Chapter 144
Chapter 144
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Recipe Demands
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ahn Dong-woo hit the jackpot after getting a recipe from Song Woo-yeon!
Word travels fast without legs, they say. The rumor spread like wildfire, to the point where every merchant in the area had heard it.
And for good reason. They'd all been in this tight-knit industry for ages, so they knew each other's sales inside out.
Then suddenly, Ahn Dong-woo's shop was packed with customers, stirring up envy and curiosity everywhere.
At first, they tried to figure out what was going on. Once it came out that Song Woo-yeon was involved, it was all, "Ugh, that guy again?" with tongues clicking in disapproval.
After that... faint hopes stirred: "What if I...?"
Lee Kyung-ja, owner of the spicy fish stew joint across from Ahn Dong-woo's [Chicken & Tteok], thought the same.
'Song Woo-yeon or whatever his name is, he's annoying, but isn't he like a golden goose? If I sweet-talk him right, snag that recipe, boom—jackpot for me too!'
Just imagining it was thrilling. Lines of customers waiting, raking in cash like crazy—her heart raced.
'Yeah. He's young, loaded, runs multiple spots. What's one recipe to a guy like that?'
Exactly.
Lee Kyung-ja nodded vigorously, thinking that if you'd struck it rich, it was time to spread the wealth.
'Plus, Ahn Dong-woo isn't even some close buddy!'
-Haha. The secret to my sudden boom? Even if you ask... I didn't do much. It was all thanks to President Song.
-President Song... you mean that Song Woo-yeon guy over there?
-Yes. He gave me the recipe. It's definitely tastier now, so customers keep coming.
-No way, you two were buddies? Never heard that.
-We weren't even acquaintances. But President Han asked him to take a look just once. He came right over, checked it out, passed on the recipe, and left. He's my lifesaver.
Ahn Dong-woo's eyes sparkled with gratitude as he spoke. But that meant nothing to Lee Kyung-ja.
What stuck in her ears was, "We weren't even acquaintances."
That Song Woo-yeon guy seemed generous enough to help out a total stranger in the business.
Made sense. How much money must he have made? And that cash was supposed to trickle down to all the shops in this alley.
'He swooped in and took all the customers! We've been sucking our thumbs watching. Sigh, it pisses me off.'
Lee Kyung-ja shuddered. At first, it hurt so bad she thought her stomach would burst. Now she was used to it somewhat, but the gut-twisting pain lingered.
'Did he earn that money all by himself? It's thanks to us sacrificing customers. He's made enough—now it's time to help out the neighborhood.'
That line of thinking even made Song Woo-yeon seem ungrateful for not helping them out.
Why pretend he didn't have an obligation to? Damn kids get cocky once they're rolling in it.
Word was he had no parents, all alone. No proper upbringing, that's why he's obsessed with money. Lee Kyung-ja shook her head.
'Next time I see him, I'm latching on and not letting go!'
She vowed it to herself.
And opportunity knocked soon enough.
She was lounging in the empty dining hall as usual, fiddling with the channels on the old TV.
Then, amid the bustling crowd across the street, a familiar face appeared.
How could she miss it? The exact same guy was on a rerun of [Law of the Jungle] right then!
Lee Kyung-ja shot up from her seat.
Song Woo-yeon was heading around to the back of [Chicken & Tteok]. She followed.
Bang!
"...right? Just checking if you're following it properly..."
The door flew open, cutting Song Woo-yeon off mid-sentence as he turned. Sure enough!
"Do you know her?"
"Ah, yeah. She's the spicy fish stew owner from across the street... President, what brings you here?"
Ahn Dong-woo asked, puzzled. But to Lee Kyung-ja, he was irrelevant. Eyes fixed on Song Woo-yeon, she cut to the chase.
"Give me the recipe."
"...Pardon?"
Song Woo-yeon's and Ahn Dong-woo's faces shifted subtly. Ahn looked flustered, lost for words, while Song seemed more resigned, like "Knew it."
But that didn't matter to her either.
"Why should only you thrive? We all gotta eat. Share the recipe~."
"No, President. You can't just barge in and—"
"It's fine."
Ahn Dong-woo tried to intervene, but Song Woo-yeon stopped him, stepping forward assertively.
"President. You want the recipe?"
Irritation and exasperation mixed on his face.
"Why should I?"
This wasn't the reaction she'd expected. A belated thought flitted through her mind: *That's not right. Not what I pictured.*
I stared at her blankly. She looked stunned by my "Why should I?", eyes wide, so I repeated it.
"Do you even know who I am?"
"Wh-what? I'm Lee Kyung-ja, spicy fish stew right up the street. No need to be so harsh..."
Sneaking in the informal tone.
Trailing off her words was one thing, but after I snapped a bit, her face soured like a brat throwing a fit. Things weren't going her way.
Ahn Dong-woo couldn't take it anymore and stepped up.
"President. Please leave. This is the kitchen—no permission, you can't just come in."
Solid point, but it bounced right off. Lee Kyung-ja scowled, exaggerating her tone.
"Come on, President Ahn. Is this how you treat people? I didn't think you'd be like this~."
"Pardon?"
"You snag the recipe, blow up your business, and that's it? Just you thriving? What about us? The rest of us merchants starve?"
Unbelievable. So absurd I couldn't even respond. Ahn Dong-woo clamped his mouth shut, speechless too.
No clue where to start correcting her. Mistaking our silence for weakness, she grew bolder.
"Am I wrong? Act all stingy like that, karma'll bite you later~. And you, Song Woo-yeon—come on. You're loaded, so step up and share first. Do I have to come begging?"
Now she's scolding me. When something's too ridiculous, you just laugh.
I smirked.
"You're right. I've been too harsh."
"Exactly~."
"But President. Am I a volunteer?"
"...Huh?"
She blinked, like she'd misheard, so I spelled it out.
"Am I a volunteer?"
"..."
"You're in business too—you know the drill. Merchants chase profit. Since when do we feed the hungry out of charity?"
"N-no, that's not what I—!"
Frustrated, she thumped her chest.
"You're so dense, kid. When did I say feed us all? Just share the recipe! Right? You yap fine on that TV."
Gaining steam, her words flowed like a river.
"You're young, don't get it yet. World doesn't work if one guy's thriving alone. Gotta lift each other up! Strut around all proud like 'I'm the best~'—how's that work? Better bow your head, treat elders right, bow properly. That's real success!"
Not worth listening to.
I got what she meant. These folks were desperate for their livelihoods.
But her approach was dead wrong.
*'If she'd just asked nicely, I might've actually helped.'*
People like her take sincere help and twist it to their stubborn ways. Bet you in a month or two, she'd revert to old habits.
Then whine why business sucks.
*'Think I haven't dealt with types like this before?'*
I've helped out of pity before. Back before regression, before the company blew up huge.
When I was running five or six spots, pockets full, heart generous. Figured I'd made enough, eyes wandered to neighbors.
Kept close with nearby owners, couldn't ignore their pleas.
'Treated their places like my own. Recipes, interiors, management tips—poured it all out.'
Gave freely. I had plenty; wanted everyone to thrive.
But the results?
*'Disaster.'
Couldn't adapt to new ways that weren't theirs. Explained why, the reasons behind the tweaks—even then, no dice.
They followed at first, then flipped out and bailed.
Pure goodwill, and poof—no one left.
Still stings thinking back.
Past me might've handed over a recipe despite the rudeness. Pre-regression me.
But repeating mistakes? No growth there.
I looked her straight in the eye.
"Go home."
She flinched at my sharp glare.