BMBSD 21

Chapter 21 Seasoned Aster Greens (2)

“Phew…”

The night before, I stayed up late with Haetae, making seasoned aster greens over and over, adjusting the flavor in every possible way.

Each time I changed the seasoning ratio, Haetae forced himself to taste it.

“Too bland, nya.”

“The seasoning isn’t quite right, nya.”

We kept going until he finally had nothing left to criticize.

“I… can’t… eat… anymore… nya…!”

Only after Haetae’s stomach had become round like a mountain was the seasoned aster greens finally perfected.

Through the translucent lid, the green leaves and glossy seasoning sparkled in the light.

It looked like a masterpiece prepared just for today.

When did they say they’d arrive…?

In the distance, I saw two figures approaching.

At that moment, the bell hanging above the shop door rang brightly.

Jingle.

The person who entered was Mr. Yeom Sim-hoon.

The woman following behind him smiled brightly the moment she saw me. She hurried over and tightly held my hands.

“Oh my. Hyangsuk has bloomed again—and you’ve become young!”

Hyangsuk…?

Before I even had time to react, she warmly wrapped my hands in hers.

Without thinking, I held her hands back and played along.

“That’s right.”

“You’ve become an even prettier jar, Hyangsuk!”

“I look like a pretty jar?”

“Of course! To me, you’ll always be a beautiful jar.”

She stared at me for a moment before bursting into laughter like a young girl.

“But why do you look so tired?”

“Ah… I’ve been busy making seasoned aster greens.”

“Oh my! Then I can really look forward to them.”

She looked around the shop as if it were familiar, humming happily to herself.

A moment later, Mr. Yeom Sim-hoon quietly approached me.

“Um… Boss.”

He lowered his voice.

“My wife has dementia.”

“So… if it isn’t too much trouble…”

“I’d really appreciate it if you could talk to her the way you just did.”

“Would that be alright?”

I was surprised for a moment, but it wasn’t a difficult request.

Keeping a calm expression, I nodded.

“So… if I treat her as though I’m Grandma Hyangsuk, would that be okay?”

“I’d really appreciate that…”

I glanced toward his wife.

“By the way…”

“I prepared quite a lot. Is that alright?”

“Prepared what?”

Mr. Yeom turned and his eyes widened at the rows of seasoned aster greens lined up on the counter.

“You made all of these?”

“Yes.”

“So… could you help me?”

“I need to move them all to the table.”

“Of course!”

He rolled up his old sleeves and helped carry container after container to the table.

Seeing so many dishes lined up before her, his wife opened her eyes wide in amazement.

“Oh my! What’s all this?”

Smiling gently, I explained.

“Earlier you said Hyangsuk’s seasoned aster greens didn’t taste like they used to.”

“So I tried making them with different seasonings.”

“Oh my, that’s right.”

“The seasoned aster greens I remembered didn’t taste like that.”

“I kept saying there was no way our Hyangsuk had lost her touch.”

“…I wonder if those words hurt your feelings.”

I knelt down on one knee so we were at eye level.

“No.”

“Not at all.”

“But Hyangsuk can’t make the exact same taste anymore.”

“So…”

“…will you still enjoy eating it?”

“Enjoy it?”

She looked up at me with wide eyes.

I continued calmly.

“I seasoned every batch differently.”

“I wanted to find the flavor that suits your taste.”

“But that’s so much work.”

I gently shook my head.

“It isn’t.”

“As long as there’s someone who still remembers my side dishes and loves them…”

“…it’s worth it.”

She looked at me quietly before smiling.

“…May I try a bite now?”

“Of course.”

“Let’s start with this one.”

I swallowed nervously as I watched her.

“Alright.”

She picked up the first batch, seasoned mainly with soup soy sauce and fish sauce.

The moment she tasted it, she frowned slightly.

“This doesn’t suit my taste.”

“It has a fishy smell.”

So Grandma’s old recipe…

…doesn’t suit her anymore.

…Her taste really has changed.

“Fishy?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t eat this.”

“Would you like to try the next one?”

This time she tried the batch made with dark soy sauce and garlic.

“Cough! Cough!”

Apparently it was too spicy, because she quickly drank some water.

“This one’s much too spicy…”

“Hyangsuk’s side dishes were never like this.”

I nodded and pointed to the last dish.

“There’s still one left.”

“Please try that one too.”

“Hmm…”

“Alright.”

She hesitated before picking up the final batch.

This recipe was completely different from Grandma’s.

One spoonful of soybean paste.

Soup soy sauce.

Sesame oil.

And just a little tuna extract.

It wasn’t harsh on the tongue, but had a rich, savory flavor.

This…

…was entirely my own recipe.

“…Ah…”

“Hyangsuk.”

“This is the taste.”

Her chopsticks froze in midair.

In her eyes, it seemed as though the flavor she had forgotten was coming back to life.

She took another bite.

Then another.

It felt as though memories from those days had returned to the dining table.

“You know…”

“I missed the seasoned aster greens Hyangsuk used to make for breakfast every morning.”

“Really?”

“I’m glad we found the flavor.”

She quietly looked at me.

“Thank you.”

“For letting me taste this again.”

I smiled softly.

“If you found it again…”

“…then that’s enough.”

As if she’d finally recovered from a long hunger, she continued eating without putting down her chopsticks.

“…Sniff.”

Watching from beside her, Mr. Yeom secretly turned his head and wiped away the tears gathering in his eyes.

I looked at him.

“Are you crying?”

“…Recently, my wife hasn’t been able to eat properly.”

“Seeing her eat like this…”

“…makes me so happy.”

“Please come often.”

“I’ll make a special seasoned aster greens just for our regular customers.”

“You’d really do that?”

“Of course.”

“You’re one of our regulars now, aren’t you?”

A natural smile spread across my face.

“I want to eat even more!”

His wife suddenly stood up and walked over to the display shelves.

“Honey!”

“Can’t we buy some other side dishes too?”

“Honey, do you want to try the others?”

“Yes!”

“I just want to buy anything and taste it all at home!”

But as she looked at the display, she became uncertain.

“Oh dear…”

“I don’t know which ones to buy first.”

This was my chance.

“Would you like me to recommend our most popular side dishes?”

“That sounds wonderful!”

Standing beside her, I introduced each dish.

I explained where the ingredients came from and the best way to enjoy them.

Before long, Mr. Yeom’s arms were filled with containers of side dishes.

“Let’s eat lots of rice.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s eat well and stay healthy.”

I returned to the counter and packed everything into a paper bag.

Just then—

“Here…”

Mr. Yeom hesitantly pulled something out of the bag.

“What is it?”

It was a heavy wooden cutting board.

“I made this myself.”

“It’s an end-grain cutting board.”

“I felt like I caused you trouble…”

“…so I wanted to give it to you.”

The fine wood grain shone with a soft polish.

When I picked it up with one hand, its weight pressed firmly against my palm.

“A wooden cutting board?”

“I run a woodworking shop.”

“That’s amazing.”

“So…”

“…ahem.”

“I made it myself.”

“But I’m not sure how it actually feels to use.”

I slowly ran my hand across the smooth surface.

Then my eyes stopped on the small engraving in one corner.

…My name.

Han Jigu

For a moment, I was speechless.

“…I shouldn’t have come here and blamed you like that.”

“I’ve reflected on it a lot.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t have to give me something like this.”

“I’m only doing it to ease my own guilt.”

“So please accept it.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me.”

Mr. Yeom returned to sit beside his wife.

“Is it good?”

She picked up some seasoned aster greens and held them toward him.

“It’s delicious.”

“You should have a bite too.”

He accepted the chopsticks and slowly chewed.

Soon, tears welled up in his eyes.

“…It’s delicious.”

“I’ll buy this seasoned aster greens for you every time.”

“Okay!”

“Buy it for me every time.”

“Shall we go now?”

“We’ve bought plenty of side dishes.”

Mr. Yeom stood up.

I picked up the paper bag from the floor and handed it to him with both hands.

“Don’t forget this!”

“Ah.”

“I almost left it behind.”

Just as I was about to bow and say goodbye—

“Hyangsuk.”

“Come here.”

His wife spread her arms wide and hugged me.

Her warm body and the scent of old flowers filled my senses.

“…Huh?”

I looked at Mr. Yeom with wide eyes.

He simply watched quietly.

As though he already understood everything.

“Hyangsuk.”

“I’m so happy to see you again.”

“…!”

“If it hadn’t been for you…”

“…life might have been much harder.”

“So…”

“…I hope you can also live your life without letting the world become too difficult.”

“Thank you…”

I thanked her on behalf of my grandmother.

Somehow…

I thought I was the only one who missed Grandma.

…But I wasn’t.

When she finally let go, the scent of flowers still lingered on my clothes.

“We’re leaving now!”

“Hyangsuk, see you again!”

She waved both hands enthusiastically like a little girl.

Mr. Yeom carried the paper bag in one hand while gently supporting her back with the other.

The two walked away side by side, whispering and laughing together.

Their footsteps remained light and affectionate until they disappeared around the corner.

Just then—

A cold breeze drifted in through the open shop door.

Whoosh—

The wind quietly circled the shop before stopping in front of the compliment sticker board hanging on the wall.

A translucent hand appeared in midair.

Its fingertip searched across the board…

Then carefully found an empty spot and firmly pressed down a compliment sticker featuring Seasoned Aster Greens.

Watching the scene with a satisfied smile, I turned my head.

Ding!

A status window appeared before my eyes.

You have earned Virtue Points. Detailed shop information has been unlocked.

Han Jigu

Local Reputation: 60
(Whenever neighborhood residents gather, the first thing they talk about is this side dish shop.)
Divine Realm Reputation: 30
(The gods are flooding their group chat with reviews of the side dishes they ate during the grand opening ritual.)
Virtue Points: 6
(Reward unlock requirements not yet met.)