In August, Jiangcheng was scorching hot. The sun in the sky was like a fireball, emitting an unbearable heat that made people afraid to look directly at it.
Jiangcheng Aeronautics University was the best university in Jiangcheng. As a comprehensive university, it ranked fifth among universities nationwide. Furthermore, Jiangcheng Aeronautics University offered unique aviation-related majors. If you were looking for the best aviation and aeronautics university in the nine provinces1 of China, Jiangcheng Aeronautics University is undoubtedly number one.
As time went by, the campus of Jiangcheng Aeronautics University became larger and larger, gradually swallowing up the surrounding areas like a black hole. As a result, it was jokingly referred to as ‘aircraft carrier2‘ by students.
At the construction site for a new teaching building in the campus, Luo Huai’an was counting her little money. Her skin was as white as porcelain, her temperament was very special, and she was, really, too beautiful to be real.
She looked at the money in her hand, her eyes shining, as if she was looking not at money but at her lover. She happily praised herself, “I moved 40,000 bricks today and earned 200 yuan. Not bad.”
At this time, the foreman heard what she said, took out his wallet again, took out 200 yuan from it and handed it to her, “I’ll give you another two hundred.”
“They already gave me two hundred, why do you want to give me another two hundred?” Luo Huai’an asked curiously.
The foreman explained, “We’ve always paid for work done by the day, but since you moved too much today, we’ll pay you by the number of bricks instead.”
This morning, Luo Huai’an suddenly appeared at the door of the construction site and said that she wanted to come and move bricks to earn money.
The foreman was extremely surprised. He has seen many energetic young men before who came to work for money, but he has never seen such a beautiful girl do it.
The foreman pondered over it; he thought that she had run away from home because of a conflict with her family. His daughter was about the same age as her, which made him feel sympathetic. He decided to educate her on behalf of her parents, letting Luo Huai’an experience the hardships of society and understand the difficulties faced by her parents.
Lifting bricks was physically demanding. How many bricks could she possibly lift with her thin arms and legs? Once she realized how hard it was to earn money, she’d definitely go back home crying.
He calmly accepted Luo Huai’an’s job application, but was completely dumbfounded a quarter of an hour later.
This girl’s strength was strangely immense. Although she looked frail, she possessed tremendous power. A stack of bricks that others struggled to lift was like a light balloon in her hands, seemingly weightless.
None of the burly bricklayers could compare to her.
The foreman was in a daze—it turned out that the person being educated was himself.
“Okay,” Luo Huai’an nodded and happily took the money.
The other brick-moving workers didn’t mind that she earned more money, after all, they really couldn’t compare to her.
One brick-mover, sweating profusely, asked in confusion, “How come you are so strong? We started moving bricks at the same time, and at the end of the day, we haven’t even moved half of what you did.”
Another bricklayer said with envy, “It’s such a hot day, but you don’t sweat while working.”
Luo Huai’an looked calm, without a trace of sweat on her face. No one could tell that she had just done such a long period of physical labor.
Luo Huai’an smiled and said vaguely, “I was born with great strength.”
After she finished speaking, she turned to look at the foreman, her tone full of hope, “When will the work start tomorrow? Will it be piece-rate like today?”
She had been worried about being seen as different from others, and since moving bricks was paid based on the number of days, she deliberately slowed down today. But the foreman said that the payment would be based on the quantity instead, so she decided to move more bricks tomorrow.
The foreman was a little confused and hesitated to speak. If other brick movers were as capable as Luo Huai’an, he would definitely keep them.
But Luo Huai’an was so good-looking, she didn’t seem like a child an ordinary family could raise. If this was his daughter, if she deliberately ran away from home, it would be too distressing.
The foreman sighed and said against his will, “Don’t come tomorrow.”
“Why?” Luo Huai’an asked in surprise.
“We have enough brick-moving workers here,” the foreman said. “It’s getting late. Go home quickly and don’t let your parents worry.”
“I don’t have parents,” Luo Huai’an explained calmly.
She was a divine beast born from heaven and earth. She had no parents.
The cigarette in the foreman’s hand trembled slightly, and he felt incredulous. He looked at Luo Huai’an with sympathy, “Really? Then where do you live?”
“I live on Fragrant Mountain.”
The foreman was dumbfounded, “This place is far from Fragrant Mountain. You won’t be able to go back at night.”
“The places around here are too expensive. I’m going back to Fragrant Mountain tonight.”
The foreman was very shocked, “You’ll drive back?” As soon as he finished speaking, he realized that something was wrong. According to what she said, how could she have a car?
As expected, Luo Huai’an replied, “I’ll get myself back3.”
Fragrant Mountain was a barren mountain in Jiangcheng, surrounded by rural areas. It was quite far from Jiangcheng Aeronautics University which was in the city center, taking over two hours drive by car. If you were to walk back, you’d probably arrive very late at night.
The foreman then realized that Luo Huai’an was different from what he had imagined. She was not a rich girl raised in a wealthy family but an orphan from the countryside.
The foreman had seen many spirited young men who had dropped out of school to work, and he felt pity for their misfortune and anger at their lack of fighting spirit. But after seeing Luo Huai’an, who worked so hard and endured so much hardship, his mood was completely different, and his heart was filled with pity.
After Luo Huai’an finished speaking, the foreman held his cigarette in his mouth and remained silent.
… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com
Seeing that he had no intention of continuing the conversation anymore, Luo Huai’an took out her money and counted it over and over again, not feeling bored at all.
She touched her money, her face lit up with joy.
Seeing how excited she was, the foreman couldn’t help but ask, “Are you so happy?”
“Of course, I especially like making money,” said Luo Huai’an.
As a legendary beast, for the Pixiu, making money was her biological instinct.
Thinking of this, she felt a little depressed.
In the past, making money was simply so easy. Just find a wealthy family and offerings of gold, silver, and treasures would pour in like water. But some time long ago, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth disappeared, and many creatures fell into a deep sleep. She herself also fell into a deep sleep. It was not until the spiritual energy revived somewhat that she woke up again.
However, after waking up, she discovered that all the gold, silver, and other treasures in her cave had been discovered by humans and handed over to the country; and humans no longer believed in gods and demons. Making money now was just too difficult!
She had no choice but to work here and there, looking for ways to make money. In order to make a lot of money, she specifically went to ask the Kitchen God for advice.
The Kitchen God was calm and composed, with his hands behind his back, saying, “Who makes the most money now? The boss who owns their own business makes the most money. Food is the most important thing for people, and so the catering industry is the best for you.”
What the Kitchen God said made sense, as evidenced by the state of their respective wealths. She, a Pixiu, could only work as a laborer, while the Kitchen God was already wealthy enough to contract an entire forest.
Luo Huai’an was deeply moved, dazzled by the wealth that the Kitchen God described. She had gone to Fragrant Mountain specifically to learn cooking from the Kitchen God, and she practiced under him for many years.
After completing her apprenticeship, she went down the mountain to work and earn money.
Luo Huai’an was a little excited. When she saved enough money, she would open a small restaurant. Sooner or later, she would become the richest divine beast again!
… …
The foreman looked at Luo Huai’an, sighed, and put out his cigarette. “By the way, you are quite strong. The cafeteria of the Aeronautics University is recruiting cafeteria aunties, do you want to give that a try?”
In fact, the university cafeterias recruit staff almost entirely internally and do not recruit externally. It was only that the foreman happened to have some connections with the cafeteria’s foreman and got to know this information.
He really wanted to take care of Luo Huai’an. This child was so pitiful, why not introduce her to a lighter job.
“Cafeteria auntie?” Luo Huai’an asked the question that concerned her the most, “Does it pay a lot of money?”
“It’s similar to a construction site, but the work is easier.”
“That’s great.” Luo Huai’an’s eyes lit up and she nodded immediately.
Luo Huai’an didn’t mind whether the work was tiring or not, she only cared about the money, otherwise she wouldn’t go to work at all. If the cafeteria work was easy, that meant she could take time off to work two jobs and earn two salaries.
In fact, the foreman was also unsure about this because the cafeteria aunties were basically people with connections, and whether they could get the job depended on how strong their connections were.
“You’re not guaranteed to get the job. Anyway, go try your luck tomorrow.” The foreman said, “If you don’t get the job, come back here and move bricks.”
“Thank you, Uncle Li!”
After finishing her work, she found a secluded place and flew back to Fragrant Mountain in stealth.
She did get herself back, but she got back by ‘riding the wind’.
Mythical Beast Cafeteria translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com
T/N: Tadaa! Serve as Contrast Team In A Dad With Baby Show is ending, so I’m starting a new translation work to take it’s place. A money-loving girl whose goal is to be the boss of a small restaurant. Doesn’t it sound like Lin Momo? (✿◠‿◠)
This work is from the same author as I Livestream Divination to the World, but instead of ghosts and fortune-telling, we get mythical beasts and cooking. If you enjoyed that one, I strongly urge you to give this a try. Luo Huai’an is not as stoic as An Rugu, she’s even a bit naive in some ways, but she’s just as OP, keeping unruly mythical beasts in line, and the storytelling is top-notch.
On to the actual chapter notes!
Pixiu is a mythical beast and is very auspicious. They’re a symbol of wealth and invite good fortune to come from all 4 directions. They’re not quite the rank of dragons but they’re pretty up there in the hierarchy.
They are said to eat only gold, silver, and jewels. Lore has it that the pixiu was spanked by the Jade Emperor for pooping on the palace floor and so the pixiu’s poophole ermm… got sealed. So now all that treasure it eats is kept in its belly (and it’s why Luo Huai’an is very money-loving and stingy).
It is said to look somewhat like a powerful lion with wings and antlers. Pixiu were originally male (1 antler) and female (2 antlers), but through the ages they somehow merged into just the male beast (just like the fenghuang/phoenix was originally male and female and became only female).
This is a female pixiu with 2 antlers.
Kitchen God is an important deity in Chinese folk religion, mythology, and Daoism; a protector of the hearth and family. Just before the Chinese New Year, he is said to make a report to the Jade Emperor on the activities of each household, and the Jade Emperor gives rewards or punishments according to such report.
He is really not a ‘culinary god’, its only that his shrine is traditionally above the kitchen fireplace/stove, hence, his title.
If you’re enjoying my translations, do consider buying me ko-fi and get access to advance chapters as reward. Thank you for your support! ☺️
Chapter 2.1 — Do You Not Want To Stick To Me?
Chapter 2.2 — Do You Not Want To Stick To Me?
Chapter 2.3 — Do You Not Want To Stick To Me?
Chapter 2.4 — Do You Not Want To Stick To Me?
Chapter 3.1 — This Dish Will Corrode My Willpower
Chapter 3.2 — This Dish Will Corrode My Willpower
Chapter 4 — Do You Want to Operate the Eighth Cafeteria?
Chapter 5.1 — Don’t Go Near the Aero U’s Cafeterias!
Chapter 5.2 — Don’t Go Near the Aero U’s Cafeterias!
Chapter 6.1 — Alas, I Don’t Have the Knowledge
Chapter 6.2 — Alas, I Don’t Have the Knowledge
Chapter 6.3 — Alas, I Don’t Have the Knowledge
FOOTNOTE:
- ‘Nine Provinces/States of China’ is a historical geo-political division of ancient China. Not sure why it was used here, probably just for flavor to highlight Lou Huai’an’s age. ↩︎
- Aircraft carrier is hangkongmujian which in slang can refer to something massive. Aeronautics is hangkong. So it’s a play on words. ↩︎
- The word also means ‘walk’ so she kept it vague and implied she would walk back. ↩︎
WHITE MOONLIGHT TRANSLATIONS 
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