[MythicalBeastCafeteria] Chapter 18.2 — Silky Shaved Ice

Chu Kai was a casual person who never read forums, but he couldn’t help but be swayed by his roommate, Xu Changle, who loved surfing the internet. Xu Changle had previously put his name on the line to make a bet with a freshman in the school forum, which had a wide impact. This post was shared by another roommate in the dorm groupchat, and Chu Kai witnessed the entire argument.

Chu Kai knew that Xu Changle was usually very mean, so he didn’t believe what Xu Changle said at all.

Chu Kai smiled and said, “To be honest, you and the group of people who said the food in the Eighth Cafeteria was delicious worked really well together. If I didn’t know you so well, I would have almost been deceived. I think the freshmen are going to suffer a big loss this time.”

Xu Changle also smiled, but quickly shook his head and said seriously, “I admit I lied to them before, but I didn’t this time. Now that the Eighth Cafeteria has a new operator, the braised pork and pepper pancakes they sell are simply amazing. If I hadn’t seen the chefs preparing the ingredients myself, I would have thought they were bought and packed from a big restaurant outside.”

Seeing his serious expression, Chu Kai was confused. “Is this true? You’re not so into your role that you’re trying to trick even me, are you? How dare someone take over the haunted Eighth Cafeteria? And you say the food they sell is even delicious?”

At this time, the other roommate who had been to the Eighth Cafeteria spoke up, “Xu Changle didn’t lie to you. He was kneeling down and calling me Dad, so I accompanied him to the Eighth Cafeteria. The pepper pancakes they sell there are so delicious, the pork is generous, and the taste is sweet, crispy, and fragrant.”

This roommate was very steady and much more reliable than Xu Changle.

After hearing his words, Chu Kai’s doubts were dispelled a lot, so he agreed reluctantly.

But Chu Kai still didn’t want to go directly to the Eighth Cafeteria. “Even if what you said is true, and the braised pork and pepper pancakes are indeed delicious, you have to give me some time to buy shaved ice. I really want the shaved ice from Yinbingshi.”

Xu Changle shook his head and refused to let him go. “So far, the failure rate of the Eighth Cafeteria in my book is zero percent. According to probability theory, the shaved ice sold at the Eighth Cafeteria must taste pretty good. If we go too late, we won’t be able to buy it.”

Chu Kai was extremely confused. He only arrived at school two days late—how come the world has changed so much?

Xu Changle didn’t want to eat the shaved ice from their favorite Yinbingshi, but only wanted to try the shaved ice from that damn haunted Eighth Cafeteria. It was too weird!

Chu Kai missed the taste of Yinbingshi so much that he insisted on his idea, “My car is parked at the gates. Since you guys want to eat at the Eighth Cafeteria so much, then we can go. But I have to go to Yinbingshi to buy some shaved ice first.”

Seeing that they couldn’t persuade Chu Kai, Xu Changle and the others had no choice but to split up. The three of them would go to the Eighth Cafeteria first, while Chu Kai would go to Yinbingshi to buy shaved ice, and then they would all meet up at the Eighth Cafeteria.

… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

When Xu Changle arrived at the Eighth Cafeteria, he found, as expected, another window next to the mung bean soup stall. On that window was a sign that read, ‘The Soul of Summer—Shaved Ice.’

He arrived early, so there were only a few students by the door, and he didn’t have to wait in line.

Xu Changle immediately walked forward and prepared to buy shaved ice, “Boss, I want shaved ice.”

“What flavor do you want?” Luo Huai’an said.

“What flavors do you have?”

Luo Huai’an pointed to the menu on the window and said, “There’s only one kind of shaved ice.”

Xu Changle was surprised when he heard this. He looked carefully and found that the menu in this window was completely different from that in Yinbingshi.

The shaved ice sold in Yinbingshi included fruit shaved ice, sesame shaved ice, matcha shaved ice and other flavors of shaved ice.

Luo Huai’an only wrote one type: ‘Custom shaved ice’.

These three words were like a wordless inscription, completely baffling. Furthermore, this custom shaved ice wasn’t cheap; it was significantly more expensive than one you could buy at Yinbingshi. Besides the basic ingredients, if you want to add more, you would have to pay even more.

Xu Changle was a person with a strong desire to explore and immediately asked, “What is custom shaved ice?”

There was a huge table behind the food window. Laid out neatly were many ingredients: strawberries, mangoes, milk, sesame seeds, peanut butter…

Luo Huai’an said, “I have prepared a lot of ingredients. What flavor and shape do you want? As long as I know how to make it, I can make it for you.”

Xu Changle’s curiosity was piqued. He exchanged glances with his roommate and nodded in agreement. “I see there are mangoes here. Can you make me some mango shaved ice?”

“Okay,” Luo Huai’an nodded. “There are four kinds of ice: silky ice, smoothie, shaved ice, and coarse ice. These have increasing levels coarseness. Which one do you want?”

Xu Changle often ate shaved ice, so he was familiar with all kinds of ice. He ordered the variant he usually ate, “I like it finer. Give me the silky shaved ice.”

“Okay, you swipe your meal card here.” Luo Huai’an saw that the payment had been credited, and then she happily went off to make mango shaved ice.

Many years ago, shaved ice was simply a plate of pure, plain ice. However, plain ice was bland, lacking flavor, and had many drawbacks. Over time, people learned to create the perfect shaved ice using different ingredients. This shaved ice was less bland and less prone to melting, blending seamlessly into a single, unified flavor.

Luo Huai’an had already made mango juice that morning, and then had Big Fish use his mana to transform it into shaved ice. Because mana was used to maintain its form, the shaved ice did not clump together or melt.

Luo Huai’an took out a clean, clear, tall glass and poured the bright yellow shaved ice into it. A layer of shaved ice, a layer of condensed milk, and then a few pieces of fresh mango cubes, and the mango shaved ice was ready.

When Xu Changle got his mango shaved ice, he was so amazed by its appearance that he couldn’t help but blurt out, “This is so beautiful!”

Mythical Beast Cafeteria translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

T/N: Google says ‘mianmian‘ or ‘continuous’ shaved ice originated from Taiwan and spread across mainland China. From my personal experience though, this kind of super silky, cotton candy-like shaved ice is from Korea, called ‘bingsu‘.