Tora, Tora, Tora
Yugu-mueon. Having a mouth but no words to speak. It was the perfect description of Man Hanseok's current state.
"Hanseok."
"Yes, Chef Yoon."
"I'm not angry because you brought Yang Seoran."
"You're... not?"
"It's obvious how it went down. You probably tried to slip away quietly to pick up Gongson Yeongji, but Yang Seoran caught wind of it and threw a tantrum, shouting, 'I'm coming too!' Am I right?"
"H-how did you know?"
"Exactly. So I'm not mad about that. But you should have at least called Gye-yeong to give me a heads-up."
"Ah..."
Man Hanseok let out a soft gasp of realization. Good, at least you're finally thinking from my perspective. If a disaster is unavoidable, you should at least give me time to prepare. What am I supposed to do if you just show up empty-handed out of the blue? What you did was no different from the Japanese military launching a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor without even declaring war.
Man Hanseok nodded with a solemn expression, then bowed his head deeply. "I was short-sighted. Please, take my head, Chief."
"You rascal." I lightly tapped his neck with my finger, and a sheepish grin broke across his face. Look at this guy. He was joking around in a way he never would have dared when we first met. Lately, his expressions had definitely grown much livelier.
"As expected, Chef Yoon, your generosity is as vast as the ocean."
"Hmph. Just make sure you work harder from now on."
Hanseok and I exchanged a few more dramatic, self-indulgent pleasantries before refocusing on the task at hand.
"So, are we starting the cooking right away?"
"Yes. We're making two dishes today, but they're not very complicated. One is a simple stir-fry, and the other just needs to be grilled until it's nice and golden brown."
"Two dishes?"
"They're quick to make, so I prepared both. Serving just one felt a bit lonely. I also have a side dish ready, but that was made in advance, so we just need to plate it."
"Oh, a side dish too! I can't wait." With those words, Man Hanseok headed into the private dining room of the Inner Dining Hall. Almost immediately, a booming sound echoed from inside.
"...Wahahaha!"
It was unmistakably Yang Seoran's laugh. How on earth was her voice carrying all the way out here? At any rate, it was time to start cooking. First up was prepping the spiced lamb.
Today's meat of choice was lamb ribs—essentially what we would call a French rack. I had personally butchered it to mimic the cut, which turned out to be quite a chore. Since the meat came from an older sheep, it had a strong, gamey odor, making the spices absolutely crucial. I brought out the lamb chops, which had been marinating in star anise, cloves, and ginger since this morning, and gently scraped off the excess spices from the surface. Star anise and cloves carry an incredibly potent aroma; if cooked together with the meat, they would completely overpower it.
I lightly coated a smoking-hot wok with soybean oil, then tossed in generous chunks of the suyu I had made yesterday. Once the butter was half-melted, I dropped the lamb chops in.
Sssssss...
With a satisfying sizzle, the rich, savory aroma unique to butter drifted up from the wok, assaulting my senses. I couldn't help but smile as the scent filled my lungs. Ah, yes. This is real butter. It had been ages since I last smelled this fragrance, which was incredibly hard to come by in the Central Plains.
Growl. The sight of the lamb chops browning to a perfect golden hue, combined with the aroma, made my stomach rumble fiercely. I wanted nothing more than to become a solitary nutritionist, transforming into a human engine of destruction as I tore into these ribs. But I held back. I am not a dangerous beast right now. I am a nutritionist who cooks for others and takes responsibility for the students' health. Brainwashing myself with that thought helped calm my primal urges.
Since butter burns easily, I had to be careful not to let the heat get too high or cook the meat for too long. Sensing they were about done, I sliced into one of the chops.
"Wow." An exclamation of awe escaped my lips. The inside of the lamb chop was a mouthwatering, delicate pink. If I were to just grab this with my bare hands and take a bite... man. And just like that, the incredibly simple butter-grilled lamb chops were complete.
I tossed various mushrooms and hosi into the leftover butter pooling in the wok, stir-frying them to absorb the rich lamb flavors. Plating the mushrooms right next to the lamb chops finished the first dish. Next was the abalone. I took out the abalone, which had been soaking since yesterday afternoon, and scored them with a crosshatch pattern. I had been practicing slicing ingredients with sword qi whenever I had a spare moment, but it was still too much for me. For now, I focused on solid technique rather than flashy performances. Even though they were dried abalones rehydrated in water, they looked plump and springy, proving they were of exceptional quality. To think there's a woman out there who just gives away abalones of this caliber... I guess it really pays to be popular.
I melted more butter in a fresh wok and quickly tossed in the scored abalone. After adding a pinch of salt, a dash of dried oyster powder, and a splash of white liquor...
Whoosh!
A massive burst of flame erupted from the wok, hot enough to singe my eyebrows and hair. This flambé technique burned off the alcohol and eliminated any unpleasant fishy odor. By channeling my internal energy into the wok, I ensured the butter seeped deep into the scored crevices of the abalone. As soon as they turned a light golden brown, I plated them immediately. With that, the butter-grilled abalone was done. I left out any mushrooms or vegetables for this one, wanting them to fully appreciate the pure harmony of abalone and butter.
"..." Strange. Did it always look this delicious? It looked far more appetizing than the butter-grilled abalone I used to make back home before I fell into the Central Plains. Even when infusing dishes with internal energy, there was a limit to how much the quality could improve. It didn't seem like a simple case of my culinary skills getting better, either. This rehydrated version looked superior to the one I had made back then using fresh, premium abalones the size of three fingers. It made no sense. There's definitely something mysterious going on with my cooking, I thought, sensing that this was a puzzle I would need to ponder deeply later. For now, I needed to finish. It was time for the grand finale—the crucial final side dish.
I walked over to the shaded area beneath the eaves of the Inner Dining Hall, found the clay jar I had placed there, and lifted the lid. Instantly, a sharp, tangy aroma wafted up.
"Mmm." It was the yeolmu mulkimchi I had prepared yesterday and left outside for a day to ferment. The recipe was incredibly simple: summer young radishes salted and mixed into a glutinous rice paste, followed by salt, honey (as a substitute for sugar), garlic, wild onions, carrots, and a touch of Sichuan peppercorn for a hint of spice. Because of the summer heat, leaving the jar outside meant the water kimchi fermented in no time. The moment I opened the lid, that signature sour, refreshing scent hit me. My mouth watered instantly. After ladling the water kimchi into bowls, I headed straight for the private room where the others were waiting.
"Chief Chef!! Did you really cook all of this without me?!"
Whoa, startled me. The moment I stepped inside, a voice loud enough to rupture my eardrums blasted my ears, nearly making me drop the plates.
"Ahem. I find it distracting when someone is hovering over me while I cook."
"But I must study your every move! How could you sneak off and cook alone? This is a tragedy! Please, recreate the cooking process for me at once!" Just imagining Yang Seoran standing next to me, barking orders like, "Salt! Add the salt quickly!" or "What an innovative culinary technique! Mun! Write this down immediately!" sent a shiver down my spine. I had to come up with an excuse before she actually tried to storm the kitchen.
"Uh... well, on the bright side, you get to eat a meal prepared directly by my hands. And it's a dish reserved for an exclusive few."
At that, Yang Seoran narrowed her eyes, her gaze darting back and forth as she pondered. "Mmm! Come to think of it, you are correct! It is a shame I missed the process, but tasting the Chief Chef's cooking is a worthy substitute!" Whew, thank goodness. Letting out a sigh of relief, I set the plates down in front of everyone and explained the dishes.
"What I've prepared today is butter-grilled abalone, grilled lamb chops, and a refreshing water kimchi to cleanse your palate."
"Mul-jinchi? I've never heard of such a dish in my life."
"No. It's not jinchi, it's kimchi."
"Pardon? Didn't I just say jinchi?"
"Kim-chi."
"Jin-chi." What the... why can't he pronounce 'kimchi'? When I stared at him in bewilderment, Man Hanseok stared back with an equally puzzled look. It was odd, but since it wasn't a big deal, I decided to let it slide. Even if they called it jinchi, kimchi was still kimchi.
"Let's just call it pickled vegetables. It's made from yeolmu, which are young, tender radishes."
"Ah, so these are radishes?" While Man Hanseok nodded and picked up a piece of the yeolmu mulkimchi with his chopsticks, Gongson Yeongji sat quietly in a polite, demure posture. Her slightly curly long hair, pale peach skin, and bright, deer-like eyes framed by long eyelashes were striking. Give her another six or seven years, and she would likely rival Seonwoo Seol in beauty. Normally, an eleven-year-old would still have baby fat and a round face, but seeing how gaunt and hollow-cheeked she looked for a child broke my heart.
"Gongson Yeongji?"
"Y-yes, Chief Chef..." Whether she was just shy or intimidated by me, I wasn't sure. I lowered my posture to meet her eyes and spoke gently.
"You can just call me Chef Yoon. Haven't we met before at the Oe-bandang?"
"Yes... I haven't seen you lately, but I think I saw you a few times at the beginning of the semester."
"If only I'd noticed sooner, I could have helped you earlier. I'm sorry I was late..."
"N-no, not at all...!" Gongson Yeongji waved her hands frantically in denial. "If it weren't for you, Chef Yoon, I would still be ignored and mistreated by the other kids... and I probably would have done something terrible, something I shouldn't have..."
"Something terrible" undoubtedly meant... Sigh. That wasn't a topic that should ever cross the mind of an eleven-year-old. Just how much had she suffered?
"If you ever find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, come to the Oe-bandang anytime. I'll let the kitchen aunties know, so feel free to drop by and grab some snacks."
"Thank you..." Hmm. Eating lunch away from her classmates might be awkward, so maybe I should pack her a lunchbox to eat in the Student Council Room instead? That way, I could ensure she gets proper nutrition and tailor the meals to her specific physical constitution.
"Chef Yoon, so when are we eating...?"
"Ah, sorry. Let's eat." Man Hanseok's question snapped me out of my thoughts. The food would get cold at this rate. I took a seat to join them. The first thing to try was the butter-grilled abalone, courtesy of the mysterious female student who had gifted it to Hanseok. The plump, light-brown abalone glistened beautifully under a glossy coat of butter. There was no way I could resist. I popped a small, whole abalone into my mouth.
"Mmm." I had expected it to be tough since it was rehydrated, but it wasn't at all. Thanks to the scoring, it was tender yet delightfully chewy. The natural sweetness of the abalone, combined with the rich butter aroma and savory umami that had penetrated deep inside, reminded me exactly why butter-grilled abalone was such a masterpiece. Looking at the expressions of the other three, they seemed to agree. Man Hanseok wore a deeply satisfied, blissful smile, while Gongson Yeongji chewed quietly with her hand over her mouth, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. Aw, so cute. But the highlight of the reactions was, without a doubt, Yang Seoran.
Grip. Yang Seoran clutched her chopsticks so tightly they looked ready to splinter, her head bowed low. "...I am utterly furious!"
"Huh?"
"I am furious at myself for only tasting something this delicious now!" Ah, so that's what she meant. She looked genuinely vexed, which actually made me feel quite proud.
"Now that you've tried the abalone, give the lamb chops a go. Use your hands."
"Indeed! Ribs must be torn with one's hands to be truly appreciated!" With those words, Yang Seoran tore into a lamb chop with wild, savage gusto.
"Judging by the depth of the flavor, this must have been an older sheep, yet the quality of these chops is outstanding! It must have been incredibly difficult to eliminate the gamey odor so perfectly!"
"When you stir-fry or grill meat or seafood with suyu, the gamey smell vanishes, and the umami is enhanced. The only downside is that the flavors can end up tasting a bit similar."
"I must present some suyu to my master later! This is a truly magnificent ingredient!" I had expected her to practically float into the air from sheer delight, but her reaction was surprisingly normal. Well, if someone actually floated just because food tasted good, they wouldn't be human. While Man Hanseok devoured his chops with one hand, Gongson Yeongji held hers with both hands, nibbling on it bit by bit. She looked just like a tiny hamster nibbling on a precious sunflower seed.
Meanwhile, Man Hanseok took a bite of the water kimchi, nodded slowly, and reached for a few more spoonfuls. "This 'mul-jinchi' side dish... its sour and salty flavor perfectly cuts through the greasiness of the lamb."
"Exactly. That's precisely why I served it." The sour, salty broth, combined with the subtle kick of the Sichuan peppercorn, completely obliterated any heaviness from the butter. Seeing both Yang Seoran and Gongson Yeongji smiling, I knew the pairing was a success. As I enjoyed my own meal and watched the three of them eat happily, a thought occurred to me.
"Come to think of it, summer break is just around the corner. What are your plans?"
"Once my term as Student Council President ends this year, I must return to the Sword Pavilion immediately! I will be spending the break preparing for the handover of duties!" Yang Seoran replied with deep regret. Since summer break started the day after final exams, there were only a week or two left. Wait, does that mean she won't be coming around for her 'study' sessions or whatever?
"So, since you have to prepare to return to the Sword Pavilion, you won't be coming to the Oe-bandang kitchen, right?"
"Absolutely not! There is no chance of that! I plan to practically live in the kitchen starting tomorrow, so do not worry!"
"Why are you so passionate about this of all things?"
"My burning passion cannot be extinguished, so you might as well give up, Chief Chef!" Ugh. Looking at the fiery determination in Yang Seoran's eyes, I realized I was doomed. I suddenly felt a strong urge to go jump in the Yangtze River to check the water temperature.
"I plan to stay at the academy for the summer break," Man Hanseok said. "I feel like if I manage my weight just a bit more, I can fully return to my original physique." That made perfect sense. Finally, it was Gongson Yeongji's turn.
"I want to go home, but... my father said things are very complicated at the estate right now..." The Gongson Clan Estate was located in Liaoning, a border region. With the Gongson Clan—essentially a local military power—weakened, there was a high chance that unorthodox criminal factions would try to seize power in the area. Hearing Yeongji's words, Yang Seoran crossed her arms and nodded slowly.
"When a clan's affairs are in disarray, staying at the academy is indeed the safer choice!"
"There are actually quite a few Dongdo who stay behind to train during the break," Man Hanseok added. "And since the Oe-bandang operates through the holidays, Chef Yoon will surely cook lots of delicious meals for you." Normally, I would have smacked him for treating me like a personal maid, but Gongson Yeongji was so pitifully thin. Even the kitchen aunties, who loved feeding the students, were practically itching to shovel giant spoonfuls of rice into her mouth every time they saw her. Ah, right. Now is the perfect time to bring it up.
"Lady Yang, did you tell Yeongji about 'that'?" Despite the vague question, Yang Seoran understood instantly and nodded. "I thought it would be better if you explained it yourself, so I only gave her a brief outline!"
"Perfect." Hearing her name, Gongson Yeongji flinched slightly, her round eyes darting over to look at me. "Tell me... what?"
"It's nothing major. I was just wondering if you'd like to train in martial arts with Hanseok during the break."
"M-me? With Senior Man?"
"Don't worry. I have absolutely no intention of putting you through the same training regimen as him." Channeling my inner child-psychology expert, Dr. Oh Eun-young, I decided it was time to launch the "My Golden Student" project.