Chapter 120

As it neared quitting time, Choi Donghae whispered to Kang Jin.

“Hyung.”

Choi Donghae spoke to Kang Jin in Chinese. To practice his language skills, they conversed with each other in Chinese whenever possible.

“What’s up?”

“I heard Cha Inho resigned.”

Cha Inho was one of their fellow interns.

“But he still has some time left on his internship, right?”

“He got accepted for another internship starting in December. Seems like that’s why he quit here.”

“Really?”

“Different companies have varying timelines for hiring interns. There’ll likely be others leaving as well.”

“The ones who don’t seem likely to become full-time employees?”

“That’s right.”

Kang Jin nodded at Choi Donghae’s observation.

If it seems unlikely to get hired as a full-time employee here, it’s better to explore other options.

Interns primarily aim for a permanent position rather than just earning a paycheck. Therefore, if they don’t see themselves becoming full-time employees, exploring alternative opportunities is advisable. Moreover, given the company’s atmosphere, there was no reason not to seek better prospects elsewhere.

With these thoughts, Kang Jin looked at Choi Donghae.

“Did you tell your family?”

He meant asking whether Donghae had informed them about his weight loss plan.

“They gave me permission to do whatever I want.”

“When are you planning to start?”

“I’ll wait one day after my internship ends before beginning.”

“You’re starting right away?”

“How can I lose weight during New Year and Lunar New Year feasts?”

Kang Jin nodded at Choi Donghae’s decision. “Good thinking.”

He was right. With all the feasting during New Year’s and Lunar New Year, it would be too challenging for someone trying to lose weight. It’d be better to brace himself and head straight to the mountains instead.

“All right, everyone! Let’s wrap things up.” At Lim Ho-jin’s announcement, his employees began tidying their workstations. They usually didn’t leave this early, but today was an exception as they were allowed to clock out ahead of time.

Since they had consumed doraji, a wild edible root similar to ginseng, for lunch, they were advised to rest well at home to maximize its medicinal benefits. Hence, Lim Ho-jin instructed his staff to finish early.

“Rest well to fully absorb the benefits of that dandelion root soup. Oh! And as Kang Jin mentioned earlier, avoid certain foods.”

“Yes, sir.”

With Lim Ho-jin’s dismissal, employees started leaving the government office with their bags. Kang Jin also grabbed her bag and exited the building.

Upon returning home after work, she spotted Sung Yongsoo and Heo Yeonwook sitting inside her store.

“Oh!” Kang Jin exclaimed, catching Bae Yongsoo off guard.

“What?”

“I’m sorry. It completely slipped my mind because I was rushing.”

“You shouldn’t forget about us! Even if you did, you should’ve called us over!”

“I truly apologize.” Kang Jin bowed deeply towards Heo Yeonwook. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

“You must’ve had trouble getting here.”

“I got a ride from Shin Soo-yong, so it was easy enough.”

“That’s good to hear. By the way, I didn’t see you at lunchtime.”

“He arrived around three o’clock because he had some errands to run earlier,” explained Heo Yeonwook.

Kang Jin apologized once more for his tardiness.

“You really…”

“But I received that ginseng.”

Bae Yongsoo’s mouth snapped shut at Kang Jin’s words.

“The hundred-year-old wild ginseng?”

“Yes.”

“So why…didn’t you share it with us?”

While ghosts wouldn’t benefit much from consuming ginseng, even they would want to try such a rare delicacy. Expectantly, Sung Yongsoo turned to Kang Jin, but she shook her head.

“Oh, I’m sharing it, just not with you.”

“Not me?” Bae Yongsoo echoed incredulously.

With a smile, Heo Yeonwook shook his head as well. “I’m fine.”

“Oh…my apologies.”

“Oh, not me?” Heo Yeonwook smiled awkwardly as Kang Jin took out his phone.

“I’m going to eat with Suksoon.”

“With our Suksoon?”

“She’s not feeling well, so it’d be good for her health. Why, did you want some too?”

“Nope, go ahead and share it with Suksoon. But…didn’t we already have this yesterday?”

“That wasn’t eating; that was just drinking the broth.”

“But all the nutrients from the ginseng were in there.”

Bae Yongsoo’s comment made Kang Jin chuckle.

“Still, Manbok hyung packed it specifically for me, so I should at least try it.” As Kang Jin dialed, Heo Yeonwook interrupted him.

“Just a moment.”

“Huh?”

“Suksoon has kidney and liver issues.”

“Yes, she does.”

“While ginseng is generally healthy, its strong medicinal properties can also harm your body.”

“Strong medicine can be too much for some people.”

“Really?”

“It enhances health for those who are already fit, but it could harm individuals with pre-existing conditions. Especially if their kidneys and liver aren’t functioning well, the potency of the medicine might cause more harm than good. This is because strong medicines require increased detoxification by the liver and kidneys.” Heo Yeonwook continued as Kang Jin listened attentively.

“Before taking any medication, it’s best to have your pulse diagnosed first to assess your current health status.”

“So then…?”

“We should decide after diagnosing your pulse.”

Kang Jin pondered briefly before making another call.

“Hello?” answered the voice on the other end.

“Hi there.”

“I was starting to think you forgot about me since I haven’t heard from you in a while.”

“Oh… my apologies. With managing both the store and working at the company…”

To his surprise…

[I was just joking, so don’t feel too bad.]

“How’s your health?”

[A bit less tired, but I’m not sure about overall.]

Kang Jin nodded at Kim Bongnam’s response. Monk Dahyun treated him without medication, focusing on diet and lifestyle changes, which made recovery slower.

“It’s good to hear you’re feeling less fatigued.”

[Indeed, it is.]

“I went kimjang-making in Gangwon-do yesterday.”

[Kimjang as well?]

“We can’t buy pre-made kimchi for the store, right?”

[True. Kimchi is fundamental to our establishment, like its face, and should never be bought ready-made. Good thinking.]

“Thank you.”

[So, how many heads of cabbage did you process?]

“Three thousand.”

[Three thousand? That’s quite a lot.]

“I thought it was necessary.”

[Wasn’t it difficult?]

“Not really, as I had people helping me.”

[Were you calling to give some kimchi made from baechu cabbage?]

“That wasn’t my intention, but I can share if you’d like.”

[Baechu kimchi should be shared among friends. Isn’t that right? By the way, did you have another reason for calling?]

“Yes, I dug up wild ginseng in Gangwon-do.”

[Wild ginseng?]

“It’s valuable, so I wanted to share with you and called accordingly.”

[To share wild ginseng?]

“If your schedule allows, please visit today or tomorrow evening.”

[Really?]

“Of course.”

“Today or tomorrow?”

“I just dug it up today, thinking it would be more beneficial to consume it fresh.”

[I’m fine with today if we’re not drinking alcohol. Ideally, ginseng should be eaten fresh right after digging it up.]

“I would prefer to eat it here, but I have work at the company during the day and my business in the evenings…I apologize for that.”

[B-but why do you feel sorry? I called you over to share some wild ginseng.]

Kang Jin expressed his regret, causing Kim Bongnam to pause briefly as if pondering something before responding:

[I also need to attend to my evening business… Would eight o’clock tonight be okay?]

“This evening, sir?”

[With such precious ginseng, it’s best to enjoy it promptly.]

Hearing their conversation from the side, Hyeonuk interjected:

“When you come, please bring high-proof soju.”

Kang Jin relayed Heo Yeonwook’s request immediately, “Could you please bring some high-proof soju on your way here?”

Though Kang Jin wasn’t sure why, he passed along the message as instructed. It couldn’t be because Heo Yeonwook wanted to drink it himself.

“Soju?” Kim Bongnam responded.

Seeing his reaction, Kang Jin explained further, “If Suksoon isn’t able to consume fresh ginseng directly, steeping it in high-proof alcohol can create a medicinal infusion. Consuming this infusion after letting it steep for a long time is beneficial.”

Kang Jin conveyed Heo Yeonwook’s advice verbatim.

[Ah… I didn’t realize you considered such things.]

“It wouldn’t make sense to harm her health if we’re aiming to improve it.”

“Yes, understood. I’ll make sure to pack it properly.”

With that, Kang Jin ended the call, went upstairs to change his clothes, and returned downstairs. He then placed an acrylic sign outside the store announcing its opening hours.

Inside, two tables were occupied. Without ghosts present, customers would come and go freely. Moreover, these guests often returned for subsequent visits.

“By the way, sir.”

“Yes?” Kang Jin turned towards the table where someone had addressed him. Three middle-aged individuals in their forties were seated there, regular patrons who frequented when he made Seonji hangover soup before.

“You’re not closing early anymore, right?”

“I apologize for being inconsistent with my business hours until now.” As Kang Jin offered his apology first, the customers smiled warmly.

“In fact, many times we’ve turned away because you were closed when we came to eat here.”

“I apologize. I’ve been preoccupied with my morning job at the company, so I neglected this store somewhat.”

“Your internship at Taekwang Trading Company is almost over, right?”

“Yes.”

“So, will you start serving lunch as well from now on?”

“I plan to serve both lunch and dinner, so please visit often.”

“The food is cheap and delicious; we’re eager to come back frequently.”

“Thank you. Would you like some fried eggs as a complimentary service?”

“Who could say no to free food?”

Kang Jin smiled at their response and looked towards another table.

“Would you also like some fried eggs?”

“We’d be grateful for that.”

Seeing both tables agree, Kang Jin said:

“Please wait just a moment.”

Kang Jin entered the kitchen and turned on the gas stove to start frying eggs. Frying eggs is such a simple dish that it barely counts as cooking. However, everyone has their own preference when it comes to fried eggs.

Some like their yolks cooked through while others prefer them runny; some break the yolk while others keep it intact. Additionally, there are those who flip the egg to cook both sides, while some only cook one side. Some even fully cook one side but lightly sear the other before serving.

However, Kang Jin’s favorite way of frying eggs is gently over low heat until they’re warm and fluffy, preserving the shape of the yolk perfectly.

After skillfully frying the eggs to his preferred tenderness, he promptly served them at the table.

“I can tell how good this restaurant is just by looking at these fried eggs. They look delicious!”

“I’m glad your tastes align with ours. Enjoy your meal.” Kang Jin smiled as she served him and was about to sit down when Kim Bongnam entered amidst the sounds of bustling activity.

“Welcome back,” greeted Kang Jin, who received a warm smile from Kim Bongnam.

“I finished serving the last customer right away and rushed over here.”

Kim Bongnam surveyed the guests inside his establishment.

“We have quite a few customers today.”

“Since we started dinner service recently, several people have been coming.”

“Well done.”

One of the patrons quietly interrupted their conversation.

“Excuse me, but aren’t you Suksoon Kim?” The customer’s question brought a smile to Kim Bongnam’s face.

“Yes, I am Kim Bongnam.”

“Oh wow! I’m a big fan!”

The customer stood up, bowed, and extended his hand for a light handshake with Kim Bongnam.

“I apologize for interrupting your meal. Please enjoy.”

“T-then, could I have one photo…?”

“Sure thing.” With that, Kim Bongnam addressed the other guests with a smile. “If anyone else would like a picture, please come forward now.”

“Is it okay to join?”

“It’s best to do fan service all at once,” Kim Bongnam chuckled, prompting more customers to stand beside him. Kang Jin took their cell phones and snapped photos for each person.

This method was much easier than taking individual pictures as people approached him one by one. After briefly fulfilling this fan service, Kim Bongnam turned to Kang Jin.

“Shall we take a look?” At Kim Bongnam’s words, Kang Jin glanced around the hall before entering the kitchen. With so many guests present, it wasn’t appropriate to display the ginseng out there.

Once inside the kitchen, Kang Jin placed the moss-covered wild ginseng on the sink counter.

Fwsh! Fwsh!

Carefully removing the moss revealed the true form of the ginseng. Upon seeing it, Kim Bongnam exclaimed admiringly:

“Excellent. Very impressive!”

Kim Bongnam was well-versed in wild ginseng, as it is used in various exclusive traditional dishes. Additionally, Yunam Restaurant had several decades-old bottles of ginseng liquor. However… this was his first time encountering such a large and exceptional specimen.

“It’s just over a hundred years old.”

“A hundred years… Ah! Fantastic. Truly remarkable!”

Kim Bongnam kept staring at the ginseng before glancing at Kang Jin.

“So…are we going to eat this?”

“Yes.”

Kim Bongnam looked back at Kang Jin.

“Do you…know how much it’s worth?”

“No, I don’t.”

“This is—”

As Kim Bongnam was about to mention its price while looking at the ginseng, Kang Jin shook his head with a smile.

“He said if we knew the value, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy it, so he advised us not to worry about the cost.”

“Well… knowing the price might indeed make it hard to enjoy.”

Kang Jin nodded as Kim Bongnam seemed to understand.

“And since the person who dug this up gave it specifically for me to consume…I just want to savor it without any distractions.”

After considering Kang Jin’s words, Kim Bongnam eventually nodded.

“If it was meant for you alone, I’m unsure if I should partake.”

Kang Jin chuckled lightly at Kim Bongnam’s words and discreetly bowed his head while whispering softly:

“Heo Yeonwook, Heo Yeonwook, Heo Yeonwook, Sung Yongsoo…”

As he called their names, two ghosts soon appeared beside him. Bae Yongsoo’s face lit up upon seeing Kim Bongnam, while Heo Yeonwook began examining Kim Bongnam closely. Then, Heo Yeonwook turned to Kang Jin.

“Let’s diagnose his pulse.”

Following Heo Yeonwook’s suggestion, Kang Jin faced Kim Bongnam.

“Could you please extend your hand for a moment…?”

“Hand? Ah! Are you going to check my pulse again?” Kim Bongnam recalled how Kang Jin had previously taken his pulse by holding his hand.

“I’m not a traditional doctor, but…”

“You know what I mean. When living alone, one learns various things, right?” Kang Jin nodded in agreement with Kim Bongnam’s remark.

Kang Jin responded, “Let me check your pulse for a moment to see if you can handle ginseng.”

Kim Bongnam smiled and extended his hand towards Kang Jin.

“It would be great if I could enjoy this delicacy. Just looking at such fine food makes me feel worse.”

With these words from Kim Bongnam, Kang Jin gently took hold of his wrist, smiling. As she did so, Heo Yeonwook’s hand lightly touched hers above Kim Bongnam’s wrist.