I've Never Been This Busy

Morning sunlight seeped through the cracks in the doors of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the West Lake Number One Inn. Kang Yeon had risen early and was already hard at work preparing for the day's business in the kitchen.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Chopping, slicing, arranging. His hands stayed busy prepping the ingredients for today's service. Jo Hwan had yet to appear ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the kitchen. Now that he was getting on in years, Kang Yeon handled the morning prep himself so the older man could conserve his strength. Kang Yeon's movements as he worked the ingredients were swift, fluid, and precise.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

His motions left afterimages hanging in the kitchen air. In the blink of an eye he finished the prep work and gently stirred a thread of energy.

Hum.

A refreshing breeze swept through the kitchen, scouring away every last cooking smell. With the ingredients ready and the kitchen tidy, Kang Yeon stepped outside. Jo Seol was already out earlier than usual, wiping down the tables, when Nang Hyeon strode in carrying a thick booklet, pride written all over his face.

"Young Master, Miss Seol. It's finally finished!"

Excitement he could not quite hide colored Nang Hyeon's voice. The booklet in his hands had been carefully bound, its cover wrapped in fine hanji paper.

Jo Seol set down her rag and hurried over, eyes bright with curiosity.

"What's finished? Oh— is it that thing you mentioned before?"

"That's right!"

Nang Hyeon proudly opened the booklet. On the cover, neat calligraphy declared Taste Guide. Beneath it, in smaller letters: "In Search of West Lake's Flavors — by Nang Hyeon."

"I've spent the last several years ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠visiting every restaurant around West Lake and tasting their dishes. This records each one's character, flavor, and my own evaluation."

Jo Seol flipped through the pages in wonder.

"Wow… you wrote all of this by hand?"

"I wanted the first edition to be written by my own hand."

Inside, the restaurants were arranged by district. Locations of inns, signature dishes, price ranges, and the ratings Nang Hyeon had always used for cuisine were all laid out cleanly.

Kang Yeon came out of the kitchen and leafed through the booklet. His eyes lit with genuine interest.

"Huh… pretty systematic. Clear evaluation standards, too."

Nang Hyeon explained proudly.

"Flavor is the foundation, of course, but I also judged freshness of ingredients, originality of technique, and value for the price. Ah, and I sketched a simple illustration of each dish's character as well."

Kang Yeon nodded in admiration.

"You poured real heart into this. Seems a shame to keep it to yourself, doesn't it?"

"Pardon? What do you mean, Young Master?"

"We're going to give these out free at our inn."

Nang Hyeon's eyes went round.

"Just… give them away? That would be advertising every other inn and tavern as well, wouldn't it?"

"That doesn't matter. First we prove the booklet is trustworthy and make it famous. And once people learn that the place publishing it is the West Lake Number One Inn…?"

"Ah! Then there's no better advertisement."

Kang Yeon grinned.

"Exactly."

"Young Master, you truly are remarkable. To think of even that…"

Near the end of the booklet sat the entry for the West Lake Number One Inn. It was the last establishment Nang Hyeon had visited, and he had not set foot in another since.

Seeing Kang Yeon reach the final pages, Nang Hyeon smiled.

"The last section holds the evaluation of the West Lake Number One Inn. Highest grade, of course!"

Jo Seol hurriedly flipped to the page. There, beside the top rating, sat the heading "West Lake's Hidden Jewel."

"My goodness! The review is wonderful!"

Nang Hyeon spoke with solemn seriousness.

"Naturally. I wrote: 'It looks ordinary at first glance, yet once tasted it can never be forgotten. The proprietor's cooking holds a depth that goes beyond mere flavor. The morning dishes, in particular, give a man the vitality to begin his day.'"

"You even broke down every dish we serve?"

Indeed, the booklet listed every dish sold at the West Lake Number One Inn in meticulous detail.

Kang Yeon let out a low whistle of admiration. Nang Hyeon had truly organized every single dish of the West Lake Number One Inn with painstaking care.

"This is perfect. We should make a chart of it and hang it inside the inn. That way guests can look over the dishes in detail before they choose."

Nang Hyeon's eyes sparkled.

"Young Master, and I was thinking… what if we offered special benefits unique to our inn?"

"Benefits?"

Nang Hyeon began to explain.

"Yes. For people who visit right when we open, we offer the dishes a little cheaper—on the condition they finish and leave quickly, of course."

"Oh? We could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠call that the Early-Bird Special. We open a bit earlier, too, and during that window we only sell the simpler dishes."

When Kang Yeon agreed, Nang Hyeon grew even more animated.

"And we give martial artists an extra discount. They eat so much already—if we discount them, they'll eat even more, don't you think?"

"That's a good idea as well. We'll call it the Martial Artist Special Discount and run it at lunch and dinner. Mornings would be too much."

In the mornings, martial artists already flocked in for energy breakfasts. To keep the tables turning, they needed to limit those orders during the early hours.

"Right? And I've thought of a few more things."

One promotional idea after another tumbled from Nang Hyeon's mouth.

"For regulars we offer discounts or free extra dishes to build loyalty. Anyone carrying the Taste Guide gets a free cup of tea…"

Kang Yeon regarded him with quiet wonder. He himself had memories of Earth and already knew these methods, yet here was a man of this era inventing them on his own. Remarkable.

"Nang Hyeon, as far as I can see, waiting tables suits you fine—but you've got real talent for this side of things. From now on the inn's promotion is entirely in your hands. I'm counting on you."

Nang Hyeon looked a little embarrassed.

"If Young Master trusts me with it, I'll give it everything I have."

The next day.

Nang Hyeon set copies of the Taste Guide out in front of the inn. Above them he posted a sign: "Gourmet Nang Hyeon evaluates the flavors of West Lake for you." Passersby, as usual, began to stop one by one out of curiosity.

"You're really giving these away free?"

The first customer was a young scholar in silk robes. The idea of receiving a book for nothing had clearly sparked his interest.

"Yes, of course. Completely free."

Nang Hyeon politely handed over a copy. The scholar immediately began flipping pages.

"Oh my… this is truly impressive. There's even a place I visit often!"

Housewives on their way to the market overheard the young scholar's admiration and gathered around.

"My word, every single restaurant is in here!"

"Even that little noodle shop in the back alley?"

"To think a booklet like this exists. This is wonderful!"

Nang Hyeon smiled.

"It's still a very incomplete work."

He answered modestly, yet his face glowed with pride. Just then an old man walking past stepped up, took a copy, and asked,

"I'm curious about the rating system. Why are some places highest grade and others lowest?"

Nang Hyeon explained kindly.

"Lowest means worth trying once. Mid-low is decent. Mid-high to upper-mid means recommended. Upper means you must go. Highest means you'll regret missing it."

"Hoho, so this West Lake Number One Inn is a place you'll regret missing, is it?"

Nang Hyeon answered with full confidence.

"Of course!"

"Then I'd best try a morning special. Let's see what a highest-grade meal tastes like."

The old man sat down, and the young scholar and the housewives were drawn in after him as if by a current.

"I'll have the recommended dish from the book as well!"

In moments the inn was packed with guests. Jo Seol took orders at a frantic pace, letting out happy little shrieks. The martial-artist regulars arrived soon after, finding the inn already open a little earlier than usual.

"Brother Nang Hyeon, this is a complete hit! We've got three times the usual customers!"

Nang Hyeon rolled up his sleeves and helped Jo Seol. People who had come only for the free booklet naturally stayed for a meal, and the inn became pure chaos.

In the kitchen, Kang Yeon and Jo Hwan turned out dish after dish without rest.

Jo Hwan marveled aloud.

"In all my born days, I've never been this busy."

Kang Yeon's expression remained calm, yet his practiced hands produced several dishes at once. Eggs sizzled on the iron griddle while vegetables stir-fried on another burner.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

His concentration while cooking was absolute. Moving as naturally as flowing water, he cleared the flood of orders with startling speed.

Then a guest who had tasted his order first raised his voice for all to hear.

"Everyone! This Taste Guide is incredible! The flavors match the ratings exactly!"

"Right? Now we'll never order wrong again."

People who had received the booklet chatted happily among themselves. One boasted that a hidden gem he knew was listed; another laughed in rueful agreement over a place that had received a low mark.

"Is that so?"

Nang Hyeon did not let a single comment slip past him; he committed every word to memory. Those details would become vital material for future editions of the Taste Guide. Kang Yeon watched the lively scene through the kitchen doorway and allowed himself a small smile. The slight upward curve of his lips suggested he was more than satisfied.

A lively inn… Not bad at all.