40
Chapter 40: There’s No Need to Fight
Do Minho and the Genius’s Bucket List production team visited a plastic workshop located in Shinseon City.
“I made it like you asked, but what on earth are you going to use this small triangular mold for?”
The factory owner looked curiously at the palm-sized triangular mold.
“I’m going to use it to make triangular kimbap.”
“Triangular kimbap? Triangle-shaped kimbap?”
“Yes.”
“Wait, something like that exists?”
“I’m going to make it.”
“Haha, then what’s this?”
“It’s a cutter for slicing round kimbap.”
“Why not just use a knife?”
“Sir, you’ve never cut kimbap before, have you?”
“Even if I haven’t, I can still cut it!”
“With this, anyone can do it faster and more easily.”
“Haha, I guess that’s true. Then why not make square kimbap too?”
“Of course I will.”
“What?”
“I think the fun of making and seeing food is just as important as eating it.”
“Haha, I don’t really get it, but I’m looking forward to it. Am I going to be on TV too?”
“Yes. It’ll air Sunday at 5 PM on ABS.”
“Haha, my kids will see it then. Please film me well!”
“Don’t worry!”
---
“Wow!”
The younger children at Happiness Orphanage widened their eyes at the sight of Minho’s triangular kimbap.
“Do you want to try making it?”
“Yes!”
It was their first time seeing kimbap like this, and unlike round kimbap, they felt confident they could make it themselves with the mold.
“Then go ahead.”
“Yes!”
The triangular kimbap task was handed to the younger kids.
“Don’t put in too much filling.”
“Yes!”
Instead of the usual fillings like crab sticks, eggs, ham, pickled radish, and cucumber, they could now fill their kimbap with whatever they liked—spicy pork, bulgogi, tuna mayo, fish cake, kimchi, even pork cutlet. That freedom added another layer of fun.
“That’s amazing. How did you even think of this?”
Even the middle and high school kids, now wearing aprons and holding their signed CDs, were impressed by the new shapes and fillings.
“I just thought this would taste better than the plain kimbap sold at snack shops.”
“Ugh, those places are terrible.”
“Let’s make premium kimbap!”
“Premium? It’s still just kimbap.”
“Anyway!”
Though they grumbled, they followed Minho’s lead and prepared fillings while rolling round kimbap as well.
“Minho, is this how you fold it?”
“Yes!”
The square kimbap, made by folding seaweed in half, was assigned to the elementary school kids.
Meanwhile, Minho coordinated everything in the kitchen while also preparing soybean paste soup to go with the kimbap.
“I was worried for nothing.”
Kang Jiseop PD, who had been watching quietly, approached Director Lee Seunghoon with a satisfied smile.
“I’m sure the construction workers and villagers will love this.”
The kimbap the children made would be packed into lunchboxes for the workers building the orphanage and the elderly residents of the village.
“We should give some to those kids too.”
Kang Jiseop grinned, looking out the kitchen window at more children outside.
“Of course!”
The director, rather than feeling burdened by unexpected guests, seemed to welcome them and headed toward the rice container.
“Director, it’s already cooking.”
“What?”
“Look over there.”
The large rice cooker was working nonstop.
“This is surprising. Is it usually like this?”
“I know it might sound rude, but my image of orphans and orphanages wasn’t like this. Growing up different isn’t easy. They’re forced to grow up too fast. But seeing this place… I realize I was wrong.”
“That’s all thanks to Minho.”
“Is it?”
“They’ve always been kind and pure, but when no one recognizes that, they end up living according to prejudice.”
“So Minho is a blessing.”
“That’s right. It’s already admirable that he’s doing well himself, but he’s helping everyone here. And in nearly ten years of running this orphanage, this is the first time ordinary kids have come here naturally—not even for volunteer work. We had a reputation… some of the kids here used to be quite scary.”
“I see……”
“They weren’t always like that. I failed them.”
Kang Jiseop couldn’t bring himself to comfort him.
But the director didn’t expect comfort.
“It will be different now. Thanks to Minho, even the townspeople have changed their attitude.”
“I noticed all the banners on the way here. First Quiz 5000 winner, youngest perfect scorer—it’s something to be proud of.”
“The broadcast helped too.”
“Haha, thank you for saying that.”
“Minho was right. The power of broadcasting is incredible. Thanks to it, we can prepare meals like this. We’ve also received a lot of donation inquiries.”
“Please don’t say that. Thanks to you and Minho, we hit 30% ratings without using celebrities.”
The show had achieved a 30% rating on its first episode featuring Minho’s CSAT challenge.
Thanks to that, all the food costs—including the ingredients for dinner—were covered by the production budget.
Minho’s appearance fee was 6 million won per episode—comparable to top stars.
“But still, without the broadcast, we couldn’t have treated the villagers or planned a festival.”
“You can do even more.”
“What?”
“That’s how much money Minho is bringing in.”
Even with high production costs, the show remained profitable. Ads were already sold out, and more could be added.
That also led to more lucrative advertising offers for Minho.
At that moment, a luxury sedan and a truck entered the parking lot.
They’ve arrived.
“Who is that?”
“The county governor.”
The governor, Seo Chansu, stepped out with his family, while aides unloaded gifts from the truck.
“They must be here for the broadcast.”
“Probably. That means they’ll approve the land-use change—and maybe increase support funding.”
“Let’s focus on the positive.”
Kang Jiseop smiled and guided the director forward.
“Good things are good, right?”
---
“So you’re the famous Do Minho?”
“Yes.”
“I heard you’re smart, but you’re kind too. You’re doing a wonderful thing.”
Governor Seo looked warmly at the growing stack of lunchboxes.
“I should help instead of just bringing gifts.”
“It’s okay. We’re already done.”
“I should’ve come earlier. I only planned to have lunch with the kids, but I didn’t expect all this. I didn’t even know there would be cameras—I would’ve dressed better.”
What a strange act.
“You look great already.”
Minho played along smoothly.
“Haha, I look even better when dressed up.”
“I believe that.”
“Shall we go deliver the lunchboxes?”
“No, I need to prepare dinner. Others will deliver them.”
“You’re cooking dinner already?”
“I ate a lot while making kimbap. We’re making a large pot of gamjatang tonight.”
“Then we should help with that.”
“Would you like to?”
“Of course! But can you even make gamjatang?”
“You just boil potatoes in water, right?”
“Haha! That’s one way to put it.”
“Then let’s go to the market.”
“No, I should deliver lunchboxes. I’m strong.”
“Then she’ll go with you.”
“Ah, okay.”
“She’s a great cook—a master homemaker.”
She doesn’t look like someone who cooks… interesting.
“Director, were there always this many kids here?”
“The county only recognizes a limited number. There were always more.”
The governor’s expression hardened for a moment before quickly changing.
“Well, there are rules. With so many coming and going, we have to be strict.”
Even outsiders could sense the tension.
“But don’t worry. We’ll consider reality more moving forward.”
The governor extended an olive branch, likely aware of the cameras.
“Please do.”
The director accepted it—for the children’s sake.
There’s no need to fight. Especially with someone powerful.
---
“Can we get some Chilean pork back bones?”
“You’re buying imported meat?”
At the butcher section, the governor’s wife, Eun Sumi, raised her voice in disbelief.
“If it’s about money, don’t worry. I’ll pay.”
“If we’re spending, let’s do it properly.”
“For 100 servings, this isn’t even a million won.”
But Minho calmly explained.
“In Korea, most meat is removed for other cuts, so there’s not much left on the bones. Imported ones, especially Chilean, have more meat because of how they’re processed.”
“Oh……”
The butcher was impressed.
“Where did you learn that?”
“I like cooking. Good food starts with good ingredients.”
“Haha! That’s right. So how much do you need?”
“About 500,000 won worth.”
“That should be enough. But you’re not cooking it alone, right?”
“I’ll do it, with help.”
And this too.
Minho confidently held up a packet of MSG.
“Haha! The magic powder.”
“Hey!”
Eun Sumi raised her voice again.
“Do you know how harmful MSG is?”
He doesn’t even know what glutamate is, does he…
“The main ingredient in MSG is glutamate. It’s also found in breast milk—about 20%. It’s also in kelp broth. It was first discovered by a Japanese scientist studying kelp flavor. And actually, MSG is a fermented seasoning…”
She froze.
“…produced using microorganisms from natural ingredients like sugarcane, wheat, and tapioca…”
Her face went pale.
“What is he even saying……”
She looked toward the camera helplessly.
The production team couldn’t hide their smiles.
“P-please edit this out……”
She hurriedly left the store.
“What should we do?”
“What do you mean? We keep it.”
They had no intention of cutting such a perfect moment.
“Just edit it out. Let the staff bring up MSG instead—I’ll explain again. She’s important in our town.”
“Is that necessary?”
“It is. We need that playground, the soccer field, the pool too.”
“Ah……”
Why are they so clueless compared to Kang PD…