The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 140

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

Chapter 140. The Beginning
I arrived in front of Couple’s Kalguksu Restaurant.
Through the glass door, I could see inside the store.
It was completely different from a week ago.
From the entrance to the counter, everything was arranged in a single line, and the menu board had been relocated to a spot that caught customers’ eyes immediately.
‘The customer flow efficiency has definitely improved.’
For the record, Jin-woo put in the most effort on this layout optimization.
It’s been this way since the food truck days, but he had a talent for this kind of setup.
And it wasn’t as if his cooking talent was lacking either, so he was someone you could call versatile.
‘He even enjoys honing his skills across multiple fields.’
In any case, I thought it looked good and pushed the door open to enter.
“Oh, welcome!”
“Hello!”
“How have you been?”
Jang Owner stood up from the kneading board, brushing flour from his hands.
“I’ve been kneading dough all week long.”
“It must be ingrained in your hands by now.”
“Yes. I’m confident I could do it with my eyes closed now.”
“A new callus formed on my finger, and interestingly, it’s in the perfect spot—right where the knife falls.”
Jang Owner held up his finger to show me. I’d thought the Old Lady had remarkable passion, but he surpassed her.
‘His hands have visibly changed… how much effort has he put in?’
In just this short span of time, a person could transform so dramatically.
This must be what they mean by “judging someone anew after their transformation.”
It was remarkable.
“What about the broth?”
“I’ve set aside a separate container of scallion oil. I’ll roast it in advance so that when customers arrive, I just need to add a spoonful. But I’ll prepare it fresh every morning. Otherwise the oil loses its flavor—specifically its aroma.”
“That’s excellent. That’s the right approach.”
“I’m also heating the bowls separately. So they warm up while the noodles are cooking.”
“I didn’t even suggest that, but you did it anyway.”
“My wife came up with that idea. She saw it in a video and said it makes a difference.”
“Wow. You’ve gone up another level. Haha. That’s impressive.”
Jang Owner’s shoulders straightened.
They seemed a full size broader than they’d been a week ago.
‘That’s a good change.’
In the meantime, PD Ga moved into action.
“Just a moment. I need to check the angles. The interior has changed.”
PD Ga set up the camera next to the entrance and adjusted the angle.
“Where should we frame the shot today?”
“The corner next to the counter. It would be good to capture customers coming in at the same time. If possible, I’d like to install one more camera…”
“Already adding another one?”
“Content is all about establishing the foundation first, you know? Last time I noticed there were some gaps, so I filled them in.”
“…This is truly professional. Professional.”
“Hehe. Did it seem like it wasn’t?”
PD Ga laughed lightly.
Despite putting on a composed facade, his face was that of someone completely thrilled.
* * *
The break time was coming to an end.
“The customers should be arriving soon.”
“Yes.”
The Owner glanced at his watch.
The Old Lady looked at it too.
The couple’s synchronized gesture of checking the time was oddly well-coordinated.
‘What’s going on here?’
PD Ga’s camera quietly captured that movement.
That was when it happened.
Ding.
The bell hanging above the glass door chimed softly.
The door slid open slightly.
“…Welcome!”
A shadow of a person appeared beyond the doorway.
Then another.
And another. Five in total.
‘They’re all coming in at once. A group on the very first day.’
The first customers I’d been waiting for arrived as a group.
* * *
Five people at once. Judging by their formal attire, they looked like employees from a nearby company.
“Over here! Five kalguksu, please. Oh? You have dumplings too? How about some dumplings, everyone?”
“Sounds good!”
“Me too!”
“Two plates of dumplings, please!”
“Yes! I’ll prepare them right away.”
The Owner’s pace quickened. He folded a kitchen towel twice and laid it down, then tore off a portion of noodle dough.
The Old Lady retrieved three bowls she’d been preheating. Her movements were swift and practiced.
‘They’ve practiced this a lot.’
The noodles went into the boiling pot.
Click. The timer set precisely.
‘Preheating the bowls—that’s really smart.’
While the noodles cook, the bowls warm up together. It’s a detail that ensures the first spoonful reaching the customer’s mouth stays hot and doesn’t cool down.
What impressed me most was that the Old Lady had thought of this herself.
PD Ga’s camera moved rapidly between the Owner’s hands and the Old Lady’s hands.
While the noodles cooked, I shook the container of scallion oil that the Old Lady had prepared in advance.
Swish—
The oil scattered inside the container with a soft rustling sound.
‘This is quite entertaining to watch.’
The Customers sat at a table beside the counter, chatting idly.
“What about the dumplings?”
“Right?”
“By the way, that person over there… doesn’t their face look familiar?”
“Huh? Really?”
“I think I’ve seen them on TV.”
“No way. Why would someone from TV be here?”
“Probably not, right?”
“Who knows. I don’t watch much TV anyway….”
As they murmured among themselves, the timer suddenly chimed in succession.
It signaled that both the noodles and dumplings were ready.
The noodles were transferred to bowls, and steaming broth was poured over them.
Finally, a spoonful of scallion oil for each.
Three bowls were placed on the counter.
As the Old Lady moved the bowls, PD Ga adjusted the camera angle to capture the Customers’ expressions clearly.
“We’re grateful for this meal.”
All three picked up their chopsticks simultaneously.
Slurp.
The sound stretched out for a prolonged beat.
One Customer couldn’t close their mouth.
The next Customer took another sip. This time, their eyebrows rose slightly.
“…Huh?”
“What?”
“This is… different from before?”
“Right? I could tell it was different after just one sip too.”
“Can kalguksu really be this clean and refined?”
The Customers chattered excitedly among themselves.
The Jang Owner stood silently at the end of the counter, hand pressed against it.
I could see his hand trembling slightly.
‘He’s getting emotional again.’
The Old Lady approached and gently placed her hand over his trembling one.
The two hands swayed together in the same rhythm.
PD Ga’s camera captured the hands at an angle.
One of the Customers glanced toward the counter and added a comment.
“Owner, could we get another bowl of this?”
“Of course! I’ll prepare it right away!”
The Owner’s voice cracked as he shouted.
His tone was laced with emotion.
* * *
Meanwhile, PD Ga lowered the camera slightly to capture the Owner’s face.
His reddened eyes shimmered with moisture.
‘Got another good shot of him.’
As this unfolded, the store door opened slowly but relentlessly.
Ding. Ding.
After the fifth customer came a couple.
‘They’re coming in again.’
They looked like a couple in their fifties. Shoulder to shoulder, they entered and stood before the menu board.
“Could we get two kalguksu?”
“Of course! I’ll prepare them right away!”
Life returned to the Owner’s voice.
Another customer walked in during this time.
I could see customers calling other customers.
This was how momentum was created.
Did both the Owner and Old Lady sense it?
“We’ll get ready!”
The Old Lady went to warm up two more bowls.
* * *
‘This is good.’
I’d thought customers would increase only through those who recognized me from before. But that wasn’t the case. Instead, customers trickled in one by one regardless.
‘It’s fascinating.’
It truly was fascinating.
I glanced back as I stepped out of the store.
Customers were chattering away. One had pulled out his phone and was taking pictures of the store. The couple who came second had nearly emptied their two bowls in the meantime.
Through the glass door, I could see another group on the street turning toward the store.
‘What on earth…?’
The rumors about the consulting shouldn’t have spread yet.
Remarkably, the bell kept ringing.
The Owner’s voice came from inside the store, quickening its pace.
“Welcome!”
I heard the Old Lady pulling out another bowl from behind the counter.
‘Once a place gains traction, it rolls on its own…’
Momentum truly seemed to exist.
At this rate, I felt I could trust them and leave things in their hands.
‘I can leave with confidence.’
* * *
In the meantime, I quietly moved my body.
I need to move quickly too.
I arrived at the shopping complex near the Couple’s Kalguksu Restaurant—the space that would soon become my showcase.
Perfect. It’s completely filled.
The three temporary walls had vanished, and the empty space was now beautifully arranged.
The clean display cases I’d prepared in advance were visible.
Though still empty, just seeing them gave me confidence.
They’ll be filled soon enough.
The Couple’s Kalguksu Restaurant was beginning to operate naturally.
And I was about to ignite the spark here.
Where? Right here.
Once the Owner and his wife were ready, I planned to open the showcase in this space with the kalguksu and dumplings they’d sold today.
I was steadily preparing everything for that moment.
Here and at the distant factory as well.
This location was where the preparatory work for that purpose had been conducted first.
Good. I’m more satisfied than I expected.
After this, the factory also began rapid productization.
Various settings were implemented quickly, and for the lacking parts, I received assistance from the existing factory that Han Jae-won had.
Time is everything.
It was a preemptive measure to ride the momentum upward.
Factory, products, everything checks out. The owners too… they’re all ready.
Thus, I confirmed with my own eyes that all preparations were complete.
So shouldn’t I move on to the next step now?
It’s time to launch.
A Chef from the Apocalypse Enters the Food Service Industry
Author |
Heung-haeng
Publisher |
Samyang C&C
Editorial Director |
Editorial Department
Published by |
Samyang C&C – Dream Books
Address |
Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Bongeunsa-ro 114-gil 28, Gwangseong Building 7th Floor
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260206001
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter(X) |
@dreambookss
Submissions |
[email protected]
Without written permission from Samyang C&C – Dream Books, the contents of this book may not be used in any form or by any means.

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