Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Cooking for Dasom
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After the sports festival, Seol-i and I went back to our usual routine, just like always.
-Squeeze
It was a bit ambiguous, with a light hug thrown in.
"...That's enough now."
Seol-i slipped out of my arms with a satisfied smile, grinning brightly.
At some point, Seol-i had gotten incredibly sly about asking for hugs from me.
She really was sly. Or maybe confident was a better word.
But she was too cute when she smiled like that for it to feel sly.
Her smile carried pure, innocent joy without any of the sleaziness that word usually implies.
With that expression on her face, Seol-i stepped through the front door I held open and entered our house.
And the moment she was inside...
"Unniiiii!"
Dasom came running over with a patter of little feet.
"Dasom~ Hi~!"
-Whoosh!
-Rub rub
Dasom enveloped Seol-i in a hug far more intense than the one we'd just shared.
Seol-i seemed to love it, happily smiling as she rubbed her cheek against Dasom's.
I took off my shoes and headed straight to the living room.
"Dasom, how about the three of us eat dinner together tonight?"
"The three of us? Really?"
Seeing Dasom's eyes sparkle made me laugh, but there was a bit of a painful reason behind it.
Dad had to work overtime unexpectedly, and since he didn't have a change of clothes, Mom had no choice but to bring some to him.
It worked out perfectly since we'd planned to come home right then, so Mom left Dasom with me and Seol-i and headed straight to Dad's office.
Thanks to that, Seol-i ended up eating with me and my sister from lunch onward.
Seol-i smiled confidently and asked us,
"Do you two want anything specific?"
"Something specific?"
"Yeah, I'll make it for you!"
Seeing her so self-assured made me worry something bad might happen again.
I remembered back in middle school when Seol-i came over to cook my birthday dinner and burned her arm on the frying pan.
"...I'm fine with anything."
Normally, we'd just use Mom's card to order something.
It was easier that way, and Seol-i wouldn't have to risk cooking dangerously.
But our little Kang Dasom, oblivious to all that, immediately told Seol-i what she wanted.
"Egg roll!!"
"Egg roll...?"
"Yeah! Make it! Egg roll!!"
"Uh... haha... umm..."
Seol-i started looking troubled.
No wonder. Egg rolls look simple but are an incredibly difficult advanced dish.
You have to spread the egg thin, cook it, then roll it up perfectly—tear it midway, and it's ruined; mess up the seasoning, and there's no fixing it.
But when done right, it's the ultimate rice thief.
And that's what Dasom wanted.
Seol-i hesitated, glancing around. She probably didn't know how to make it.
Even if she did, knowing the difficulty might be why she couldn't commit easily.
"Please... pretty pleeease...!"
Dasom landed a decisive blow on the wavering Seol-i.
Those sparkling eyes of hers had the power to make you want to do the impossible.
I knew it all too well, so I quietly told Seol-i,
"Seol-i, it's fine. We can do something else, or just order in if needed."
I said that, but determination had already flickered in Seol-i's eyes.
No way, I thought. But "no way" always bites you.
"...I'll make it for you!"
"Wheeee!!"
"Seol-i...?"
"I can do it... I know the recipe... I've never tried, but... yeah, I can definitely do it...!"
Seol-i nodded, but her hands trembled slightly.
Is it really okay to let her do this?
She looked so conflicted, but her resolve seemed firm now.
So all I could do was trust her.
"...Okay, I believe you. But if you need help or it gets too hard, just stop. Got it?"
"I can do it...! Yeah...!"
Seol-i clenched her fist and nodded cutely, but also somehow reliably cool.
Of course, I didn't say that out loud. Too embarrassing.
Instead, I volunteered to keep Dasom from interfering while Seol-i cooked.
But that turned out unnecessary.
"Dasom~ Wanna watch cartoons while Unni cooks?"
"Cartoons...! Yes!!!"
Dasom nodded vigorously, toddled to the sofa, and plopped down. Seol-i giggled at the adorable sight, turned on the TV, and successfully glued Dasom's eyes to it.
With Dasom behaving, Seol-i stood and headed to the kitchen.
"Haneul, want to help?"
I answered without hesitation.
"Of course."
*
After showing Seol-i where all the utensils and ingredients were, she nodded and started cooking.
The egg roll recipe itself is simple.
Beat 4-5 eggs, add a teaspoon of seasoned salt, chopped green onions, carrots, and spices to taste.
Seol-i gripped the knife firmly and began chopping the carrots.
But the carrot pieces were a bit iffy.
How to put it? They might be too chunky in texture.
In egg rolls, carrots and green onions need to be minced tiny—barely noticeable texture, just for flavor.
So I held out my hand and said,
"Seol-i, can I have the knife and carrot?"
"Oh... this...?"
"Yeah, just a sec."
I recalled old memories and started chopping.
-Tok tok tok tok tok tok tok tok
Not as fine as I'd hoped, but good enough.
Chop once, then again to mince.
-Tok tok tok tok tok tok tok tok
After mincing all the carrots perfectly, I told Seol-i,
"Chop the green onions like this too."
"Ah... okay, got it...!"
Seol-i, who had been gaping at my knife work, nodded and took the knife back.
She started on the remaining carrots and green onions.
While she did that, I prepped the side dish.
Something barely qualifying as cooking: doenjang jjigae.
Why call it grandiose? Simple reason.
Mom's wisdom is genius. Dump frozen stock in a pot, add her prepped ingredients, done.
Only tofu to chop—an ridiculously easy dish.
As I cubed the tofu and set up the stew, Seol-i mixed all the egg roll ingredients in a bowl with a spoon.
Her speed was impressive; she clearly had cooking experience.
Still, feeling bad, I casually asked,
"Seol-i, want me to stir?"
She shook her head without hesitation.
"I can do it...!"
"Okay, all yours."
When she said it that firmly, all I could do was trust her.
I put the pot on the stove and lit the gas.
-Whoosh!
As the flame rose and the stew bubbled, Seol-i tasted her egg mixture.
"Mm...! It's good...!"
"Lemme try a bit."
"Here...!"
She scooped some with chopsticks for me. Not bad—actually great.
Seasoning perfect, plenty of egg.
"Now... cook this and..."
"Roll it up."
"Uuu... can I...?"
Two options for her question.
One: Offer to do it—easy finish, no stress for her.
Two: Encourage her she can do it.
Might stress her, but guides her to try. Fail? Lesson learned.
Dasom might sulk, but I'd placate her then.
After a brief think, I said gently,
"You can do it."
Before, I'd just take over. But now, I wanted to believe in her.
Didn't want to interrupt her effort.
Wanted to cheer her to success.
Emboldened, Seol-i nodded, oiled the pan, and...
-Sizzle...!
Started the egg roll.
As the egg cooked and one side set...
"Seol-i, now...!"
"Got it...!"
She began rolling.
Roll once, press with spatula and chopsticks, roll again, press, repeat...
"Done...!"
A perfectly appetizing egg roll emerged.
"Haneul, I did it...! I did it...!"
"Great job!"
-Clap!
We high-fived, thrilled, then rolled it around to cook evenly, finishing up.
Afterward...
"Dasom~ Dinner time~"
"Yaaay~!"
We sat down for a delicious meal together.
For the record, Seol-i's egg roll outshone Mom's stew and banchan.
Definitely thanks to her care and effort.