The scene where Luo Huai’an casually beat the wenyao until they were bruised and battered was still vivid in their minds.

When Chancellor Wen heard the words ‘cafeteria aunt’, his originally numb expression began to drop.

The shock this answer brought to him was no less than seeing the mythical beast he once loved in real life.

Chancellor Wen was silent for a long time. After he finally calmed down enough, he said, “So that’s how it is.”

Aside from the unopened Eighth Cafeteria, the food in the other seven cafeterias were each one worse than the next. Chancellor Wen has naturally heard about this and knew that students often complained about these ‘bewitched cafeterias,’ as they called them, but due to the fixed length of the cafeteria operators’ contracts, he couldn’t intervene directly.

A picture emerged in Principal Wen’s mind: a bewitched cafeteria with hidden dragons and crouching tigers¹, featuring a mysterious metaphysical master. The Aeronautics University cafeteria really has a ‘bright future’.

Luo Huai’an looked at her watch and found that it was almost time for the appointment. She didn’t know who this kind-looking middle-aged man was and thought he was a staff member who had strayed into the scene, so she said, “I won’t talk to you anymore. The application time is about to start. I’ll go ahead first.”

Principal Wen and four other senior school leaders had just experienced a mysterious event, and they still felt a residual fear, always feeling that something unscientific might emerge around them at any time. Zhang Jing has already left with his team, and the only person who could provide them with warmth at the moment was Luo Huai’an.

The Director of the Logistics Department wiped the sweat off his face and unconsciously moved closer to Luo Huai’an. “Miss, school is about to start, and the first batch of students for military training are rushing to school. Every cafeteria needs to undergo routine inspections. Why don’t I go with you?”

As soon as the Director of the Logistics Department finished speaking, several other school leaders nodded. Even Vice-Chancellor Ling, who usually had a sullen face, remained silent, obviously agreeing with the proposal.

Luo Huai’an didn’t care either way, so she allowed this bunch of middle-aged men to follow her like little tails.

… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

The school’s First Cafeteria was built the earliest and looked rather simple, but it was very large.

Because school hasn’t started yet, the cafeteria was sparsely populated, with only a few staff members. Luo Huai’an quickly entered the cafeteria and found the most crowded area. There was a table with many forms stacked on it and a group of middle-aged women gathered around it.

“Hello, I was recommended by Uncle Li for this job.”

The person in charge took a look at her, a little surprised by her appearance, then suddenly realized something. “So it was Old Li who recommended you. Okay, you can get a form.”

After Luo Huai’an took one of the forms, the person in charge whispered to the person next to him, “We are only hiring one cafeteria aunt, why are there so many people here?”

The person next to him sighed quietly, “What do you know? Working in the cafeteria is much more popular than being a self-employed person. The people one meets here are all students, and they are relatively simple, plus the work is not too tiring.”

Such a small recruitment for only one position was like a fight between gods.

The person in charge felt that Luo Huai’an was too young, and she didn’t seem like she would work in the cafeteria forever. She was probably just using this job as a stepping stone for a better job opportunity. This meant she would not stay and the position would be unstable as a result, so he rejected her.

Luo Huai’an felt that she was very capable and was fully qualified for the job of a cafeteria aunt. Although it was true that she came to know about the job opportunity through someone, it did not diminish her ability at all.

She suppressed her frustration and told the person in charge, “I’m really capable. I can do everything a cafeteria auntie can do. I even searched online and learned a lot. No one is more qualified for this position than me.”

The person in charge was very confused. The cafeteria aunt didn’t need a diploma like a professor, so why was she so serious? The person in charge then asked, “What did you study?”

Luo Huai’an said proudly, “I practiced shaking the serving spoon for a long time at home.”

Person in charge: “???”

Luo Huai’an said attentively, “It is said on the Internet that this is an essential skill that every cafeteria auntie must learn². I’ve learned to shake it beautifully and accurately, so I know I am qualified for this position!”

Person in charge: “…”

Others: “…”

The person in charge’s hands trembled. He was somewhat infected by her seriousness and almost wanted to hire her. Fortunately, he still had his rationality and came to his senses.

The person in charge wiped his face, extremely embarrassed. “What kind of skill is that? This skill doesn’t qualify you for this position. The position has already been decided. Don’t say anything more. Unless you have some exceptional skills, only then will we consider hiring you.”

“Other skills…” Luo Huaian lowered her eyes to think, and soon an idea flashed in her mind, “I can cook!”

Her voice was loud enough for everyone around her to hear, including the chef of the cafeteria.

When the chef heard her words, his eyes lit up, “That’s great, come with me, let’s exchange cooking experiences.”

The others wanted to watch the fun, so they all followed the cafeteria chef into the kitchen.

Luo Huai’an looked at the ingredients in the kitchen and grabbed a carp, “This fish is so fresh.”

The chef held his big belly and said with a chuckle, “Of course, this is the carp I picked out myself. I’ve been feeling a bit deficient lately, so I planned to cook carp to replenish my energy.”

The chef took out another carp from the bucket, then took out tomatoes from the bag next to him, sliced the tomatoes, and placed them beside the carp.

Luo Huaian was a little confused, “What are you doing?”

The chef said happily, “I’ve been short of blood recently, so I need to add some tomatoes. I’ve recently discovered that tomatoes are very effective in removing fishy smells, so I no longer need cooking them in wine to remove the smell. I’ll make you a dish of tomato and red date carp later.”

Luo Huaian: “???”

Seeing this, the other cafeteria aunties, far from thinking that it was bad idea, were quite supportive. “Old Li, your innovative idea is really great.”

“Although it may not taste good this way, it’s very nutritious. Give me a bowl when you make it later.”

“Yes, nutrition is the most important thing.” The chef shook his head and said, “I read the school forum a while ago, and they always say that the food in our cafeteria is shady. Alas, they really don’t understand our hard work. Tomatoes and red dates are so good for blood production, aren’t they better than the hot pot and spicy hot pot they eat out? If you don’t listen to the advice of your elders, you will eventually suffer the consequences.”

Luo Huai’an: “…”

The cafeteria aunt turned to look at Luo Huai’an, “By the way, what dish are you going to make?”

Luo Huaian came back to her senses after hearing these words. “I’ll make a sweet and sour carp.”

Luo Huai’an had been tempted by the carp-like wenyao before, and so she began to have thoughts about the carp in the bucket the moment she saw it.

Mythical Beast Cafeteria translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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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 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
Chapter 7 — Why Are So Many People Coming to the Eighth Cafeteria?
Chapter 8.1 — How Does The Boss Have So Many Connections?
Chapter 8.2 — How Does The Boss Have So Many Connections?
Chapter 8.3 — How Does The Boss Have So Many Connections?

FOOTNOTES:

1. Hidden dragon, crouching tiger. Talented people in hiding. Also the title of one of the highest-grossing, critically-acclaimed foreign movies—I heartily recommend it. ↩︎
2. The implication here is that the canteen aunties are surreptitiously making the food portions they serve smaller by a practiced shake of their serving spoon. The internet posts are being sarcastic but Luo Huai’an took it at face value. ↩︎