At 9 a.m. Soudeep Simoh got up, made himself ready, and went to wake up his twins Camelia and Samuel.
"Children, it's time to get up for school" he called softly.
Due to his well-set bedtime routine, the children usually slept by 9 p.m. and woke up around 9 a.m., getting just the right amount of rest. But this morning, both children struggled a bit.
"Daddy, I'm still sleepy~!" Samuel murmured, rolling over and wrapping himself with his sister tightly in a woollen blanket like a little cat.
Soudeep chuckled, gently patting them.
"Come on, today's a school day."
The little girl Camelia tried her luck, peeking out from the covers.
"Daddy, can I and brother please skip school and stay with you?"
"Nope, Daddy's got to go make some money."
Her eyes lit up, and she sat up straight, suddenly excited. Even her brother Samuel wole up.
"I'll help Daddy make money!"Camelia and Samuel shouted.
Soudeep playfully flicked their forehead.
"No. Your job is to go to kindergarten and be a good student," he reminded her.
"Ok Daddy, are you going to the office today?"
"Nope, Daddy's going to set up a food stall."
"A food stall? That sounds fun!" Both children exclaimed, full of curiosity.
As the children got dressed, they continued peppering him with questions. Moving to a new place hadn't changed much of their morning routine, and soon, Samuel and Camelia was standing on a little stool in the bathroom, brushing their teeth and washing their face, all by own. Meanwhile, Soudeep prepared breakfast.
Breakfast was simple—fried eggs, and momos..
"Wow~! Daddy~! The momos taste amazing today!" Samuel shouted with joy, taking a big bite.
Soudeep smiled, wiping Samuel's mouth gently. After breakfast, Soudeep dropped Camelia and Samuel off at preschool and his day truly began. He was preparing to set up his food stall to sell different varieties of momos. Setting up the food stall didn't require a large investment, with his biggest expense being an electric tricycle. These three-wheelers were affordable.
A good-quality, durable tricycle cost about 30, 000 rupees and Soudeep opted for a well-known local brand for its reputation. When purchasing, the shop owner offered him an option to register the tricycle for an extra 500 rupees and even customize it as a food cart with signage for an additional 6000 rupees.
"I'll take a ready-made one," Soudeep decided, knowing he couldn't wait for a customised version.For 36,000 rupees, he bought a red white food cart, and the registration was included.
With the purchase complete, Soudeep hopped on his tricycle to gather his supplies. He visited supermarkets, and fresh food markets, looking for the best-quality ingredients—-fresh rice, eggs, chicken meat, oil, salt, vinegar, chocolate and other essentials. His system-enhanced cooking skills ensured he knew how to source top-tier ingredients. For example, high-quality meat could elevate a dish far beyond what average meat could achieve. After some searching, he found authentic fresh meat from Desgu Stall at a small market.
"How much for the meat?" he asked the vendor.
"40 rupees per Kg," the vendor replied.
"If I buy a lot, can I get a discount? I'll take 50 Kg ."
"For 50 Kg? I can give them to you for 36 rupees per kg."
The meat pieces were perfect— smooth as silk, and tender. They wouldn't get mushy after cooking, nor would they become too greasy. Soudeep paid the money for the meat and added 5 kg of fresh eggs, and chocolate along with oil, salt, and vinegar.
As he left the market, he noticed a shop selling disposable tableware nearby. Sure enough, it was exactly what he needed to complete his setup.
A thousand pairs of disposable chopsticks cost 2000 rupees and a box of 240 medium-sized disposable plastic takeout containers was 1200 rupees .Soudeep also picked up a box of napkins, and a few aprons.
"Young man, buying all this—are you setting up a stall?" The shop owner asked.
"Yes, boss," Soudeep replied.
"It looks like a lot to carry. If your place is nearby, I can help you with the delivery. Come by my shop anytime," The owner offered.
"Thank you, boss. The address is Old District Garden."
" That's quite close, only about three kilometers. Jump into my delivery truck."
The small truck wove through the streets and alleys. The shopkeeper who sold disposable tableware, was well-acquainted with the old neighborhood, having lived there for over thirty years.
"Boss, do you know a good spot to set up a stall around here?" Soudeep asked.
"You're asking the right person," Shopkeeper said. "My wife used to run a stall selling cold noodles. She worked from early morning until late at night, and I got worried about her health, so I advised her to stop."
"For breakfast, try the entrance of Sunrise Elementary School. There's a lot of foot traffic and only a couple of breakfast shops. Most others are stationary stalls. If you pack up by 8:30 pm , you won't have to worry about city food inspectors."
"For dinner and late-night snacks, head to University Town. Avoid setting up on the main road, they charge a high stall fee there. Instead, go to the small alley next to Smum Hot Pot Restaurant. All the stalls are there, and they don't charge fees. Get there early to secure a good spot, and you'll have a busy night."
Boss Zhao was a warm-hearted man, generously sharing his knowledge with Soudeep . He was grateful for the valuable tips and established a long-term partnership with him.
After completing his morning shopping, Lu Qin took a 45-minute nap before starting the stall setup. He soaked the meat until they were soft, portioned them out, sliced the meat, and diced them . Thanks to his system's maxed-out skills, the preparations were handled swiftly and efficiently.
By 4:30 p.m., Soudeep had finished his preparations, picked up the food cart from the shop, and loaded everything onto it. He then went to pick up Samuel and Camelia from school.
As the eye-catching electric tricycle pulled up to the school gate, it drew the attention of teachers, parents, and students alike.
Samuel and Camelia's face lit up with excitement at the sight of the new ride.
"Daddy, this food cart is so cool~!"
"Samuel , what kind of vehicle is your dad driving? It's so flashy~!"
"Wow~! It's an electric tricycle~! And there's a little house in the back, you both can even go inside!"
"Dad, can you pick me up in a tricycle like Samuel's dad? I don't want to ride in a car anymore~!"
In Jiangcheng, where luxury cars were common, Soudeep's three-wheeled cart stood out as a unique and intriguing sight in front of the preschool. Camelia beamed with pride, eagerly hopping into the cart and sitting next to her dad and brother. With a triumphant fist raised, she announced to her friends, "Daddy, let's go~!"
The preschool was known for its emphasis on values and discipline, and Soudeep's food cart drew more curiosity than disdain. Teachers and parents were simply surprised and impressed by Camelia and Samuel's dad starting a new venture