Chapter 274

<Things That Have Changed (3)>

 

If you are reading from a pirate or aggregator site, please read from the translator’s site: yado-inn (dot) com I have to put the link like this or else the bots will remove it, sorry 

[Oh, you’re on vacation…]

Yoo Nabum said in a disappointed voice. He didn’t want to be bothersome to someone who said he was on a vacation and wanted rest. But Jo Minjoon replied in a calm voice.

“I want to tell you again, my specialty does not lie in Korean cuisine so there is not much I can offer. I don’t want to be looked at as being cocky promoting Korean food when there are many seniors who have much more experience than I do. I am sorry.”

[I understand what you are saying but, is there another time that I can contact you?]

“I won’t stop you from reaching out to me. But my answer will remain the same.”

[Alright. I will contact you another time. I am sorry for disrupting your vacation. Have a great day]

“Yes. You too. Have a good day.”

Once the call ended Kaya looked at Jo Min Joo with a curious expression.

“Who was it?”

“It’s not someone that I know. But it was from the government. To help out the Korean cuisine.”

“Did you agree?”

“No”

“Why?”

Kaya shook her head in disappointment. Sighing, Jo Minjoon put his phone away.

“There are many seniors who are better than me in Korean cuisine. I don’t want to look arrogant in front of them.”

“That’s just an excuse.”

“…But to be honest, I am pretty exhausted. I don’t want to be any more tired than I have to.”

“That’s a decent excuse.”

Kaya nodded in approval. Jo Minjoon said in a calm voice.

“He said he will call again, but I hope he does not. Because I clearly stated my mind. That I won’t do it.”

“I don’t know. I am pretty sure he is the persistent type. Want to make a bet?”

“Why now? You typically lose all the bets with me.”

“If you are that confident then let’s bet. I bet that he will call again. What do you think?”

She asked him multiple times to bet with her, but Jo Minjoon kept quiet. To be honest he was unsure if Yu Nabum was going to call him again.

His feeling wasn’t wrong. Few days later he heard Yu Nabum’s voice again. This time it was not through the phone but face to face.

“I am sorry for intruding.”

Yu Nabum said with an apologetic expression. Because of that, Jo Minjoon could not properly express his uncomfortable appearance. Yu Nabum was not faking his expression. He was truly apologetic. Even if he was apologetic Jo Minjoon didn’t need to welcome him kindly.

“What is it?”

“I just wanted to see your face and say thank you. The recipe that you published was a hundred times more effective than the government advertisement which cost millions of dollars every year.”

This was not an exaggeration. Until now, when Jo Minjoon’s recipe was published, the only Korean dishes that were known to the world were the kimchi and Korean BBQ.

Jo Minjoon’s recipes weren’t overwhelmingly better compared to the recipes that the Korean government created. But according to Hong Mangil’s words, his dishes were simple enough to follow but were tailored to the world’s audience.

It was true that he was more effective than the million dollars spent by the Korean government.

Joe Regiano. A young genius who shook the US by creating deserts. Also, a chef who possesses a unique talent, the absolute taste.

Not only that, but a single mention of him was worth millions of dollars. Also…

… His intuition was extraordinary.

Yu Nabum’s lip became dry. Jo Minjoon was a man of politeness and polite attitude, but this wasn’t a compliment. He had a tendency to clearly draw a line that could be seen as too heartless at times. So Yu Nabum asked the next question as if it was the last.

“Are you enjoying your vacation?”

That question was unsatisfactory. And Yu Nabum regretted asking his last question as Jo Minjoon’s eyes became colder. Jo Minjoon looked at Kaya and her family and answered.

“Yes. As a chef, I prefer to go on food trips. Thankfully Kaya’s family likes food trips as well.”

“Do you have anything planned?”

“Yes. I have a place in mind. They don’t take reservations so we have to wait in line. We were about to leave. You know 5 minutes late can turn into a 50-minute wait.”

Yu Nabum understood that Jo Minjoon didn’t have time for him and wanted him to move aside. So he said with a smile on his face.

“I am pleased to know that you are a foodie. May I recommend a place?”

“A Recommendation?”

“I won’t bother you further since you might ignore my call if I get on your bad side. So I want to make up some of your time by recommending a place. Do you know of Sumokjong?”

Jo Minjoon made a slight reaction as his eyes widened. Taking this change Yu Nabum continued.

“There is no better Korean cuisine than this place.”

“… you want to take us to Sumokjong?”

“Yes, that was what I had planned.”

Jo Minjoon couldn’t believe what Yu Nabum was saying. Sumokjong. It was a well-known place. Even for chefs, it was a legendary place.

It was the most established Korean restaurant in Korea. To be honest, it used to be a mythic place, but now it is an ordinary restaurant.

Not even money can get you an entrance ticket. You needed to have some face to enter the place but…

“Isn’t Sumokjong closed?”

That was the problem. It has been closed for more than two years. Yu Nabum replied with a smile.

“Yes. You are correct. It is closed.”

“But how are you going to take us to a place that is closed?”

“Sumokjong may be closed but the master is still there. I am talking about the chef.”

Jo Minjoon looked conflicted. Sumokjong. When he was younger he always said that he was going to be successful and eat at that place. However, it closed down before he knew it, so it was just a fantasy at that point.

But Yu Nabum said he was going to let him meet the master. Thinking about the dishes that the master will make, he couldn’t refuse such an offer. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t think of a reason to refuse.

Although the decision was clear, it took him a while to reply. And in the end, he asked Yu Nabum.

“…How many can go at once?”

*********

“… I would never have thought that I would have the opportunity to come to this place again.”

Jo Soohyuk looked around in awe. The restaurant was built with a traditional Korean architecture that made it look like a Korean palace with a large lawn and beautiful tiles.

“Dad, whenever you talk about this place, I always wanted to come here.”

Jo Minjoon looked around with passion. It was a quiet place without any residents or customers, but the remnant of human presence could be seen and felt. Kaya looked around with a nervous expression.

“This is the first authentic Korean architecture that I have seen since being here.”

“It really looks traditional.”

“Yeah. There are no other words to describe it.”

Kaya nodded. A few minutes after they entered, an elderly man with a white traditional cooking cloth slowly approached them. He looked at Jo Minjoon and said in a calm tone.

“This is the first time meeting you.”

“Nice meeting you. I am Jo Minjoon.”

“I am Hong Mangil.”

Jo Minjoon was nervous. He had to be since he could see all of Hong Mangil’s level.

[Hong Mangil] Cooking: 9
Baking: 7
Tasting: 9
Decoration: 9

‘…this is crazy.’

He has seen plenty of people with a cooking level of 9. However, it was hard to see someone who was not lacking in any aspect in terms of the cooking style that they specialize in. Baking is understandable since it is not part of Korean cuisine.

“You must love your family a lot. I heard it from Mr Yu. How you wanted to bring the rest of your family.”

“…I am sorry. I may have been a bit greedy.”

“No. I like that about you. Which person does not like their family.”

“Please lower your speech. I am just a junior. Teacher.”

“Then I will”

Hong Mangil replied as if he was waiting. Then he said in a warm voice.

“Please enter. The food has been prepared. We just need to bring it out. Chef Jo, please translate it for me.”

“Oh, Yes [Korean], Everyone. He said come in [English]”

Jemma and her family who were lost in the scenery, started moving once Jo Minjoon spoke to them. Like all Korean house shoes were taken off before entering. Kaya replied in an embarrassed tone.

“I should have worn socks.”

“Who wears socks with high heels?”

“I should have at least worn a stocking. I feel ashamed.”

“Don’t worry. No one is going to see your toes.”

Kaya glared at Jo Minjoon and he jokingly replied.

“Should I give you my socks?”

“Yes.”

“…are you being serious?”

“Don’t ask if you are not going to give it to me.”

Kaya entered the room complaining. Then she carefully sat down. Jo Minjoon asked.

“Is it difficult? Sitting cross-legged.”

“It’s not that difficult.”

“Most Western people have difficulty sitting like that.”

“Well. We are used to sitting like this on the market.”

She was right. It looked like Grace, Jemma, and Kaya were used to sitting cross-legged. However, Bruce had some difficulty sitting.

“…It seems like sitting like this is easy for everyone.”

“Haha, of course, we are used to sitting like this. However, if we sit like this for a long time our leg goes numb, and back hurts.”

“My legs are already numb.”

Bruce complained. Then a young man and woman with similar cloth as Hong Mangil brought forth a long table. Everyone was surprised and became numb at the content of the table.

“…What is all this?”

Kaya had a look of disbelief. It wasn’t just Kaya and her family. His family as well as his father who had been here before were shocked out of disbelief.

It was as if the phrase mountain of food was created just for this table. Pickled cucumber, noodles. Various vegetables, galbi stew, bulgogi, steamed fish, grilled fish, and various other Korean dishes were on the table.

It was both traditional and non-traditional. There was soy sauce puree, steamed pumpkin filled with pork belly. There was food everywhere.

But the person who was most shocked was none other than Jo Minjoon. The reason was not because of the quantity of the dish but the quality.

“There are 6… 10 point dishes.”

If you are reading from a pirate or aggregator site, please read from the translator’s site: yado-inn (dot) com I have to put the link like this or else the bots will remove it, sorry 

<Things That Have Changed (3)> End.