I Became a Hotelier at the Goryeo National Hotel - Chapter 6

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

Episode 6

“If you want a chance to prove your innocence, I’ll give you as many as you need.”

As the atmosphere grew heavy, Wang An Hyeok stepped forward with a smile.

“Eun Cheon, I understand your feelings too. Since examinee number 11’s level was so high, the other examinees’ answers probably didn’t satisfy you. That’s why you raised the difficulty of the questions.”

An Hyeok gently waved his fan as he spoke soothingly to Eun Cheon.

“Moreover, aren’t these the first staff members who will work at Hyeeumwon, which His Majesty has taken special interest in? Naturally, expectations would be that much higher.”

“…An Hyeok, say what you want to say.”

“Changing the questions was well done. However, don’t glare at the examinees with such frightening eyes and pressure them.”

“What use are staff members who can’t even handle my gaze when they need to serve guests?”

At Lee Eun Cheon’s words, the examiners who had been listening to their conversation made sour expressions.

‘Are there any other customers with such a frosty gaze besides you?’

“Then what about examinee number 11 being fine in front of me?”

“There are always exceptions everywhere. Don’t you feel sorry seeing them frozen stiff and unable to speak? Lower your standards just a little. At this rate, we might not even fill the basic number of positions.”

“…Fine. However, I won’t use the leaked question sheet.”

At An Hyeok’s words, the examiners who had hoped otherwise hung their heads low, as expected.

“Yes, yes! Let’s hurry up and finish this.”

Jeong Jun Gyeong stretched in his chair as he spoke. Lee Eun Cheon looked at him with displeasure and said.

“You should also stop giving scores to those who don’t deserve them.”

Not only the examiners, but Jun Gyeong had also been giving out scores arbitrarily, resulting in several examinees receiving high scores instead of the low scores they deserved.

“Well, who told me to ask questions I can’t even understand? I need to know whether the answers are right or wrong to give proper scores!”

“You…”

As sparks were about to fly between the two, Wang An Hyeok sat Jun Gyeong back down in his chair and said.

“How could it not be difficult? You, who should be galloping across the plains of Yeojin, have had to sit in a chair for over one sikgyeong (30 minutes to 1 hour) already.”

Wang An Hyeok coaxed Jeong Jun Gyeong while quickly signaling to Nok Sa with his eyes. The quick-witted Nok Sa immediately announced a break.

“We will take a brief rest!”

* * *

“Hmm, as expected…”

After observing her surroundings for a while, Seo Rin put down her tea cup and quietly stood up, calling Gap-i and Dasim.

“Girls, follow me out for a moment.”

“N-now? Wh-why?”

“What is it, what is it?”

Seo Rin took both their hands and led them outside Hyangmicheong.

“Why, what’s wrong, Seo Rin?”

“Why did you bring us out here?”

“The practical exam is coming up soon, right? I thought it might help if we looked around Hyeeumwon in advance.”

“Huh? If we w-wander around on our own, N-Nok Sa will scold us.”

At Gap-i’s words, Seo Rin shook her head.

“Did the sisters who were serving tea or the staff, I mean the Nok Sa officials, stop us when we came outside?”

“Ah, no?”

“They didn’t even pay attention to us, right?”

“The Nok Sa official told us to wait earlier, but he didn’t say we had to stay inside ‘Hyangmicheong.’ There’s definitely something to this. Even if not, familiarizing ourselves with this place beforehand will surely be helpful.”

“No, now that you mention it.”

“Th, that’s right!”

The two perked up their ears at Seo Rin’s words.

“We have to do practical training, but we don’t know anything about this place. How can we properly serve guests like that?”

“Ri, right!”

“Oh, that actually makes sense when you put it that way?”

“Trust me!”

Eventually, the two who were swayed by Seo Rin’s words began to seriously explore the areas where the Guest Rooms were gathered.

And Yeo Gwan, who had been quietly following and watching them, went straight to the official at the examination seat and quietly made a report.

“So, only those three did that?”

“That is correct.”

“I see.”

After Yeo Gwan bowed and left, the official smiled with satisfaction and unfolded the Evaluation Sheet he was holding to give additional points to the three.

* * *

The three who had departed from Manhyangru and thoroughly examined the Guest Rooms area, the temple Hyeeum Sa, the Stable, Warehouse, and even the Restroom, shared their thoughts while anticipating the practical exam.

“The practical exam will be conducted in a total of three separate sessions.”

Da Sim lowered her voice and secretly shared information about the exam.

“Why are there so many?”

“Th, three times?!”

“Yeah. I heard they’re divided into cooking exam, customer service, and operational management. Most of the kids who participated here probably know this already. You two not knowing is what’s strange.”

“Thanks for telling us.”

“I, I’m th, thankful too!”

“Ahem, it’s nothing really.”

Da Sim’s face was filled with pride as she said this, making the two chuckle softly.

After the last examinees entered Hyangmicheong and time passed, Nok Sa came back in and stood before the examinees.

“Now, we will begin the practical exam.”

The examinees concentrated intently, not wanting to miss a single word from Nok Sa.

“Through the exam, we will evaluate your understanding and practical abilities in three areas: cooking, customer service, and operational management. Each exam will be held in different locations, so everyone stay alert and follow along.”

As Nok Sa led the examinees into Manhyangru, Da Sim glanced around briefly and acted knowledgeable.

“As expected, we’re going to Chanseon Bang. The first exam must be ‘cooking.'”

“Chanseon Bang? What kind of place is Chanseon Bang?”

“Yeah, it’s Hyeeumwon’s kitchen.”

“Ho, how do you kn, know? Ha, have you be, been here?”

“When they were constructing this place, people from our trading company also participated. So I know a bit about it.”

“Da, Da Sim’s family was a trading company family.”

Da Sim took out more jerky from her pocket and shared it while asking.

“Yeah, that’s right. What about you guys?”

“Oh, ou, our family ran a shop that sold je, jewelry. To, together with our family.”

“Wow! I’m jealous. You must have grown up touching pretty things all the time.”

“Huh? Ye, yeah. Th, that’s right.”

“What about you, Seo Rin?”

“Da, Da Sim.”

At those words, Gap-i quickly stopped Da Sim. Since Gap-i had been in the same group during the interview, she knew that Seo Rin had lost her parents early.

But Da Sim, whose exam number was later, had no way of knowing this.

“Me? Well… my parents passed away early, so I just did this and that to get by.”

“What?! So, sorry. I asked something unnecessary.”

“It’s okay.”

As they entered the courtyard of Chanseon Bang, white steam was billowing from a pot on the stove, and next to it, various cooking utensils and dishes, fresh vegetables, and bright red meat were neatly arranged in plain sight.

In the center of the area, wooden plaques with exam numbers written on them were placed on cooking stations. As the examinees sensibly went to stand at the spots where wooden plaques matching their exam numbers were located, a middle-aged man stepped forward.

‘Huh? That person is?’

He was one of the examiners she had seen during the interview. He had left an impression because he had a distinctly different(?) appearance from the other examiners.

“I, I am *cough*! The head cook responsible for the food and drink of guests staying at the inn, Go Jang Nam.”

When the examiner revealed his name, laughter burst out among the examinees. Nok Sa quickly glared at the examinees, and it became quiet again.

“*Cough*! We will conduct the cooking test, which is the first practical exam. The task is to prepare meals for twenty guests. During the test, talking to each other or helping one another among examinees is strictly forbidden. If this rule is violated, both parties will be immediately disqualified, so keep this especially in mind. Now! Begin cooking!”

As soon as Go Jang Nam’s announcement ended, the examinees put on the aprons and white headscarves placed on the cooking stations and rushed toward where the ingredients were located.

Da Sim and Gap-i also ran toward the stall where expensive meat was placed. However, the front was already in chaos with examinees who had arrived a step earlier.

A battle to secure precious ingredients had broken out!

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