Xiao Su, a Chinese literature major, couldn’t help but recall the cookbooks she had once read.

The food critic Tang Lusun once said: ‘The high-ranking officials and nobles of old Beijing always liked to go to Duofu Lane for late-night snacks. The most famous snack there was wontons. The wonton filling must be made with fresh meat to make it smooth and delicious, and the wrapper must be rolled out with a rolling pin… only then could it be called the best. 

‘A bowl of thin-skinned wonton soup in the middle of the night, hot and steaming, will make you sweat. It is especially suitable for comforting the soul on an extremely cold winter night.’

Xiao Su was a foodie who has eaten many delicious foods and never thought that a simple snack like wontons could be that tasty. So when she read this book, she was somewhat tempted by the gourmets’ descriptions, but she didn’t have a particular craving for it.

However, Xiao Su now deeply realized her own narrow-mindedness.

Early in the morning, she ate a bowl of steaming-hot, goldfish tail wontons, sweating profusely and feeling completely refreshed. Her whole soul was comforted, and the drowsiness from waking up early immediately disappeared.

Although it’s morning now, not midnight like in the book, the goldfish-tail wontons still comforted her soul.

The best nourishing treat for the soul in the morning was probably a bowl of small wonton soup with clear broth and rich flavor.

Xiao Su ate the wontons one bite after another, and soon finished them all. Only when the spoon touched the bottom of the bowl did she realize that she had finished all the wontons.

She savored the taste of the wontons in her mouth; the warmth from the wontons traveled from her stomach throughout her body, making her feel comfortable all over.

The other students in the cafeteria were just like Xiao Su. They sat scattered around the cafeteria, each with a bowl of steaming wontons in front of them, eating with their heads down without ever looking up.

The cafeteria wasn’t noisy; the only sounds were students gasping for breath because they were burning themselves while eating too fast.

Xiao Su couldn’t help but post the photos she had just taken to her Weibo account. She loved photography and was very skilled at it, and over time she has accumulated quite a few followers.

Xiao Su: [Our cafeteria’s goldfish-tail wontons are the perfect ‘floating on water’ treat; each wonton floats to the surface like a goldfish, releasing a fragrant aroma from the sesame oil. (9 photos)]

Soon, many replies appeared below: [Ahhh, I can’t help but drool! Luckily, no one around saw me, or I would have suffered social death.]

[Rich woman, I’m hungry, I need food.]

[This blogger is verified as being from Jiangcheng Aerospace University. She mentioned that these are wontons made by their school, so it seems we won’t be able to get them.]

[The blogger deliberately posts things we can’t buy, how annoying, I’ve unfollowed.]

[I saw that Aero U was trending on Weibo a few days ago, and today this blogger’s post is trending in the same city. It seems that Aero U cafeteria has indeed changed. Is Aero U going to transform from a university known for its terrible cuisine into a university known for its delicious cafeteria meals?]

[Aero U, don’t be ungrateful. Start offering local food delivery as soon as possible. Don’t force me to beg you.]

… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

Seeing that One Bird was becoming more and more skilled, Luo Huai’an handed over the job of selling wontons to him, while she and Second Fish made wontons in the kitchen.

After a day’s work, One Bird felt more tired than if he had played games for more than ten days.

After returning to Fragrant Mountain, One Bird looked at his other brothers and sisters and found that they also looked dejected.

One Bird asked, “Do you find working comfortable?”

The Birds shook their heads vigorously, as if saying, “Working isn’t physically tiring, but it is mentally tiring. I want to play on the computer.”

“Although the staff meals here are really delicious, I’d rather eat them while playing on my computer. I wish I could have something to eat without having to work.”

Just then, Big Fish slipped past Luo Huai’an and quietly walked over.

He was a B-rank monster and could sense that these birds were not as strong as him. However, there were thirty of them, and together they formed a formidable fighting force.

When Big Fish heard how much they disliked working, he couldn’t help but chuckle, feeling that he was about to win over these allies. He cleared his throat and said to the little Birds, “Actually, I don’t like working either, but I have a way to let you eat the boss’s cooking without having to work.”

One Bird was overjoyed upon hearing this. “What method?”

Big Fish laughed and said, “We can overthrow the boss, then we won’t have to work anymore, and we can seize all of the boss’s property. Besides, you said you like playing computer games, and the boss has a top-of-the-line computer in her game room, so you’ll definitely have a great time playing.”

Upon hearing this, One Bird’s eyes lit up like fluorescent lights. He had seen that computer before; it was incredibly expensive, much better quality than those in shady internet cafes, and must run games very smoothly.

The other Birds all had their own ideas, and after a secret discussion with Big Fish, they prepared to launch their operation that night.

After doing the math in her room, Luo Huai’an prepared to go check if the wenyao had finished planting the vegetables.

Just as she was going downstairs, Big Fish suddenly jumped in front of her. “Boss, oh no, from now on you’re not the boss anymore, you have to call me boss.”

Luo Huai’an: “???”

Just then, more than thirty small Birds walked up behind Big Fish and stood in a row, looking like guards.

Big Fish chuckled, his laughter filled with smugness. “You didn’t expect this, did you? I’ve already turned these thirty employees in my favor. I don’t want any conflict. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll hand over the boss’s position to me as soon as possible.”

As Big Fish spoke, he began to gloat, “Your mistake was knowing my thoughts but still ignoring me and letting me interact with others. I bet you regret it now!”

Luo Huai’an: “…”

Mythical Beast Cafeteria translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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