A Stay-at-home Dad’s Restaurant In An Alternate World

“The bag is five copper coins each, so I’ll give you 10 copper coins for a box,” said Mag, paying no mind to the system’s complaint.

The system paused for a moment before it said, “20!” Then, it added, “You can make 300 copper coins from selling a plate of Yangzhou fried rice. Subtract 20 copper coins for the box, and you can still make 280 copper coins off it. I will design the box like a top designer and paint the trademark like a top painter, and the materials will be environment-friendly and automatically degradable. The box can be reused many times…”

“Five,” Mag retorted airily. “System, I’ll bet you that he would be happy even if I just let him take the plate, and he would return it washed and dried. Remember, I don’t have to use your boxes. And the profit of 300 copper coins off one plate is not much.”

“Okay, deal, 10 copper coins each!” the system said hurriedly, grievance and helplessness in its tone. “Producing to-go boxes. The first batch will be ready in five minutes.”

“Good.” Mag was happy with the efficiency of the system. Smiling, he said to Gjergj, “Sure. But you have to pay an extra 20 copper coins for the packing.”

Gjergj thought for a short while. “20 copper coins? All right. I’ll have one plate of fried rice to go, then. Mine doesn’t need to be packed,” he said as he nodded.

Normally, restaurants wouldn’t charge extra for packing. But I’ve already spent 600 copper coins on it, so another 20 won’t make too much difference. Money is no issue as long as it’s as tasty as this roujiamo and my wife likes it.

Mag nodded. “Please wait a sec.” Mag turned to walk towards the kitchen, ignoring the system’s shouting. He was much better at making money than he had thought; it was just that he had been lazy in his previous life.

Gjergj and his friends were eating the second roujiamo now, enjoying the tasty food and the shaking of their body fat.

The shaking fat was unpleasant to the eye and made many new customers watch with fright. The enjoyment and happiness on their faces, though, seemed to have been amplified by their fat mugs. The live commercial of their faces was making the new ones wonder what food was making them act like this. They couldn’t help ordering one despite the high price. Many new consumers had stayed because of them.

Five minutes later, the system told Mag the boxes were ready and in place.

Mag was cooking Yangzhou fried rice. He looked back and saw a bigger iron box beside the one holding the bags. Inside was a neat pile of brown wooden boxes.

After the rice was done, Mag went over to the boxes and picked one up. It was thick as cardboard, but much stronger. There was a layer of clear plastic inside. It looked so fresh and clean and was leak-free.

On the box cover were two golden words “Mamy Restaurant”, below which was a simple drawing of Amy’s cute back. In the lower right corner was a small line of words: it was the address of the restaurant. It was simple yet exquisite. It would have made a nice bowl if it had been thicker.

Mag nodded with satisfaction. “Good. It matches the restaurant very well.”

The system’s work was of high quality as always. One such box should be worth a lot more than 10 copper coins.

Nonetheless, he was not sorry for the system. It accepted my offer so quickly, so obviously it’s still making money.

These boxes didn’t have the words “Yangzhou fried rice” on them, so Mag could totally use them for other foods.

Mag moved the fried rice from the wok to the box. The colorful fried rice was still very pretty inside the box.

“One roujiamo and one packed Yangzhou fried rice. Please hold it like this,” Mag said as he put a roujiamo and a box of fried rice before Gjergj.

“Thank you.” Gjergj’s eyes lit up when he saw the exquisite wooden box. Other restaurants would usually put the food in a simple jar or something, but this wooden container is like a gift box, just as if it had been made by a skilled craftsman.

Such a beautiful box only costs 20 copper coins?! Perhaps it costs more than 20 for the owner to make a box like this. 

When my wife sees this beautifully packaged food, she may feel good too. Gjergj couldn’t wait to take the food home to his wife.

“Both the Yangzhou fried rice and roujiamo taste better while hot. And this roujiamo is not fit for pregnant women,” Mag reminded Gjergj when he was holding the roujiamo in one hand and was about to pick up the box with great caution.

Gjergj nodded. “I see. Thank you, Mag. I’ll pay for this Yangzhou fried rice and roujiamo. My friends will pay for the other two roujiamos for me later.” He held out the dragon coin to Mag.

“I’ll pay for the rest, Mag,” Harrison said.

“Nine gold coins,” Amy said as she walked over to Gjergj with Ugly Duckling in her arms, holding a gold coin.

Gjergj put the dragon coin on Amy’s hand and took the gold one. “You’re very helpful, little owner. I have a boy; he is of similar age to you. I’ll bring him along next time to play with you,” he said, smiling.

Amy shook her head as she took the dragon coin. “I like little sisters, but you don’t have any.”

“…” Gjergj’s smile froze on his face. He felt wounded suddenly and didn’t know what to say.

“Hahaha…” His friends were laughing their butts off.

Mag could barely hold back his laughter. Amy told the truth. She prefers to play with girls, only she put it too bluntly.

“Maybe this time it’s going to be a girl. Bye, Mag, little owner,” Gjergj said as he pulled himself together and regained his confidence. Then, he turned to his friends. “I’ll get going, then. I’ll treat you guys next time.”

“Just go. But I think you’ll have to wait in line to buy food for your wife every day from tomorrow,” Harrison said with a smile, waving his hand.

The fatty in cyan nodded. “Agreed.”

“It would be great if we could eat all kinds of delicious food at home.” The one in red sighed as Gjergj walked out holding the box carefully.

“You can’t afford to hire a cook like Mag,” the one in green sneered.

The fatty in red shook his head. “No. I mean if the owner could find someone to deliver the food to our house, I will be willing to pay extra.”

They’re talking about takeaways?! Mag stopped when he was about to go to the kitchen; the look on his face became a little strange.