They Told Me to Build Good Karma by Selling Side Dishes - Chapter 93

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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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93. A Gift (4)

“Not at all!”

I continued with a smile.

“There’s nothing wrong. The timing was simply perfect!”
“Perfect timing?”

Oh Jong-hee tilted his head curiously as he draped his coat over a chair.

“Actually, Song Ae-rim was about to finish off all the crucian carp before you arrived, and you showed up at just the right moment!”
“Ah, Song Ae-rim. I do tease her quite a bit, so she dislikes me. But to think she’d eat all the fish…”
“Sir! That’s not true!”

Song Ae-rim huffed indignantly and glared at him.

“Song Ae-rim doesn’t think much of her uncle. Yet her uncle brought something delicious.”
“What is it…?”

Song Ae-rim stepped out of the shadows and focused on the paper bag Oh Jong-hee had brought. Inside were fruits—premium Jukyang strawberries, no less.

“Everyone seemed to be bringing dishes, so I thought I’d go with something safe. Nothing beats reliability at year’s end.”
“That’s so like you, sir. Very thorough.”
“I only take risks outside my profession. Or is it only when choosing side dishes?”

Once Oh Jong-hee sat down, the table finally filled with the various foods everyone had brought.

“And who might this be?”

Oh Jong-hee’s attention turned to Lee Hae-ra.

“She’s my friend. Her name is Lee Hae-ra.”
“Ah, hello! I’m Lee Hae-ra!”
“If you ever encounter any unreasonable labor-related issues, please contact the nearby ‘Jongjong’ Law Office. I’ll help you at reasonable rates.”

The lawyer pulled out a business card from his coat pocket and handed it to Lee Hae-ra. She lowered her head, studying the card.

“Oh! I do too!”

Lee Hae-ra retrieved a business card from her wallet and handed it over.

“I work at an Advertising Company. If you ever need advertising or branding services, please don’t hesitate to contact me!”

Oh Jong-hee examined the card, then the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.

“Now that’s a fair exchange.”
“Yes!”

Grandmother Myeong-ja, watching the exchange, clapped her hands loudly.

“Well then! Now that everyone’s introduced themselves, shall we start the party!?”

Grandmother Myeong-ja raised her glass gently.

“Everyone! Raise your glasses!”

We all lifted our glasses above the table.

“Gatherings like this—where we come together without reason, simply to share a meal—are rarer than you might think. Each of us struggles to hold our ground, to live through each day as it comes.”
“….”
“We’ve lived well this year, and let’s live well next year too! And for today, at least.”

Grandmother smiled as she added the final words.

“Let’s eat well together.”

Her glass clinked against mine. The sound wasn’t loud, but it lingered in a peculiar way.

“Shall we start with the braised short ribs?”

I picked up the ladle and portioned out the braised short ribs into each person’s bowl.

“This is a real feast!”
“…It really is a feast.”
“Yes! A feast!”

The words overlapped in my ears.

Song Ae-rim picked up her chopsticks and brought a piece of flounder to her mouth first, while Song Ae-hyuk quietly started with rice. Lee Hae-ra carefully tore into the ribs, suppressing a smile.

“Meow.”

Hae-tae sat silently atop my head, his tail curled up slightly.

“Side Dish Shop owner.”
“Yes?”

Oh Jong-hee set down his glass and put a rib in his mouth.

“Did you grill these?”
“Yes. These are grilled ribs.”
“Wow….”

Oh Jong-hee raised both thumbs and shook his head silently in amazement.

***

As the atmosphere relaxed, we gradually grew closer to one another. Whenever everyone was busy talking, Hae-tae would subtly tap my forehead with his tail—a signal that now was the moment.

Each time, I’d feed him ribs and flounder.

“If not now, there won’t be another chance to get close~.”

Grandmother Myeong-ja started the conversation rolling.

“How did Lee Hae-ra end up meeting Ji-gu? Hmm?”

Lee Hae-ra, who had been tearing into her ribs with gusto, froze mid-chopstick at the sudden question. She cleared her throat as if something were stuck, then finally answered.

“I… I was hungry, so I stopped by the Side Dish Shop on my way home from work and met her there.”
“It was right when I was starting the Side Dish Shop.”
“Y-yes, that’s right!”

Lee Hae-ra nodded enthusiastically at my words.

“The scallion kimchi was absolutely exquisite back then….”
“Even now, it ranks in the top 10 best-selling side dishes.”
“So she became a regular customer from that point on….”

Grandmother Myeong-ja spoke matter-of-factly.

“A bond tied together by side dishes~.”
“Yes, exactly that.”

Lee Hae-ra nodded in agreement, moving her head up and down.

“I had no idea back then. That I would meet such a wonderful person….”

My heart fluttered, and I fidgeted with my glass for no reason.

“So… how did the bakery owner and the lawyer meet?”

I asked without thinking.

“Lee Hae-ra’s being a bit direct there.”
“Hehe….”

It might have been more pronounced because we were drinking now.

‘She’s always honest when she drinks.’

“If theirs is a bond tied by rice, then ours is a bond tied by bread.”
“By bread?”

Oh Jong-hee leaned back in his chair as he spoke.

“Our parents passed away suddenly. Back then, we had no money, so we couldn’t buy anything to eat. We didn’t even have enough to buy our younger sibling a single piece of bread.”
“S-so how did you meet then?”

Oh Jong-hee adjusted his glasses and spoke slowly.

“I stole bread from Myeong-ja’s Bakery, like Jean Valjean.”
“What!?”

It was Song Ae-rim who exclaimed. Her eyes widened as if she’d never known this fact.

“Grandmother saw it and turned a blind eye.”

Oh Jong-hee gazed at Grandmother Myeong-ja.

“So I kept stealing bread and giving it to my younger brother, and that’s how I survived for a year. Then… I found out later that people from the neighborhood tried to report me to the police. Grandmother apparently stopped them.”
“I grew up the same way, so kindness comes back around.”

Grandmother smiled as if to say that’s just how things were.

“So I told her I’d repay the bread with my future.”
“Your future?”
“Yes. Grandmother said she’d defend me in court even if I killed someone.”

Grandmother tossed out the words casually.

“This kid says I’ll defend him even if he kills someone.”
“Thank you so much!”

Song Ae-rim burst out excitedly. Song Ae-hyuk put a rib in her mouth to silence her.

“Well, our story’s done. Right.”

Grandmother Myeong-ja set down her glass and looked at me.

“Ji-gu, are you going to the Spring Festival?”
“Yes, Grandmother. Are you going too?”
“I wanted to, but I said I couldn’t make the time.”

Everyone’s attention turned to me.

“Did Grandmother get contacted about it too?”
“I’m quite a famous person, you know?”

Indeed, Myeong-ja’s Bakery’s reputation was higher than I’d anticipated.

“B-boss, you’re talking about the Regional Festival, right?”

Lee Hae-ra asked.

“Yes, that’s right. The Spring Festival.”
“Our company handles the promotion for that!”
“Your company does!?”
“Yes! The company originally wasn’t hiring new staff, but since we were short-handed, they took me on! And from what I gathered, they’re planning to gather shop owners who are recognized in the area, or invite owners who grew up here, and hold a competitive event!?”

Grandmother Myeong-ja’s eyes widened as she exclaimed her response.

“I dodged a bullet!”

I nodded and popped a piece of braised meat into my mouth. The rich fat melted deliciously on my tongue.

“…So boss, will a lot of people come to the festival?”

Song Ae-hyuk asked.

“I’d think so. YouTubers will probably be coming too.”

We were planning to revitalize the local community while inviting YouTubers to the festival for massive promotion. The Twins simultaneously let out an impressed “Wow!”

“The local promotion does seem certain to succeed.”

Oh Jong-hee spoke thoughtfully, swirling his glass as if calculating.

“Yes. That’s why I couldn’t refuse for the sake of local promotion.”
“You’re quite the liar.”

‘Hae-tae, be quiet.’

Grandmother Myeong-ja asked while chewing squid.

“What kind of dishes are you planning to showcase?”
“Well… nothing too elaborate, but I’m thinking of focusing on side dish recipes that people can enjoy comfortably.”

Grandmother Myeong-ja narrowed her eyes.

“Do you want to place first, Ji-gu?”

I couldn’t answer immediately. I chewed the short ribs in my mouth and thought slowly.

‘First place….’

That sounded rather grand.

“Well….”

I just needed to beat those competitors.

“I didn’t necessarily think I had to win.”
“So, have you decided what dish you’ll prepare?”

At Grandmother Myeong-ja’s question, I slowly shook my head.

“No. I’m still practicing….”

I answered honestly and laughed.

“I have a rough picture in my head… but my hands haven’t caught up yet.”

Grandmother Myeong-ja set down her glass and spoke.

“It would be strange if it were perfect from the start.”
“Exactly.”

I picked up a short rib with my chopsticks, dipped it in the broth-soaked rice, and continued speaking as I ate.

“I want to make a dish that doesn’t feel burdened by side dishes. Like, every bite reminds you of that place, every bite reminds you of that Side Dish Shop…. That kind of feeling?”

Oh Jong-hee chimed in, saying it was a good idea.

“That would be excellent. Festival visitors don’t spend much time deliberating. They make their judgment after one taste at the festival.”
“Yes, that’s right. So instead of drawing attention through complex techniques, I’m trying to appeal to the masses with familiar flavors.”

Lee Hae-ra nodded quietly.

“That’s what the boss does best!”
“Thank you.”

The Twins rose from their seats and turned on the living room television.

“The New Year’s bell is coming on!”

Midnight was drawing near. My gaze naturally drifted toward the screen. The atmosphere in the room suspended itself, held in anticipation.

[The New Year countdown begins!]

As the countdown commenced, everyone fell silent, holding their breath.

[5]
[4]
[3]
[2]
[1]

The bell tolled. Its deep, resonant sound filled the air, and everyone cried out.

“Happy New Year to you all!”
“…Happy New Year.”

The adults laughed at the Twins’ enthusiastic greeting. At last, it was the new year. I took a sip of water and exhaled slowly.

‘My heart feels so light.’

I pretended to touch my own head while gently stroking Hae-tae’s soft fur.

‘May this year bring you blessings.’

Hae-tae purred contentedly in response.

“And may you have a blessed year too, my friend.”

I had a feeling that this year would turn out quite well. Really. There was no logical reason for it, but I felt a certainty close to conviction.

***

The new year had arrived, but all I’d gained was another year of age. A single calendar page had turned—nothing more.

When I opened my eyes that morning, I was heading to work just as always. As a self-employed business owner, a small-business proprietor, I couldn’t afford to rest even on January 1st.

“Getting older doesn’t suddenly make life easier, you know.”
“Are you really going to philosophize about the world before breakfast?”

I was sitting at the table, lost in thought.

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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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