Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Expansion
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After the makgeolli party, Lucas and his crew didn't show up at the store for several days.
Thinking of them, Ji-hoon grinned.
'Heh heh, they're probably tasting hell right about now.'
His guess was spot on.
Starting the next day, Lucas and his men were puking their guts out even from just drinking water.
"Fucking! Fucking shit!"
Not only were they vomiting up nothing but clear liquid without any solids, but they also couldn't stop the diarrhea pouring out from below.
It felt just like having a brutal case of gastroenteritis, with fluids draining from both ends.
Lucas clutched his dizzying head.
Only now did he truly understand the meaning of Ji-hoon's words about crawling on all fours.
"......Fucking rice wine... ugh...!"
Meanwhile, Ji-hoon had brought in a small coffee vending machine to one corner of the store.
The sweet mixed coffee that Korean uncles always sipped after meals to freshen their mouths.
Of course, this was free too.
That afternoon, Ji-hoon dispensed a cup of coffee and stepped out of the store.
Standing in front of the store was Consul Choi Ik-hyun, who had delivered the documents a while back.
"Oh, Consul! Here, have some coffee."
Handing over the coffee, Ji-hoon said.
The consul smiled warmly and took it.
"Whoa, thank you, boss."
After taking a sip, the consul let out an exclamation.
"Ahh... this is the taste. America's all Americanos, so I've really missed this sweetness."
"Haha, is that so?"
"Oh right, boss. Did you check those documents from before? They seemed to be from the court. Is there some kind of problem?"
To the consul's casual question, Ji-hoon explained simply.
His wife had cheated, so they divorced, and not wanting to split assets, he'd taken all his money and bolted to America.
At his frank answer, Consul Choi Ik-hyun looked stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Puhahaha! Man, boss, you're no ordinary guy! Even if you didn't want to give it up, you flew all the way to America? Haha, can't even scold you, really."
Ji-hoon scratched his head sheepishly.
"Well... as long as I don't go back to Korea, right?"
"Hmm... yeah? It's a civil matter, not criminal, so they won't bother coming all the way here from Korea."
With the consul's confirmation, Ji-hoon felt relieved deep down.
'So what if there's interest? Fuck 'em? I'll never go back for life~ She's probably furious and tearing her hair out right now?'
Imagining Ji-su's face back in Korea cleared up all the stuffiness in his chest.
That was Ji-hoon's personality.
If there was an option where he got 100 million won but Ji-su got 1 billion, he'd give up his share without hesitation.
He couldn't stand the sight of someone he hated doing well.
Consul Choi handed over a business card.
"Anyway, now you're a proper member of the community. If anything comes up, give me a call."
"Thank you, Consul."
'No harm in staying on good terms with the embassy.'
Ji-hoon carefully stored the business card in the counter drawer.
A year since coming to America.
Ji-hoon hadn't properly rested once in that time.
But everything needs a break.
For rest and to integrate deeper into the community, Ji-hoon started attending church every weekend.
A country where 63% of adults are Christian.
Networking through religion with fellow Koreans and locals was a smart move for an outsider like him.
He joined the youth group at 'Richmond Baptist Church' near downtown, which held Korean services.
And once a month, he participated in the church's meal service for the homeless.
That day was one such occasion.
"Here~ enjoy your meal~"
Ji-hoon was handing out food he'd made himself at the store, packed in disposable containers.
The homeless receiving the food bowed repeatedly in thanks.
Their faces lit up with smiles as they ate at the simple tables set up in the churchyard.
"Hoon. Spreading the Lord's grace again today. I always appreciate it."
It was kindly-faced Pastor Liam.
The 70-year-old pastor always had a pleasant impression.
"Haha, no big deal, Pastor. I'm a shopkeeper here, so I should give to my neighbors."
Pastor Liam nodded at Ji-hoon's words.
"Not something anyone can do easily. Steadily helping the needy for a year straight. Not just anyone could."
"Haha, you're making me blush, Pastor."
As the two talked, another person approached for a lunchbox.
About 160cm tall, small build.
Clothes wrapped tightly from head to toe, hiding every inch of skin, plus sunglasses and a mask.
Her young voice suggested she was a girl.
Ji-hoon handed over a lunchbox with his usual smile.
"Enjoy."
Then, in a timid whisper, she said,
"......Could you give me one more? There's... my mom at home..."
Ah. Ji-hoon felt sorry for her.
She had a home but was struggling financially.
Her voice reminded him of his little sister back in Korea, tugging at his heartstrings.
"Of course. Here's one more. You live nearby?"
She nodded faintly at his question.
With good intentions, Ji-hoon said,
"There's a restaurant called Babsang in downtown. If you're ever really hungry, come by. I'll help you out."
At his words, she seemed to stare at him blankly for a moment.
He couldn't read her gaze through the sunglasses.
Without a word, she turned abruptly, clutched the two lunchboxes to her chest, and vanished.
Watching her retreating figure, Ji-hoon thought,
'Hmm... was that too pushy? Did I hurt her pride?'
Then, Pastor Liam smiled and said,
"Don't take it to heart, Hoon. That girl's got a lot of emotional scars, so try to understand."
"Haha, yeah, that makes sense. No offense taken. She'll come if she needs help."
At Ji-hoon's reply, the pastor chuckled softly.
"I hope she opens up to you, Hoon. You know something?"
"Huh? What, Pastor?"
"If you ever see her properly, you might be shocked, but don't show it. Poor kid. And despite looking like that, she's a proper 21-year-old adult."
Ji-hoon was puzzled.
'Ah... did she get offended thinking I treated her like a kid?'
He just nodded at the pastor's cryptic words.
'......A kind person.'
Lily headed home, cradling the two lunchboxes preciously.
She had to save on food costs, so days like this when the church handed out meals were crucial for her.
Her mother had passed away when she was very young.
Even her only family, her father, had left this world recently.
Thankfully, he'd left her some money, which she was scrimping and saving to live on day by day.
In this vast world, she was now completely alone.
Once inside, Lily locked the front door and began shedding the layers of clothes she'd bundled up in.
Hat, sunglasses, mask.
In California's warm weather, wrapping up so thoroughly to hide all skin was odd.
But she had no choice.
At the modest table her family once shared.
Lily sat alone and opened one of the lunchboxes.
"...This is some new food."
But unlike the unfamiliar look, the smell was amazing.
She scooped a small bite of rice and side dishes with a spoon and cautiously put it in her mouth.
Then, Lily's eyes widened.
"......It's delicious...! And so tender...!"
The lunchbox contained white rice and pork patties.
The patties' basic soy marinade was made with Ji-hoon's secret soy sauce recipe.
Its umami was better than anything Lily had ever tasted.
With her small mouth, she chewed each bite thoroughly, savoring the meal.
As the warm food filled her, her frozen body and heart began to thaw.
Before she knew it, the bowl was empty, and with fullness came tears welling up in Lily's eyes.
"...Scary. Sob... sob sob..."
Alone at the quiet table in the empty house, Lily wept soundlessly for a long time, gripped by fear and sorrow.
Ji-hoon had a new worry. A happy one.
"Ah... business is booming, but we're short on seats."
His store 'Babsang' had become a landmark in Berkeley's downtown.
Not just UC Berkeley students, but locals who'd heard the buzz, and people from church too.
The place was packed every day, no room to step.
Since the store wasn't that big, long wait lines formed at lunchtime as routine.
Word of mouth would only spread more, drawing even bigger crowds.
Plus, Babsang was the only proper Korean set-meal spot near downtown.
'Sigh... should I move to a bigger place?'
Business was so good now, he could handle higher rent.
But there weren't many large commercial spaces around.
Most were around 30 pyeong like his, divided from bigger buildings into multiple shops.
'Ah... I wanna expand.'
He felt bad every time he saw customers waiting outside.
If he'd known it'd blow up like this, he'd have gone bigger even if it strained him.
But who could've predicted the future?
Ji-hoon decided to talk to the landlord first.
The building was pretty large overall, so maybe there was a bigger empty unit, or some way to expand.
Luckily, the landlord was one of the regulars who came for meals occasionally.
'Ah... when will he drop by...'
Ji-hoon bustled around the dining area, waiting endlessly for the landlord.
"Yeah, do that."
"R-Really?"
The landlord showed up the next day.
A white-haired old gentleman.
The owner of the building where 'Babsang' was located.
The square building was bigger than it looked, with Babsang occupying one unit.
The way he heartily slurped sikhye after his meal was impressive.
"Ahh... since you came in, foot traffic's up, other shops are benefiting too, so I'm in a good mood. Expand as much as you want. You know the pho place next door?"
"Yes, I do."
"They're leaving end of next month, so break through the wall then and redo the interior. But stick around long-term. I wanna eat here till I die. I'll cut your rent a bit too."
"Really? Thank you, sir. How about I give you free meal vouchers then..."
"Nah, kid. Do I look broke? Landlords who gouge tenants don't get good press."
"Ah... still, I feel bad..."
"Enough. So, construction in a month. Next door's bigger, so you can seat more. Add some group tables too. Family crowds spend big. Tsk tsk."
"Haha, yes. Got it. Take care."
The landlord was super chill.
'Ahh, I wanna age like that.'
Rich people have that leisure.
Ji-hoon wasn't broke, but from what he'd heard, the old man owned buildings all over California as a real estate guy.
Different league.
'When I make that much next time, I should give back too.'
So Ji-hoon thought.