They Told Me to Build Good Karma by Selling Side Dishes - Chapter 3

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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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3. Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop (3)

So all I need to do is pick 500 peppers according to what appears on this window?”
“That’s right, meow.”

500 peppers.

I made my way to the Vegetable Garden and stood before the sign marked with peppers. Crimson peppers hung abundantly from their stems, glistening in the sunlight.

“But… how exactly do you pick peppers?”
“You don’t even know that, meow?”
“Well, I know… sort of.”

At Hae-tae’s reproach, I shrugged my shoulders sheepishly. Kitchen work was one thing, but tending a vegetable garden was entirely new to me.

Hae-tae regarded me with pity, then flicked my calf with his tail.

“You can cut them with scissors or snap the stem by hand to harvest them, meow. Since we don’t have scissors now, I’ll teach you how to pick them by hand, meow.”

Hae-tae pointed a foreleg toward a particularly plump, ripe red pepper and continued his instruction.

“Grasp that pepper and snap the stem upward gently, meow.”

Following Hae-tae’s guidance, I snapped the stem upward, and with a crisp pop, the pepper came free into my palm.

I gazed at the pepper that had separated more easily than expected, then lifted it higher.

This was my first harvest in life. A quiet sense of accomplishment welled up from deep within my chest.

Ding—!

A translucent window materialized before my eyes, accompanied by a notification chime.

[Vegetable Garden Peppers (1/500)]

“Oh! A notification appeared!”
“Now take a closer look at that pepper, and you’ll see something.”
“What?”

I tilted my head and focused my gaze on the pepper in my hand, and an identical status window materialized before my eyes.

[Delicious Pepper (A)]

I stared at Hae-tae with eyes wide as saucers.

“What is this? A grade?”
“You can now see the grade and condition of all ingredients.”
“Can I see the ones at the supermarket or market too, not just what’s here?”

Hae-tae nodded silently.

Then I recalled how Grandmother would move swiftly through the market, selecting items without asking the merchants detailed questions each time.

‘So Grandmother could see all of this the whole time.’

This ability was nothing short of divine blessing for a chef.

I plucked another pepper as an experiment.

[Vegetable Garden Pepper (2/500)]

But this time, only a simple notification appeared—no status window materialized.

“This ability will disappear if you stop your work.”
“That would be a shame.”

If it disappeared, I would deeply regret it.

“Try once more.”
“Once more?”
“It’s not showing now?”
“Since you haven’t completed the tutorial yet, it will appear randomly.”
“So once I fully complete the tutorial, it will always show?”
“You’re sharp!”

There was no reason to hesitate. I gathered my long hair and tied it back firmly with a hair tie.

Hae-tae chuckled softly at my resolute expression.

“I’ll need to pick all five hundred by today.”

Hae-tae yawned quietly, then settled onto the soft grass beside the Vegetable Garden. From there, he gazed up at me while toasting his bread as if he intended to watch the show.

“Give it a try, meow.”

I nodded and turned my attention toward the pepper field.

***

Was simple repetitive work always this exhausting?

‘Merely….’

[Vegetable Garden Peppers (105/500)]

I had picked over a hundred peppers, yet the pungent essence seeped into my fingertips, stinging sharply. My arms ached so intensely that even lifting them felt arduous.

‘Was my stamina always this pathetic?’

I should have exercised more. Straightening my back briefly, I glanced at Hae-tae, who lay sprawled in the sunniest spot, napping peacefully as if the world held no troubles—basking in the sunlight like a person enjoying a leisurely afternoon.

Growwwl.

Embarrassed by the loud sound, I cleared my throat awkwardly. Hours had passed, so hunger was only natural.

“Maybe I should prepare something with the rapeseed I picked earlier and continue afterward….”

I swallowed hard, gazing at the rapeseed I’d set beside the peppers.

“What dish are you planning to make, meow?”

What? He wasn’t asleep?

I narrowed my eyes and stared at Hae-tae. Why on earth did a cat take such interest in human food?

‘Surely not.’

“You want to eat some too?”
“Why shouldn’t I eat?”

It was obvious—cats weren’t supposed to eat human food, were they?

“You’re a cat. How can you eat people food?”
“I eat human cuisine too.”

Hae-tae, understanding my intent, spoke up.

“Of course I do. Did you think I only ate kibble!?”
“But you’re a cat.”

Then wasn’t I right? I tilted my head in confusion.

“It’s fine.”

Hae-tae rose with dignified grace, approached me, and tapped my leg gently with his front paws.

“Now, take me to the Kitchen.”

Flabbergasted, I brushed the dirt from my hands and scooped the creature into my arms.

“Let’s go quickly!”
“Yes, yes. I’m at your service, sir.”

Cradling the cat, I passed through the door and entered the shop.

Hae-tae covered his nose with his front paws and grimaced.

“There’s dust everywhere!”
“I haven’t finished organizing yet.”

Hae-tae glanced at the floor, then looked at me sideways.

“Put me down.”
“All right, down you go.”

I gently set Hae-tae down on the floor. But then a sudden thought struck me—was it really okay to leave a pet in the kitchen?

‘Food is only as good as its hygiene.’

Especially in a shop, hygiene was trust itself. I couldn’t have Hae-tae’s fur floating everywhere.

“Hae-tae.”

I called out to Hae-tae, who was leisurely exploring the shop.

“Do you shed?”

At my question, Hae-tae’s tail slapped the floor with obvious displeasure.

“Bow your waist, meow.”
“Bow it?”

I bent my upper body to meet Hae-tae’s eye level.

In that instant, Hae-tae leaped up and smacked my cheek with a front paw!

“Treating me like some animal, meow?”
“In my eyes, you’re just an adorable cat.”
“Hmph, I don’t shed, so stop worrying, meow.”
“Really?”
“Hmph, I’m a divine beast, meow. I don’t shed at all, so if you’re skeptical, feel for yourself, meow.”

I ran my hand experimentally across Hae-tae’s back. I felt only softness—not a single strand of fur clung to my palm or drifted through the air.

“That’s pretty remarkable.”
“…It’s been a while since I’ve been treated like this, meow.”

Hearing the deflated tone in Hae-tae’s voice, I laughed and spoke.

“Got it.”

I straightened up and chuckled softly.

“I’ll give you some seasoned rapini greens.”
“You should give, not ‘will give’, meow!”

I secured my tied-back hair and wiped away the dust around me. Then I retrieved a knife from my bag.

“It’s been a while.”

Though it had been ages since I last held a knife, my body remembered every sensation.

I placed the knife on the cutting board, then poured the rapini greens I’d brought earlier into the sink. A fresh fragrance rose, and a status window materialized.

[Golden Rapini Greens Stained with Stardust (S)]

‘A higher grade than A?’

Dismissing the distraction, I quickly poured water into a pot and set it on the gas stove.

Until the water boiled, I focused on preparing the rapini greens.

Rapini greens, also called winter greens, become tough and fibrous if the stems are too thick, making them unpleasant to eat. So I rinsed them in water and carefully removed the thicker stems. The vibrant freshness transmitted through my fingertips.

As I neared the end of preparing the greens, the water in the pot began to bubble vigorously.

I retrieved the sea salt I’d stored on the ceiling shelf and dissolved it in the water.

It was time.

“In they go.”

I placed the rinsed rapini into the pot and removed it when it turned a deep green. I rinsed it in cold water, quickly cooled it, and squeezed out the excess moisture.

‘Let me check how well it’s cooked.’

When I pressed the stem with my fingernail, it yielded softly—a sign it was perfectly cooked.

“The seasoning…”

I deliberated between soybean paste and soy sauce. Soybean paste seasoning would bring a savory, deep flavor, while soy sauce would offer a clean, umami taste.

“Let’s go with miso today.”

Seasoning was simpler than I’d expected.

I placed the rapini into a mixing bowl, added miso, minced garlic, and red chili powder, then worked it together with my hands to blend the flavors perfectly.

Finally, I scattered sesame seeds and drizzled in a drop of sesame oil, filling the Kitchen with a rich, fragrant aroma.

“Tsk…”

It would have been perfect with some chopped scallions mixed in, but such luxuries were beyond my means when hunger was calling.

“Done!”

Hae-tae, who had been sunbathing in the warm rays near the front door, perked up his ears and rose to his feet.

“The seasoned greens are finished, meow?”
“Yeah. I made it with miso.”

I set aside a small bowl of rapini just for Hae-tae.

“Want to taste it?”

Hae-tae licked the seasoned rapini in the bowl, then popped a mouthful in. After chewing thoughtfully, the cat exclaimed with admiration.

“Delicious, meow! But I’m more of a soy sauce cat, meow.”
“…Huh? Really?”
“Miso is tasty, but soy sauce is tastier, meow.”
“Okay, I’ll make it that way next time.”

So this cat preferred soy sauce to miso. I quickly heaped the seasoned rapini onto a bowl of freshly cooked rice and took a generous bite.

How long had it been since I’d eaten something truly proper? For the past year, I’d mechanically shoved instant food down my throat just to fill my stomach, and the bland emptiness of those meals seemed to fade away.

“Mmm! This is the taste!”

Spring itself seemed to burst inside my mouth.

The fragrant aroma of rapini, its crisp texture, and the savory umami of miso gently wrapped around the slightly bitter aftertaste.

‘Grandmother….’

It tasted like the seasoned rapini greens Grandmother used to prepare for me. Not identical, of course, but that underlying warmth remained unchanged. With each chew, the ache of her absence burrowed deeper into my chest.

‘…Can I really do this?’

With these fine ingredients, bearing Grandmother’s name, could I truly nourish people’s hearts? Just as fear began to spread like salt through my thoughts—

“Meow, meow, meow, meow.”

Watching Hae-tae whimper for more, I burst into laughter. That’s right—I wasn’t alone.

“I’ll warm up some instant rice for you.”
“You’re not eating more?”
“I need to harvest the peppers.”
“I thought you’d rest.”

I set the instant rice in the microwave for Hae-tae and lifted the corners of my mouth into a smile.

“Rest? Not a chance.”

As I mimicked his speech pattern, Hae-tae scrunched his face and grumbled.

“Don’t copy the way I talk.”

I quickly retrieved the instant rice from the microwave and sat down in a chair.

“Here, eat. Once you’re done, want to come to the Vegetable Garden with me?”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want to be alone. It scares me.”

Hae-tae pretended to be reluctant and buried his face in the bowl. The seasoning from the rapini greens smeared on his cheeks made me laugh.

***

I pulled on a fresh pair of gloves and cradled Hae-tae in my arms.

“Let’s go.”

To clear the remaining tutorial.

The moment I stepped back through the Back Door, the damp scent of rain enveloped me.

“Does it rain here too?”

Hae-tae glanced up at me.

“This place has weather too, meow.”
“So it rains here as well.”
“That’s right, meow.”

I ruffled Cheese Cat’s chin as he gazed up at me with an innocent expression.

“Wait just a moment, meow.”
“…How mysterious.”
“Meow meow~.”

Hae-tae’s tone suggested I should have known this already.

I set Hae-tae down on the damp ground and made my way toward the Vegetable Garden.

The crops, thoroughly washed clean by the rain, glistened brilliantly—as if someone had carefully polished each one.

Especially watching the water droplets clinging to the ripened red peppers fall to the ground, I found myself smiling without thinking.

“Now I understand why Grandmother smiled so brightly whenever she returned with that fragrant scent clinging to her clothes.”

The vivid image of Grandmother’s radiant expression as she examined each crop in the shop came flooding back to me.

“Aren’t you going to start, meow?”

Hae-tae tapped my ankle with a dirt-covered paw, asking.

“Now I will!”

***

[Vegetable Garden Peppers (481/500)]
[Vegetable Garden Peppers (482/500)]

“Aren’t you going to sleep?”
“I can sleep when I’m dead.”
“You’re harsh.”

As I mechanically moved my arm and snapped off the stem of the final pepper, I let out a cheer without thinking.

“Yesss! I’m done!”

[Vegetable Garden Peppers (500/500)]

The moment the notification appeared, I collapsed spread-eagle beside the Vegetable Garden. My fingertips stung, and my limbs trembled uncontrollably.

[Tutorial: 1. ‘Harvest 500 Vegetable Garden Peppers’ completed.]

“You worked hard.”
“Thanks.”
“I worked hard too.”

…As if you did anything but watch from the sidelines.

“…What’s next?”
“Let’s go right now!”

As Hae-tae pressed the translucent air with a soft pink jelly-like appendage, a semi-transparent window materialized before my eyes.

[Tutorial: 2. Wash the peppers and dry them in the Yard. (0%)]

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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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