Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Why Did You Come to Our House? (4)
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I bolt out of there at a speed close to a full retreat.
She buries her face in my thigh and unleashes a barrage of pebble punches.
Pow pow pow pow—
“Eeeeeeng... It’s all confusiiiing...”
“Did Yoon-seule get so sleepy she lost her way?”
“Neeeeng...”
“It’s okay, it’s okay.”
I scoop Yoon-seul up into my arms.
The couple watches us side by side, their faces beaming with delight.
- Yoon-seule is just too adorable...
- I’d let her punch me that many times, no problem.
Even the once-timid husband is spouting masochistic lines, all thanks to my little sister’s cuteness overload.
Yoon-seul, wrapped around my arm like a scarf, seems to have calmed down.
I set her back down on the floor.
This time, she grabs the hem of my pants.
She looks around curiously, then locks eyes with the customers.
Stare—
“Oh!”
Looks like she’s finally figured out who they are.
- Remember her, Yoon-seul-ah?
“Yeah! The Noona who told me to call her Unniee...”
A rather peculiar way to remember.
The husband snorts.
The wife just smiles, happy that Yoon-seul remembered her at all.
- Yoon-seule remembers me? Thank you!
“Yeah! That one’s yummy.”
What Yoon-seul points to is the soy sauce noodles on the customers’ table.
I’d made some for her at lunch today, and thanks to that, more than half of the somyeon I’d prepped got wiped out.
The “Yoon-seul effect” had struck again.
My sister smacks her lips.
“Lemme eat some moooore...”
“Yoon-seule, this time don’t snatch from the customers. Wait just a sec—I’ll make you your own.”
“Gotchaa!”
I head to the kitchen to prep her food,
But then—
Slurp—slurp—
The couple, sitting face-to-face, are eating their noodles, and it’s nagging at me.
They take a few bites and then just eat in complete silence.
The husband’s quiet by nature, but the wife seemed like the type to chat away even while eating.
Yet now they’re both eating so calmly, like different people.
“What’s this... Not tasty?”
I mutter under my breath.
Lots of customers loved it at lunch today. Still, I can’t help but worry.
I know it’s impossible to satisfy every single customer’s palate.
But if I don’t strive for it, I’d be unfit as a chef.
I have to be sensitive to every little reaction like this.
- Boss...
Did I stare too obviously?
The wife straightens up and glances toward the kitchen.
“Ah, yes!”
- Isn’t this a bit much?
“Yes?”
- You make it this delicious, and now we’ll wanna come every day!
“Ahaha, come by often.”
She’s got a way of talking that really rattles you.
Meanwhile, the husband just keeps eating quietly.
It’s clear he’s satisfied.
That’s a trait I’ve noticed in my 20s-30s male customers.
If they eat in silence without a word, they’re usually satisfied. Of course, silence comes in types—you can tell by their brows.
In his case, those relaxed brows tell the real story.
- Honey, should we get a cola?
- Yeah.
Colas are usually self-serve from the hall fridge.
But with so few customers, I was gonna bring it over—then Yoon-seul beats me to it.
Pat pat pat—clunk.
She opens the fridge door and grabs a cola herself.
Luckily, it’s at just the right height for Yoon-seul on tiptoes, and she nails it.
She dashes over, sets it on their table, and sticks out her tummy proudly.
“Yoon-seule brought it!”
- Yoon-seule brought it over?
“Yeah!”
- Thank you so much.
[Sibling Tycoon!]
[Customer moved by your service.]
[Newlywed Couple Shin Hye-won: Restaurant satisfaction +10%!]
[Total Satisfaction: 25%]
You can boost satisfaction like this too, huh?
Makes sense—for a one-person operation, making everyone self-serve is bound to annoy customers.
Hiring hall staff isn’t feasible right now, so it’s unavoidable.
Still, maybe I should ask Yoon-seul to help out sometimes.
If I put colas and sodas on the bottom shelf, she could handle that much.
“Yoon-seule brought it for the customers?”
“Yeah! You saw, right? That Noona loved it.”
“Wow! So Yoon-seule’s helping Oppa with work too?”
“Yeah! Most of it!”
She raises her palm high.
High-five time.
Clap—
We smack hands.
Yoon-seul really wants to pitch in around the shop. I’ve never liked putting work on her since she’s so young, but something simple like drinks might be okay.
- Boss, the noodle texture here is amazing. Mine never come out like this when I boil somyeon. Mind sharing how?
- Honey, isn’t that kinda rude? They’re rUnnieng a business here.
- Oh right, sorry. I got too curious...
“Ah, no worries. It’s not even an official menu item—no real secrets anyway.
If you want the texture to pop with somyeon, focus more on rinsing than boiling. Washing off all the starch is the key.”
The wife listens intently, then purses her lips and tilts her head.
- This is good enough to put on the menu, no? It holds up against any noodle joint.
- Yeah, at this taste, customers would love it.
Such kind, flattering words.
They might be spot on.
But I’m not just padding the menu for the sake of it.
This is all about gauging reactions from as many customers as possible.
“That means the world to me! I’ll definitely consider adding these noodles to the regular lineup.”
I bow politely, and even as they eat, the couple waves it off.
Wondering if they said too much.
They’re young, but so polite.
I head to the kitchen and make Yoon-seul her soy sauce noodles. She said the young greens I added last time were too bitter.
So I sprinkle on a bit more sugar this time, and she devours it.
Soon, more customers trickle in.
“Welcome!”
Two tables, two customers at the table seating.
Slower than usual.
But considering the event pulled locals away,
I’m grateful for even this many.
Some regulars recognize Yoon-seul munching her noodles and still order pork stir-fry or eggplant fritters.
A few familiar faces.
Loyal ones whose satisfaction has built up.
In the kitchen, I cook the incoming orders.
“That’s why this needs some thought.”
Some come back for staples like pork stir-fry or eggplant fritters, remembering the taste.
Others see Yoon-seul eating something and order it because it looks good.
Two main types.
The issue is the ratio.
I’m pretty much set on rotating add-on menus—like “Today’s Special” at that Jamsil place.
The couple here, Suyeong, Jia—they’re regulars who rave about my cooking, so it gives me solid confidence.
“The problem’s fridge space.”
Our small shop means a small fridge—limited ingredient capacity.
So I’m figuring out the split: loyal menu fans vs. new menu triers.
Rush in blind, and disaster: some sell out fast, others rot while ingredients spoil.
Marinated pork, for example—doesn’t sit well overnight; it gets mushy.
Run a place long enough, and you learn: food waste costs money. Minimize it.
“Yoon-seul-ah, what should we do?”
Yoon-seul, dumping her empty noodle bowl in the sink.
She shoots back, “Yoon-seule doesn’t knooow!”
Well, yeah—I didn’t even explain the dilemma.
I serve the prepped dishes, and notice the table seat customers doing the same thing.
All fiddling with their smartphones.
I set down their food quietly and retreat to the kitchen.
“They’re solo diners, after all.”
The place is built for eat-alone crowds, so no surprise.
But watching them scroll sparked a memory of Dal-nim’s words.
[Dal-nim: Simply put, your cooking skill will improve. And there are other perks too.]
My talent, Path of Cooking—leveling it up comes with benefits.
It’s in the Sibling Tycoon app chat history.
“Shall we check?”
Might hold the key to my dilemma.
....
Good call peeking.
Jackpot.
[Chef’s Intuition]
“Unlocks at next level after maxing proficiency, right?”
Sounds exactly like what I need. Especially with proficiency creeping past 80%.
Not long now.
Best to roll out rotating menus after I get it.
- Boss! Bill please!
Voice and tone already familiar.
Couldn’t see from the kitchen back, but I know who.
“Yes, 13,000 won.”
The newlyweds.
- See, honey? Great food, and prices like a chain diner!
- We’ll be back. Have something new ready next time.
The husband hands over his card wordlessly.
But my apron pocket buzzes.
[Sibling Tycoon!]
[Customer moved by your service.]
[Newlywed Couple Cheon Yeon-u: Restaurant satisfaction +10%!]
[Total Satisfaction: 20%]
Guess the fair pricing sealed it.
The couple, buzzing with energy till the end, hypes me up about next time’s dishes and heads out.
Yoon-seule waves with a belly bow: “Come again~.”
Business wraps smoothly. Profits down from usual, but I’ve nailed my direction—satisfying day.
Biking home leisurely.
I ask Yoon-seul.
“Sister, why do you think customers come to our shop?”
“Ummuuumu...”
The bike’s bumps still shake her words.
She ponders a bit, then twirls her fingers gripping my waist.
Tickles.
“Yoon-seule, what’s up? Spill it.”
“Ummu... Yoon-seule thiiiinks...”
“Yeah? What’s Yoon-seule think?”
“They come to see Yoon-seule!”
She rubs her face against my back excitedly. I’d tossed it out as a joke, but she’s shy about it.
Customer reactions prove she’s not wrong.