Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Retro Makeover and First Customers
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Lee In-cheol tilted his head and muttered to himself for no good reason.
"Yeah. That kid really looks just like me in my younger days. Yep. Full of spirit and boldness—exactly like me!"
He spouted something that would make Song Woo-yeon freak out if he heard it, then gazed up at the newly hung signboard and teared up for no reason.
The sight of the old, weathered sign coming down and the shiny new one going up felt just like watching his own worn-out self getting replaced.
"Sigh. What a sap. You get like this as you age—tears come easy."
Lee In-cheol grumbled to hide his embarrassment as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
That young kid was putting in his all to revive this place, so he couldn't just step back and watch like it was someone else's business.
He hurried after Song Woo-yeon.
"Hey, kid. Why're you going alone? I'm coming too... Huh?"
But the moment he flung open the shop door, Lee In-cheol froze solid at the sight before him.
"Oh, you're here?"
Song Woo-yeon greeted him casually, but Lee In-cheol had no attention to spare for that.
Instead, he pointed at the suddenly cavernous interior and asked in a trembling voice.
"Wh-what the hell... What the hell happened here...?"
One side of the shop had been cleared out completely.
The posters he'd carefully chosen, the lucky ceramic figurine said to bring in the cash—all of it was gone!
"This?"
Song Woo-yeon pointed at a box in the corner like it was no big deal.
"Looked bad aesthetically, so I put it away. The building's too old to renovate much, so I figured a retro concept would work better. Oh, and by retro, I don't mean dragging in actual antiques—that'd be a hygiene nightmare. Just make it look the part on the surface..."
"What? Antiques?"
Lee In-cheol slammed his fist on the table, shaking with rage.
"Those are all my treasures! Not one gets removed!"
"Aw, come on, not this again."
Song Woo-yeon shrugged like it was routine.
And so, amid the clashes and bumps, the first steps of [Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap 0212] began.
"Yawn~"
The man stretched his mouth wide in a yawn.
Time was now 11:45.
Lunchtime, which he'd been counting down to since around 11, was right around the corner. Around him, people were slyly eyeing each other, prepping to bolt at 50 or 55 minutes past.
No point starting new work when it'd just get interrupted anyway. He fiddled with his mouse, pretending to work.
"Choi Deputy. What's for lunch today?"
"Oh, Team Leader."
Damn. Ruined.
Choi Deputy inwardly cursed as Min Team Leader approached with that chummy tone.
"Nothing set in stone yet."
His plan to dodge the crowd, grab a quiet solo lunch, and enjoy some alone time was shot to hell.
Min Team Leader rotated lunches with the team members, and today, he was the lucky draw.
"Yeah? I'm good with anything~. Let's just pick something."
He'd smoothly dumped the menu decision on Choi Deputy. Sure, "anything," but if it didn't suit him, he'd gripe the whole meal.
Last time at his favorite pork cutlet spot, he'd complained nonstop about the sauce being too sweet, the cutlets tasting like test batches—pure agony through dinner.
*'Wanted tonkatsu today too...'*
Too bad. Had to skip it.
Silver lining: Min Team Leader had some reliable "sure things."
"How about gukbap? Nice and hot."
"Gukbap sounds perfect~!"
A hearty bowl of gukbap was always a safe bet with Min Team Leader—no love-it-or-hate-it drama.
He knew their usual spot nearby, so they'd eat there moderately and call it done. Sure, he'd get some career advice or life lectures over the meal, but whatever.
He gritted his teeth and headed to their go-to gukbap joint near the office...
「The chef cut his hand with a knife and had to go to the ER, so we're closed for the day. Sorry for the inconvenience.」
"......"
"......"
Staring blankly at the handwritten closure notice on the door, Choi Deputy could only stand there dumbfounded.
"Aw, nuts. Closed. Any other good spots around?"
"Th-there's a pork bossam rice place nearby—how about that?"
"Ate there yesterday."
Unbelievable. Cold sweat trickled down Choi Deputy's back. He could see Min Team Leader's patience hitting rock bottom.
Wasting precious lunchtime on the street wouldn't put anyone in a good mood. Stick around like this, and he'd be branded as clueless, bad at office politics—death glares all afternoon.
"Was really in the mood for gukbap today. Sigh."
Min Team Leader's mutter hit extra loud today.
*'What now? This was the only gukbap spot nearby...'*
Right as he fidgeted anxiously—
"Huh?"
Choi Deputy scanned desperately and spotted a restaurant that caught his eye.
[Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap 0212]
*'Was there a place like that...?'*
Used to be something like Integrity Hall. Looked like it went bust and got replaced.
*'Name's got gukbap in it, so probably a gukbap specialist, right?'*
No time to dawdle. He rushed to placate the visibly annoyed Min Team Leader.
"Team Leader, how about that gukbap place?"
"Hm? [Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap 0212]?"
Min Team Leader eyed the exterior sharply. Retro vibe, but the sign was crisp—decent enough.
"Shall we check it out?"
In the daily grind like a hamster wheel, one of the few simple joys was tasty lunch.
New gukbap spot near the office? Worth a taste test.
They climbed the stairs, opened the door—
"Welcome. Table for how many?"
A young woman with her hair neatly tied up greeted them. Her name tag on the apron read 'Song Woo-yeon.'
"Two."
Song Woo-yeon guided them to a window seat after Choi Deputy spoke.
Water pitcher, glasses, and hand towels were set out as standard, then she handed over the menu.
"We're single-menu only right now—Hapjae Gukbap. That okay for two?"
Single menu?
Most places offered options like hangover soup or bulgogi jjigae to cater to tastes.
This bold choice sparked some anticipation.
"Then two Hapjae Gukbap, please."
"Yes. Right up."
As the server left, Min Team Leader cracked a slight smile.
"I like this place already."
"Huh?"
Before the food even arrived?
Choi Deputy blinked in confusion, so Min Team Leader explained excitedly.
"Spotless everywhere. Rare for an old building to be this clean. Open kitchen too."
"Oh~."
Sure enough, the kitchen was fully visible from their seats.
The savory, aromatic steam from the massive pots bubbling away—big as a person's torso—whet the appetite.
"How many pots is that? One, two, three... Five?"
"Yeah? Single menu, but why so many pots?"
"That's what makes it a real gukbap joint."
Min Team Leader clucked his tongue, saying places like this were dying out.
"Bone broth and meat broth simmered separately, mixed in the right ratio for the table."
"Ooh... Why bother? If you're mixing anyway, why not boil together?"
"Cook times differ! Bone broth needs days of slow simmering to extract that deep flavor."
Huh, neat. Choi Deputy peered at the kitchen with interest and spotted the chef moving inside.
Head capped, clear mask against splatter—hygiene on point.
He scooped up broth with a ladle, tasted, and nodded satisfied.
Sizzle.
Meat into the bowl, quick blanch a few times, then a big ladle of broth.
True K-fast food. Two bowls done in seconds.
"Table three!"
"Coming~."
Song Woo-yeon took the finished bowls and served them. Perfectly fermented kkakdugi, fresh kimchi, and seasoned greens to taste.
The red-stained meat made his mouth water.
"Whoa, looks delicious. Dig in!"
"Yes, enjoy!"
Choi Deputy grabbed his spoon quick. Before mixing rice, he wanted to taste the broth Min Team Leader called "proper."
Slurp.
One spoonful in...
*'Whoaaa!'*
He barely suppressed the urge to shout. Delicious. Insanely delicious!
Not a picky eater, so he couldn't pinpoint why, but no doubt—this gukbap was fire.
Not stopping there, he mixed rice for a big bite. Then topped with kkakdugi, fresh kimchi, greens.
Meat tender and melt-in-mouth.
*'Delicious, so delicious!'*
Usually solo, he'd need his phone or it'd feel boring. Now? Chewing thoroughly, prepping the next bite—hands full.
When was the last time he focused this hard on a meal?
Came to, and he was cradling the cooling pot in both hands, slurping the last of the broth.
"Gulp~."
Not a drop left.
Complete wipeout.
*'Stuffed.'*
Fullness hit late.
"Eats well, Choi Deputy."
"Ah, yes. This place is killer. Gotta come back often."
Still basking in the afterglow, his reply came out unusually chipper.
"I polished it off quick too. Ten minutes? Felt like that."
Min Team Leader's pot gleamed empty.
"Whoof, full. Ready to head out?"
"Yessir!"
Rising, Choi Deputy noticed something off from usual.
*'Come to think of it.'*
Min Team Leader hadn't said a word the whole meal.
Normally, nonstop chit-chat. Thanks to that, smooth, pleasant lunch—no awkward talk.
*'...Next time Team Leader wants lunch, bring him here.'*
Vowing to protect his peaceful lunchtime, Choi Deputy stepped out and shut the door.