The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 36

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 36. An Easy Task
Jang On-gyu wasn’t angry about the scheme itself.
“You couldn’t even handle something so simple?”
“…I apologize.”
He was simply furious at the failure itself.
The Promotions Team Leader readily acknowledged this.
“What are you planning to do? I hear people are gathering at the Store again.”
‘Where on earth did he hear that? Oh no… Park Secretary? Tsk.’
The consequences of his own mistakes didn’t matter to him.
What bothered him was the existence of another information source besides himself.
Utterly selfish, yet no one dared to criticize him.
“I’ll intensify the promotional campaign and redirect attention back to this side.”
“You’re already doing that. Is there anything new?”
“I apologize. I’ll come up with measures right away….”
“Sigh….”
Jang On-gyu only reprimanded him about the work itself.
Nothing more came from it.
“Get out. Report back as soon as you have a solution.”
“…I apologize.”
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you leaving?”
“Yes!”
The Promotions Team Leader retreated.
Jang On-gyu simply watched him with his chin resting on his hand until he disappeared from sight.
‘Plenty of enthusiasm, but the ability doesn’t match. The direction wasn’t bad, but it’s sloppy.’
Something unworthy had occurred.
At this, Jang On-gyu’s expression darkened considerably. His face bore the irritation of things not proceeding as intended.
‘It feels like specks of dust keep spreading.’
There was a picture he had drawn alone.
A merchant genius street had been created here and elsewhere.
But the money flowing from it was beginning to show its limits.
The novelty was also a problem.
He needed to show something different from before.
A sense of crisis gripped him—that if he remained complacent like this, it would be buried silently like any other franchise.
That’s why he’d pushed to create a second street here, even if it meant overextending.
It felt like watching paint smudge across a well-drawn picture at the very end.
He had to stop it before it spread further.
Some might see even the smudged paint as part of the work.
Jang On-gyu was the opposite.
‘There can’t be any flaws. Either make it completely mine. Or erase it entirely.’
Painting over the smudged paint to erase it completely.
That was his way of handling things.
‘How do I cover this up?’
His concerns were deepening considerably.
* * *
Two weeks had already passed since the defense battle.
Yet the Store remained bustling day after day.
‘It seems like we’re getting more customers as time goes on?’
In fact, judging by the order count on the register, numbers continued to climb.
“Is this the place?”
“That’s right!”
The video that had gone up refused to come down.
‘So they really are monsters obsessed with view counts.’
They say if you can just boost the views, you’ll do anything.
They’d initially come to attack me and failed, but since the views were climbing, they seemed satisfied.
I was reaping the benefits of that video’s effect quite substantially.
“Isn’t this place unique?”
“Right? Jang Owner Street, which they promote, is fun too, but this place is entertaining as well.”
On top of that, I was also benefiting nicely from Jang Owner’s promotional efforts.
Some of the people he’d brought through his various promotions were flowing over here.
‘Originally, like fish farming in a confined area, it should have ended within the New City District.’
Thanks to them finding their way here, a small side path had extended all the way to this place.
For now, it was still a path small enough to call a side route.
But I was certain of this.
‘If I guide this positive cycle well, I’ll have even more customers than before?’
If I maintained this trajectory, I could do even better than I had been.
They came on their own and even promoted the place for me—what could I do but accept it?
‘I should savor this.’
I needed to relish this happiness.
Lasagna Kimbap and Hong Kong Ramen. I’d added new menu items this time as well.
‘If I stick with just one thing, it’ll get stale.’
Many people came specifically to try those two dishes.
But I also had to pay attention to those who made repeat visits.
For that reason, I’d added one new menu item this time.
‘This is a basic combination, but it’s impossible for it to taste bad.’
I’d added a special topping.
A really generous one.
“There’s one more item on the menu?”
“Wow… but why is this ramen over ten thousand won?”
“Isn’t that too expensive?”
With the generous addition, the price had gone up.
But every price increase had its reasons.
“No, look at the description here. These aren’t just ordinary shrimp, are they?”
“Black Tiger shrimp? Oh…!”
“I’ve seen these in pizza before. Should we try ordering it?”
“Sounds good!”
Black Tiger shrimp, precisely!
I’d added this variety as a new topping ingredient—shrimp renowned for their exceptional flavor.
But if I stopped here, it would feel incomplete.
‘If I just raise the price because I added one topping, I’ll get criticized!’
Understanding the customer’s mindset was crucial.
From my perspective as the owner, I’d raised the price to match the increased unit cost from adding Black Tiger shrimp.
But expecting customers to understand that while they’re eating was unrealistic.
This wasn’t because customers were selfish. Human psychology simply works that way.
‘People are sensitive to losses, after all.’
If they were paying more, I needed to deliver proportional satisfaction.
So what should I do?
‘Just adding a few more seafood toppings won’t cut it. I can’t raise the unit cost further either.’
I needed an answer that satisfied customers’ expectations without cutting into my profits.
There was only one.
My culinary skill itself.
Not simple enhancement through skill usage.
‘I’m already doing that sufficiently.’
As customer volume increased, I couldn’t enhance every ingredient, but I was enhancing all the basics I could manage.
Here, I needed to showcase something different.
Whoooosh—!
Cooking technique itself.
“Wow, look at that flame!”
I cranked up the heat dramatically to amplify the visual appeal.
This gave them one moment of satisfaction.
Simultaneously, I used that intensified flame to infuse wok hei—that coveted breath of the wok.
‘Flavor twice over.’
This way, the customers’ anticipation built considerably.
Now for the grand finale.
‘The kick needs to hit three times.’
Not all ramen are created equal.
Ramen’s charm lies in its endless variety, doesn’t it?
Add wok hei, layer in spice, and combine with seafood—the answer becomes obvious.
Shrimp Topped Seafood Jjamppong Ramen.
If you add seafood here, the answer to what dish comes out is simple.
It’s shrimp jjamppong ramen.
The moment that ramen, infused with the essence of fire, was completed, I ladled it into a large bowl.
“Shrimp Topped Seafood Jjamppong Ramen, coming right up!”
And then one more thing.
“Wow. That’s a huge portion.”
“We’ve added extra noodles as well. Enjoy your meal!”
A serving that matched the promise!
In truth, the cost of extra noodles in ramen wasn’t particularly high. Adding one portion wouldn’t drastically increase the unit cost.
But when it reached the customers, the story changed entirely.
“We made the right call ordering one to share!”
“At this point, how could anyone complain about the price?”
Two people eating together, both leaving satisfied and full—a perfect dish was born.
When a dish emerged that felt reasonable in price despite the increase, even as portions grew generous.
“Should we add toppings too?”
“Let’s do it!”
“Hey, I need to try that too.”
The other customers naturally gravitated toward the same topping.
“We have an order!”
“Me too!”
Just like right now.
* * *
“Everyone worked hard today!”
“Woohoo!”
The Store closed before evening even arrived.
It was an earlier closing time than usual.
There was no helping it.
“A complete sellout. That’s incredible.”
“Right? All three stores completely sold out. Isn’t that a new record?”
“Exactly! Even with increased ingredients, we still ran out. It’s insane.”
All the ingredients I’d prepared in advance were exhausted.
I’d prepared more in proportion to the increased customer flow.
Who could have predicted that seeing the shrimp jjamppong ramen would generate even more orders?
Customers weren’t ordering just one dish per person—they were ordering two each, and the ingredients vanished in no time.
‘Who knew there were so many big eaters?’
Even I thought it was a substantial portion, yet everyone ate their fill.
If it hadn’t been for the Jang Owner’s foresight in preparing sikhye in advance, some customers might have had digestive troubles.
‘The Jang Owner really does have excellent business sense.’
He seemed to possess a similar kind of acumen to Jang On-gyu.
‘Come to think of it, they share the surname Jang? Could they actually be brothers?’
No, that couldn’t be right.
They didn’t share enough similarities, did they?
I figured I must be tired, and as I shook my head to clear it.
Jin-woo came over with a used dishcloth and asked.
“How did you come up with all these ideas?”
His face was filled with fresh admiration.
“What do you mean?”
“A brand new menu suddenly appears here! Just when business was about to slow down, and it’s Jjamppong ramen no less. Wow…!”
This was admiration for the new menu.
Within that admiration came some interesting news as well.
“That was a good move, wasn’t it?”
“It sure was! Did you see YouTuber Hyeon-seung come by earlier and quietly eat and leave?”
“Really? I didn’t catch that.”
“He gave it a thumbs up as he was leaving.”
“Wow. That’s fun.”
Hyeon-seung TV. That person who contributed to our positive cycle came by in secret.
‘Did he come because work dried up? Or because it’s delicious?’
It’s definitely because it’s delicious.
He didn’t mention filming anything.
‘That’s interesting.’
The person who sparked the defense war came to eat in secret.
I felt a sense of pride at being recognized, while simultaneously feeling amused.
“Either way, today’s another huge success.”
“Exactly!”
Jin-woo’s right.
It’s definitely a huge success.
At this, Jin-woo asked with a meaningful glint in his eye.
“So we closed early for once in a while—how about it?”
“Ah…”
This guy. So that’s what he was after!
He had something he really wanted.
“You’re so transparent.”
“Come on. When wasn’t I? Haha.”
When I poked at him about it, he came right out with it brazenly.
“That’s right. I’m looking forward to it too, you know?”
“What? Even Haran?”
“These past few days have been tough, hehe.”
So Haran was joining in too.
When it came to this, there was only one answer.
“If Haran’s coming too, there’s no way around it.”
“So?”
“Just wait a moment.”
Not customers, but my own people.
It was time to fulfill their expectations as well.

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