I Became a Hotelier at the Goryeo National Hotel - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 28

 

Nasim’s face, after taking a bite of the kofta, was soon filled with joy and emotion.

 

[…Oh!! This is…delicious?!]

 

Seeing Nasim’s expression, the trading company members who had been watching his face eagerly dove into the food.

 

[That picky heir is making such an expression!]

 

[Then it must be safe to eat?!]

 

Then suddenly Nasim stood up abruptly, turned toward Seo Rin, and shouted with a tearful voice!

 

[You don’t know how much I’ve missed the food of my homeland all this time. I can eat with peace of mind. I’m truly moved by your sincerity.]

 

Seo Rin unconsciously let out a scream of joy inside at Nasim’s words.

 

Meanwhile, seeing his nephew’s face turn bright red as he looked at Seo Rin, Rashid chuckled and stroked his beard.

 

‘Even though he’s of marriageable age, he’s never shown interest in women, causing the family much worry, but now he’s showing such interest in a foreign woman. Well, I’ll think about this gradually.’

 

Rashid set aside thoughts about his nephew for the moment and turned his eyes to the food before him. In truth, he had been secretly eager to taste the steaming chorba that had been captivating his attention since earlier.

 

Rashid took a large spoonful and filled his mouth. The savory aroma of mung beans wrapped around his tongue and flowed down his throat.

 

The texture of the grains mixed in was also very satisfying.

 

‘Oh! This is really delicious! Though it’s not the familiar bean taste, this also suits my palate perfectly! It’s not greasy and much more refreshing. …I should find out what kind of bean this is later and pursue importing it….’

 

Following Nasim, when even the Deputy Merchant Leader began eating with a satisfied expression, the remaining merchants who had been hesitating finally felt reassured and attacked the food.

 

[Oh! This is perfect for my taste!]

 

[My stomach, which has only been chewing jerky on the ship, is churning with gratitude!]

 

[This hot broth, how I’ve missed it!]

 

[Ugh, suddenly I’m thinking of home!]

 

Watching the merchants happily devouring their food with combat-like intensity, Seo Rin felt her anxious worries melt away like snow, replaced by a rising sense of pride in satisfying her customers.

 

‘Ah, I’m really happy….’

 

Seo Rin smiled brightly while looking at her customers. Her sincere smile drew the gazes of everyone in Pungwol Hall toward her.

 

―Clang.

 

Particularly Nasim, who witnessed Seo Rin’s appearance up close, dropped his spoon and chopsticks and became completely entranced by her.

 

Seeing Nasim like this, Jun Gyeong frowned.

 

“…Eun Cheon. That bastard is looking at our Hyeeum-won member with strange eyes, isn’t he?”

 

At Jun Gyeong’s words, Eun Cheon’s gaze turned toward Nasim, then shifted to Seo Rin, whom his eyes were looking at.

 

“Right? I’m right, aren’t I?”

 

“….”

 

“…Eun Cheon? Are you listening to me?”

 

“…It seems the prepared food suited their taste. That’s fortunate.”

 

“Huh? Those don’t look like eyes that are just pleased about food, though?”

 

“We’ve confirmed everything we needed to see, so let’s go back.”

 

Eun Cheon left Pungwol Hall without looking back.

 

Then one of the Nok Sa entered Pungwol Hall and quietly reported something to Lee Jeong Ah. Lee Jeong Ah nodded and came out with Seo Rin.

 

“There’s something I need you to check.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“They say the prayer room has been prepared. Let’s go see it together.”

 

Lee Jeong Ah led Seo Rin to the gazebo near the central gate.

 

Following the stairs where small lanterns were placed, they climbed up to find braziers positioned throughout the wooden floor, and near the gazebo railing, Monk Hye Gwang was looking up at the stars that filled the night sky of Hyeeum Pass.

 

“You have come.”

 

As soon as Lee Jeong Ah heard about the prayer room from Seo Rin, she informed Hye Gwang, who knew how to read constellations, and he had come here immediately with his compass without delay.

 

Following his compass, his experienced gaze moved familiarly between constellations, using the North Star as his reference point in the night sky.

 

Without taking his eyes off the sky, Hye Gwang spoke to Seo Rin.

 

“I heard from the Director that the direction is similar to where the sun sets on the shortest day of the year. However, since it’s such a distant place, it’s not easy to pinpoint the exact direction with just that information.”

 

He alternately examined a specific cluster of stars in the night sky and the fine markings on his compass for a long while, then pointed in one direction and said.

 

“It seems to be this direction.”

 

Then the Nok Sa who had been waiting behind quickly adjusted the direction of the cushions placed on the floor to face where Hye Gwang had pointed.

 

“There, is that good?”

 

Hye Gwang asked with a benevolent smile.

 

“Yes! Thank you!”

 

Seo Rin bowed her head to express her gratitude.

 

Lee Jeong Ah looked at the prepared prayer room, then added with a cautious expression.

 

“Earlier, in my urgency, I made the request thoughtlessly, but I apologize for troubling someone who has devoted themselves to Buddhism with the task of preparing a prayer room for another religion.”

 

Hye Gwang waved his hand with a benevolent laugh.

 

“Oh my, please don’t say such things. Although the objects of worship and methods may differ, aren’t we all pilgrims seeking truth under the same sky? Haha. I’m also happy that I could provide even a small help to fellow travelers.”

 

* * *

 

[How long has it been since we’ve tasted food from home?]

 

[You’re right. I ate ten bowls of chorba.]

 

[The taste was truly excellent.]

 

The merchants seemed satisfied to have eaten hometown food after so long, patting their full bellies repeatedly as they left the dining hall.

 

Then one merchant with a magnificently groomed beard looked up at the night sky and came over to Rashid’s side.

 

[Deputy Merchant Leader, it’s almost time for Salat.]

 

[Ah, it’s already time for Isha (night prayer). We must have eaten dinner for quite a long time. Haha.]

 

Salat was a prayer that Muslims were obligated to offer five times a day at designated times, facing Mecca.

 

[Come, let’s quickly find the Qibla (prayer direction).]

 

The one who had announced the Salat time took out a compass and raised his head to examine the constellations.

 

But then, Won Ri, Seo Rin, who had served as interpreter in the kitchen, approached.

 

[Please come with me. I have prepared a place where you can offer your prayers.]

 

Seeing Seo Rin, Nasim quickly stepped out from among his companions and asked.

 

[How did you know to prepare this?]

 

[Isn’t it almost time for the last prayer? I’ve prepared a place where you can comfortably offer your worship, so please follow me.]

 

The merchants followed Won Ri with bewildered expressions.

 

Seo Rin led the group to a gazebo with a wide wooden floor by the pond. Twenty prayer mats were laid out on the gazebo.

 

[You even prepared prayer mats in advance?]

 

Nasim asked, moved.

 

[Yes. And since the prayer mats are positioned facing the direction of the Qibla, you don’t need to worry about finding the direction. We’ll organize your personal belongings while you’re praying, so please take your time and come back when you’re finished.]

 

[Oh, such thoughtful consideration!]

 

The direction where the prayer mats were laid was open and clear, allowing a perfect view of the moon in the sky.

 

Just like in the dining hall, the group saw that braziers were placed in several spots inside the gazebo, and they were once again amazed by Hyeeumwon’s meticulous preparation.

 

[Thank you. We didn’t expect you to prepare this much.]

 

[The customer’s joy is Hyeeumwon’s joy.]

 

Seo Rin felt her heart swell with pride seeing the trading company group’s satisfaction.

 

‘Yes, this is it. The customer’s joy is a hotelier’s reward and driving force!’

 

Seo Rin bowed politely to the grateful merchants, descended from the gazebo, and headed to Bohwa-gak where they would be staying to organize their belongings.

 

Behind Seo Rin’s departing steps, low murmurs of gratitude and prayer echoed solemnly throughout Hyeeumwon.

 

* * *

 

‘Ugh, now that the tension’s gone, my shoulders, back, and wrists are all screaming.’

 

After finishing organizing the merchants’ belongings, Seo Rin massaged her shoulders as she came out.

 

‘At times like this, the best thing is to lie on the ondol, eat snacks with the kids, and chat.’

 

When baking the lavash, Seo Rin had made a bit extra to share with the Hyeeumwon family. She was heading to the kitchen to grab some to eat with her friends when she saw the trainees coming out of Chanseon Bang with their arms full of food.

 

Footnote

 

1) Salat (Salah): The second of the five pillars of Islamic faith, a prayer offered to Allah at designated times each day. It is an obligatory prayer performed five times daily.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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