They Told Me to Build Good Karma by Selling Side Dishes - Chapter 71

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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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71. Fuki Leaf Banchan Group Lunch Box (5)

“Once you finish draining the tofu pouches, open each one up for me. That way I can fill them with rice right away!”
“Yes! Understood!”

Song Ae-rim pulled on vinyl gloves and began deftly opening the tofu pouches with practiced hands.

‘She’s doing quite well.’

“You’re doing great,” Hae-tae said.

Hae-tae had been watching intently the whole time. I smiled softly and placed two pans simultaneously over the burner.

In the pan for the stir-fried fuki greens, garlic began to heat and release its fragrance first. Meanwhile, I transferred the fuki greens for the cold salad into a large bowl and mixed them by hand with the seasoning sauce.

“Boss, I’ve opened them all!”
“Perfect. Now we just need to fill them with rice.”

The rice cooker clicked open with a soft sound. Steam billowed up. The fresh aroma of newly cooked rice filled the kitchen. I stood the rice paddle upright and broke the rice into large sections, fluffing it gently as if breathing air into it.

‘…The grains are still alive.’

I transferred the rice to a wide bowl and sprinkled the tofu pouch sushi seasoning evenly over it, then mixed it gently with the paddle. The most important thing was not to press down on the rice.

“Boss, do you always handle it so gently?”
“Yes. You have to soothe it.”
“Soothe it?”
“These grains have feelings too.”

I began filling each tofu pouch with the subtly sweet and tangy seasoned rice. The pouches Ae-rim had so carefully opened seemed to wait eagerly with their mouths gaping. I didn’t pack the rice too tightly, leaving just a little room.

“Now into the lunch boxes.”
“Yes!”

The tofu pouches filled each compartment of the lunch boxes neatly. I placed the quick-pickled vegetables first, then the fuki green salad and stir-fried fuki greens in the adjacent compartments. I separated them with foil so the colors wouldn’t blend and the flavors wouldn’t clash.

“Boss, what about the other side dishes?”
“The boiled pork and cabbage wraps go next, and the lotus root chips last.”
“Oh, that’s it!”

Song Ae-rim exclaimed.

“So the chips don’t get soggy!”
“Exactly!”

I turned toward the boiled pork pot. The pork glistened as it floated atop the water, steam beginning to subside.

I lifted the pork out with tongs onto the cutting board and sampled a thin slice to check the taste.

“Perfect.”

The fat content was just right, leaving the meat clean and mild. The cabbage steamed in the basket had wilted to the ideal softness.

‘Time to assemble.’

I placed the pork inside the wilted cabbage and rolled it tightly—easy to grip with chopsticks. The tender leaves embraced the meat perfectly.

“This looks delicious….”

After drizzling the secret sauce lightly over it, I glanced at the lotus root slices waiting on the counter.

‘The time.’

“It’s 9 o’clock!”

Ae-rim informed me.

“We have enough time.”

I smiled and immediately dusted the thinly sliced lotus root with cornstarch before placing it in the pan. The sizzle filled the kitchen as Hae-tae’s tail swayed slightly above my head.

“Save some for me.”

I nodded in understanding and transferred the golden-fried lotus root chips onto a paper towel to drain the oil.

“Ae-rim! Would you unfold a paper divider in the last compartment of the lunch box?”

I added a paper divider to preserve the crispness.

“I’m doing that right now!”

Once the lotus root tempura had cooled properly and lost its moisture, I transferred it to the paper divider. As the final piece settled into place, I finally released the breath I’d been holding.

“Done.”

Each compartment had its own purpose.

Fried tofu to support the rice,
Butterbur leaves to linger with their fragrance,
Braised pork and cabbage to elevate the subtle flavors,
And lotus root tempura to finish like a dessert.

“Now let’s close the lids.”
“Yes!”

The sound of each lid closing followed in steady rhythm.

“Now….”

The moment the clock struck ten, I prepared to close the Side Dish Shop.

[Taking a brief one-hour break.]

I’d already posted the sign.

‘I could ride my Mongsil, but…’

Today, I had help.

“Hello?”
“Sibling Bento Shop Owner!”

The Sibling Bento Shop Owner arrived right on time, his posture perfectly upright. His face bore the calm composure of someone who had been running a business for many years.

“Are the lunch boxes prepared?”
“Yes, everything’s ready. Thank you for your help today.”
“Not at all.”

Song Ae-rim quickly stepped forward at that moment.

“Hello!”
“…Oh.”

The shop owner’s gaze settled on Ae-rim.

“She’s a friend helping out with volunteer work today.”
“Ah, I see.”

I unfolded the boxes for packing the lunch boxes.

“I’ll pack them one by one. Ae-rim, you keep count of how many I put in.”
“Got it!”

The shop owner bent down and began packing lunch boxes as well.

“Let me help too.”

The sealed lunch boxes stacked neatly into the cartons.

“The lunch box composition is excellent.”
“Really? Thank you.”
“I’ll load them into the car.”
“Yes!”

The lunch box cartons were transferred to the car one by one. Ae-rim followed alongside, counting the boxes, while Hae-tae swayed his tail slowly from above my head.

“I’ll watch the shop, meow.”
“Okay. I’ll be back soon. Help yourself to the lotus root tempura.”

I spoke quietly to Hae-tae and untied my apron. Once the lunch boxes were gone, the shop felt empty and hollow.

“Are you coming with us?”
“Yes. I should go.”

I caught Song Ae-rim’s eye and gestured for her to follow the owner.

“Ae-rim.”
“Yes!”
“Let’s go.”

Together we climbed into the car and headed toward the Happiness Welfare Center.

***

The Happiness Welfare Center. In front of the gray building, a ginkgo tree shed its leaves in the wind.

“Hello!”

Yun Ga-rin stood waiting at the entrance.

“You were only waiting for today, right?”
“Of course! I was only waiting for today.”

I stepped out of the car and opened the trunk. Yun Ga-rin’s gaze naturally drifted toward the boxes.

“Wow…!”

Yun Ga-rin clapped her hands together in delight.

“Perfect!”
“So neat!”
“Exactly, exactly, exactly!”

Yun Ga-rin gave my back a light pat of approval.

“Just need to move these, right?”
“Yeah, Dad. Just move these!”

The moment the owner picked up a box of lunch boxes, I grabbed another one.

“Your boss is quite strong, isn’t he?”
“He’s always been strong.”

As I lifted another box, its substantial weight settled across both my arms.

“Careful! There are stairs!”
“Boss, watch your step!”

Yun Ga-rin opened the path ahead. The moment the automatic doors slid open, familiar sounds rushed in.

“The lunch boxes have arrived!”

At Yun Ga-rin’s announcement, several heads turned in unison.

“Oh my! You’re here already!?”
“We’ve been waiting all day for this.”
“Our staff member said to wait just for today!”

I set the box down on the table.

“If we leave them outside, the seniors will take them.”
“…Yes!”

The Sibling Bento Shop Owner and I unpacked the lunch boxes onto the tables. Song Ae-rim stood beside us, counting to verify nothing was missing.

“Boss! Everything’s accounted for.”
“Okay. Got it.”

Yun Ga-rin cupped her hands and called out to the seniors.

“Please come in order, and we’ll hand out the lunch boxes!”

The seniors supported one another by the shoulders as they slowly approached to receive their meals. Those with mobility difficulties received theirs directly from Ga-rin.

“Here you are, ma’am.”

I handed over a lunch box.

“Thank you.”
“Please enjoy your meal.”
“It smells absolutely wonderful!”

The elderly patrons gave me thumbs up and praise before leaving. It was when the last one picked up their bento box and looked up.

“Shop owner. You’re the one who received the letter from this elder.”

An elderly person approached, tapping the ground with their cane and dragging their left leg. This was the elder who had requested butterbur in a letter.

“Elder! I made both butterbur stir-fry and butterbur salad. They’ll be absolutely delicious.”

I handed over the final bento box, and it settled into the elder’s hands.

That’s when [More Details] appeared above the elder’s head.

[Customer Status – More Details]
Name: Go Moon-seo
Recommendation: Food that grants a final moment
Status: Perhaps I can feel it once more. (◜‧̮◝)
Reward: Good Karma ‘1’ Point

The elder’s eyes crinkled slowly at the corners.

“…The aroma is truly wonderful.”
“I made sure to bring out the butterbur’s fragrance.”

Yun Ga-rin chimed in eagerly.

“The side dish shop owner made it exactly as Go Moon-seo requested.”
“…It must have been difficult. Thank you for honoring this old man’s request.”

At the elder’s sincere gratitude, I smiled warmly.

“Please, think nothing of it. I’m simply a maker of side dishes who received a request for side dishes. If anything, it was a joy for me to create dishes with butterbur greens.”
“…Hearing you say that makes me even more grateful.”

The elder nodded silently and slowly turned away. The sound of the cane tapping the ground seemed somehow heavier than before.

“Shop owner, that’s the last of the bento boxes.”

At the shop owner’s words, I nodded in acknowledgment.

“Oh, me too!”

Song Ae-rim’s face brightened with pride and satisfaction.

“Perfect timing.”

The lunch boxes that had been stacked high were now completely empty.

“I’ve done volunteer work before, but this is my first time at the Welfare Center!”
“Yeah? How was it?”
“Um… yes! Well….”

Song Ae-rim closed her eyes and spoke carefully.

“I felt like I became someone acceptable wherever I went. The elderly thanked me and said I was cute and all that.”
“Yeah? So?”
“It felt good to feel like I was someone needed!”

I lifted one corner of my mouth at those words.

“You felt good?”
“Yes! Though I still don’t know what I want to do!”
“It’d be strange if it suddenly appeared.”
“Exactly! You’re right!”
“Take your time thinking and find what you want to do.”
“Of course!”

Song Ae-rim called out in a bright voice.

“Alright then.”
“Can I come again next time?”

Next time? I roughly calculated Song Ae-rim’s age by next year….

“No.”
“Why not!”
“You’ll be a senior in high school.”
“Oh…!”

I shook my head as I watched Song Ae-rim’s expression crumble with disappointment.

“Shop owner.”
“Yes?”

Yun Ga-rin pointed toward where Go Moon-seo sat.

“There. He’s eating…!”

Ga-rin watched the elderly man’s expression with even more eager anticipation than I felt. He slowly lifted the bento lid and carefully picked up a single piece of fuki greens with his chopsticks, then brought it to his mouth.

“He’s eating!”
“…I hope he enjoys it.”

I found myself clenching and unclenching my fists for no reason.

“Oh, oh, it’s going up….”

Yun Ga-rin whispered, holding her breath. The corners of the elderly man’s mouth lifted slightly. It seemed to suit his palate. That was enough for me.

“Everyone! Our elders!”

Yun Ga-rin stepped forward.

“Please give a round of applause for Ji-gu, the owner of Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop, who prepared these bento boxes for us!”
“Oh, no, please—”

The elderly patrons who had eaten the bento clapped their hands enthusiastically.

“My goodness! You worked hard.”
“This place has great taste.”
“These side dishes remind me of home.”

Words of praise drifted to my ears from all directions.

“Ji-gu’s face is getting even redder.”
“It really is.”

I smoothly returned the Sibling Bento Shop Owner’s remark and bowed in gratitude.

“Rather, I should be thanking you for enjoying the food I prepared.”

I smiled at the sound of applause that followed.

“And everyone!”

Yun Ga-rin approached Go Moon-seo and spoke.

“Starting today, Go Moon-seo will be concluding his activities at the Happiness Welfare Center! Sir, please stand up and say a few words.”

The elderly turned their heads toward Go Moon-seo. He responded calmly with a benevolent smile.

“I thought it was time for me to rest a little. I believed it was only right that someone more in need take this place. Thank you all for caring so thoughtfully for this old man who is falling apart.”

Everyone offered their unreserved applause in unison, as if paying homage to the years Go Moon-seo had lived.

***

What is a future we cannot see even one step ahead? Mother, Father.

“Little brother. If your older brothers disappear, you must find them.”
“Where are my brothers going?”
“My second brother and I found good jobs.”
“Where?”
“We don’t know yet.”

Perhaps because I was young, after Mother and Father left, my older brothers’ words became divine to me, and the divine was special. Since they said they had found jobs, I thought they would return in just a few days.

Just a few days.

I stayed inside all day, neither going out nor eating, waiting only for my brothers.

“Moon-seo. How could this happen…. Moon-seo….”

But when the neighbors opened the door and came in, I understood.

That my brothers had died.

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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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