be cooked specifically.
Nian Shutong was still working with a group of people and, after finishing, she approached Master Wang, the bald master chef. Before she could speak, Master Wang mysteriously pulled out a small bowl and handed it over to Nian Shutong.
"Xiao Nian, take this to eat."
Inside the small bowl were several chunks of pork ribs, a real rarity. The daily meat ration in the canteen was so meager and most of the time it wasn’t even available, so this little bit of meat from the master chef was definitely a sign of his genuine fondness for Nian Shutong.
"Thank you, Master Chef."
Nian Shutong took the small bowl and didn’t refuse this time, eating heartily and telling the master chef while she ate, "Delicious!"
"As long as it’s delicious!"
The master chef truly liked Xiao Nian as a student; she was quick to work, straightforward in speech, without any pretentiousness.
Seeing Nian Shutong devouring the meat made the master chef very happy.
There was only a bit of meat in the small bowl, and after finishing it, Nian Shutong looked at the master chef with a grin and asked, "Master Chef, can we bring our own ingredients to cook and eat for ourselves?"
"Of course," the master chef, unaware of Nian Shutong’s intentions, explained, "Our canteen can prepare individual dishes. If someone orders, we’ll cook it for them."
"They can bring their own ingredients and we’ll cook it, but the military school students hardly ever bring their own."
Nian Shutong understood and smiled, hands clasped behind her back.
"Master Chef, I want to treat you all to some meat."
"Hmm?"
The master chef, who hadn’t understood at first, was taken aback the moment he turned his head.
"Holy smokes! Where did this meat come from!"
In Nian Shutong’s hand was half a pig, still fresh and even bleeding.
"Master Chef, you’ve treated me to meat several times, so I want to return the favor. Let’s cook all of this pork into something tasty and have a proper feast."
"Master Chef, the dish is getting burnt!"
A voice from the other side reminded the master chef, who was cooking, and he immediately saved the dish. It was okay, not too burnt; just leaving out the few burnt pieces at the bottom would be fine.
"Xiao Wang, bring out the dish."
The master chef turned off the heat and wiped his hands, then looked at Nian Shutong standing before him.
"Xiao Nian, do you realize how expensive this meat is? You better keep it."
"I know, rest assured and enjoy, Master Chef. My family raises pigs."
Nian Shutong’s words took the master chef by surprise, and he asked, "Really?"
"Absolutely true. Otherwise, how could I carry around such a large piece of pork?"
It did make sense. The master chef looked at the pork with affection but still couldn’t accept it—it was too much.
"Xiao Nian, let’s do this: I’ll cut off a piece, and we’ll just cook a couple of dishes with it, the rest you should take back."
Nian Shutong, seeing the master chef still refusing, simply pulled out a knife and got to work without another word, expertly butchering the pork.
Watching Nian Shutong butcher the meat with the knife, the master chef was amazed by her skill, which also convinced him of the reason her family raised pigs.
You couldn’t develop skills like these without having raised pigs for many years.
Within mere minutes, Nian Shutong had cleanly butchered half a pig.
"Master Chef, this pork belly is for you, make some braised pork."
"Master Wang, please take these ribs and make some red-braised ribs."
"Master Xiao Wang, please take this pork loin and turn it into shredded pork."
...
She was orchestrating everything.