Infinite Cosmic Cafeteria Chapter 18: Organization

Translator: Stellar Novels Editor: Stellar Novels

At 22:35, the last Fried Jackal Patty of the food stall was sold to a male programmer working overtime.

Perhaps it was a case of like attracting like; Ma Lu didn’t even need to greet him. The sight of Old Wang’s bald head made the programmer stop instinctively.

Most of the other food stalls nearby had already packed up, and even the Henan man had ended his livestream and gone home half an hour earlier.

Ma Lu yawned, and a wave of fatigue swept over him.

Since the food stall was a partnership, he only had to deal with customers and didn’t have to cook, so he wasn’t as exhausted as someone handling everything alone.

However, including the time spent shopping, he hadn’t slept for over 24 hours. But seeing the income on WeChat and Alipay, Ma Lu felt that all the hard work was worth it.

After deducting 4 patties used for sampling, 4 that he ate out of boredom, and 1 that a customer dropped, they sold a total of 141 Fried Jackal Patties on the first day. At 18 yuan each, their total income for the day was 2,538 yuan.

Subtracting costs: the 629 yuan installment payment for the tricycle, 59.4 yuan for the plastic bags ordered but not yet delivered, 115 yuan for gas, 40 yuan for the gas stove, 60 yuan for greaseproof bags, 86 yuan for ingredients and seasonings, 30 yuan spent at the two-yuan store, and 3 yuan at the print shop, the net profit was still 1,515.6 yuan.

For complete beginners, this result was impressive, and Ma Lu felt there was still plenty of room for improvement.

On the way home, he took a detour to pick up the 900 greaseproof bags he had bought on Xianyu, then took a shower and slept until ten the next morning.

Ma Lu pushed open the bedroom door to find Old Wang already preparing the day’s ingredients, with a list of items needing replenishment sent to his Traveler’s Bracelet via a thin wire.

Ma Lu glanced at it and said to Old Wang, “Let’s add another extra 100 portions today. No, let’s just make it another extra 150 portions—it sounds better.”

Old Wang didn’t ask why; he nodded and updated the shopping list.

This time, it only took Ma Lu half an hour to buy all the necessary ingredients. While Old Wang was seasoning the meat, Ma Lu went downstairs to the print shop to pick up the newly ordered banner.

Ma Lu originally wanted to name it “Universe’s Best Fried Patty,” but since they wouldn’t always be selling patties and would definitely add other dishes in the future, he changed it to “Universe’s Best Snack Stall.”

He added four smaller characters underneath: “Limited Time Only!!!”

It was a simple design—black text on a white background with no images—and cost Ma Lu 38 yuan. Afterward, he tore down the old banner and glued the new one in place.

By the time he finished, Old Wang had prepared all the ingredients. The two of them hopped back on the tricycle and set off again, but this time, their destination was no longer Guo Family Village.

Although the subway entrance had decent foot traffic, especially during rush hours, even 150 portions were hard to sell. With the amount doubled today, even if some regulars returned, it was likely they wouldn’t sell out.

Moreover, the foot traffic at the subway was too variable with time—frantically busy during peak hours but then slow for long stretches, wasting valuable time.

The encounter with the banded-together street vendors near the office buildings had given Ma Lu an idea.

People, after all, need an organization, preferably one that operates on familiar territory.

So this time, Ma Lu brought Old Wang back to their alma mater.

At the graduation ceremony, Chen Mengjie, a representative of the graduates from the School of Economics and Management, once said:

—Today, our alma mater nurtures us, and in the future, we will surely give back to our alma mater.

Ma Lu fully agreed and decided to act on Chen Mengjie’s call to action before she even did, setting up his stall on an empty spot outside the west gate.

The reliable quality of the school cafeteria had fostered a booming food scene in the area, with many restaurants and stalls lining the street.

Just as Ma Lu settled into his spot, someone approached—not to buy patties, but to say to Ma Lu and Old Wang, “Move, this spot is taken.”

“Oh, then I’ll go to the other side of the street.”

“That side’s taken too,” the man said, glaring.

“I’ll move when the person shows up.”

Ma Lu recognized the man as the guy who sold grilled squid at the school gate. Known for his great taste and friendly service, he was popular among students, attracting even those from neighboring schools who made special trips to try his food, earning him the nickname Squid Bro.

Not only did he make money for himself, but he also brought many of his fellow villagers to set up stalls in City B, even getting featured on local radio.

However, as more of his fellow villagers arrived, other vendors on the street, especially new ones, began to dwindle.

“I’m not negotiating with you,” Squid Bro said impatiently. “Are you leaving or not?”

The other vendors nearby, all his fellow villagers, paused their work and moved closer, listening in.

Ma Lu, however, remained calm, even taking out a folding stool and setting it on the ground.

“You don’t think you’re the only ones organized, do you?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of college students came running out of the gate, shouting, “President! President, where are you?”

One of them spotted Ma Lu, and the group rushed over excitedly.

“President, what brings you back to school today…”

“President, waaah, the student council started bothering us as soon as you left…”

“President, I’m sorry I let you down. This year, the Skateboard Club and Photography Club stole most of the cute freshmen girls…”

“Alright, alright,” Ma Lu interrupted them, “I’ve graduated. Stop calling me President; just call me Senior.”

He then patted the shoulder of a girl in a baseball jacket with chestnut-dyed hair standing in front of him.

“You’ve done a great job, Shen Yue, and don’t spend all day thinking about picking up freshmen girls. The Ancient Poetry and Literature Club still needs to focus on studying ancient poetry.”

“Tch, you only took over this small club back then by networking like crazy and aggressively seeking sponsorships, and that’s why we’re where we are today,” Shen Yue retorted dismissively. “People call us the Networking Club or the Freeloaders Club. That’s our foundation.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Squid Bro nearby. “Oh, isn’t this Squid Bro? What were you talking about just now?”

“Oh, nothing, nothing.” Faced with students, Squid Bro immediately put on a friendly smile—after all, they were his main customers.

Having set up his stall at the university gate for a while, he had definitely heard of the Ancient Poetry and Literature Club. It was the largest club at Civil Aviation University, with over 500 members.

They held events all the time, and when they went out to dine, they could book out entire restaurants. Offending so many students would mean he could no longer operate near Civil Aviation University.

People who dared to bring their fellow villagers out to the city weren’t fools. Squid Bro quickly realized he had picked the wrong fight and didn’t hesitate to back down. He patted his chest and promised Ma Lu, “From now on, this spot is reserved just for you. If anyone else tries to set up here when you’re not around, I’ll make sure to chase them away!”

“Oh, that’s too kind.”

“No, no, we’re all part of the Civil Aviation University family; it’s only right,” Squid Bro said with a sincere smile.

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