Luo Huai’an was extremely puzzled, thinking that Qi Ze couldn’t unleash his fire, so she said, “Your fire only needs spiritual energy as fuel. You eat staff meals every day, so you shouldn’t lack spiritual energy at all. Why don’t you make bamboo rice?”

Qi Ze: “…”

He initially thought the powerful figure before him had designs on him because of his superpowers, but he hadn’t expected to be stuck by the fire since yesterday. He had a vague feeling that he was being used as a mere fire stoker, paid a pitifully low wage, yet forced to work such long hours at such high intensity.

He sighed and said, “Why are we cooking so much bamboo rice today?”

“Of course it’s because I need to make money.” Luo Huai’an looked at her incredibly weak former boss and chuckled to herself. “Anyway, you’re now an employee of our cafeteria. You have to do whatever I tell you to do. Hurry up and start a fire to steam the bamboo rice.”

Qi Ze: “…”

If Qi Ze had encountered such an arrogant boss elsewhere, he would probably have quit immediately.

However, he now wanted to investigate why the food prepared in the Eighth Cafeteria has an effect on him. Plus, for some reason, he couldn’t feel angry at the person in front of him.

Qi Ze had no choice but to set the fire.

The bamboo rice was placed in the roasting racks with the banana leaf seal upwards. As it heated up, the water evaporated, and the banana leaf at the seal kept emitting white steam, making huffing sounds.

Slowly roast it over a low flame for ten minutes until the water in the glutinous rice has almost evaporated and white steam no longer came out through the banana leaf seal. The bamboo rice was then ready.

“This bamboo hasn’t been split with a knife yet, so you can’t open it. I’m stronger than you, I’ll help you open it.”

Luo Huai’an took a bamboo, removed the banana leaf sealing the opening, and with a forceful pull, the bamboo split open.

As the bamboo split open, a fragrant aroma of glutinous rice and red beans wafted out.

Luo Huai’an handed the split-opened bamboo rice to Qi Ze, and then took one for herself.

Qi Ze paused slightly as he took the opened bamboo rice, a vague feeling of being underestimated creeping into his heart. He lowered his eyes, somewhat skeptical, and secretly tried to split the bamboo apart—it didn’t budge.

Qi Ze: “…”

He moved his hand away, pretending he hadn’t tried to break any bamboo, and walked away nonchalantly, picking up a pair of chopsticks from the side.

Seeing him pick up chopsticks, Luo Huai’an shook her head. “This kind of thin, bamboo rice made with fragrant bamboo is not eaten with chopsticks.”

Luo Huai’an walked to his side. She reached over to the stack of disposable wooden chopsticks, picked up one of them, and poked it from the bottom of the bamboo upwards until it has almost pierced through the top before stopping.

Luo Huai’an firmly grasped the wooden chopsticks and directly slid the glutinous rice out of the bamboo tube from the bottom. 

She handing it to Qi Ze, “This kind of bamboo is very thin. Because the rice is wrapped in bamboo membrane, it will not fall apart. You can pick it up using the handle and eat it, just like eating candied hawthorn.”

Qi Ze has never seen bamboo rice eaten this way before, and he couldn’t help but be a little surprised. He looked at the bamboo rice that Luo Huai’an handed him, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes.

The bamboo rice was wrapped in a thin, transparent bamboo membrane. The glutinous rice was like pure white jade, and the red beans mixed in were as dazzling as rubies.

When you take a bite of the bamboo rice, and the inner membrane of the bamboo causes it to be filled with the unique fragrance of bamboo, while the steaming hot glutinous rice exudes a strong aroma of rice.

This blend of various aromas made one feel as if they were in nature, with rice paddies and bamboo forests stretching across the mountains and fields in front of them. It was as if one could see glutinous rice and bamboo growing with their own eyes, and one couldn’t help but marvel at the gifts of nature.

Qi Ze didn’t usually crave good food, but after tasting such delicious glutinous rice, he couldn’t help but take a couple of bites more.

Seeing him eating so intently, Luo Huai’an was extremely pleased. “I used freshly cut fragrant bamboo, so the bamboo’s fresh aroma is almost completely preserved. The glutinous rice is also new rice that the has been harvested recently. It’s all top-quality ingredients. 

“If it weren’t for the fact that everyone here is a student and probably don’t have much money, I think I could sell it for a bit more.”

Qi Ze swallowed the bamboo rice in his mouth and nodded slightly, “It is indeed very good.”

Qi Ze has never used his own fire to roast food before; this was the first time he had discovered that it could be used in this way.

Luo Huai’an was extremely pleased to find that after eating the bamboo rice, he seemed less resistant to stoking the fire than before.

The online guide to wealth said that if you want your employees to create more value for you, you need to make them understand the joy of work. It seemed she has succeeded again in this matter.

Luo Huai’an took the freshly baked bamboo rice away to sell, while Qi Ze continued baking a new batch of bamboo rice. 

After she left, Big Fish, carrying a broom, quietly came in.

After learning that this mortal could unleash a terrifying fire, the contempt in his eyes when he looked at Qi Ze was gone, replaced by deep awe and a hint of anticipation.

When Qing Niao first arrived, Big Fish had been filled with anticipation, hoping to form an alliance with Qing Niao to defeat the boss and take over the Eighth Cafeteria. He no longer wanted to be exploited by the heartless boss!

However, Qing Niao was just a typical wage earner with no dreams whatsoever, which greatly disappointed Big Fish.

Mythical Beast Cafeteria translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

---

T/N: KO-FI has permanently unpublished my page. Some of you have been supporting me from Day 1 and I can’t even reach out because Ko-fi won’t let me DM my subscribers. I hope your coffee is always hot and your pillow cold on both sides. Much, much love. You can always reach me at maela.translations@gmail.com.

In the meantime, check out my PATREON. You can subscribe to get advance access to all ongoing translation works, single work only, or bundled works. Or just leave a tip! Thank you for your support