Chapter 72
The dish Do-jin pointed to was thinly sliced raw fish.
“It's called ‘fish sashimi.’ In my hometown, we eat fresh fish raw, garnished with ginger and green onions.”
Raw fish with ginger and green onions.
Do-jin hesitated, chopsticks in hand. Mae Ok-ryeong wiped her hands on her apron, looking apologetic.
“Is raw food a bit uncomfortable for you?”
“Not at all!”
At those words, Do-jin immediately picked up a slice of the fish. Even if he wasn't used to raw food, he didn't want to hurt Mae Ok-ryeong's feelings.
‘Considering everything Sister has done for me, this is nothing!’
Do-jin swallowed the fish after chewing it thoroughly, and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh?”
“Do-jin, you shouldn't talk with food in your mouth.”
At Mae Ok-ryeong's scolding, Do-jin kept his mouth shut, chewed, and swallowed before his eyes went round.
“Sister, this is really savory!”
“Oh, really?”
Mae Ok-ryeong covered her mouth and laughed.
“People in the inland rarely eat raw fish, but it's a delicacy in the small seaside village in Jiangsu Province where I used to live. I managed to get some fresh fish for once, so I thought I'd put it on the menu.”
“It's so delicious! Wouldn't this be enough to make the Eumyu Inn famous?”
At that moment, Mae Ok-ryeong gave a lonely smile.
“But Do-jin, it's meaningless if no one comes to eat it.”
“Ah…”
“You were willing to eat it because you like me, but I wonder if others would feel the same.”
Do-jin scratched his head. That was true.
Even though the inn had been open the whole time, Do-jin hadn't seen a single customer enter until now.
‘No matter how delicious the food is, it's useless if there are no customers.’
Thinking that, Do-jin became even more curious about Hong-seol's plan.
‘What on earth is Hong-seol trying to do?’
That day at the Namgung Clan's pavilion.
Hong-seol hadn't told Soso and Do-jin her entire plan.
“I don't know if it'll work or not. For now, Soso, you handle the fish, and Do-jin, just prepare what I asked for!”
And a month had passed just like that.
In the meantime, Soso had pestered the Master of the Deng Clan to get fresh fish from the fishermen.
Thanks to Hong-seol introducing them to the Muyeong Merchant Group, the transportation issue was also resolved without difficulty.
“I'm so, so grateful for all your hard work, Do-jin, but it turns out running an inn is harder than I thought.”
Mae Ok-ryeong stroked Do-jin's hair with her hand, which was missing the tip of her index finger.
It meant he had done enough and didn't need to try so hard anymore.
“Still, since we've got such good fish, why don't we do our best to run the business today? If there's any left, we'll just eat it ourselves.”
That was when it happened.
The area in front of the inn's door became extremely noisy.
Do-jin stretched his neck to look outside and frowned.
“What is it? Why is Deng Soso just standing there instead of coming in?”
Soso, visible through the crack in the door, had her hands clasped at her chest, staring intently at one spot as if she were about to drool.
When the inn door finally opened, Do-jin finally understood why.
The eldest Young Master of the Namgung Clan, with a face as serene as falling snow, was standing in front of the inn.
He was famous for staying holed up in the estate, except for when he went to the academy.
Do-jin had never even heard of him wandering around places like an inn.
“W-why is Young Master Namgung Baek here?”
“Hehe.”
Behind him, the little girl, Hong-seol, poked her head out with her small, cute tongue slightly sticking out.
Only then did Do-jin realize Hong-seol's plan.
A few days ago at the pavilion, Hong-seol had made Do-jin promise her several times.
“You know, you have to bring a lot of beggars. I need people with loud voices who can spread the word all over town!”
At the time, he hadn't understood why Hong-seol said that.
‘So she was planning to bring Young Master Namgung Baek.’
Ever since he was very young, Namgung Baek had been the center of everyone's attention.
Partly because he was the legitimate heir of the Namgung Clan and the living fruit of a famous love story, but above all, it was because he had been famous since childhood for his refined face and outstanding martial talent.
People naturally gathered wherever he went.
Moreover, he was someone who rarely came out lately.
An inn visited by Young Master Namgung Baek, who hadn't stepped out of his home for three years.
A dish chosen by the eldest Young Master of the Namgung Clan, famous for his picky palate!
‘So that was the rumor she wanted me to spread.’
Looking at the clear eyes of the little girl, Do-jin let out a dry laugh.
“Hong-seol, you really…”
Whether it was laughter, astonishment, or being moved.
He felt something he couldn't quite name welling up in his chest.
“I can't beat you.”
Do-jin said that while looking at Hong-seol. At that, Hong-seol felt shy and hid behind Namgung Baek.
“No, it's nothing special…”
Suddenly, Namgung Baek's eyes sharpened, and he raised his wide sleeve to block Hong-seol from view.
It was as if he were protecting a precious piece of jade.
Just as Do-jin and Baek's gazes met and sparks were about to fly, Mae Ok-ryeong, who had been in the kitchen, poked her head out with an incredulous expression.
“The eldest Young Master of the Namgung Clan is here…?”
Having played the pipa at a gisaeng house, she knew how important the type of customer was to an inn's reputation.
She also knew that a Young Master of the Namgung Clan would never visit such a shabby inn, even by mistake.
And yet…
The face of Young Master Namgung Baek, as handsome as a peeled chestnut, was right in front of her.
Just as the rumors said, he was a boy whose appearance would likely make many women weep once he grew a little older.
“Oh my!”
Startled, Mae Ok-ryeong dropped the tray she had been holding in her arm.
“Oh my, oh my. To be so rude in front of the Young Master of the Namgung Clan…”
Namgung Baek, still shielding Hong-seol from Do-jin's gaze, spoke in a tone that sounded quite reluctant.
“…Can we get some food?”
“What would you like?”
“Whatever the cook here is most confident in.”
“Yes! Of course, we can! We happen to have some very fresh fish! Please, sit this way.”
The two were guided to the table next to Do-jin.
It went without saying that Namgung Baek took the seat between Hong-seol and Do-jin.
Following Baek, the warriors of the Azure Sky Unit, including Namgung Uigyeol, filed in.
They were the personnel Namgung On had sent along when he heard Namgung Baek was finally going out to the market.
Thanks to them, the small inn was packed. The boisterous warriors ate a lot, too.
“One more plate of fish sashimi here! I've never had such savory fish before!”
“Two plates of fish sashimi and some bamboo leaf green wine for us, please!”
“Add some fried flounder with sauce, too!”
That wasn't all.
Soso was also busy tasting the food with her own bodyguards.
Furthermore, from out of nowhere, Elder Namgung Muyeong was also clinking glasses with the workers from the merchant group.
There were so many orders that Do-jin had to put on an apron and busily carry plates.
“Could I perhaps try that fish sashimi dish as well?”
“Give me the same thing the Young Master of the Namgung Clan is having!”
The beggars of the Beggars' Clan running around until their feet were on fire had been effective.
Before long, the area in front of the inn was swarming with people who had heard the rumors.
Do-jin, finally relieved, smiled brightly.
“Sister!”
“My goodness, I'm so grateful!”
Even while frantically slicing and frying fish, Mae Ok-ryeong looked happy.
It was only after all the fish that had come in that day were sold out that the people left the inn, looking disappointed.
Mae Ok-ryeong came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands with a dazed look on her face.
“The plan was a huge success!”
Hong-seol, standing right next to Namgung Baek, stood there with her eyes sparkling.
Mae Ok-ryeong was so moved that she bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Young Master.”
“You should be thanking this child. I only came here at her request.”
At Namgung Baek's words, Mae Ok-ryeong clasped her hands to her chest and said to Hong-seol.
“How could such a tiny young lady do this! It really was an unbelievable day. Thank you, young lady.”
“Hehe, our Eight Faithful Friends did it all together!”
“Eight Faithful Friends?”
“It means eight-year-old reliable friends! Soso, Do-jin, and I made it.”
Mae Ok-ryeong's expression turned peculiar as she looked back at Do-jin.
Do-jin waved his hands as if he had no choice.
Mae Ok-ryeong bowed to Hong-seol once more.
“Whenever the Eight Faithful Friends have a meeting in the future, please use our inn. I'll give you delicious food for free for the rest of your lives!”
“Waaah!”
The three little ones cheered in excitement.
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