They Told Me to Build Good Karma by Selling Side Dishes - Chapter 89

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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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89. Garland Chrysanthemum and Beef Stir-fry (3)

“How is it?”

I lifted my head like a puppy waiting for its master, my eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“It’s delicious!”

Lim San-bi spoke first.

“Boss! I don’t usually like garland chrysanthemum, but this is surprisingly good! No, why is it so delicious?”
“As expected, the boss has very popular taste.”
“…It’s a flavor that calls for rice.”

Song Ae-hyuk paused with his chopsticks and lifted his head.

“…The aroma is quite strong.”
“Some people won’t like it, right?”
“Yes.”

He answered honestly.

“What about you, San-bi?”
“I… really like it…”

Lim San-bi scraped the remaining garland chrysanthemum and beef stir-fry from her bowl and devoured it eagerly.

“I absolutely love it!”
“Now you’ll be able to eat spicy ramen stir-fry piled high with cheese without your stomach bothering you.”
“What?”

Lim San-bi’s eyes widened in surprise. I chuckled and leaned against the counter.

“I made it that way.”
“Are you a magician, boss?”
“Well…”

The garland chrysanthemum I’d given to Lim San-bi did possess a mysterious power, after all.

‘If it’s S-rank, isn’t that basically magic?’

I wiggled my fingers and played the part of an awkward magician, which sent the children into fits of laughter.

“Oh!”

Song Ae-rim bolted toward the bag she’d left on the floor. As if that were the starting signal, the other children rushed after her in a flurry. I tilted my head, watching them exchange knowing glances and giggle among themselves.

Even the most composed among them, Ae-hyuk, had joined in the commotion. It felt oddly out of place. What they pulled from the bag was entirely unexpected.

“Christmas?”

Sparkling decorations, small and light ornaments, half-folded ribbons and such. Song Ae-rim laughed as she took out the Christmas decorations.

“Tomorrow’s Christmas! Let us decorate the shop for you!”
“…But you told Grandmother you were envious of her.”

I blinked, then broke into a smile.

“…Go ahead and decorate.”

As if they’d been waiting for permission, they began jostling each other and moving about. The shop erupted into cheerful chaos in an instant.

***

The next morning.

Lim San-bi’s eyes snapped open. It was before her school alarm even went off.

‘I want to eat it so badly!’

After tasting the garland chrysanthemum and beef stir-fry yesterday, she was utterly satisfied. No—more than satisfied. It was absolutely delicious!

‘Mom told me to live with dignity….’

But I couldn’t help myself!

I headed to the Bathroom to wash up, then made my way to the Kitchen. I opened the Refrigerator, pulled out a container of side dishes, portioned them out, and placed them in the microwave.

Ding.

While the microwave hummed away, I retrieved my rice and began eating.

A sticky note was attached to the Refrigerator. It said Mom and Dad would be late because they were busy, and that Dad had prepared kimchi stew.

“Sigh.”

Kimchi stew since morning felt too heavy. So I decided to eat only the garland chrysanthemum and beef stir-fry with rice!

I retrieved the already-warmed rice and took out the garland chrysanthemum and beef stir-fry from the microwave.

I sat in a chair and picked up a spoon. Please, please. I carefully took one spoonful, held my breath, and blinked nervously. My stomach, which would normally have started cramping by now, remained quiet.

“Huh?”

It was fine. My stomach didn’t hurt. Lim San-bi rubbed her belly out of habit.

“It’s actually okay?”

By this point, I should have already been in the Bathroom with stomach and abdominal pain. Yet here I was, peacefully piling the garland chrysanthemum and beef stir-fry over my rice like a rice bowl?

When Lim San-bi finished her rice bowl completely, she realized something.

‘…It’s different.’

I had been worried about my stomach gurgling during morning self-study at School!

Lim San-bi put on her School uniform and slung her bag over her shoulder, checking her stomach several times.

“Really… how strange?”

I stepped out the Entrance and walked straight to the Bus Stop. Normally, too. It was strange. Usually, the stress of having to go to School would trigger my body’s response first, causing me to break out in cold sweat.

I boarded the bus and sat in a seat like any ordinary person, even finding the leisure to gaze out the window. The constant wish for the bus to depart quickly so I could escape my stomach pain had vanished.

A single day had transformed everything!

In the blink of an eye, I found myself at school studying. Though nothing appeared different on the surface, the absence of stomach pain meant I experienced far less stress.

I opened my problem set from my bag and studied, chatted with friends during self-study time, and even enjoyed delicious bread at the School Cafeteria.

‘Was it because I ate the garland chrysanthemum and beef stir-fry?’

A single dish had the power to transform my body like this….

“San-bi, you’re eating bread?”
“Yeah. Looks like I can eat it now.”
“What do you mean by that?”

Every time I’d eaten cafeteria bread before, my stomach would act up and I’d rush to the Bathroom. But now, the silence felt strangely unfamiliar.

The moment self-study ended and I’d spent a peaceful day, my parents pulled up in their car to pick me up, and I lowered the window to wave.

“San-bi’s here?”
“San-bi’s arrived.”

Lim San-bi climbed into the car as if it were familiar to her. She hummed softly while fastening her seatbelt.

“Mom, Dad.”

Her parents turned their heads to look at Lim San-bi.

“My stomach didn’t hurt today.”

Her mother turned around in surprise and asked.

“Didn’t your stomach hurt?”
“No. It didn’t hurt.”
“Why? What do you mean it didn’t hurt?”
“I played with my friends yesterday, so I thought my stomach would hurt today….”
“Really? So?”
“My stomach didn’t hurt at all.”
“Maybe that just happens sometimes?”
“No.”

It really didn’t.

“Then should we go eat meat at a restaurant with Mom and Dad today?”
“Yeah. I can go.”

Her parents stared at Lim San-bi. It had been a long time since their daughter agreed to go to a restaurant.

“But Mom and Dad!”

Lim San-bi leaned forward urgently and added hastily.

“The owner of Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop made me a side dish! And after eating it, my stomach didn’t hurt at all~!”

Their daughter always sat in the back seat complaining about her stomach aching. Today was different. She was vibrant. Perhaps because of that, her parents listened intently to what Lim San-bi had to say.

“Remember that garland chrysanthemum and beef stir-fry Mom used to make for me!”
“That’s right?”
“The owner of that side dish shop made it for me, and my stomach was fine even after eating it!”

Only then did her parents ask, listening to their daughter’s story.

“Why did the owner make you a side dish~?”
“Because I told her I enjoyed her side dishes, she made it for me. She didn’t even take any money!”
“No money?”

Lim San-bi spoke without taking a single breath, as if her mouth had a motor attached to it.

“Really! Truly! I was able to concentrate so well while studying. Mom, Dad. Can’t we buy side dishes from there? I’m serious! Really! I didn’t even go to the bathroom! And I ate bread too!”
“Daughter, calm down.”

When his daughter, who couldn’t even eat bread due to stomach pain while studying, finally ate something, her father eased off the accelerator.

“That’s right, let’s go say thank you.”
“Yes! Mom!”

Lim San-bi eagerly pointed out the way to Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop with infectious enthusiasm.

***

As winter’s grip loosened slightly, I couldn’t keep my wits about me all morning. The shop door’s chime rang incessantly—opening and closing, opening and closing. No matter how many empty side dish containers I refilled, they emptied just as quickly.

‘Finally, I can breathe.’

It wasn’t until after lunch that I could finally rest. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and sank into a chair with a deep sigh.

Ding—

“Welcome! This is Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop!”

I reflexively sprang to my feet and delivered my greeting.

“Boss! Boss!”
“Oh… San-bi?”

Lim San-bi bounded toward me with an excited face, practically flying across the shop.

“My stomach was fine today! It didn’t hurt at all, and I didn’t have to go to the bathroom. I even went to the School Cafeteria and ate bread like a normal person!”
“Really? That’s wonderful! It didn’t interfere with your studies then!”

Watching Lim San-bi chatter away lifted my spirits. To know that my side dishes had made her day comfortable—it filled me with quiet satisfaction.

“Oh! And today Mom and Dad said they were going out for meat, so we stopped by the shop for a moment!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, yes, yes!”

She spoke so rapidly that I would have missed half of it if I’d let my attention waver for even a second.

“Mom! Dad!”

I greeted Lim San-bi’s parents, who were examining the side dishes on the display counter.

“Hello! I’m Ji-gu from Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop.”
“Hello there. Our daughter said the side dishes here were good, so we decided to visit. The dishes look so clean and appetizing!”
“The taste is quite excellent as well.”

Her father nodded quietly in agreement.

“Our daughter talks about this shop’s side dishes all the time.”
“Please take your time looking around. If you have any questions, just let me know.”

I watched Lim San-bi’s family browsing the side dishes with genuine warmth.

‘This is how regular customers grow.’

I felt genuinely pleased.

They examined each container carefully while chatting, then approached the counter with a tray of selected items.

“Boss, our daughter asked if you could prepare some side dishes. Please charge us for that as well.”
“That’s something I wanted to do, so I won’t accept payment for it!”
“But still….”

I had gained something from it too, so in a sense, I was receiving a gift as well. I packed the side dishes into a paper bag and handed it over with the handles extended for easy carrying.

“Please visit us again whenever you’re free. That’s the payment I want.”
“…My goodness. You’re quite something, boss. We’ll definitely come back. San-bi, let’s go.”

Lim San-bi beamed with happiness, swinging her hands back and forth.

“Boss, I’ll be back!”

I called out to the joyful Lim San-bi a bit louder.

“San-bi! Merry Christmas!”
“You too, boss! Merry Christmas!”

I waved until the door closed behind them. Watching Lim San-bi being led outside by her parents, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction wash over me.

“I’ve become Santa Claus.”

A breeze drifted in from outside, sweeping through the shop. The ornaments hanging on the tree swayed in its wake.

The wind reached the praise sticker display decorated with Christmas ornaments on the wall. As the blurred hand became clear, I furrowed my brow.

For Christmas, both hands were red and green. A garland chrysanthemum sticker gleamed as if to convey congratulations. Witnessing that sight, I burst into laughter.

At the same moment the praise sticker was placed,

[You have obtained Karma Points and unlocked detailed shop information.]

The detailed information unlock window appeared.

‘Unlocked!’

The shop detailed information window fully expanded.

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[Ji-gu]
– Local Reputation 170 (Rumors of Ji-gu’s side dishes are becoming trendy among herbalists.)
– Divine Reputation: 85 (The Divine Beings sent gifts with congratulatory meaning for Christmas, it is said.)
– Karma Points: 17 (Reward unlock conditions not met)
[Business Status]
Today’s Customer Count: 40/80
Regular Customers: 180
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“A gift?”

What kind of gift were they planning to give? A sound began emanating from the lower section of the refrigerator, which had been quiet for some time.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap—

It was a sound I hadn’t heard in a long while. I bent my waist and peered toward the refrigerator.

“…Who is it?”

The one coming would be Shin Yeop-baek, or….

“It’s freezing! So cold!”

The lower door of the Refrigerator slid open with a soft whoosh, and cold mist billowed out. A face suddenly popped through the gap.

“Lee Ju-taek?”

Lee Ju-taek wearing a knit cap.

“Hello.”

From that cramped lower compartment emerged Lee Yeo-ui in a white coat. She too had been squeezed into the narrow Refrigerator below.

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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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