Chapter 166

Kang Jin entered the grocery store and headed straight for the seafood section to inspect some clams.

“Would you like these clams?” Kyung-hwa approached Kang Jin as he was selecting his purchase. Kang Jin nodded while examining the clams closely.

“Are they good today?”

“Absolutely! They were shipped from Tongyeong this morning. You can rinse them briefly under running water before eating or enjoy them raw if you prefer the taste of the sea.”

Kyung-hwa smiled, drawing upon his previous experience as a salesperson to make recommendations.

“Please pick out the best ones for me.”

“They’re all excellent quality.”

“But there must be some that stand out among these.” Kang Jin’s words prompted Kyung-hwa to nod thoughtfully and carefully examine the bag of clams before pointing out specific ones.

“These, those, and…those too.” As Kyung-hwa indicated certain clams, Kang Jin picked them up accordingly.

After purchasing the clams, Kang Jin turned to Kyung-hwa.

“Have you ever tried aged raw fish dishes?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Would you like to try it with me?”

“Now?”

“I prepared some yesterday, so it should be ready by now. Of course, it won’t be as good as eating it freshly incarnated.”

Kyung-hwa pondered for a moment before responding.

“I’ve never had aged raw fish, and I’d love to try it. However, can we have it for dinner instead?”

Since she knew that fresh incarnation tasted better.

“It requires a specific aging period. It won’t be ready until tonight.”

I feel sorry for the ghosts.

Reflecting on this, he felt a twinge of guilt. While creating a special dish like aged raw fish, he had only considered selling it to human customers without thinking about the ghosts.

“Understood.”

With Kyung-hwa’s nod of approval, Kang Jin purchased salmon and other ingredients before leaving the grocery store with her.

“Please come tomorrow evening. If I age it tonight, you can enjoy it tomorrow night.”

Kyung-hwa hesitated at Kang Jin’s words, contemplating whether she should return the next day instead. However, she followed him back to his restaurant out of curiosity. She had never tried aged raw fish before and wondered what it would taste like.

As they entered the establishment, Kang Jin spotted Shin Su-jo installing something between the kitchen and dining area.

“You’re here.” Shin Su-jo glanced briefly at Kang Jin but quickly returned his focus to the task at hand. “I meant to arrive earlier, but some business came up. Oh! And please take a look at this curtain.”

She pointed at the cloth on the table, and Kang Jin unfolded it to reveal elegant calligraphy:

Medicinal Mobilization…is as easy as eating yakgwa.

In other words, good food is like medicine.

“The writing is beautiful,” Kang Jin marveled aloud.

“My older brother wrote that.”

“You mean Shin Suho?”

“Yes, he’s quite skilled at calligraphy. Do you like it?”

“I do indeed.” Kang Jin gazed up with a smile. “Please tell Mr. Shin I appreciate his work.”

He spoke freely since Shin Suho would be aware of everything happening at the restaurant even without being called.

Watching him, Shin Su-jo returned her attention to attaching rails to the ceiling.

“Please bring me a dust cover.” Kang Jin handed Shin Su-jo one, and she placed it over the railings. With her work done, Shin Su-jo went to wash her hands in the restroom before returning.

“You can reach out if you need anything else.”

“Why don’t you stay for lunch?”

“I’m already running late from another job.”

“Would you like me to pack some food for you?”

“No need—I’ll eat with the other workers anyway. I should get going.”

Kang Jin pursed his lips as he watched Shin Su-jo hastily leave the store, seemingly in a rush.

At least have a plate of sashimi.

As this thought crossed his mind, Kang Jin opened and closed the dust cover while eyeing the kitchen area.

“If we pull this curtain all the way down, no one outside will be able to see you cooking here,” Bae Yongsoo suggested.

Kang Jin nodded after checking the view from the front of the restaurant.

“For now, please stay outside until we open for business. I’ll call you if I need help.”

“All right then.” Kang Jin started transferring ingredients to the kitchen.

“Can you prep these?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin began slicing sashimi.

Shhhk! Shhhk!

She was skilled at cutting fish. She tried to replicate Sung Yongsoo’s flower arrangement with the sliced pieces but shook her head.

“I can’t seem to get it quite right.”

“It’s okay; imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Sung Yongsoo smiled and stopped cleaning the clams to wash his rubber gloves.

There was no need to wash them. These gloves were made from materials sourced from the gates of Bountiful Hell, so they had built-in antibacterial properties. Even if they got greasy, one quick wipe would leave them as clean as if washed with soap.

Nevertheless, out of habit, he rinsed them thoroughly before drying them off with a towel.

However, out of habit, he washed them again and dried them with a towel. Once his gloves were clean, Sung Yongsoo arranged the sashimi slices to form a flower.

“If you do it like this…it’s done.” Sung Yongsoo demonstrated how to make a sashimi flower while guiding Kyung-hwa’s hands. As the flower was completed, Kyung-hwa smiled brightly.

“It looks beautiful.”

“Try it.”

Bae Yongsoo and Kyung-hwa spoke casually with each other. They had met as ghosts before their reincarnation, so they felt comfortable conversing freely.

Kyung-hwa picked up a piece of sashimi and put it in her mouth. After chewing several times, she remarked:

“It tastes delicious.”

“Of course. I made it,” replied Bae Yongsoo confidently.

Nodding, Kyung-hwa continued, “I can taste…soju, vinegar, and kelp.” Kang Jin watched in surprise as Kyung-hwa accurately identified the ingredients based on the flavor.

The ingredients Kyung-hwa mentioned were precisely those Bae Yongsoo had used to cure and season the raw fish. To be exact, they included what he added while boiling seaweed as well as when wrapping it around the fish.

“You can taste all these flavors?” Kang Jin asked with amazement.

Bae Yongsoo smiled at her. “Kyung-hwa has an exceptional palate.”

“How does she recognize them all? Especially since they’re mixed together?”

“That’s why her sense of taste is extraordinary. Previously, Madam Bokrae was fascinated by this ability too. She made dumplings using various ingredients just to test Kyung-hwa.”

“Dumplings?”

“She fed Kyung-hwa dumplings filled with pork, shrimp, beef, duck, vegetables, sesame seeds, and more. Wow… Kyung-hwa correctly identified every ingredient.”

Kyung-hwa chuckled and shook her head at Bae Yongsoo’s words.

“But you couldn’t identify the wrappers.”

“Well, that’s because there were some ingredients you hadn’t tasted before.”

Kang Jin asked Kyung-hwa based on her explanation:

“So, you were able to identify all the ingredients used?”

“Yes, since I tasted them before.”

Kyung-hwa laughed as if it was nothing, but Kang Jin regarded her with admiration. If individual dishes were presented separately, Kang Jin could have identified their ingredients. However, she wasn’t confident about identifying ingredients mixed together like in dumplings. Of course, she might be able to recognize strong-tasting ingredients such as cabbage or certain meats, but not all of them accurately.

“You’re truly amazing.”

Kyung-hwa smiled at Kang Jin’s compliment.

“I just really enjoy eating.”

“Having such refined taste isn’t solely due to enjoying food. You chose the wrong profession; you would’ve excelled as a chef.”

A keen sense of taste is invaluable for any chef.

Kyung-hwa smiled softly at Sung Yongsoo’s words before nodding and eating another piece of sashimi.

“The umami flavor is outstanding. It tastes amazing.”

“I made it, so of course it tastes good,” replied Bae Yongsoo with confidence.

Kang Jin nodded in agreement.

“Yongsoo is skilled at cooking.”

Having trained for a long time at Woonam Restaurant, Bae Yongsoo indeed prepared delicious meals. Moreover, his deep understanding of ingredients contributed to the exceptional taste.

Kyung-hwa picked up another piece of sashimi, smiling contentedly.

“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow night’s aged raw fish dish.”

“It will be a delightful meal, I assure you.”

Kyung-hwa smacked her lips eagerly, then glanced at the food before asking:

“Do you happen to have any kimchi?”

“Yes, would you like some?”

“Is it aged kimchi?”

“We have both aged kimchi and side dishes available.”

“Could you give me some of your aged kimchi?”

Following Kyung-hwa’s request, Kang Jin opened the refrigerator and took out a container filled with kimchi. The tangy yet mouthwatering aroma quickly spread throughout the room.

“Would you like to rinse it under water first?”

“Rinse kimchi under water?”

“I think rinsed aged kimchi pairs well with sashimi based on my experience.”

As Kang Jin looked at the kimchi considering Kyung-hwa’s suggestion, Bae Yongsoo chuckled.

“You know…that does sound delicious.”

At Yongsoo’s words, Kang Jin smacked his lips and washed a piece of kimchi under running water.

“Gently press once to remove excess moisture without crushing it too much.”

Kang Jin followed Sung Yongsoo’s advice, carefully squeezing the kimchi to drain the water.

“Now, wrap it with the sashimi and enjoy.”

“Kyung-hwa, please try some.”

In any case, Kyung-hwa wouldn’t be reprimanded for eating kimchi with her hands.

“I am looking forward to tomorrow’s meal.”

Kang Jin nodded at Kyung-hwa’s words about enjoying delicious food. He then wrapped a piece of aged raw fish around the kimchi and put it in his mouth. Afterward…

“Mmm!” Kang Jin smacked his lips together.

“It is so tasty.”

The unique tanginess and sourness of kimchi were delightful. Moreover, the aged raw fish had a savory taste, which was enhanced by the fermented kimchi… It tasted so good that he jokingly remarked it could make one slap their own cheek out of sheer joy.

“Wow… This combination is amazing.” In response to Kang Jin’s remark, Kyung-hwa spoke with anticipation.

“I thought this pairing would be delicious. Does it taste good?”

“It’s delicious.” Kyung-hwa smacked her lips at Kang Jin’s comment.

“I think it would also taste good with washed fermented bean paste.”

“You seem to know your way around food.”

“No, I’m not that skilled.”

“But you have such great ideas despite not being well-versed in cooking?”

“I just love tasty food, so when I eat something, I naturally think of what flavors complement it. It is similar to how one thinks about side dishes when eating fried chicken.”

Bae Yongsoo laughed at Kyung-hwa’s words.

“You should’ve become a chef.”

The aged raw fish dish was already delicious on its own, but pairing it with fermented bean paste elevated it to another level. The ability to identify complementary ingredients for any given food item is an essential skill for chefs.

People often say that the interaction between two individuals can either multiply their effectiveness or diminish it.

This was similar to how some people complemented each other while others clashed. It was the same with food. Some foods tasted better together, whereas others diminished their flavors when combined. In this case, aged raw fish and kimchi were a perfect match.

Kyung-hwa shook her head with a smile at Bae Yongsoo’s words.

“I’ll think about it for my next life.”

With that, Kyung-hwa left the kitchen.

“Have a good day.”

As Kang Jin watched Kyung-hwa leave the store, he washed another piece of kimchi, wrapped it around the raw fish, and nodded approvingly after taking a bite.

“It definitely tastes better like this.”

“If only I had met her during our lifetime…I would’ve loved to train her at Woonam Restaurant…” As Bae Yongsoo spoke, Kang Jin glanced towards the door through which Kyung-hwa exited before urgently checking the time.

It was already eleven o’clock.

“Hey! We don’t have much time left. Let’s finish quickly.”

Bae Yongsoo nodded at Kang Jin’s words and continued cleaning the clams. Of course, ‘cleaning’ involved merely rinsing them under running water once or twice.

Meanwhile, Kang Jin cooked rice - one batch for regular meals and another for sushi rolls. After cooking the rice, he washed away the kimchi seasoning from some pickled radish slices and squeezed out excess moisture. Then, he wrapped a piece of sashimi with a slice of pickled radish and savored it with a smile.

Wow… Everyone will love this combination.

Although people often say their tastes differ when it comes to food… This pairing would be universally enjoyed by anyone who liked aged kimchi and sashimi. Imagining his guests relishing these dishes brought a grin to Kang Jin’s face.