They Told Me to Build Good Karma by Selling Side Dishes - Chapter 56

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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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56. Kimchi Preparation (1)

If there had been anything, Hae-tae would have told me. The information window was now on the verge of closing.

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[Business Status]
Today’s Customers: 1/70
Regular Customers: 113
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“Huh?”

The customer count and regular customer count had each increased by one. But I hadn’t even opened the door yet—where did this customer come from?

“Hello?”

A customer stood awkwardly in the shop, wearing a mask and carrying a bag with only one strap slung over their shoulder.

“Welcome?”

It was an unfamiliar customer. They glanced around the shop and murmured as if speaking to themselves.

“This should be the right place….”

When our eyes met, they finally spoke hesitantly.

“I… this place….”

I blinked as I accepted the bag from their hands.

‘What could this be?’

Peering inside the bag, I spotted the corner of a familiar plastic container. It was the side dish container that Geul-seon-dae had taken with them.

‘So this is that person….’

The person Geul-seon-dae had been waiting for.

“Oh, a side dish container?”
“The Doctor told me this was a side dish container.”
“…Ah, is that so?”

‘The Doctor?’

Question marks scattered wildly through my mind.

‘Well, Geul-seon-dae did take it, so….’

In any case, there was no need to make things complicated in front of a customer.

“Did you enjoy the seasoned sprouts?”
“…Yes. It was delicious. I came to give you this.”

The customer smiled and turned slightly as if to leave the shop.

“Wait, customer!”
“Yes?”
“Please come again!”

I spoke brightly.

“Oh…. Yes! I’ll be back!”

The moment the door opened and the customer crossed the threshold, a doll keychain hanging from their bag came into view.

Torn fabric scraps and clumsily stitched seams. Some bore the marks of being sewn over multiple times.

That palm-sized Gom-dol looked so patched together that it was endearing instead. The care with which it had been mended showed through even more.

‘…Geul-seon-dae would have loved to see this.’

I crossed my arms and leaned against the shop door. The Gom-dol keychain swayed gently with the customer’s footsteps. That sway looked like a small nod of acknowledgment.

***

I pulled out the maple leaf I’d tucked into my collar and checked the calendar hanging on the wall.

Late September by the lunar calendar. No wonder I’d felt an inexplicable chill today—that maple leaf hadn’t drifted here by chance.

“I suppose it’s time to start making kimchi.”

Kimchi season was approaching—for any Korean, it was as significant as a year-end celebration.

“You’re really going to make kimchi?”

Hae-tae, who had been curled up in a ball at the counter, lifted his head slightly.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Won’t you be exhausted?”

When did he start worrying about me?

“Exhausted or not, it can’t be helped.”
“What about the shop?”
“I’ll have to hire a temporary worker while I’m making the kimchi.”

But how many heads of cabbage should I prepare? A hundred? Two hundred? I needed to gauge it carefully so my body wouldn’t ache the next day.

“Hae-tae, how many heads do you think would be good?”
“Are you planning to sell the kimchi?”

He was asking if I intended to sell it.

“Of course.”

No food sold as well as kimchi.

“If you do that much, you might actually die. Do you want your life hanging by a thread?”
“Why are you like this?”

I stared at Hae-tae with suspicion.

“What do you mean?”

Hae-tae scratched the bridge of his nose.

“Why do you worry about me so much?”
“…It’s nothing, meow!”
“Is that so?”
“Why are you talking like that?!”

I was laughing heartily as I watched Hae-tae spring to his feet and throw a cat punch.

Ding—

The shop door chimed, and Song Ae-rim stepped inside.

“Boss! Ae-rim is here~.”

Song Ae-rim entered with a bright wave of her hand. I instinctively pressed down on Hae-tae’s head before approaching her.

“Oh, our Ae-rim has arrived?”

Song Ae-rim handed me a bag emblazoned with the Myeong-ja’s Bakery logo.

“I came to give you this~Grandmother said you should have it!”
“Perfect for an afternoon snack. Tell Grandmother I’m so grateful, okay~!”

I beamed at the warm bread. After such a grueling day, my spirits soared.

“I should get going now! I have homework to do~.”

I caught Song Ae-rim before she could leave.

“Ae-rim!”
“Yes? What is it, boss?”
“Hmm. Do you have time this weekend?”

I wondered if I was making an unreasonable request of a student about to enter her final year. Suddenly, Song Ae-rim’s cheeks flushed with an embarrassed smile.

“What do you mean? This kind of flirting isn’t good.”
“Ae-rim, you’re saying something terrible.”
“Then what is it~?”
“I was wondering if we’d have time to make kimchi.”
“What!?”

Song Ae-rim’s voice shot up. Her eyes widened as if they might pop right out of her head.

“Boss, boss! You’re making kimchi!?”
“Huh? Yes. That’s right.”

I answered, flustered. Song Ae-rim clapped her hands and leaned her upper body forward.

“Boss! I’ve really been curious about kimchi-making~!”
“Hm? About kimchi?”
“My grandmother doesn’t make kimchi, and all my friends around me say they make it at home every year, but we never do, so I’m curious about how it’s done!”
“What part are you most curious about?”

Her eyes sparkled brilliantly.

“Spreading the seasoning! Pickling the cabbage! Putting on vinyl gloves and mixing it all together!!”

I patted the shoulder of the excited Song Ae-rim, who was getting carried away.

“Can you come on the most important day?”
“Of course! Boss! I’m a second-year high school student who wants to experience labor-based learning through kimchi-making!”

‘Labor-based learning,’ she says.

I chuckled.

“It might be even more intense than that.”

That’s the truth.

“…It would be nice if you brought Ae-hyuk along too.”
“Understood! I’ll bring Song Ae-hyuk even if he says he doesn’t want to!”
“No, if Ae-hyuk doesn’t want to come, you don’t have to bring him.”
“Yes!”

She didn’t hear a word I said.

“I’m going over there!”

Song Ae-rim bolted through the door as if her feet had wheels attached. Through the doorway, I could see Song Ae-hyuk sitting at the counter of Myeong-ja’s Bakery across the street, sipping a drink.

Song Ae-rim rushed toward him, waving her hands frantically while her mouth moved like a storm. Even from this distance, I could see Song Ae-hyuk’s face growing progressively paler.

‘Ahem.’

I folded my arms and smiled.

‘Well, that’s two people secured!’

Either way, having more hands would be helpful.

Hae-tae crept closer and spoke with a serious expression.

“Those two could cause quite a disaster, you know.”

I closed my eyes for a moment and imagined it. Cabbage flying through the air, red pepper powder exploding everywhere—something like that?

“Even if they do cause a disaster, it’s fine.”

What good does it do to imagine catastrophes that won’t happen? It only amplifies my anxiety.

‘I’m not anxious.’

“You look anxious, you know.”
“Don’t read my face.”

I could just contact the lower refrigerator section for the supplies needed for kimchi-making. I took out a memo pad from the counter drawer and wrote down what I needed.

“Let me see… what I need…”

We already have shrimp paste and fish sauce.

==========
Hmm.
Sea salt
Glutinous rice paste
Dried pollack strips
Anchovies
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Radish, scallions, minced garlic, onions, and ginger—I could just grab those from the Vegetable Garden.

“That should do it.”

Kimchi-making didn’t require that many ingredients; as long as the seasoning was balanced, we were fine.

The moment I tried to place the note in the lower section of the Refrigerator, something flew out from inside.

“What’s this?”

A single sheet of paper, as though it had come flying from somewhere. I picked it up and unfolded it.

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Hello. Manager Ji-gu of Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we anticipate that product supply will be disrupted for the next three days.
We appreciate your understanding.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.
We will work to normalize operations as quickly as possible.
– GS Company –
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“What…?”

I froze. Hae-tae poked his head from behind and spoke.

“What’s wrong?”
“Product supply’s been cut off. Why now of all times?”

The note didn’t explain what had happened, so I could only tilt my head in confusion.

“Does this happen often?”
“It’s happened a few times, meow.”
“Is that so? Then we can just buy supplies from the neighborhood mart.”
“The mart, meow!?”
“Right?”

Hae-tae’s eyes widened as he grabbed my forearm with his front paw.

“What’s with this paw?”
“Don’t you know, meow!”
“I’m not quite sure~?”

I know what he means—he wants me to take him along. But still.

“Don’t tease me, meow!”
“Alright, alright. Shall we go?”

Actually, going shopping with Hae-tae might be fun.

***

I untied my apron and headed toward the Neighborhood Mart. The automatic doors slid open, and a wave of warm air from the heater rushed out.

“So warm, meooooow….”

Hae-tae placed his paw on his head and basked in the heater’s warmth. Watching him, I called out.

“Supplies! Supplies!”

I pulled the cart toward the kimchi-making section. Since it was kimchi season, the neighborhood mart had gathered all the ingredients in one area.

Perfect timing.

‘This neighborhood mart’s sea salt is excellent, isn’t it?’

I touched a bag of sea salt and exclaimed in admiration.

‘A tip?!’

However, the items from the Neighborhood Mart didn’t reveal themselves through the window. …I felt a bit disappointed. I wish something had appeared.

Hae-tae pressed down on my hair repeatedly, murmuring something that sounded quite satisfied.

“It’s not bad though. For a neighborhood mart, the ingredients are quite clean.”

I picked up two bags of sea salt and placed them in the cart.

“It’s nice being outside. It’s spacious, there are so many smells, and lots of food.”

‘What a cute creature.’

I wandered through the mart, transferring necessary items into the cart, then looked up.

“Side Dish Shop owner?”

A familiar voice reached my ears.

“Huh?”

Oh Jong-hee appeared, pulling two carts one behind the other.

“Oh Jong-hee?”
“We meet everywhere.”
“Yes… I’m equally surprised to see you, actually.”

Oh Jong-hee made an “ah” sound and explained the carts he’d been pulling.

“I’m taking my family on an outing and need quite a lot of supplies, so I’m pulling two carts.”
“I see. I wondered what kind of business you were running. …But you cook for yourself too?”
“Yes? I do cook.”

I’d thought he couldn’t cook at all. That’s why I assumed he was always buying side dishes.

“Who can’t cook these days? I believe that if you’re going to live alone, you should at least be good at making rice. I only search for side dishes because I’m too busy with work…. How did you see me?”
“I was seeing you exactly as you described yourself.”
“Is that so? Then my image must be changing now.”

Oh Jong-hee looked at my cart and asked.

“Sea salt, glutinous rice, dried pollack strips, anchovies…? What are you making with all of that?”
“Kimchi for winter storage!”
“You make kimchi for storage too?”
“Of course I do. What do you take me for?”

The lawyer’s eyes lit up with newfound interest.

“Don’t tell me you sell kimchi for winter storage as well?”
“Yes. I’m planning to sell winter storage kimchi too.”
“When will you start selling it?”

I habitually conjured a mental calendar.

“Well, if I salt the napa cabbage starting today, I should be finished by the weekend.”

Salt the cabbage today, finish seasoning it Saturday morning, rinse the salted cabbage, stuff it with the filling in the afternoon, and mix it all together.

‘I’ll sell the winter storage kimchi on Sunday, then.’

My schedule fell into place with satisfying precision. I was quite pleased with myself.

“Then….”
“Yes?”
“You won’t open the shop on Sunday?”
“Yes, that’s right.”

Oh Jong-hee nodded decisively, as though he’d arrived at a perfectly logical conclusion.

“In that case, I’ll come by to purchase some. If I wake up early Sunday morning and drive over, the timing should work out perfectly.”
“Early in the morning?”
“I….”

I held my breath, listening intently to Oh Jong-hee’s words. Perhaps something important was about to be said. But what emerged from his lips was.

“I love winter storage kimchi.”

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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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