Chapter 170

“I enjoyed my meal.” Wo Jiaming cheerfully paid his bill while holding a shopping bag containing a lunchbox made by Kang Jin. He requested it because he liked today’s menu.

“Since you’re getting older, please avoid heavy and overly spicy foods when feeling tired.”

“Ha ha ha! Understood.” With that, Wo Jiaming nodded at Kang Jin’s advice and turned to leave.

As Do Yongmin followed behind him, he glanced back at Kang Jin.

“Could I have one of your business cards?”

He wanted to keep a card since the representative seemed to enjoy the restaurant.

“Here you go.”

Kang Jin handed over a card, eliciting a smile from Do Yongmin.

“It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve had such a comfortable meal. Thank you.”

Seeing Do Yongmin’s bright smile, Kang Jin nodded appreciatively.

‘With ghosts constantly watching him, he probably couldn’t enjoy his meals.’

Whether Do Yongmin sensed it or not, there was a noticeable difference between his expression when entering the restaurant and now. He seemed much brighter somehow.

Kang Jin observed this change and said, “If you wish to have comfortable meals in the future, feel free to visit anytime.”

At least at One Meal Restaurant, Kang Jin could use her ghost to expel any lingering spirits, allowing for a peaceful dining experience.

“I understand.” With a nod, Do Yongmin hastily left the restaurant.

Watching him depart, Kang Jin stretched her body.

Crack!

“Ouch!”

Regardless, today’s lunch service was successful. Although fewer customers came compared to when she served Sunji hangover soup, it was still the highest number of lunches sold recently.

After stretching his body, Kang Jin took the dishes to the kitchen and opened the back door for the ghosts.

“Captain, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, sir.”

With rubber gloves donned, Captain began washing the dishes as per Kang Jin’s request. Choi Hun also put on disposable vinyl gloves before heading off to clean the bathroom.

‘Having part-timers sure is convenient.’

Normally, Kang Jin would have had to do all the post-lunch cleanup, including the bathrooms. However, with ghost helpers, he could at least take some load off. Of course, he wasn’t aware of their hourly wage yet.

‘Money certainly makes life easier.’

While happiness couldn’t be bought solely with money, having it definitely made things more comfortable, especially when tasks could be delegated to ghosts.

It was a win-win situation for both parties. The ghosts could buy items they needed after passing to the next life, and Kang Jin enjoyed the convenience of having his establishment cleaned effortlessly.

While Captain Bae organized the kitchen and Choi Hun cleaned the bathroom, Kang Jin locked the shop’s entrance door. It would be awkward if customers walked in while the ghosts were cleaning inside.

With the door secured, Kang Jin took a moment to enjoy a cup of tea. Having served two tables during dinner service, he was now preparing Shinwoo’s fish in the kitchen. He wanted to introduce the aged raw fish dish to the ghosts tomorrow night.

Shhhk! Shhhk!

As Kang Jin filleted the fish with Sung Yongsoo and layered sheets of seaweed, his phone rang.

Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

Kang Jin wiped his hands clean before checking the caller ID. Seeing it was from an unknown number, he decided to answer it.

“Hello?”

Are you open now?

Kang Jin checked the time after hearing the question.

It’s nine o’clock…

“We’re currently open.”

What time do you close?

“As long as there are customers, we stay open.”

Although ghost patrons usually arrived at 11 P.M., human guests tended to leave on their own once ghosts started swarming around the restaurant, with the exception of unique cases like Hwang Minsung. Therefore, closing time was whenever the last wave of ghosts showed up.

I’d like to make a reservation for three people.

“What would you like me to prepare?”

Is it possible to have the aged raw fish dish?

“I’m sorry, but that was today’s special and is no longer available.”

Understood. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.

“If you know what else you’d prefer besides the aged raw fish, I can start preparing it ahead of time.”

Mom, what do you want to eat? Anything goes. And Dad? Gotcha.

The caller seemed to discuss their options before responding:

[I’ll choose when we arrive.]

“Please make yourselves at home.”

As Kang Jin ended the call, Bae Yongsoo asked him,

“A reservation?”

“Yeah.”

“We need to hurry.”

“It’s almost done.”

Kang Jin finished wrapping the fish and placed it with dried kelp in an airtight container. He then stored it inside the kimchi refrigerator. Checking the time, he realized his guests would soon arrive, so he released the ghosts outside.

Ding-a-ling! Ding-a-ling!

Hearing the chimes, Kang Jin lifted the curtain and saw Do Yongmin entering with a middle-aged couple. Although he couldn’t identify them by voice alone, they were the same individuals who had visited for lunch earlier.

‘Ah, it’s them.’

Wiping his hands, Kang Jin stepped out from the kitchen.

“Wel…come.” Mid-sentence, Kang Jin paused as he noticed the elderly ghost following behind the couple.

The elderly ghost entered the store and glared fiercely at Kang Jin. Despite her lack of consciousness, she still harbored animosity towards him. Feeling uneasy under her gaze, Kang Jin briefly glanced at Do Yongmin before speaking up.

“It’s quite chilly today.”

“Yes, it is rather cold,” agreed Do Yongmin.

Kang Jin then guided them to their seats and headed to the kitchen, where he placed yakgwanmun tea on a low flame.

“Choi Hocheol, Choi Hocheol, Choi Hocheol.”

Vwoom!

As soon as Choi Hocheol appeared, Kang Jin addressed him urgently:

“Hyung, there’s a ghost outside.”

Choi Hocheol looked out towards the hall and responded:

“You’re trying to catch another one?”

“I’d appreciate your help.”

“Why not just let JS handle it?” asked Choi Hocheol.

“She hasn’t reached the warrant threshold yet.”

“But from what I see, it seems like she might soon… Once she crosses that line, JS Finance will issue a warrant.”

As Choi Hocheol left the kitchen, the elderly ghost screamed:

“Stay away! Get lost!”

But nothing would deter Choi Hocheol.

“Let’s go.”

Without hesitation, he approached and embraced the elderly ghost before carrying her out of the restaurant.

“Let me go! Put me down!”

Seeing this, Kang Jin emerged from the kitchen with a teapot.

“It’s cold outside, so please enjoy some warm tea first.”

Kang Jin poured cups for everyone while observing them closely. The three individuals had entered with stiff expressions, but now their faces appeared much more relaxed, perhaps due to the departure of the elderly ghost.

“Mother, do you feel somewhat better?”

“Yes, it’s quite remarkable.”

“I told you, didn’t I? When we had lunch here, I felt at ease.”

The ajumma smiled at Do Yongmin’s words. “Yes, I suddenly feel more relaxed. How about you?”

“I’m feeling better too. Is there some energy flowing through this house?”

“Should we move somewhere else?”

“That might be best. Lately, as soon as I enter our home, I feel heavy and cold.” Junghoon pursed his lips while sipping his tea.

Kang Jin discreetly observed the ajumma, squinting slightly. She noticed a deep blue aura between the woman’s brows.

‘That… It’s the same aura Yongsoo mentioned.’

It was the aura that appeared when someone was being haunted by the elderly ghost, and it heavily enveloped the ajumma’s forehead. In contrast, no such aura was visible on Junghoon’s brow. It seemed the ghosts primarily targeted the mother and son.

What grudge would make this ghost torment just the mother and son like this?

As Kang Jin pondered, he asked them, “How may I serve you?”

“The kimchi stew here is quite tasty,” suggested Do Yongmin.

The ajumma glanced at Junghoon. “Kimchi stew?”

“We eat kimchi stew every day.”

Junghoon scanned his surroundings as if searching for a menu before spotting the whiteboard and turning to Kang Jin.

“Can we request any dish?”

“I can prepare whatever you’d like, just let me know.”

Junghoon thought about it but eventually shook his head. “You order.”

“All right then…” The ajumma looked at Kang Jin. “Can we ask for anything?”

“I can make any dish using common ingredients. If you let me know your food preferences, I can tailor it accordingly.”

The ajumma looked at Kang Jin and asked,

“How about some gejang miyeokguk?”

“Yes, that’s possible.”

“And could you add rice washing water to the seaweed soup?”

Kang Jin blinked momentarily upon hearing ‘rice washing water’, but he nodded.

“Of course, I’ll do my best.”

There was no recipe for adding rice washing water to seaweed soup, but with Sung Yongsoo’s help, they would figure something out.

When Kang Jin turned towards Do Yongmin, he stated,

“We’d like kimchi stew, egg rolls, and…could you recommend one main dish?”

“Would you prefer a meat-based dish?”

As Kang Jin spoke, Junghoon suddenly interjected,

“By any chance…”

The older man hesitated for a moment before asking,

“How about steamed grilled pork belly?”

“You mean boiled meat?”

“No, not boiled meat. You layer sliced pork belly with bean sprouts and steam it. It is eaten with seasoning sauce.”

“That doesn’t sound too difficult. Should I mix soy sauce with green onions and garlic for the seasoning sauce?”

“Yes, that sounds right. And make it slightly spicy…”

“It seems you haven’t made this dish before?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“I understand.” Kang Jin nodded before asking, “Is there anything else you need?”

“That should be fine.”

Kang Jin confirmed, “So two servings of kimchi stew and three servings of the grilled pork belly dish?”

Seeing Junghoon’s nod of approval, Kang Jin entered the kitchen through the back door to fetch Bae Yongsoo.

Bae Yongsoo then gave his instructions to Kang Jin.

“Firstly, soak the seaweed and dried clams in water.”

Kang Jin took out the dried seaweed and clams as per Bae Yongsoo’s request, placing them in water. Sung Yongsoo watched him do this while stroking his chin thoughtfully.

“The seaweed clam soup is straightforward using rice washing water, but the steamed grilled pork belly requires a bit more finesse.”

“How so?” asked Kang Jin, thinking it was simply about layering bean sprouts and pork belly before steaming them together.

Sensing Kang Jin’s confusion, Bae Yongsoo shook his head.

“The cooking times for each ingredient differ. If you steam the bean sprouts alongside the pork until the meat is cooked, they’ll become mushy.”

“Oh…” Kang Jin nodded, understanding what Yongsoo meant.

Yongsoo continued, “For bean sprouts to taste best, even when cooked, they should retain their crisp texture. Steaming them with the pork belly would compromise that.”

“So cook them separately?” Kang Jin suggested.

Bae Yongsoo pondered her idea for a moment before nodding. “First, lightly grill the pork belly, then add bean sprouts on top and steam it together. And for the water inside the steamer…let’s mix some ginger juice and rice wine.”

“How about using thick-cut pork belly instead?”

“Thick-cut pork belly?”

“It cooks quickly because of its thinness,” explained Kang Jin.

Bae Yongsoo nodded in agreement. “True. Then let’s do that…and sprinkle minced garlic over the pork belly.”

“Gotcha.”

As Kang Jin retrieved the ingredients, Bae Yongsoo put on rubber gloves and took out a steamer pot. Kang Jin started by layering bean sprouts at the bottom, followed by minced garlic, and finally topped with sliced pork belly. She continued stacking layers of bean sprouts and pork belly, added water along with ginger juice and rice wine, covered the lid, and placed it on the stove.

“I’ve never eaten it this way before. Will it taste good?” Kang Jin asked Bae Yongsoo.

Bae Yongsoo nodded affirmatively.

“The grilled pork belly will be tender, and the bean sprouts should cook evenly coated with its fat. If we dip both together in sauce…it’ll definitely taste amazing.”

Kang Jin smacked his lips at Bae Yongsoo’s description. Indeed, imagining the flavors made him confident it would be delicious.

Episode 171

Boil, boil! Whiiiish!

The kimchi stew bubbled away, releasing steam from the steamer like crazy. The aroma of bean sprouts wafted through the air.

“It looks like the bean sprout and grilled pork belly dish will finish first,” Kang Jin observed.

Bae Yongsoo agreed, “Yes, it seems best not to overcook this one. Let’s start with that.”

Kang Jin nodded in agreement with Sung Yongsoo’s assessment. Although kimchi stew cooks quickly, it needed time for the flavors of meat and kimchi to meld together properly. However, overcooking bean sprouts would ruin their texture, and if they were left on standby after turning off the heat, the oil could congeal by the time other dishes were ready.

“How should we serve this dish?”

Kang Jin glanced at the steamer before replying to Bae Yongsoo’s question, “If we serve it like this, it’ll stay warm longer.”

“That wouldn’t be courteous to our guests,” agreed Kang Jin, nodding. He then took out a large plate and filled it with hot water. Once the plate was warmed up, he emptied it and looked back at the steamer.

“It must be done by now.”

When steaming bean sprouts, one should either keep the lid open or closed. Opening and closing the lid repeatedly would result in a fishy smell. Therefore, once Kang Jin placed them in the steamer with the lid shut, she couldn’t tell if they were cooked without checking inside.

“The thick-cut pork belly cooks quickly over direct heat, and these bean sprouts must be done by now.”

Following Bae Yongsoo’s words, Kang Jin opened the lid.

Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

As soon as she lifted it, white steam billowed out. Kang Jin waved her hand to disperse the steam, smiling at what lay beneath. The sight of tender, white-thickened grilled pork belly on top indicated that the bean sprouts underneath were likely well-cooked too. She removed the pork belly slices and carefully transferred the bean sprouts onto a plate.

He tried to arrange it neatly but ended up making it look messy.

“I’ll do it.” Unable to watch any longer, Bae Yongsoo took over and carefully scooped out the bean sprouts with grilled pork belly.

Kang Jin’s mouth watered as he watched. The rendered fat from the grilled pork had soaked into the bean sprouts, while the moisture from the sprouts kept the meat juicy.

It must be so tender! Plus, eating it with the crunchy bean sprouts will add some texture…

As Kang Jin stared at the dish being prepared by Sung Yongsoo, his eyes landed on the condiment jar nearby. It contained a sauce made with finely chopped red and green chili peppers mixed with rice wine, vinegar, and soy sauce, resulting in a spicy yet not overly salty flavor.

“It would taste great with this dipping sauce,” Kang Jin remarked.

Bae Yongsoo nodded at her suggestion.

“We should try it later too.”

“Agreed.”

With a smile on his face, Bae Yongsoo neatly placed the grilled pork belly atop the bean sprouts.

“And here…” He took out some dried radish from the refrigerator and finely chopped them onto the dish. “Done.”

Kang Jin smacked her lips as she admired the food before placing it on a tray. She also added the dipping sauce along with other side dishes, then carried everything to the dining area.

“The steamed bean sprout and grilled pork belly is ready first. Please wait just a moment for the rest of your order.”

“It looks delicious.” Junghoon complimented her.

Kang Jin responded with a grin.

“Thank you for sharing this recipe with me. This is my first time making it.”

There were various recipes within the cooking practice room, but bean sprouts and grilled pork belly soup wasn’t one of them. Thus, Kang Jin had never seen this dish before.

“My mother used to make this as a hangover cure after drinking.”

“With grilled pork belly?”

“It’s surprisingly effective.”

Following Junghoon’s words, Do Yongmin picked up his chopsticks.

“Eat some father.”

The older man looked at Do Yongmin.

“You’ve never tried this before, right?”

“No sir.”

Junghoon smiled at Do Yongmin’s response.

“Lay down the grilled pork belly like this, then place the bean sprouts on top. Add a bit of seasoning sauce… Now wrap it using the pork belly…”

The older man wrapped some grilled pork belly around bean sprouts and handed it to Do Yongmin.

“I’ll eat this one.”

“Go ahead.”

At his father’s words, Do Yongmin glanced at Kang Jin feeling embarrassed. It was awkward for a thirty-year-old man to accept food from his dad like a child. Kang Jin smiled warmly and lowered his head.

“Enjoy your meal.”

Swish!

As Kang Jin turned towards the kitchen, Do Yongmin opened his mouth wide and accepted the bite of food from his father. He chewed a few times before smiling.

“It’s delicious.”

“Told you so?”

“The pork is tender due to boiling, and the savory fat pairs well with the crunchiness of the bean sprouts.”

Inspired by Do Yongmin’s words, Junghoon also wrapped some bean sprouts around the grilled pork belly and ate it. He nodded in agreement.

“I haven’t had this in a while, but yes, it does taste great.”

“But I’ve never seen you make this at home? Why…”

Before Do Yongmin could ask if she wanted some, Junghoon lightly kicked him under the table. This made Do Yongmin abruptly stop talking as he cautiously glanced at his wife.

She smiled at this.

“What’s with that look? If you like it, just say so. I would’ve made it for you at home.”

“It just reminded me of something,” replied Junghoon.

His wife sighed softly.

“You miss your mother, don’t you?”

“That’s nonsense…”

“It’s okay. Hoo! Mother went too far… Not letting us attend her funeral even after she passed away.”

“Enough.”

Junghoon’s words caused his wife to click her tongue before dipping her lettuce wrap with grilled pork belly and bean sprouts into the sauce. She then popped it into her mouth.

“It’s delicious.”

“Of course, it is,” agreed Junghoon happily.

He was pleased seeing his wife enjoying the food. The bean sprouts with grilled pork belly dish brought back memories of what his mother used to make him the morning after drinking alcohol.

Neither his wife nor son had ever tasted their grandmother’s cooking before. His mother had opposed his marriage to his wife, so Junghoon decided to have a child with her first. He believed that once they had a grandchild, she would accept them. However…his mother became even angrier upon learning about the pregnancy and completely cut ties with him.

This estrangement continued until his father passed away, and it persisted two months ago when his mother died as well. In fact, his mother left specific instructions forbidding Do Yongmin’s family from attending her funeral. Just like how they were excluded from his father’s funeral during her lifetime, now they couldn’t attend hers due to her final wishes.

‘Mother…’

As he savored the bean sprouts and grilled pork belly, memories of his mother surfaced, leaving Junghoon feeling melancholic.

He had married his wife because he loved her, but this didn’t mean that Junghoon hated or resented his mother. He simply thought she would always be by his side, and he clung to his wife because he feared their separation. If only he knew how firmly his mother would cut ties with him…

Shaking his head, Junghoon wrapped some grilled pork belly around bean sprouts before popping it into his mouth. At that moment, a shot glass was placed in front of him.

“Father, have a drink.”

His son sensed his father’s melancholy mood as he poured soju for him.

“Yes, let’s have one together. This dish is good both as a hangover cure and a drinking snack.” With a smile, Junghoon raised his glass, prompting Do Yongmin to pour him some soju. In turn, Junghoon filled Do Yongmin’s glass and then looked at his wife.

“You should also have a drink.”

“What about driving?”

“We can hire a driver.”

“Alright.”

Smiling, the ajumma also raised her glass. The three of them started drinking soju and eating grilled pork belly with bean sprouts. Soon, kimchi stew and clam seaweed soup were placed on the table as well.

“Your grandmother…was a good person but quite stubborn.”

“I know.”

“When your grandfather was younger, he participated in pro-democracy movements. He often ended up in jail, and police officers frequently visited our house.”

“Yes.”

“He endured many hardships due to politics… Oh! Did she tell you about how during the military regime, those bastards from Namsan tied a stone to his foot and dragged him towards a reservoir?”

“Yes.”

“One of those men dragging him was his neighborhood senior. He secretly cut your grandfather’s rope and let him fall into the water, allowing him to survive. People praised this act as great, but Grandma suffered greatly at home because of it. That is why she solely focused on me with her expectations. So you shouldn’t blame Grandma for anything.”

“I don’t blame her.”

Kang Jin could hear their conversation through the kitchen door. It wasn’t that he intentionally eavesdropped. Perhaps due to alcohol, Junghoon’s voice was quite loud, making it easy to overhear from the kitchen.

As Kang Jin listened, he discovered the identity of the ghost haunting them. Ridiculously enough…

The ghost attached to Sonju is actually Grandma…

To Grandma, Sonju had been something precious, but not so much to her ghostly self.

“…if only it wasn’t you… You ruined my child’s life. If only you weren’t…”

Kang Jin now understood what the elderly ghost had meant when she spoke to Do Yongmin earlier.

“I thought her saying ‘ruined my child’s life’ referred to something more serious…”

The grandmother blamed Sonju for her son marrying a woman she disapproved of. Normally, even if they opposed their son’s marriage, once a grandchild was born, most grandparents would at least appreciate having a cute grandchild.

Is this due to excessive love?

It’s natural for mothers to love their children, but this seemed like an unhealthy level of attachment.

Swoosh!

Kang Jin slightly parted the curtain and observed the living room. His father reminisced about old times while drinking soju poured by his son, and Kyunghye laughed as she ate beside him.

In many ways, they looked like an ordinary family. Kang Jin appreciated this normalcy.

From one perspective, it was a typical family scene, and Kang Jin appreciated its normalcy.

Living a simple life is truly the best…

Even if someone were rich, they still only ate three to four meals a day, not from beds made of gold. Actually, sleeping on a bed made of gold would likely be quite uncomfortable.

Perhaps the greatest happiness lies in living with your family without having to worry about food or shelter. As he watched this heartwarming sight, Kang Jin felt a pang of regret.

I never got to pour my father a drink.

When his parents passed away during his second year of high school, he was too young to serve alcohol to his father. Moreover, due to his busy schedule between school and tutoring classes, there wasn’t much time for them to connect.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, a ghost suddenly burst through the door, followed hastily by Choi Hocheol.

“Aaargh!”

The elderly ghost screamed as she charged towards the family eating dinner. Choi Hocheol reacted first by grabbing her hand and pulling her back.

“What incredible strength you have.”

Then he yelled towards the kitchen.

“Yongsoo, help me here.”

Bae Yongsoo nodded at Choi Hocheol’s words, but Kang Jin interrupted before he could move.

“You go out through the rear door.” Kang Jin pointed to the kitchen with his other hand, indicating Choi Hocheol should bring the ghost there.

Choi Hocheol dragged the grandmother ghost into the kitchen while holding onto her tightly.

“Let go of me! Let go! That bitch ruined my son! Let go!”

“Shut up already! Be quiet!”

“Let go! Let go!”

As Choi Hocheol restrained the screaming elderly ghost, he looked towards Kang Jin.

“This is killing me.”

Kang Jin pursed his lips at Choi Hocheol’s words, then glanced at the elderly ghost. She was glaring daggers at him.

Kang Jin opened the screen wide after observing this elderly ghost.

Shwaaah!

He looked at the hall through the open screen. Whether it was due to their drunken state or because they were oblivious to the captured ghosts, the family continued drinking and talking amicably.

As Kang Jin observed them, he opened the steamer lid. Inside, there were some remaining bean sprouts and grilled pork belly. He scooped these onto a small plate and placed it in front of the elderly ghost.

“Please stop shouting and try eating this.”

“No!”

“Don’t you remember? This is your son’s favorite food.”

“Leave!” The elderly ghost yelled again.

Choi Hocheol observed this and stated, “The wandering spirits are mentally unstable, so they can’t understand.”

At Choi Hocheol’s words, Kang Jin glanced at the hall while keeping an eye on the grandmother ghost. “Despite her mental state, she recognizes her son.”

Although the ghost tormented Do Yongmin and the ajumma, she didn’t harm her own son, Junghoon.

Kang Jin turned to address the elderly ghost once more. “Please look. See if your son is living happily or unhappily now.”

With that, Kang Jin carried the dish of bean sprouts with grilled pork belly into the hall.

“It’s on the house.”