Ah, That Should Be Enough
Lunchtime at the West Lake Number One Inn was as bustling as ever. Yet today a different tension hung in the air.
The legendary chef, the Food God Baek Mi-ong, sat in a corner seat with his disciple. Nang Hyeon, who took a keen interest in the gourmet world, had recognized him at once and quietly informed the rest of the inn’s household.
Kang Yeon, however, was unbothered by the Food God’s presence.
“Hmm. That so? Well… he’s still just a customer who came to eat.”
Jo Hwan and Jo Seol, on the other hand, were visibly flushed with excitement. In the culinary circles of the Central Plains, Baek Mi-ong was a living legend.
“Welcome! What would you like to order?”
Jo Seol approached with a bright smile.
Baek Mi-ong studied the menu board with gentle eyes, then spoke.
“How about whatever dish this house is most confident in?”
Jo Seol’s eyes sparkled.
“Then I recommend the pork cutlet my older brother makes! It’s the best in all of West Lake.”
“Is that so? Then that will do.”
Jin Seol-hyang, seated beside him, gave a derisive snort.
“Pork cutlet? I’ve never even heard of such a dish. Master, why not go to the Ilyeong Inn instead and have dragon-and-phoenix soup? I hear that place has been gaining quite a reputation around West Lake lately.”
Baek Mi-ong gently chided his disciple.
“Seol-hyang. Does cuisine have ranks of high and low? True skill reveals itself most clearly in the simplest dishes.”
Jin Seol-hyang closed her mouth, though her expression remained sullen. In the kitchen, Kang Yeon began cooking as though nothing at all were unusual. Beside him, Nang Hyeon and Jang Mu-eon whispered in tense voices.
“Young master, that man is the famous Food God…”
“I know.”
Kang Yeon answered calmly as he pounded the pork.
Thud-thud-thud.
The lively sound rang through the kitchen. Kang Yeon’s face as he worked the meat was utterly unconcerned.
“But aren’t you being a little too casual? Shouldn’t you put in a bit more care…”
“Nang Hyeon.”
“Yes, young master.”
Kang Yeon coated the meat in breadcrumbs as he spoke.
“Just do it the usual way. Think about what you wrote in the Taste Guide. What someone like Baek Mi-ong wants is the ordinary taste.”
Sizzle—
The sound of the pork cutlet hitting hot oil filled the air. Watching it turn golden, Kang Yeon remained perfectly at ease.
A short while later, he lifted the perfectly cooked cutlet from the oil. Taking up a knife honed to a razor edge, he sliced through it without hesitation.
Crunch. Crackle-crackle.
The sound of the well-fried cutlet parting under the blade was deeply satisfying. After transferring the sliced pieces to a plate, Kang Yeon ladled the simmering sauce over them. With steamed rice and a side of vegetables, the dish was complete.
“Seol-ah, pork cutlet’s ready.”
Jo Seol hurried over, took the plate, and carried it to Baek Mi-ong.
“One pork cutlet, coming up~”
She set the freshly fried cutlet before him. Steam rose in soft curls from the crisp golden coating.
“Oh? What a curious dish.”
Baek Mi-ong lifted his chopsticks, eyes bright with curiosity.
Crunch.
The moment the piece entered his mouth, Baek Mi-ong’s eyes flew wide.
“…….”
His chopsticks froze. A long silence followed.
“Master?”
Jin Seol-hyang asked anxiously.
“Is it not to your liking? I told you—this kind of backwater inn…”
Baek Mi-ong slowly raised his head. An indescribable emotion filled his eyes.
“Fifty years…”
“Pardon?”
His voice began to tremble.
“It has been fifty years since I last encountered cuisine of this caliber.”
Jin Seol-hyang’s eyes went round as saucers.
“Master, what are you saying? Is it really that delicious?”
She stared at the pork cutlet. Baek Mi-ong was already eating the rest with slow, deliberate care, as though every single bite were precious.
“Remarkable. Crisp outside yet tender within; rich with oil yet never greasy. And above all…”
He set down his chopsticks.
“I can feel the cook’s heart. No arrogance, only humility—nothing but sincere care for the one who eats.”
Baek Mi-ong rose from his seat.
“I should like to meet the chef.”
Jo Seol dashed into the kitchen. Moments later Kang Yeon emerged still wearing his apron.
“You called for me?”
Baek Mi-ong bowed deeply.
“An outstanding dish. Thank you.”
The room stirred.
The legendary Food God bowing to a country-inn cook?
“Ah, it’s nothing. I’m just glad you enjoyed it.”
Kang Yeon answered with his usual calm expression. At that, Jin Seol-hyang shot to her feet. Her pride simply could not accept the scene. That her famous master would offer thanks and praise—and that this man would receive it with such indifference—was beyond her understanding.
Other chefs would have given anything just to glimpse Baek Mi-ong’s face once.
“You—isn’t it rather rude to respond like that when Master has spoken so sincerely?”
Kang Yeon tilted his head.
“Rude? In what way?”
“Master poured his heart into those words, so you should at least answer with a little sincerity of your own…”
“As a cook, I put my full sincerity into the dish I served.”
Jin Seol-hyang turned to Baek Mi-ong.
“Master, I need to verify whether this man truly has any skill.”
Baek Mi-ong only smiled softly without a word. He knew better than to try breaking his disciple’s stubborn streak. Jin Seol-hyang addressed Jo Seol.
“Another of the same, please.”
Kang Yeon shrugged and returned to the kitchen. Soon a second pork cutlet arrived. Jin Seol-hyang took a bite.
“…….”
Shock flickered across her face. She quickly composed herself and set down her chopsticks.
“Ahem… The taste is fine. However…”
She fixed Kang Yeon with a direct stare.
“This cannot be considered proper cuisine. Its character is far too different from traditional dishes.”
Kang Yeon shrugged again.
“It’s just ordinary pork coated in breadcrumbs and fried. How is that different from traditional cooking?”
Jin Seol-hyang’s eyes wavered slightly. His words were not wrong. Yet the situation had already gone past the point of no return. Her pride would not allow her to back down now.
“Very well. Let’s settle this properly. I want to confirm whether you truly have skill.”
She stood and pointed at Kang Yeon.
“How about a cooking contest with me? I’ll show you what real cuisine is.”
The inn fell silent. Every guest’s gaze locked onto Kang Yeon and Jin Seol-hyang.
“A cooking contest, huh…”
Kang Yeon scratched his head and sighed. A strong premonition told him that getting involved with Jin Seol-hyang would only bring complications and headaches.
“I’m not interested in that sort of thing…”
“Are you running away because you’re afraid?”
Even her provocation drew little reaction from him.
“Your master already acknowledged me, and… I’m just… lazy about it.”
“What did you say? Are you looking down on me? On the disciple of the Food God?”
At that moment Baek Mi-ong intervened, an intrigued look on his face.
“This sounds entertaining. Seol-hyang, if you truly wish it, I shall serve as judge. And Chef Kang.”
He turned to Kang Yeon. A subtle expectation shone in his eyes.
“Would you grant my disciple’s request just this once? She has behaved rudely, yet this too is a form of fate.”
Meeting that gaze, Kang Yeon scratched his head again.
“Ha… When an elder asks, it’s a bit awkward to refuse.”
Baek Mi-ong seized the answer at once.
“Excellent! Then the cooking contest is settled! As I said, may I serve as the judge?”
Kang Yeon cocked his head and looked at Jin Seol-hyang.
“Isn’t she your disciple?”
Baek Mi-ong grinned.
“Even when the cook is my own disciple, I evaluate the taste fairly. You need not worry about impartiality. If you still doubt me, ask anyone here whether I have ever played games with flavor.”
As soon as he finished, murmurs of agreement rose throughout the inn. Kang Yeon glanced sideways at Jo Hwan.
“Uncle, what do you think? Do we do it or not?”
Jo Hwan answered with a flushed, excited face.
“I’m all for it.”
A cooking contest hosted by Baek Mi-ong himself? It was a golden chance for the inn to become known not just throughout West Lake but across the entire Central Plains. And if the opponent was the Food God’s own disciple, the publicity would be enormous.
Kang Yeon nodded.
“All right, then.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the inn began to buzz. Looking pleased, Baek Mi-ong sat back down. Jin Seol-hyang fixed Kang Yeon with gleaming eyes.
“Good. Let’s compete properly.”
Confidence overflowed from her face.
“Don’t regret it.”
As if suddenly remembering, Baek Mi-ong spoke again.
“Ah, look at me—if we’re to hold a cooking contest, we need a theme, don’t we? How about this: the finest dish made from West Lake’s finest ingredients. What do you say?”
Kang Yeon and Jin Seol-hyang agreed at the same time. Baek Mi-ong nodded.
“Very well. The two of you will settle matters through the contest. As for me, I believe I shall sample more of this inn’s cooking.”
Jin Seol-hyang looked at Kang Yeon a moment longer, then sat.
“Master, I will definitely win.”
Baek Mi-ong wore a meaningful expression.
“This time… it may not be so easy.”
“Master!”
He flinched, then turned quickly to Jo Seol.
“What other dishes would you recommend?”
The next day.
A commotion rose outside the inn. Word of the cooking contest between Kang Yeon and Jin Seol-hyang had already spread; spectators began to gather.
“It’s a match between the Food God’s disciple and the head chef of West Lake Number One Inn!”
“Last time he beat the Fire Dragon Chef—now it’s the Food God’s disciple?”
“Insane! We have to see this!”
The buzz was so great that even the representatives of the West Lake Gourmet Alliance appeared.
“Young Master Kang!”
Baek Un-seong came running, out of breath.
“I just heard the news. This… this is a matter of West Lake’s honor! You must win!”
“It’s just a cooking contest… a small matter, really.”
“It is no small matter! A contest against the Food God’s disciple! All of West Lake is watching! No—the rumor will spread across the entire Central Plains. Young Master Kang, you now represent the pride of West Lake.”
Kang Yeon looked around. The inn and the street outside were already packed with onlookers.
“Ha…”
A deep sigh escaped him.
“Things are getting big again.”
Jo Seol approached, worry in her voice.
“Oppa, everything’s getting so huge… are you going to be okay?”
Kang Yeon shrugged.
“Well, nothing we can do about it. Since it’s already started, might as well enjoy it.”
Baek Un-seong turned to him.
“Then leave the contest preparations to us.”
Before Kang Yeon could stop him, Baek Un-seong dashed outside. Soon temporary cooking stations began rising in the square. While the makeshift arena was being prepared, West Lake Number One Inn finished its morning service and hung a sign out front announcing that lunch service would be temporarily suspended.
There was a reason for closing.
The theme of this cooking contest was a battle using West Lake’s finest ingredients.
“Hmm… West Lake’s finest cooking ingredients… Ah, that should be enough.”
After a moment’s thought, something occurred to Kang Yeon. He vanished in a particular direction.