Luo Huai’an was extremely curious, so after sending the wenyao back to Fragrant Mountain, she followed Qing Niao to the relevant department.

Luo Huai’an was quite familiar with Captain Zhang Jing, and as soon as he saw him, she greeted him. “Hello, Captain Zhang. I heard that Qing Niao’s friends have been locked up. May I ask what happened?”

Captain Zhang said, “This group of bluebirds went to an internet cafe to play on the computers, but they got into an argument with the people because they were making too much noise. Although there were thirty bluebirds there, the other party were not to be trifled with, and they called a lot of their buddies with one phone call. 

“The two groups started a brawl, and although there were no injuries, it caused financial losses to the internet cafe. After the police learned the bluebirds’ identities, they transferred the case to us. If nothing unexpected happens, they will be locked up for several months.”

Upon hearing this, Qing Niao was heartbroken, as if he was an old father unwilling to face the fact that his son had made a mistake. “They are all good children, how could they hit people?”

Captain Zhang raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. These bluebirds were quite noisy and prone to arguing; they didn’t behave like well-behaved children at all. Has this great bluebird gone mad?

After a moment of confusion, Qing Niao asked as if grasping at a last straw, “Captain Zhang, you told me before that I could bail them out. How much would it cost?”

Captain Zhang pondered for a moment and then quoted a price. “Because there are too many in jail, if you want to bail them all out, it will cost at least…”

This was Qing Niao’s annual salary.

Upon hearing this, Qing Niao froze on the spot, looking down uneasily at his shoes, before turning to Luo Huai’an with hopeful eyes. “Boss, could you give me an advance on a year’s salary? I’ll work like a slave to repay you!”

The stingy Luo Huai’an was in great pain and didn’t want to give the money at all. But just then, a brilliant idea suddenly flashed into her mind, making her eyes light up.

She cleared her throat and said seriously, “I can pay you a year’s salary first. But in addition, I want these bluebirds to work for me for another year, at market price.”

Qingniao felt conflicted upon hearing this. It wasn’t that he thought Luo Huai’an’s conditions were harsh, but rather that he felt the younger generation wouldn’t be willing to work.

His descendants did not engage in productive work at all; instead, they transformed into their original forms to beg for food from humans, and then asked him for money to go online.

He didn’t know if they would be willing to work.

Qing Niao voiced his dilemma: “Actually, they are very playful and probably wouldn’t want to work.”

Luo Huai’an asked in confusion, “They’re so playful and prone to causing trouble, why are you protecting them?”

Qing Niao said somewhat embarrassedly, “I used to be the youngest of the three bluebirds, and I never had any younger brothers or sisters. But now I have a large number of descendants who are younger than me.

“A strong sense of responsibility welled up within me; I wanted to take good care of these young bluebirds.”

Knowing Qingniao’s dire financial straits, Luo Huai’an had a terrifying thought, “Do you give them all the money you earned?”

Qingniao nodded in agreement. “They have no education, can’t read, and are unwilling to work. As their elder, of course I should take good care of them.”

He had worked for a long time before, and after spending all the money he earned on gifts for others, it all went into the pockets of his juniors.

Qing Niao recounted his experience, leaving Luo Huai’an stunned.

No wonder Qing Niao didn’t have a single coin in his pocket when they first met; it turned out there was a group of vampires behind him.

Luo Huai’an looked at Qing Niao with reverence, feeling as if he was surrounded by a holy radiance that almost blinded her. He must be a saint!

As a stingy Pixiu, she could never do anything so selfless!

Luo Huai’an pinched her chin thoughtfully, then said, “Do you really think it’s a good idea to not let them work?”

Qing Niao asked, somewhat puzzled, “Why not?”

Every time the younger generation took money from him to go online, their faces were filled with joyful smiles.

Luo Huai’an said seriously, “You’re being too lenient with them now. If you continue to let them get away with it, things like today will probably happen again. They’re fighting in groups today, and they might do something even more illegal and disorderly tomorrow. At that point, it won’t just be a matter of money to bail them out. 

“You know that Big Fish and the others are now convicted felons, right? They used to be locked in solitary confinement every day, without computers to play with. It was awful. And now their files have criminal records, their future careers won’t be clean!

“Times have changed. Only by working can you support yourself. Giving them money is turning them into parasites. It not only does them no good, but it actually harms them.

“You’d better educate them before they become even more lawless and disorderly.

“If you don’t understand how to educate, then I can educate them for you.”

Luo Huai’an’s words were so impactful that Qing Niao was stunned for a long time.

Qing Niao repeated Luo Huai’an’s words to himself for a long time. Then he made up his mind and nodded in agreement. “Boss, you have shown me the true direction in life. I believe in you, and I will get them to work for you.”

Mythical Beast Cafeteria translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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