I Became a Hotelier at the Goryeo National Hotel - Chapter 31

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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 31

 

“…Me? In the kitchen…?”

 

Go Jang Nam finally remembered collapsing on the kitchen floor in severe abdominal pain right after drinking tea.

 

Hye Gwang showed Go Jang Nam the tea leaves as well, explaining that he had drunk tea containing laxative ingredients.

 

The Head Cook who saw the tea dregs immediately realized who had done this and became furious.

 

“…That Assistant Head Cook!”

 

Go Jang Nam tried to get up, but he had no strength in his body at all. In the end, he couldn’t stand and collapsed backward again weakly.

 

The monk brought the medicine he had been brewing in a bowl.

 

“This is medicine to neutralize the effects, so drink it all without leaving any. After drinking it, lie down for a while. The medicine’s effects are still lingering, so you shouldn’t overexert yourself.”

 

“Yes, monk.”

 

After Go Jang Nam drained the medicine bowl and was setting it down, he spotted the moon outside the window and his face turned pale.

 

“Wh, what? What!! M, monk!! Wh, what time is it now?! The, the guests’ meal!!”

 

Seeing Go Jang Nam’s complexion, Lee Jeong Ah smiled warmly and comforted him.

 

“Don’t worry. The guests have already arrived, and we’ve served them well.”

 

At Lee Jeong Ah’s words, color returned to Go Jang Nam’s face that had lost all blood.

 

“Th, thank goodness. Still, since he’s supposedly the Assistant Head Cook, it seems that fellow Dok Su handled things well.”

 

At Go Jang Nam’s assumption, Lee Jeong Ah’s face instantly turned murderous.

 

“…The Assistant Head Cook. That fellow didn’t do it.”

 

Lee Jeong Ah said while grinding her teeth.

 

“Par…don? If the Assistant Head Cook didn’t do it, then who?”

 

“What do you mean by that?!”

 

Everyone present looked at Lee Jeong Ah’s face.

 

“When I stopped him from cooking with pork dish that the merchants consider taboo, the Assistant Head Cook abandoned the kitchen and left. He hasn’t shown his face since then.”

 

Head Cook Go Jang Nam ground his teeth at the Deputy Commander’s words and asked.

 

“Assistant Head Cook Dok Su! The Minister of the Central Secretariat must have planted him to ruin Hyeeumwon’s affairs. If that weren’t the case, there’d be no reason for him to run away at such a crucial moment!”

 

The Head Cook was exploding with anger with a face that looked ready to burst into flames, when he suddenly flinched.

 

“Th, then who made the guests’ meal? Su, surely not… De, Deputy Commander?”

 

At the Head Cook’s terrified voice, everyone looked at Lee Jeong Ah’s face.

 

Deputy Commander Lee Jeong Ah. She was evaluated as someone blessed by heaven with everything except one thing. That one thing was cooking skills.

 

Her cooking was so notoriously terrible that there were rumors even her father Ho Jang feared and avoided it.

 

And the important thing was that the Deputy Commander herself was unaware of this fact.

 

“Could it be that the taste preferences of Dashi Kingdom are so different from our Goryeo? To think they were satisfied with that strange food, how could such a bizarre thing happen…”

 

Go Jang Nam, intoxicated by the medicine’s effects, poured out nonsensical words without realizing he was voicing his thoughts.

 

“…Head Cook? What did you just say? Strange~?”

 

Go Jang Nam flinched and shrank back seeing Lee Jeong Ah’s face that had become terrifying.

 

Lee Jeong Ah was about to unleash her fury on the Head Cook but calmed her anger seeing his bloodless face.

 

“…Unfortunately, I’ve never made Dashi Kingdom food before. I apologize.”

 

‘Not unfortunate at all!!’

 

At the Deputy Commander’s words, everyone patted their startled chests as if relieved.

 

“Then who on earth made all that food earlier?”

 

Everyone was curious and urged Lee Jeong Ah for an answer.

 

The Deputy Commander revealed the truth with an apologetic expression.

 

“…There’s Won Ri who took first place this time, isn’t there. That child happened to know how to cook Dashi Kingdom cuisine as well, so I trusted and entrusted it to her.”

 

“Oh Seo Rin Won Ri?!”

 

Hye Gwang asked in surprise.

 

“What? You’re saying the top student made all that food earlier?!”

 

Jun Gyeong said in shock.

 

Eun Cheon was equally surprised. However, the surprise was brief, and Eun Cheon’s face soon hardened.

 

“…That means you entrusted the entire kitchen to a mere Won Ri. All that responsibility too.”

 

At Eun Cheon’s criticism, the Deputy Commander said awkwardly.

 

“B-but there was no other option. However, looking at the results, it was truly an excellent choice. That child… was really amazing. Not only the food, but her consideration for the guests was so deep.”

 

The Deputy Commander began pouring out details about Seo Rin’s achievements.

 

She knew the concept of ‘halal’ and prevented an incident where they almost served pork at the table, skillfully prepared Dashi Kingdom cuisine, showed consideration by having braziers brought to the dining hall in advance for guests who might feel cold, and even borrowed a compass to perfectly prepare the prayer room.

 

Those who heard all this were dumbfounded.

 

“…What, the top student is even more amazing than I thought?”

 

At Jun Gyeong’s words, everyone present unconsciously nodded.

 

“That’s right. If it weren’t for that child, I don’t want to imagine how things would have turned out.”

 

“…”

 

Eun Cheon suddenly recalled the image of Seo Rin struggling awkwardly that night, unable to get out of a shallow pond.

 

‘And yet she accomplished such amazing feats…’

 

Eun Cheon felt proud of Seo Rin, but on the other hand, anger welled up inside him.

 

‘It’s only because the results were good, but she almost had to bear all the responsibility alone. How fearless.’

 

After hearing the whole story, the Head Cook snorted and said.

 

“…General Manager, please leave the punishment of that bastard Dok Su to me.”

 

Eun Cheon nodded at the Head Cook’s words.

 

“Do so.”

 

“Yes, … I am truly ashamed before the General Manager.”

 

Dok Su was someone under his responsibility, no matter what anyone said. Go Jang Nam couldn’t lift his face in shame.

 

“Don’t worry about other things, Head Cook, just take care of your health first.”

 

“I’m fine. Taking the herbal medicine makes me feel somewhat better. I’ll return to the kitchen starting tomorrow.”

 

Looking at Hye Gwang, he nodded to indicate that much would be manageable.

 

“…Do so.”

 

Eun Cheon seemed to think for a moment, then opened his mouth.

 

“As they say, clear rewards and punishments, so we should make rewards as clear as we give punishments.”

 

* * *

 

The merchants who had finished all their prayers returned to Bohwa-gak where the guest rooms were located.

 

Remembering that he had to remove his shoes when entering the gazebo, Nasim neatly took off his shoes on the stepping stone and opened the guest room door.

 

As he crossed the threshold of Bohwa-gak, he felt a luxurious and precious atmosphere that was on a completely different level from the guest rooms he had experienced before.

 

[…Oh.]

 

A Black Lacquer Mother-of-Pearl Cabinet filling one entire wall of the room, an elegantly decorated Incense Burner wafting gentle Sandalwood Incense, Bedding made from Premium Silk and Fine Silk, a Folding Screen painted with Landscape Painting occupying one wall, and jade-colored Goryeo Celadon on the desk.

 

Every single item was an extraordinary treasure. This luxurious space reserved for a select few truly lived up to the name Bohwa-gak (Treasure Splendor Pavilion).

 

Nasim was amazed by the luxurious room, then looked around the room curiously at the warm air he suddenly felt.

 

[I don’t see a Brazier, so how?]

 

Earlier in the dining hall there had been a Brazier, but no matter how much he looked here, there wasn’t one.

 

And that question was resolved as he entered the room. When he stepped down, the floor of the Guest Rooms felt very warm through the soles of his feet.

 

At the pleasant heat transmitted through the soles of his feet, Nasim instinctively lay down slowly with his back against the floor.

 

[Ahhhhhh!]

 

A satisfied moan naturally flowed from Nasim’s mouth.

 

[Wh-what is this?]

 

The warmth rising from the heated stones in the floor enveloped his body, weary from the long journey, giving him a refreshing feeling as if his tense muscles were relaxing.

 

Nasim lay on the floor looking up at the ceiling, recalling the day’s events.

 

[…Hmm. This Caravanserai. Not bad at all.]

 

Compared to the Caravanserai of various countries he had passed through on his way to Goryeo, Hyeeumwon was by no means inferior. No, it was much better.

 

Moreover, the way the people of Hyeeumwon moved in perfect coordination. As soon as he arrived, the servants swarmed over to take the horses and Carriage and finished organizing everything in an instant.

 

Nasim turned his head to look to the side. His luggage had also been neatly organized and put away.

 

Nasim brought a pillow from the Bedding and hugged it to his chest.

 

‘Could it be that woman… did this for me?’

 

Nasim hugged the pillow tightly. Somehow the pillow seemed to smell good.

 

Footnote

 

1) Minister of the Central Secretariat : The highest position in the Central Secretariat, the supreme central government office of the Goryeo period. A first-rank official position, the highest official responsible for overseeing state affairs.

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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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