MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat
Chapter 49: Chapter 49: A Smaller Stove

Damon shook his head, "No, you misunderstood, this one's too big, I want a smaller one." He didn't want to pay for a large machine that would be a hassle to transport and install.

The man's face fell, "Aaahh, I see. Unfortunately, I don't think we have any of that, but I could ask in the back, just wait for me at the counter." He scratched his bald head, looking apologetic.

Damon returned to the counter, where his mom was waiting, her eyes inquiring. "So? Did you replace it?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

Damon smiled wryly, "Yep, we found it, but it's a tad too big and probably expensive." He knew his mom would be concerned about the cost.

"I told you, Damon, we should stick to buying food. A stove is just too much expensive," she said, her voice rising in argument.

Damon nodded understandingly, "I know, mom, but don't worry, the cashier said he'll check in the back. If they don't replace it, I won't insist." He tried to reassure her, knowing she was worried about their limited budget.

His mom didn't know he could buy ingredients on his system without needing money.

Mere moments later, the man returned, a hint of a smile on his face. "Okay, there's a small two-plate stove," he said, his voice laced with a sense of accomplishment.

Damon's eyes lit up, and he turned to his mom, about to speak, but the man's next words caught him off guard.

"But there's a problem," the man added, his smile faltering.

Damon's gaze snapped back to the man, his curiosity piqued. "What's wrong? I thought you said you had it," he asked, a hint of confusion creeping into his voice.

The man's expression turned wry, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, we do. The problem is that...the stove is a two-plate, but one side doesn't work," he admitted, his honesty surprising Damon.

Damon's eyes narrowed, his mind weighing the pros and cons. A two-plate stove with one faulty side was better than nothing.

The man's candor, however, was refreshing. Normally, salespeople wouldn't even mention the product's flaws, but this man's transparency put Damon at ease.

Aoife nodded decisively, "Okay, we'll take it. It's better than nothing. How much is it?" she asked, her practicality taking over.

The man smiled, "It's only 20 dollars, since the stove still works perfectly fine besides the one side." He seemed pleased with himself for offering a good deal.

"Let me go take it," he said, disappearing into the back room once again. The lights overhead hummed steadily, casting a pale glow on the scene.

Moments later, the man returned with a large box, its edges worn and faded. He opened it, revealing the small two-plate stove inside. He plugged it in, checking to make sure it worked, the faulty side notwithstanding.

Damon and Aoife watched as the man expertly checked the stove, his hands moving with a practiced ease. Finally, he nodded, satisfied.

"Okay, that's it," he said, smiling at them. "Twenty dollars, please."

Aoife handed over the cash, and the man handed her the box. "Here you go," he said, his transaction complete.

Damon took the box, feeling a sense of accomplishment. They had found a stove, imperfect as it was, and it was theirs for a mere twenty dollars.

He smiled at his mom, who smiled back, her eyes shining with a sense of hope.

Together, they left the store, the box clutched tightly in Damon's hands, the promise of home-cooked meals hanging in the air like a tantalizing prospect.

As they left the store, Damon and his mom carried their purchases, the boxes and bags filled to the brim. They hailed a cab, the bright sunlight reflecting off the windshield as they settled in for the ride.

The journey wasn't long, and they arrived at the motel quickly, the familiar sign creaking in the gentle breeze. But as they stepped out of the cab, the driver's eyes widened in surprise.

"You folks have a lot of stuff there," he said, his voice tinged with curiosity. "That'll be extra, please."

Damon's mom handed over the cash, and they began to unload the bags and boxes. The plastic rustled and crinkled as they carried it all into the motel room.

As they walked in, the eyes of the other motel residents followed them, their gazes filled with a mix of curiosity and envy.

Everyone here was struggling financially, and it was rare to see someone come back with so many bags and boxes.

Damon and his mom didn't notice the stares, too focused on getting everything inside. They stacked the boxes and bags in the corner of the room, the motel's worn carpet creaking beneath their feet.

Finally, they finished, the room looking like a treasure trove of second-hand goodies. Damon's mom smiled, her eyes shining with satisfaction.

"Let's get organized," she said, her voice filled with a sense of purpose.

He nodded, already starting to unpack the boxes. The day was still long, but they had accomplished so much already.

Damon realized they'll need some ingredients, " Mom, I'll be back. We forgot the ingredients. I'll go to a nearby store."

He rushed out of the motel room, his mom's voice calling after him, "Damon, wait -" But he was already gone, disappearing around the corner.

Aoife shook her head, chuckling to herself. "You don't even know what to buy," she muttered, returning to fold the clothes they had purchased.

But Damon didn't need to go far. He just went around the corner and opened his system interface shop.

The familiar screen glowed in front of him, and he scrolled through the options.

He felt a little weird deciding their menu, but he picked out some ingredients he thought were necessary.

He had never cooked before, so he had no idea what to buy. But he figured meat was a good place to start, and he bought two pieces, each costing one system coin.

[Coins: 122]

Looking at his coins, he knew he could buy ingredients for a good amount of time. He had 122 coins left, and each week, he earned more from his matches and daily training challenges.

In the last five months, he had made 150 dollars, which had been spent on water, bananas, bread, and other essentials.

But now, with his system coins, he could buy ingredients without worrying about the cost.

Damon closed the interface, feeling a sense of excitement. He couldn't wait to see what his mom would make with the ingredients he had bought. He headed back to the motel room, eager to start cooking.