Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Leek Root and One Coin
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Somi had walked nonstop for over one shichen—two hours—to reach the apothecary.
Her mother's condition was worsening by the day.
"Elder, please, just this once. I'll definitely pay back the difference, so please give me just one day's worth of decoction."
Somi couldn't leave empty-handed.
The child clasped her hands together and pleaded earnestly. But the apothecary owner's eyes, gleaming with greed, didn't so much as twitch.
And then.
"Wait a moment. Now that I look at you... aren't you the daughter of Yeon Hye-yoon from the thatched hut in the next village over?"
"Yes, that's right, Elder."
"Oh ho, I see..."
The apothecary owner, who had been utterly indifferent moments before.
His eyebrows twitched like fat caterpillars, and a lecherous glint entered his eyes.
Soon, he bared his yellowed teeth and spat vulgarities with a tongue coated in white film.
"Since her condition is so dire, out of the kindness of my heart, perhaps we can settle this without money... in another way."
Like a sycophant fawning over his lord, the apothecary owner rubbed his plump palms together.
"I heard she's been widowed for quite some time. A woman belongs in the shadow of a man, after all. I may have a wife, but as a concubine..."
His wrinkled purple lips, resembling a bird's cloaca, never stopped moving.
Three stray nose hairs poking from his nostrils fluttered left and right with his ragged breaths.
Somi's face darkened.
The apothecary owner's words were an insult to her mother.
Somi's mother, Yeon Hye-yoon, was no dazzling beauty, but she possessed a noble and refined elegance like a white heron standing by the riverbank.
Her skin was as white and smooth as if dusted with pearl powder, and her slender, graceful neckline evoked the image of a deer.
Her deep, clear eyes shimmered softly like they held moonlight, and her elegant black hair gleamed like expensive silk whenever the wind tousled it.
Especially when Hye-yoon smiled, her crescent-moon eyes curved gently, and a soft pink blush bloomed on her cheeks like cherry petals lightly fallen.
Though her worn clothes fluttered in the slightest breeze, betraying her poverty, the innate dignity she exuded was something no one could easily imitate.
Hye-yoon's appearance was captivating enough to stir the hearts of the village men.
Thus, there were no shortage of men who harbored dark intentions toward the young widow.
Somi couldn't stand by while her mother was slandered.
With eyes blazing in fury, she grabbed the apothecary owner's beard roughly.
And yanked it out in one swift pull, like foraging for wild greens on a spring day.
Grab, rip.
"Y-You little brat! Aigoo, my beard!"
The apothecary owner clutched his chin and rolled on the ground.
Somi stepped out the door.
Her anger not yet subsided, her small fists trembled.
In one fist was clutched a long, leek-root-like beard.
Somi didn't cry.
Instead, she bit her lip so hard it drew blood, blaming herself.
Just as she lowered her head and let out a deep sigh.
"...!"
A deep, rich meaty aroma, richly stewed, wafted in on the wind.
It carried subtle notes of star anise and cinnamon, with a pleasant spicy tang tickling her nose.
"This smell... Pork Soup Noodles?"
Somi wrinkled her cute little nose and slowly turned her head.
Her gaze fell on a long line of people. All had their backs turned, waiting silently for their turn.
Excitement and anticipation emanated from their backs.
A few broke away from the line.
Each wore a satisfied smile, stood tall, and walked with vigorous steps.
'Must be a food stall.'
Somi scurried up to the middle-aged men heading back after finishing their business.
"Elders, what place is this that leaves you all so pleased?"
Somi's round black eyes sparkled with intense curiosity.
The two middle-aged men blinked in surprise at the child who had suddenly approached with a question.
But reluctant to keep the delicious aftertaste to themselves, the broad-faced one spoke animatedly, as if recounting heroic tales.
"That place is called Waiting People's Restaurant. It's a small stall selling food, but the taste is simply exquisite."
The other middle-aged man chimed in.
"That's not all. I'd been feeling bloated for days, but after eating there, it vanished like a lie. Even my bowels feel clear now."
"Haha, you too? Not a coincidence, then. I was shivering with wind-cold chills, but after their food, it's like it never happened—I'm full of vigor."
Anticipation spread like ink in Somi's eyes.
"Your wind-cold is cured...? Is that true?"
"Indeed."
The broad-faced middle-aged man, who had suffered from wind-cold, crossed his arms with a pleased expression.
Gazing up at him, Somi's eyes drifted past his shoulder.
There, amid rising steam, Woonsik Oh bustled, vigorously shaking the wok.
Seeing the scene, the corners of Somi's mouth slowly rose toward her ears.
I carefully transferred the last serving of Pork Soup Noodles into a bowl and announced loudly.
"Dear customers, I regret to inform you that today's Pork Soup Noodles are all sold out. We will reopen in about the time it takes to eat a meal."
In modern terms, it was break time. A rest of about half a shichen—one hour.
It was now midday, just past the latter half of the weishi—afternoon 1 to 3 PM—as the sun hung highest overhead.
This wasn't mere rest. It was essential time to regroup and ensure proper cooking.
Yet the lined-up customers showed no sign of leaving.
They stood like statues guarding graves, waiting for the doors to reopen.
A strange resolve hung in the air: 'I will taste Waiting People's Restaurant's food no matter what.'
I planned to catch my breath, grab a simple meal, and prep the depleted ingredients.
Today's menu: Pork Soup Noodles and Fish-Fragrant Eggplant.
Just two dishes.
Both iconic Zhongyuan fare—cheap, delicious, perfect for common folk with light purses.
"...?"
As I reached into the brazier to remove a charcoal ember and lower the fire.
My eyes met those of a girl standing some distance away.
Her head was neatly wrapped in worn cloth. The moment our eyes met, she ran toward me.
'What's this? This child...?'
She stopped before me.
Staring up intently, she calmly clasped her hands, then performed a proper fist-and-palm salute.
Her clear, intelligent eyes followed.
"Great hero, my name is Yeon Somi. Please make a dish that can cure wind-cold."
"..."
Her unexpected order left me speechless for a moment.
"Wind-cold—you mean a cold?"
I asked with a puzzled expression, and Somi nodded firmly.
"Yes. My mother has been bedridden with wind-cold for a week."
For a moment, I thought the child was mistaken.
Wind-cold required medicine, so why seek food?
I bent down to meet her eye level and pointed across the street to the apothecary.
"Looks like you've come to the wrong place. To cure wind-cold, you need the apothecary over there, not me..."
"Great hero, please make a dish to cure wind-cold."
She cut me off urgently and thrust out her hand.
On her palm sat what looked like a clump of leek roots.
Her resolute gaze followed.
"...What is that?"
I stared at it, utterly baffled.
Somi glanced at her palm.
"...?"
Realizing her mistake, she hurriedly flung away the beard that resembled leek roots.
She quickly extended her other hand. On it lay ten copper coins.
10 wen.
Barely enough for a few dumplings.
I gazed at the small coins.
Then her ragged cloth clothes and the worn straw sandals barely covering her feet caught my eye.
Her stomach growled loudly—loud enough to be embarrassing—likely from skipped meals.
'Ah, no mistake. She came here instead of the apothecary because she couldn't afford it.'
It was early autumn.
Yet lately, winds as chill as winter's had blown.
Wind-cold flu was spreading through the village like a plague.
'Come to think of it, there were rumors that the greedy apothecary owner was selling wind-cold medicine at outrageous prices...'
I'd dismissed them as gossip, but the child's actions suggested otherwise.
Her last resort for her mother: me.
Now her bizarre order made sense.
'She wants Medicinal Cuisine that can cure wind-cold.'
I stroked my chin, organizing my thoughts.
For days, I'd reinforced certain ingredients with power before cooking and selling them.
Reinforcement effects scaled with points spent. But as a fresh awakened, my points were limited.
The result: not true Medicinal Cuisine for curing illness, but 'tonic dishes' that satisfied customers with mild colds or fatigue.
Like the lightness from modern pills like Wuhuang Qingxin or Gongjindan.
I was quite satisfied.
I wasn't a herb merchant or a physician curing ailments.
So I'd planned to draw crowds with 'tonic dishes,' not full Medicinal Cuisine.
'To make true Medicinal Cuisine levels of reinforcement would require several times more points than usual...'
Sparse points.
As I pondered silently, the child's impatience grew; she swallowed dryly.
Her small feet fidgeted.
In my crossed-arms view, the customer line stretched long once more.
Several times more than usual.
'Even if I'd been a famous chef in my past life, handling it all alone would be a stretch...'
Waiting People's Restaurant, a one-man stall, was perpetually shorthanded.
Right now, I'd borrow even a cat's paw.
Ah, excluding the fat, obese raccoon dog Maban, of course.
He was a mountain predator at heart and didn't open up to anyone but me.
'Oh, that chubby tabby is so cute! Must be the stall owner with that big spot by its mouth.'
'Hiss!'
When customers reached out, admiring his cuteness, he'd bare his fangs and snarl.
So staying put was his way of helping.
Hunting the occasional cockroach or field mouse was bonus enough.
I cast an indifferent glance at Maban, sprawled with his pink belly exposed, sleeping lazily.
That was when.
Pang, pang.
A red neon status window floated into the air.
The morning customers' reactions appeared.
Three times the usual points accumulated—satisfaction must be high.
Pang, pang.
Another status window appeared before my eyes.
[Satisfy a Customer with Your First Medicinal Cuisine]
📍 Points sufficient: Medicinal Cuisine now possible.
🎁 Reward: Food Virtue +3,000 Points upon completion.
'3,000 points upon completion?'
The Food Virtue points from status windows over days were spent by next day's business, leaving none.
But this reward was lavish—ecstatic, even.
A meaningful smile tugged at my lips as I quietly addressed Somi.