Chapter 72
What Dojin pointed to was a dish of raw fish slices, thinly cut.
“This is called eopyeon (fish slices). In my hometown, we eat fresh fish raw, usually with ginger or green onions.”
Raw fish with ginger and green onions.
Dojin picked up his chopsticks and hesitated for a moment. Ma Ok-ryeong wiped her hands on her apron and looked apologetic.
“Raw food is a bit uncomfortable, isn’t it?”
“No, not at all!”
At that, Dojin immediately picked up a slice. Even if he wasn’t used to raw food, he didn’t want to hurt Ma Ok-ryeong’s feelings.
‘Considering everything my sister has done for me, this is nothing!’
He bravely put the fish in his mouth—and was surprised.
“Huh?”
“Dojin, you shouldn’t speak while food is in your mouth.”
With Ma Ok-ryeong’s scolding, Dojin closed his mouth, chewed carefully, and swallowed. His eyes went wide.
“Sister, this is really delicious!”
“Oh? Really?”
Ma Ok-ryeong laughed, covering her mouth.
“People from inland areas rarely eat raw fish, but in the small coastal town in Jiangsu where I lived, this was considered a delicacy. I managed to get some fresh fish, so I prepared it for you.”
“It’s amazing! With this, won’t the Minstrel Inn become famous?”
At that moment, Ma Ok-ryeong gave a lonely smile.
“But Dojin, this food only has meaning if someone actually eats it.”
“Oh…”
“You ate it willingly because you like me, but will others do the same?”
Dojin scratched his head. She had a point.
Even though the inn had been open for a while, he hadn’t seen a single customer.
The inn was just too secluded.
‘No matter how delicious the food is, if there are no customers, it’s pointless.’
Thinking this way, Dojin became even more curious about Hong Seol’s plan.
‘What exactly is Hong Seol planning to do?’
That day at the Namgung family pavilion, Hong Seol hadn’t shared her plan completely with Soso and Dojin.
“I don’t know if it’ll work. For now, Soso, you handle the fish, and Dojin, just prepare what I asked!”
And a month had passed since then.
During that time, Soso had insisted to the local fishermen, through the trading guild, to get fresh fish.
Thanks to Hong Seol introducing them to Mu Sangdan’s guild, transportation wasn’t a problem.
“Our Dojin has worked so hard, but making the inn successful is harder than I thought.”
Ma Ok-ryeong stroked Dojin’s head with her hand missing an index finger.
It meant he had done enough and didn’t need to overexert himself.
“Still, now that we’ve got such good fish, let’s do our best for today. Whatever’s left, we’ll eat ourselves.”
At that moment, the front of the inn grew very noisy.
Dojin craned his neck to look outside and frowned.
“What’s Soso doing? Why isn’t she coming in?”
Through the door gap, Soso could be seen clasping her hands to her chest, staring intensely at one spot, nearly drooling.
When the inn door finally opened, Dojin understood why.
Standing in front of the inn was the first young master of the Namgung family, his face as calm and serene as a snowflake.
He was known to stay locked up in the estate except for going to the academy.
No one had ever heard of him wandering into an inn like this.
“Why… is Young Master Namgung Baek here?”
“Hehe.”
Behind him, a small girl—Hong Seol—peeped out with her tiny, cute tongue sticking out.
Then Dojin realized Hong Seol’s plan.
A few days ago at the pavilion, Hong Seol had repeatedly asked Dojin:
“You know, we need to bring a lot of beggars. We need loud people who can spread the word all over the village!”
At the time, Dojin didn’t understand why she said that.
‘She planned to bring Namgung Baek here.’
From a very young age, Namgung Baek had attracted everyone’s attention.
Being the eldest son of the Namgung family and the living proof of a famous love story helped, but more importantly, he was known from childhood for his handsome face and exceptional talent.
Wherever he went, people naturally gathered.
Moreover, he rarely left the estate recently.
For the first time in three years, Namgung Baek visited the inn.
The picky young master of the Namgung family had chosen the dishes at the inn!
‘So that’s how we spread the word.’
Dojin laughed awkwardly, looking at the small girl’s bright eyes.
“Hong Seol, you really…”
He wasn’t sure if it was laughter, astonishment, or being touched, but something welled up in his chest.
“I can’t beat you.”
Dojin said this to Hong Seol, and embarrassed, she hid behind Namgung Baek.
“It’s nothing, really…”
Suddenly, Namgung Baek’s gaze sharpened. He raised his wide sleeve, shielding Hong Seol’s view as if protecting a precious gem.
Just as sparks threatened to fly between Dojin and Baek’s gazes, Ma Ok-ryeong, who was in the kitchen, peeked out in disbelief.
“Young Master Namgung of the Namgung family… is here?”
She, who played the pipa for the inn, knew how critical certain guests were to its reputation.
And she knew a young master of the Namgung family would never accidentally visit such a shabby inn.
But… there he was, right in front of her, his face as perfectly handsome as rumored.
A boy who, if he grew a bit older, could easily make girls swoon.
“Oh my!”
Startled, Ma Ok-ryeong dropped the tray she was holding.
“Oh no, oh no… I can’t believe I made such a mistake in front of the young master…”
Namgung Baek still shielded Hong Seol from Dojin’s view, speaking reluctantly:
“…Will you serve me something to eat?”
“What?”
“The dish this inn prides itself on most.”
“Yes! Absolutely. We have very fresh fish today! Please sit here.”
They were guided to the table beside Dojin.
Namgung Baek naturally sat in the chair between Hong Seol and Dojin.
Following him were the Namgung guards and warriors of the Changcheon Guild.
This small gathering was sent by Namgung On, as Namgung Baek was finally going out for the first time in a while.
The small inn quickly filled up. The warriors, talking and eating loudly, consumed a lot of food.
“Give me another plate of eopyeon! I’ve never tasted fish this savory!”
“Two plates of eopyeon and some bamboo leaf tea, please!”
“Add fried flounder with sauce as well!”
Not only that.
Soso and her guards were busy tasting the food.
Also, unexpectedly, Elder Namgung Mu-yeong appeared with guild workers, raising their cups.
With so many orders, Dojin, wearing an apron, had to hustle to carry the plates.
“May I try some of this eopyeon as well?”
“Give me the same dish as the young master of the Namgung family is having!”
The beggars running around had their effect.
Soon, people who had heard the news crowded around the inn.
Dojin finally relaxed and smiled brightly.
“Sister!”
“Oh my, I’m so grateful!”
Even while slicing and frying fish frantically, Ma Ok-ryeong looked happy.
By the end of the day, all the fish was gone, and the customers left reluctantly.
Ma Ok-ryeong, still dazed, washed her hands and came out of the kitchen.
“The plan was a complete success!”
Hong Seol, standing right beside Namgung Baek, sparkled with bright eyes.
Ma Ok-ryeong, deeply moved, bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Young Master.”
“The thanks should go to this girl. I came here at her request.”
Hearing this, Ma Ok-ryeong clasped her hands over her chest and spoke to Hong Seol:
“How could such a small girl do this! Today has been unbelievable. Thank you, miss.”
“Hehe, it was all our Palsinyu!”
“Palsinyu?”
“It means eight-year-old trustworthy friends! Soso, Dojin, and I created it.”
Ma Ok-ryeong glanced at Dojin, who could only shrug helplessly.
She then bowed again toward Hong Seol.
“Whenever the Palsinyu meet in the future, please use our inn. We’ll serve delicious food free for life!”
“Waaah!”
The three kids cheered excitedly.
