📖 Chapter 4 – The Street Food War Begins
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The next afternoon, Raj wheeled his cart into its usual spot by the college gate. Students were already gathered, chanting, "Cheese Burst today, bhaiya!"
Raj laughed as he set the Golden Frying Pan on the stove. "Relax, relax! One at a time."
The oil sizzled, the familiar aroma spreading like wildfire. The line stretched longer than yesterday. Raj felt unstoppable. His dream, his empire—it was all taking shape.
But across the lane, Shankar's eyes narrowed. Today, he wasn't shouting prices. Today, he was waiting.
At exactly noon, a white jeep pulled up. Out stepped two men in khaki uniforms and one in plain clothes with a fat belly, a gold chain glinting under his shirt.
The crowd murmured nervously.
"Health inspectors?"
"Why here?"
Raj's hands paused mid-motion.
The fat man strutted forward, flashing a badge lazily. "Street Food Regulation Board. Who's running this cart?"
Raj raised his hand cautiously. "That would be me."
The man sneered. "License?"
Raj froze. He hadn't thought about licenses. It was only his second day!
Shankar smirked across the street, arms folded.
The inspector clicked his tongue. "Selling food without a license? Do you want the police to drag you away? Pack this up immediately."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some students looked panicked. Others shot angry looks at Shankar—they already guessed who was behind this.
Raj clenched his fists. In 2025, he had bent to corruption too many times. Bribes, paperwork, endless harassment. That was the system he had failed to fight.
But now? He had the Food Empire System. He wouldn't bow down again.
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Standing His Ground
Raj straightened his back. "Sir, I may not have the license yet, but I'm willing to apply immediately. Until then, you can't shut me down without proper notice."
The inspector's brows furrowed. He wasn't used to street vendors talking back.
Shankar stepped forward, fake sympathy dripping from his tone. "Officers, this boy's food is unhygienic. I've seen him storing potatoes in dirty sacks. Who knows what diseases his chutney carries?"
The crowd erupted in protest.
"That's a lie!"
"His food is cleaner than anyone's!"
"We eat here every day, no problem!"
One bold student stepped out, recording the scene on his phone. "If you shut him down without reason, we'll put this online. Let's see what happens when it goes viral."
The inspector hesitated. He had expected an easy shakedown, not resistance from dozens of young voices.
Raj's system panel flickered:
> [Crisis Detected: Corruption Attempt.]
Temporary Buff Activated: "Business Acumen Boost."
Negotiation skills increased by 30%.
Raj's voice rang clear. "Sir, you're welcome to inspect my stall. My ingredients are fresh, my chutneys sealed, and my oil clean. If you find anything unsafe, I'll shut down myself."
The inspector scowled. He sniffed around, checked the chutney jars, peeked into the pan. Everything sparkled with unnatural freshness thanks to the Freshness Seal.
After a long pause, he grunted. "Fine. For now, you can continue. But get your license papers soon."
He turned and left with his men, muttering curses under his breath.
The students cheered.
"Raj bhaiya wins again!"
"Free vada pav for the inspectors next time!"
Raj smiled, though his hands were still shaking. He had faced his first real test—and won.
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Shankar's Boiling Rage
Shankar's mustache twitched as he watched the jeep disappear. His plan had failed. Again.
He gripped his ladle so tightly it bent in his hand. "This brat doesn't know who he's messing with. If officials won't break him, I'll use other ways."
His eyes glimmered darkly. "Tomorrow, his stall burns."
Raj, unaware of the danger brewing, wiped sweat from his brow and handed out the last of his Cheese Burst vada pavs. The system panel glowed approvingly, numbers rising.
> [Sales Progress: 672/1000 – Mission Update]
[Customer Loyalty: 45/100]
Raj looked at the crowd, at their smiling faces, at the growing line. His voice was steady now, filled with conviction.
"This is only the start. Today, one cart. Tomorrow, ten. One day… the world."
The cheers drowned out the setting sun, while across the lane, Shankar's stall flickered with a darker fire.
The war for the street had begun.
That night, the street was quieter than usual. The festival of flavors had ended, students had drifted back to hostels, and shop shutters clanged down one after another.
Raj pushed his empty cart toward the storage shed near the hostel, humming softly. His pockets were heavy, and his heart was light. For the first time in his life, he felt unstoppable.
Behind him, in the shadows of a closed paan shop, Shankar stood watching. His mustache twitched as his worker whispered nervously, "Boss, are we really going to… burn his cart?"
Shankar's jaw tightened. "He humiliated me in front of my own customers. If he continues, I'll be finished. We strike tonight."
The worker hesitated, but Shankar's glare silenced him.
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The Ambush
At midnight, as Raj slept in his hostel bed, two figures crept into the shed. One carried a bottle of kerosene, the other a matchbox.
"This'll teach him," one muttered, splashing the liquid across the wooden cart. The sharp smell filled the air.
The second struck a match, flame flickering dangerously close to the oil-stained wood.
Just then, a golden shimmer spread faintly across the cart.
> [System Protection Active: Starter Equipment Cannot Be Destroyed.]
The flame caught—but instead of roaring to life, it fizzled out with a hiss, leaving the workers staring in shock.
"What the hell…?"
Again and again, they tried, but the cart refused to burn. The Golden Frying Pan, resting on top, glowed faintly as though mocking them.
Panic overtook them. "Boss isn't going to like this…" they whispered before fleeing into the night.
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The Morning Discovery
Raj woke early, intending to prep for another busy day. As he entered the shed, the faint smell of kerosene made him pause. He touched the cart—the wood was slightly damp, but unscathed.
The system blinked:
> [Sabotage Attempt Detected.]
Cart Integrity: 100% (Protected).
Raj's fists clenched. "So it's come to this, Shankar."
He exhaled slowly, forcing calm. In 2025, sabotage had destroyed him—suppliers pulled out, kitchens mysteriously burned down, rivals spread poison rumors. But this time, he had a system. This time, he had protection.
He wheeled the cart out to the street, determination etched on his face.
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The Crowd Returns
By afternoon, the students returned, louder and hungrier than ever. Raj unveiled a new chutney blend with tamarind and jaggery, surprising them with a sweet twist.
"Sweet and spicy at the same time!"
"Bro, this is addictive!"
"Better than any mithai shop!"
The panel glowed.
> [Side Recipe Created: Sweet-Spice Chutney]
Rating: ★★★★☆
Bonus: +10% chance of repeat customers.
Raj smiled at the crowd. But deep down, his gaze flickered toward Shankar's stall. The man stood stiff, eyes dark, refusing to even look at him.
The war had only just begun—but today, Raj had won again.