They Told Me to Build Good Karma by Selling Side Dishes - Chapter 21

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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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21. Seasoned Fatsia Shoots (2)

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“Phew…”

The night before, I’d kept Hae-tae occupied late into the evening, preparing seasoned fatsia shoots in various ways to perfect the dish’s flavor.

Each time I adjusted the seasoning ratios, Hae-tae would reluctantly taste it again. The salt was too light, the flavor was off. Only when such complaints ceased did the seasoned fatsia shoots finally reach completion.

‘I… can’t… eat… anymore…!’

Once Hae-tae’s belly had swollen like a mountain, the seasoned fatsia shoots were at last perfected.

Beyond the translucent lid, the verdant leaves and glistening sauce caught the light and shimmered. It looked like a masterpiece displayed on stage just for this moment.

‘When did they say they were coming…?’

Two silhouettes appeared in the distance. In that instant, the bell hanging on the shop door chimed clearly.

Ding.

The one who stepped through the door was Grandfather Yeom Sim-hun. The woman following him approached me with a radiant smile and grasped my hand firmly.

“My goodness. Grandmother Hyang-suk has bloomed again—you’ve grown younger.”

‘Grandmother… Hyang-suk…?’

Before I could even register my surprise, her warm hand enveloped mine. Without thinking, I returned her grip and responded smoothly.

“Isn’t it?”
“You’ve become an even lovelier vessel, Grandmother Hyang-suk!”
“Do I look like a lovely vessel to you?”
“Of course. In my eyes, you’ll always be a lovely vessel.”

The woman gazed at me intently before breaking into laughter as innocent as a girl’s.

“But why do you look so exhausted?”
“Ah. I’ve been absorbed in preparing seasoned fatsia shoots.”
“My goodness. Then I can certainly look forward to the seasoned fatsia shoots.”

The woman wandered around the Side Dish Shop with familiar ease, her humming filling the space with childlike lightness. Behind her came Grandfather Yeom Sim-hun.

“Um… boss.”

Grandfather Yeom Sim-hun approached me, seeking understanding.

“My wife has developed dementia, you see. So if you wouldn’t mind… if you could speak with her the way you did just now, I would be truly grateful. Would that be alright?”

I was somewhat taken aback internally, but it wasn’t a difficult request. I nodded with an expression no different from my usual demeanor.

“Would it be alright if I treated her the way I do Grandmother Hyang-suk?”
“I would be very grateful for that…”

I glanced at the woman before continuing.

“But you see… I’ve prepared quite a lot. Would that be acceptable?”
“Prepared what?”

Grandfather Yeom Sim-hun turned his head toward the counter where the seasoned fatsia shoots were arranged, his eyes widening.

“My, you’ve prepared this much?”
“Yes. So would you help me? I need to move all of this to the tables.”
“Of course I’ll help!”

Grandfather Yeom Sim-hun rolled up his worn sleeves. He helped me transfer the containers of seasoned fatsia shoots to the tables one by one.

As the abundance of seasoned fatsia shoots suddenly appeared before her, the woman’s eyes widened with wonder, and she spoke in the delighted voice of a child discovering something marvelous.

“My goodness, what is all this~?”

I offered a gentle smile and explained everything methodically.

“…You mentioned before that the seasoned fatsia shoots Grandmother Hyang-suk made didn’t taste the same as they used to, right? So I tried adjusting each seasoning ingredient differently.”
“Oh my! That’s right. The seasoned fatsia shoots I remember had a completely different flavor. I kept saying our Grandmother Hyang-suk couldn’t possibly have lost her touch… I hope that didn’t hurt her feelings…?”

I knelt on one knee slightly to meet the woman’s eye level as I spoke.

“No, hurt feelings? The thing is, Grandmother Hyang-suk can’t recreate that exact same taste anymore. So could you enjoy eating what she makes now?”
“Enjoy eating?”

The woman’s eyes widened as she looked up at me. I met her gaze without flinching and continued speaking carefully.

“I adjusted every single seasoning. To match your palate.”
“That must be so much work for you.”

I shook my head and answered gently.

“It’s not work at all. As long as there’s someone who remembers my dishes and still loves them!”

The woman gazed at me, then slowly smiled.

“…Could I try a bite now?”
“Of course. Let’s start with this one first.”

I swallowed hard, watching her every move intently.

“Understood.”

The woman picked up her chopsticks gently and selected some seasoned fatsia shoots seasoned with soy sauce and fish sauce as the base. The moment she put it in her mouth, her brow furrowed slightly.

“This doesn’t suit my taste. It’s a bit too salty.”

So Grandmother Hyang-suk’s original recipe no longer matched her palate.

‘…Her tastes have definitely changed.’

“Too salty?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, but it’s too salty for me to eat.”
“Would you like to try the next one?”

This time the woman put seasoned fatsia shoots with dark soy sauce and garlic as the base into her mouth.

“Cough! Cough!”

The woman gulped down water to ease the burn.

“This is far too spicy… Grandmother Hyang-suk’s side dishes were never like this….”

I nodded and pointed to the final bowl.

“There’s one more left. Just try this one as well.”
“Mm… all right.”

The woman hesitated before picking up the last serving of seasoned fatsia shoots. This one followed an entirely different recipe from Grandmother Hyang-suk’s.

A spoonful of soybean paste, soy sauce for seasoning, sesame oil, and just a hint of fish sauce.

Not harsh on the palate, but rich with umami—a savory depth that was entirely my own creation.

“Ah… this is the taste. This is Grandmother Hyang-suk’s.”

The woman’s chopsticks froze in midair. Within her eyes, the forgotten flavor of those cherished side dishes was being resurrected.

She lifted her chopsticks again, taking one bite, then another. It was as though the memories of those days had descended once more upon her table.

“Back then… I missed the seasoned fatsia shoots that Grandmother Hyang-suk would prepare every morning.”
“Is that so? I’m glad you found that taste again.”

The woman gazed at me intently.

“Thank you for letting me taste this again!”

I met her gaze lightly and smiled.

“Finding it again is enough.”

The woman began eating rice without pausing her chopsticks, as though awakening from hunger.

“…Slurp.”

Yeom Sim-hun, who had been watching from the side, quietly turned his head away and wiped the corner of his eye. I noticed and asked.

“Would you like some more…?”
“…My wife hasn’t been eating well lately. Seeing her enjoy her meal like that makes my heart feel good.”
“Please come back often. I’ll prepare a special seasoned fatsia shoot side dish just for our regular customers.”
“You can do that?”
“Of course. You’re one of our regulars now, after all.”

A natural smile spread across my face.

“I want to eat more!”

His wife sprang from her seat and strode purposefully toward the display counter.

“Honey, honey! Can’t we buy some other side dishes to take home?”
“Dear. Do you want to try other side dishes?”
“Yes. I just want to buy some and taste them at home…!”

But his wife stood before the side dish display, lost in thought, her eyes clouded with indecision.

“I’m not sure which one to buy first.”

This was my moment. I slipped in smoothly and offered.

“Would it help if I explained our best-selling side dishes?”
“That sounds great!”

I stood beside his wife and described each dish—from the origin of the ingredients to the best way to enjoy them. Before long, Grandfather Yeom Sim-hun’s arms were laden with side dishes.

“Let’s eat a lot of rice.”
“Yes, let’s eat well and become healthy.”

I returned to the counter and began packing the side dishes into paper bags. That’s when it happened.

“This…?”

Grandfather Yeom Sim-hun hesitantly pulled something from the paper bag.

“What is this?”

What he held was a heavy wooden cutting board.

“I made this end-grain cutting board myself. Since it seemed like you went through trouble because of me, I brought it along.”

A subtle sheen rippled across the fine-grained, densely packed wood. When I lifted it with one hand, its substantial weight pressed firmly into my palm.

“A wooden cutting board?”
“I run a Woodworking Workshop, you see.”
“That’s impressive.”
“So… ahem. I crafted it myself, but I’m not entirely sure how it feels in actual use.”

I slowly ran my fingers across the cutting board Grandfather had given me. The surface was smooth to the touch. Then my eyes widened at the small letters carved into the edge.

‘My name….’

[Ji-gu]

Faced with this unexpected gift, I found myself momentarily at a loss for words.

“…I shouldn’t have shown up and made accusations so carelessly. I reflected on it deeply back then. I’m sorry.”
“No, you didn’t need to give me something like this.”
“It’s just something I’m doing to ease my own guilt, so please accept it.”
“I’ll accept it gratefully.”
“Don’t say things like that.”

Grandfather Yeom Sim-hun returned to his seat beside his wife.

“Is it delicious?”

His wife picked up her chopsticks and grabbed some seasoned fatsia shoots, then held them out toward Grandfather.

“It’s delicious. You try some too.”

Grandfather took the chopstick end and slowly chewed the seasoned fatsia shoots. Soon, moisture gathered at the corners of his eyes.

“…It’s delicious. I’ll buy this seasoned fatsia shoots every day from now on.”
“Yes! Buy it every day.”
“Should we head out now? We’ve bought quite a lot of dishes.”

Grandfather Yeom Sim-hun spoke. I gathered the paper bag I’d set on the floor and handed it to them with both hands.

“You should take this with you!”
“Ah, I almost forgot and left without it.”

Just as I was about to bow in gratitude, it happened.

“Hyang-suk, come here.”

The woman spread both arms wide and pulled me into an embrace. The warmth of her body and a scent like aged flowers brushed against my nose.

“…Oh.”

I opened my eyes wide in surprise, looking toward Grandfather Yeom Sim-hun. Yet he said nothing, simply accepting the moment as if he had known all along. As though he understood everything.

“Hyang-suk, I’m so happy to see you again.”
“…!”
“If it weren’t for you, the world might have been so much harder for me. So I hope you live a life without such hardship.”
“Thank you….”

I offered my gratitude on Grandmother’s behalf.

How to describe it.

‘I thought only I missed Grandmother.’

…But that wasn’t it. As the woman’s embrace fully released me, the scent of flowers lingered on my clothes.

“We should go! Hyang-suk, see you again soon!”

She waved both hands enthusiastically like a young girl. Grandfather held the paper bag in one hand while gently cradling the woman’s back with the other.

The two walked side by side, exchanging whispers and laughter. Until they disappeared around the corner of the alley, their footsteps remained light and tender.

Then it happened. A cold breeze drifted softly through the open shop door.

Whoosh—

The wind circled quietly through the shop before pausing before the praise sticker board hanging on the wall. A translucent hand materialized in the air, its fingers tracing gently across the board’s surface.

Then, selecting a spot among the stickers, it pressed down firmly on a praise sticker depicting seasoned fatsia shoots.

I gazed at the sight with satisfaction, then turned my head as a status window pinged into view.

[Virtue Points obtained. Shop detailed information has been unlocked.]

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[Ji-gu]
– Neighborhood Reputation 60 (Whenever locals gather in small groups, the Side Dish Shop is the first topic of conversation.)
– Divine Realm Reputation: 30 (Divine Beings are flooding the group chat with reviews of the side dishes they ate at the opening ceremony.)
– Virtue Points: 6 (Reward unlock conditions not yet met)
[Business Status]
Today’s Customer Count: 2/60
Regular Customers: 20
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The number of regulars had grown quite a bit.

‘But small groups and a group chat?’

Looking at the cute reviews, I smiled pleasantly. I then placed my hands on my hips and slowly scanned through the Side Dish Shop.

“Should we do some spring cleaning?”

Tomorrow is the long-awaited first day off.

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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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