Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Fate Is Unfathomable, and the World's Affairs Cannot Be Foreseen (1)

Tak-tak-tak!

Bang Jin-bo's cleaver danced across the chopping board. The vegetables were sliced into perfect, bite-sized pieces by a knife so fast it was invisible to the eye.

"Whew!"

Bang Jin-bo stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow. On one side of the stall, the vegetables he had prepared were piled high in baskets.

He had made all the garnishes and rolled the noodles. The preparations for business were complete.

"How is it, Grandmother?"

"Perfect. Even I could not do as well."

The old woman shook her head in admiration.

She had run this stall for over twenty years, yet never had she seen anyone with knife skills like Bang Jin-bo's. And his personality—what a joy to be around. She felt more affection for him than for her own grandson.

That was why she had unwittingly revealed even her secret recipes for the broth and dough. But she had no regrets. With her shoulder in such poor condition, she could not have kept the business going much longer anyway.

At that moment, several customers approached. One of them appeared to be familiar with the old woman and addressed her warmly.

"What is this? Is the old woman not running the stall today?"

"My arm hurts today, so this boy will take my place."

"What? Did you have a hidden grandson?"

"You talk too much. Are you eating or not?"

"My, what a temper… Fatty, make us beef noodle soup for the number of people here."

"Yes! Please wait just a moment."

Bang Jin-bo smiled and dropped the pre-made noodles into boiling water. He then prepared the bowls, arranging the garnishes and vegetables that would go in.

His hands moved with practiced ease.

"Oh! He seems to know his way around."

"Indeed! I wonder how it will taste."

The customers watched Bang Jin-bo's technique with curiosity.

A short while later, when the noodles were done, Bang Jin-bo transferred them to bowls. Once he poured in the broth, a handsome bowl of beef noodle soup appeared.

"Here, the beef noodle soup is ready."

Bang Jin-bo served the customers.

"Well then, let us see how the fat chef's beef noodle soup tastes."

The customers picked up their chopsticks and began eating. At first few bites, their expressions were skeptical, but soon they were absorbed in the flavor.

"Hah! This is even better than what the old woman makes."

"It truly is! The sweat is pouring off me, and all my fatigue has vanished."

At the customers' praise, Bang Jin-bo wore a happy smile.

Strangers he had never met before were eating the food he had made and finding it delicious. He was deeply grateful for the sight.

'I want to make food that brings happiness to people. I want to see that smile on the faces of everyone who tastes my cooking.'

The beef noodle soup he had made was, for now, based on the old woman's recipe. With time, he would develop his own secret techniques.

Suddenly, Bang Jin-bo's gaze turned to Dam Ho. Even as he had been absorbed in cooking, Dam Ho had not moved a single step.

Bang Jin-bo hastily rolled another bowl of beef noodle soup and offered it to Dam Ho.

"Brother, please try it."

Dam Ho silently tasted the beef noodle soup Bang Jin-bo had prepared.

He ate slowly, savoring each bite.

Bang Jin-bo watched Dam Ho's reaction with a tense expression. After some time, Dam Ho set down his chopsticks. He had emptied the bowl, down to the last drop of broth.

"It is delicious."

"Heh heh! I am relieved."

Bang Jin-bo's expression immediately relaxed.

To him, Dam Ho's evaluation mattered more than anyone else's. It was not because Dam Ho's palate was particularly refined, or because he was generous with praise.

It was a matter of trust. That Dam Ho's word could be trusted without reservation. Bang Jin-bo believed and relied upon Dam Ho that deeply.

As if to prove that Dam Ho's words were true, a flood of customers arrived.

Their reactions were uniform.

At first, they regarded Bang Jin-bo—who was rolling noodles in place of the old woman—with skeptical eyes, but those looks soon turned to admiration.

Thanks to this, only Bang Jin-bo was busy. Despite the many customers, he remained composed and handled them without panic.

The old woman could not help but marvel at the sight of Bang Jin-bo.

"He is better than I am."

She even felt that the beef noodle soup he made tasted better than her own.

But she felt no jealousy. Perhaps it was because, having endured the many hardships of life, she sensed that her days were numbered.

The old woman gazed at Bang Jin-bo with warm eyes, as though looking at her own grandson.

The ingredients and broth he had prepared were nearly exhausted, and what he guessed would be the final customer arrived.

A middle-aged man with a mustache. At a glance, he had the look of an extremely fastidious fellow.

"One bowl of beef noodle soup, if you please."

"Yes!"

Bang Jin-bo rolled a bowl of beef noodle soup for the middle-aged man and then stretched.

"Aaah! It is over. Oh my, I am exhausted."

Though his words claimed exhaustion, the pleased expression remained on his face.

The old woman patted Bang Jin-bo's head.

"My, my! You have worked so hard, you dear boy. Toiling like this for an old woman you have never even met."

"Work hard? It was fun, thanks to you. And thanks to you, I learned a new recipe."

"I am glad to hear that. Thank you. Thanks to you, the broth I worked so hard to make was not wasted in vain."

The old woman and Bang Jin-bo looked at each other and smiled.

At that moment.

"Old woman, are you certain it was this boy who made this beef noodle soup?"

"Quite certain. When my shoulder ached and I could not run the stall today, this lad stepped up and made it himself."

"Is that so? Quite skilled, I must say. His vegetable preparation is top-notch. And he cooked the noodles with excellent timing. Where did he learn this?"

The final question was directed at Bang Jin-bo.

"My father was a chef."

"Is that so? From the looks of it, you are not the old woman's grandson, correct?"

"That is right."

"I will not beat around the bush. Could you help me with my work for a few days?"

"Your work?"

"I am Song Hwan, the head chef of the Red Cliff Manor. The master's sixtieth birthday celebration is fast approaching, and I am badly short of hands."

"Ah!"

"So what I am asking is whether you could assist me."

At Song Hwan's seemingly fantastical proposal, Bang Jin-bo wore a dazed expression. But Song Hwan's face was entirely serious, not at all a joke.

Song Hwan had come to the market at dawn to procure ingredients for the celebration. Since it was such a grand occasion, he felt it was best to inspect the ingredients himself.

While searching the market, he had spotted Bang Jin-bo preparing the ingredients for the beef noodle soup. At first, he thought the boy was showing off, but the more he watched, the more impressive his skill became.

Two of the Red Cliff Manor's chefs had unexpectedly fallen ill, and so Song Hwan had made this offer to Bang Jin-bo.

Bang Jin-bo looked to Dam Ho with a bewildered expression. He did not know how to respond to this unexpected proposal. But Dam Ho offered Bang Jin-bo no answer.

The proposal had been made to Bang Jin-bo. The decision was his to make. Whatever he decided, Dam Ho would not interfere.

"Well, what will you do? I do not have much time."

"Would I be of any help?"

"If you can, I would welcome even a cat's paw. I do not ask for much. If you can lighten the burden on the other chefs even slightly, that will suffice."

"If I will do, I would be happy to help."

"Good. Can you leave with me right now?"

"I am staying at an inn, so I need to collect my belongings first."

"I will be meeting the Red Cliff Manor's people at the clearing ahead in one hour. Have your things ready by then."

"Oh, and may I bring my brother along?"

Bang Jin-bo pointed to Dam Ho.

Song Hwan furrowed his brow for a moment. Dam Ho, clad entirely in black, gave him an unsettling impression. But given the urgency of the kitchen's situation, he could not afford to refuse Bang Jin-bo.

"I will speak to my steward and arrange accommodation. You may bring him along."

"Thank you."

Bang Jin-bo bowed his head in gratitude.

Song Hwan paid the old woman and rose.

"Then I shall see you shortly."

Bang Jin-bo watched Song Hwan's retreating back with a flushed face, then suddenly pumped his fist.

"Yes!"

Seeing him pump his fist and cheer, the old woman smiled.

"Are you that happy?"

"Of course."

"Be careful. From what I hear, the Red Cliff Manor is full of dangerous people who know martial arts. If you do something wrong, you could find yourself in serious trouble."

"Do not worry."

Bang Jin-bo looked to Dam Ho.

Dam Ho had not uttered a word.

"Brother, thank you. I hope I am not taking up your time for nothing."

"It is fine."

With that, Dam Ho turned away.

Bang Jin-bo gave all of today's earnings to the old woman and hurriedly followed Dam Ho.

The old woman's voice came from behind him.

"Why give me all of this money? You worked hard to earn it."

"But you taught me your secret recipe in return. Please take care of yourself and stay healthy. I will be going now."

Bang Jin-bo waved to the old woman and followed in Dam Ho's footsteps.

Upon returning to the inn, Bang Jin-bo hurriedly packed his things.

"Rice cakes, ladle… dried sea cucumber, lamb jerky."

After checking that nothing was missing, Bang Jin-bo slung the bundle over his back. A look of tension had appeared on his face.

The thought that he would soon be entering the Red Cliff Manor to cook made his body stiffen already.

'I can do this. Whew!'

He took several deep breaths, and his pounding heart gradually calmed.

"Brother, let us go."

"Very well."

The two stepped outside.

When they went to the stable, the Dark Stallion whinnied as if greeting them. Dam Ho patted the horse's neck when—

"So that is your horse?"

A cold voice rang in Dam Ho's ear.

He turned to see familiar faces. It was Mun Su-gyeong and Jwa Sang-cheon. They too had come to retrieve their horses.

Jwa Sang-cheon approached the Dark Stallion.

"Too fine a horse for a commoner to ride."

The emotion in Jwa Sang-cheon's eyes was greed.

Even a layman could tell that the Dark Stallion was extraordinary in appearance. The many horses in the stable cowered at the Dark Stallion's mere presence—proof enough.

"Sell me that horse. I will pay you a generous price."

"Senior Brother, that is rude."

Mun Su-gyeong was alarmed and tried to restrain Jwa Sang-cheon. But Jwa Sang-cheon paid her no heed and continued.

"What? I said I would pay a fair price."

"Senior Brother!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Mun Su-gyeong raised her voice. Jwa Sang-cheon grimaced and took a step back.

'These women, honestly…'

He resented Mun Su-gyeong for constantly interfering, but she was the Master's daughter after all. He had to maintain the bare minimum of courtesy.

"Fine, fine. I was merely commenting on how fine the horse is. Tch!"

Even as he retreated, Jwa Sang-cheon could not tear his eyes from the Dark Stallion. So bewitched was he by the horse's magnificent appearance.

'For now I will withdraw, but someday I will make that horse mine.'

It was said that treasures were meant for worthy masters.

A fine horse too was meant to be ridden by one of equal stature.

Jwa Sang-cheon considered himself the one worthy of the Dark Stallion.

Mun Su-gyeong apologized to Dam Ho on Jwa Sang-cheon's behalf.

"I am sorry. He is not usually like this. He has been rude, and I apologize in his stead."

"…"

"But did you not say you were going to East Lake?"

"Brother, we will also be stopping at the Red Cliff Manor."

"Oh?"

"I have agreed to help in the kitchen."

"I thought you said you were going to East Lake?"

"I was, but the head chef of the Red Cliff Manor asked me to assist him. So I will be working in the Red Cliff Manor's kitchen for a few days."

"Is that so? How wonderful."

Mun Su-gyeong smiled and cupped her fists in a martial salute toward Dam Ho.

"Then I shall see you at the Red Cliff Manor. Until then…"

She walked toward where Jwa Sang-cheon was standing.

Come to think of it, she had never heard the man's voice even once. Could he be mute?

Mun Su-gyeong turned to look back. But by then, Dam Ho had already mounted the Dark Stallion.

Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo rode out of the inn on horseback.

Mun Su-gyeong found that she could not tear her gaze from Dam Ho's retreating figure.

"Sister, are you not coming?"

Had Jwa Sang-cheon's voice not reached her at that moment, she would have continued watching Dam Ho's back.

"I am coming. Let us go."

Mun Su-gyeong shook her head and went to Jwa Sang-cheon. But Jwa Sang-cheon was not looking at her.

His gaze was fixed in the direction Dam Ho had vanished.

'So he is heading to the Red Cliff Manor as well?'

In his eyes, the light of greed flickered once more.