TGCNF 16🔐

Chapter 16 …

Golden Jade Group (Geumokdan).

If Choa had made the scorched-rice candy, yet they hid him and falsely brought in another cook—

I can’t trust Okdan. Especially when it comes to Choa.

And if that were the case, there was only one solution.

To protect Choa… I’ll need someone of my own—someone I can truly trust.

Srrk.

Kang Jesung quietly closed the drawer.

Then, in the darkness, he shut his eyes tightly.

Though weakened to the brink by his long illness, his thoughts were fixed only on his daughter.

About an hour earlier.

“Go in and get some rest, all of you. We’ll talk about today’s matter tomorrow.”

Exhausted from using more strength than he had in a long time, Kang Jesung put everything off and headed to his room to rest.

And then—

“Then please come to our tavern this evening! You’ve helped us, so I’d love to treat you properly.”

Invited by the tavern mistress, Eonnyeon, Bokhee, and Choa entered the Gu family tavern.

“It’s the young lady!”

“The top cook! Young miss!”

Inside was already bustling with townspeople from the Myeongju area who had heard the rumors and come to see Choa.

“They say she’s already an excellent cook.”

“I’d love to try food made by the young lady someday! Hahaha!”

Everyone laughed heartily, praising Choa or looking at her with clear fondness.

“Is it a bit overwhelming?”

Clack—

The tavern mistress set down generous portions of noodles and meat as she asked.

Bokhee looked around in a daze and nodded.

“Yes… I didn’t realize the rumors about our young miss had spread this far already.”

“After all, she made a dish that the Left Minister’s lady personally praised. And the young miss is only six years old!”

“Haha, our young miss is quite extraordinary…!”

“Of course. Everyone’s in an uproar, saying how amazing and impressive she is! And you know—people are clamoring for the wild chive soy-sauce bibimbap she made. Look, there’s already a line outside.”

The tavern mistress looked around the tavern with satisfaction.

In this small rural village, rumors spread in the blink of an eye.

After all—

“Most folks thought that a noble young lady would just do embroidery and learn etiquette while acting refined. No one expected her to actually cook herself.”

From the commoners’ perspective, Choa’s actions were quite shocking.

We’ve only ever seen noble brats who look down on us and treat us carelessly… but Young Miss Choa seems different.

That alone was enough to win people’s favor.

“Young miss, please sit here and eat comfortably.”

The tavern mistress poured water and set a cushion so Choa could sit at ease.

“Young miss, you should say thank you.”

“Thank you, ma’am. Hehe—this looks so good!”

Choa sat on her special chair with a bright expression and proudly lifted the small spoon the mistress had specially procured for her.

Grrr… gurgle…

After working so hard making bibimbap, her stomach was rumbling loudly.

“Please eat, young miss.”

“Okay! I’ll eat well!”

Choa eagerly moved her spoon.

But the noodles kept slipping off and wouldn’t stay on.

“Young miss, would you like to try using chopsticks?”

The tavern mistress offered a small pair.

Bokhee carefully guided her.

“Like this, like this—you pinch them together.”

“Like dis?”

“Good. Now move them. The crab claws go click, click—grab the meat! Whoosh!”

“Choa click-click… blep!”

Not only the noodles—the chopsticks slipped right out of her hands!

“H-hic…”

Choa sniffled, looking tearful.

“It’s okay. Even if you can’t do it well now, you can try again next time. You’ll do better then.”

Eonnyeon picked up some meat with chopsticks and fed Choa.

Choa opened wide—ahh—and chewed.

That’s right. I can try again.

It was her first time cooking in front of everyone.

Of course, she had made the fatal mistake of not noticing the meat had gone bad—but still!

Still…

Everyone believed me and gave me another chance.

“My daughter is not a child who lies.”

Dad came to see me.

Choa’s cheeks flushed pink, and her lips curled into a smile.

“I’m going to try again. Next time I’ll do even better.”

After carefully chewing and swallowing the meat, Choa spoke softly.

“And, um… everyone…”

She fidgeted nervously.

Then her face flushed bright red as she finally blurted it out.

“Th-thank you for staying by my side! I’m so happy that everyone is with me!”

“Oh my!”

“Y-young miss…”

Bokhee, Eonnyeon, and the tavern mistress looked at the shy child.

Warm smiles spread across their faces.

“We’re the ones who are happy to have you, young miss.”

“This is supposed to be my chance to thank you.”

“Our lovely young miss.”

In the brightened atmosphere, a cheerful smile bloomed on Choa’s face as well.

Just then, someone stepped through the tavern door.

“Tavern mistress! Ten bowls of wild chive bibimbap, quick! I’m getting dizzy!”

A boy suddenly appeared and ordered an absurd amount that no one expected.

No matter how one looked, he seemed to be alone.

One, two, three… ten?

Startled, Choa began counting on her fingers and then turned to look.

The one who had wiped the sweat from his forehead and taken a seat in the tavern was an eight-year-old boy.

He was bigger and chubbier than other kids his age.

Yet even with his plumpness, his features were striking.

Like an unpolished gem.

“Here are two bowls first. I’ll bring more.”

The tavern mistress’s husband brought out the prepared wild chive soy-sauce bibimbap.

The boy bowed his head briefly, then immediately grabbed the bowl and began shoveling food into his mouth.

His technique was astonishing—each spoonful was on a completely different scale.

With only slight exaggeration, it looked like half a bowl went up with every bite.

“Haap!”

His cheeks quickly puffed out, and the bowl was practically erased in an instant.

“Tavern mistress, when’s the next bowl coming?”

Without even lifting his eyes from the bowl, the boy hurried them.

Even as the mistress joined in serving, the boy rapidly emptied bowl after bowl.

The dishes stacked up neatly like a tower.

He’s really… eating deliciously.

Without realizing it, Choa swallowed.

Even though she had already eaten meat, she suddenly felt hungry again.

Someone was eating the wild chive soy-sauce bibimbap she made so happily—and in such quantity.

For some reason, her heart began to pound.

“He ate all that…?”

As the tavern mistress and customers stared in shock—

The door suddenly burst open again, and several men in their late teens stormed in.

“…Huh!”

The boy who had glanced up at them quickly averted his gaze.

His face turned pale—it seemed he knew them.

“Well, well, our White Pig! So you were here!”

“Figures. That pig heard there was good food and couldn’t stay away.”

“At home he pretends he doesn’t eat, and now he’s stuffing his face outside. What a pig.”

“Look at that disgusting belly! At this rate he’ll burst! Hahaha!”

Their noisy jeers and laughter filled the tavern.

What? Why are they doing that?

Watching the scene unfold, Choa’s brows furrowed deeply.