What's the Name of This Dish?
Long before dawn broke, the gates of West Lake had already turned into absolute pandemonium.
"Make way! The Luoyang delegation is coming through!"
An endless procession of carriages rolled forward beneath banners of dazzling gold. Every carriage bore the crest of a different inn, and behind them rumbled more than a hundred carts loaded with every rare ingredient imaginable.
"Look at that! Dragon's beard—the stuff they deliver to the imperial palace!"
"Heavens, they even have purple ginseng!"
While the onlookers gasped in awe, another procession appeared.
"The Hangzhou Chefs' Alliance requests entry!"
This time the carriages were draped in blue silk, overflowing with the bounty of the Jiangnan region—a magnificent sight. Massive tanks of live freshwater fish rode atop the carriages, while every kind of seafood was being transported under careful preservation.
The soldier guarding the gate clicked his tongue.
"They're insane. Is this a cooking competition or a war?"
His fellow guard answered, "I hear more than a thousand chefs have already arrived. Has West Lake ever taken in this many people?"
"Right? Every single inn is full, and they're even renting out rooms in private homes."
"We're in for a rough stretch."
"Still, with all those delicacies pouring in, at least the food will be good."
The soldiers stuck out their tongues as they watched the endless stream pouring through the gates.
"Oppa! Oppa! Wake up!"
Jo Seol's urgent voice snapped Kang Yeon's eyes open. Outside the window it was still dim, yet the streets already roared with noise. After nights of restless thought about the stranger, Kang Yeon had finally slept deeply for the first time in a while.
"What's going on?"
"Come outside! West Lake's completely turned upside down!"
"Turned upside down? What are you talking about?"
Still half-asleep, Kang Yeon pulled on his clothes and stepped out of the inn. The usually quiet street was packed with people. Dialects from every region mixed in the air, and the scents of every spice imaginable filled the streets.
"Whoa? What's all this?"
"Young Master Kang!"
Nang Hyeon came running, out of breath, a thick roster clutched in his hand.
"I just finished compiling the participant list. Exactly one thousand six hundred seventy-three people have registered!"
"One thousand six hundred seventy-three? Did a war break out somewhere?"
"No, sir. That's the number of chefs entering the Central Plains' Greatest Culinary Competition."
Kang Yeon drew a long breath. He had expected a crowd, but hearing the actual number made his head spin.
"Haah?"
Jo Hwan had already come outside as well; he stared down the West Lake streets in open amazement.
"Truly incredible. I've never seen anything on this scale. This will be the greatest event West Lake has ever known."
Just then Jang Mu-eon and the Black Wind Association members came rushing up to the front of the inn.
"Young Master! This is serious!"
"What now?"
"There are so many people in the streets we can't make deliveries at all."
Yeong-ho stuck out his tongue as if he had given up.
"I mean it—there's not even room to put your foot down."
Kang Yeon only smiled calmly.
"For safety's sake, we'll have to suspend deliveries for a while."
When the sun rose, the full transformation of West Lake was revealed. Not only the central plaza but all four plazas—east, west, south, and north—had been turned into massive outdoor kitchens.
"Good heavens…"
Ak Hu looked down from the rooftop of Ilyeong Inn and whistled in admiration. Cheonbo Merchant Guild staff bustled about, preparing for the competition.
"Looks like a real war's about to break out."
Each plaza held a hundred cooking stations packed tightly together, with temporary spectator stands rising around them. Tens of thousands of onlookers had already claimed their seats. With far more participants than expected, it seemed the preliminary rounds would begin that very day.
"Rice cakes! Rice cakes for watching the competition!"
"Famous West Lake sweets! Cheap and delicious!"
Merchants wasted no time capitalizing on the opportunity. The entire West Lake had taken on a festival atmosphere. Ak Hu thought of Kang Yeon and grinned.
"Wherever Hyung is, interesting things never stop happening. A quiet life was never in the cards for him."
Meanwhile, at Cheonbo Merchant Guild headquarters, Jin Cheon-myeong was issuing orders to his staff.
"Status of the East Gate plaza?"
"Complete, sir!"
"West Gate?"
"Final inspection underway!"
"Good. There can be no mistakes. The reputation of Cheonbo Merchant Guild rests on this competition!"
The Central Plains' Greatest Culinary Competition had ballooned far beyond anyone's expectations, and the guild was throwing every resource into hosting it. Thinking of the enormous profits and publicity the event would generate, Jin Cheon-myeong could not wipe the smile from his face.
"First I should go see Young Master Kang."
He decided he needed to meet the man who had started all of this change.
Jin Cheon-myeong went to West Lake Number One Inn and summoned the representatives of West Lake's major inns. They sat around a long table inside the inn after business hours had ended, their faces serious.
On one side of the room, Kang Yeon was cooking, saying he would prepare a simple late-night snack for the innkeepers who had arrived at such an hour.
"The scale of this competition has grown far larger than we anticipated."
Jin Cheon-myeong began in a calm voice. Kim Dae-bu of Golden Wind Pavilion, Yu Ha-yeong of Silver River Inn, and Baek Un-seong of Azure Cloud Pavilion all nodded.
"One thousand six hundred seventy-three… I never imagined a number like that."
Kim Dae-bu let out a breath of wonder.
Jin Cheon-myeong tapped the table lightly.
"Luoyang, Hangzhou, Chang'an… the finest chefs from every corner of the Central Plains have gathered. This is both a tremendous opportunity and a crisis for West Lake."
Yu Ha-yeong frowned.
"A crisis?"
"If West Lake's chefs fail to place well, the city will continue to be treated as a culinary backwater."
Baek Un-seong clenched his fist.
"That will not happen. We have prepared thoroughly."
Jin Cheon-myeong rose and looked out the window. The streets were already overflowing with people from every region.
"I ask that you protect the pride of West Lake. This competition is not a simple cooking contest. The future of West Lake hangs in the balance."
The inn representatives answered as one.
"Leave it to us!"
"We will stake the honor of West Lake and give our utmost!"
The grave expressions on Jin Cheon-myeong and the innkeepers suddenly wavered. A delicious aroma drifted from the kitchen and teased their noses.
"Mm. What is that smell?"
"Huh… I clearly already ate dinner, yet my mouth is watering."
Kang Yeon came out of the kitchen carrying a dish.
"Everyone, please have a late-night snack."
Jin Cheon-myeong cleared his throat.
"Ahem… what dish is this?"
He glanced at the pot Kang Yeon had brought out. It was filled with red broth and noodles.
"Ah… this is… just try it first. I made it thinking I might sell it."
Jin Cheon-myeong and the innkeepers eyed the crimson broth with suspicion.
"Haha… just looking at this bright-red soup makes my mouth burn."
Jin Cheon-myeong carefully lifted his chopsticks and pulled up a strand of noodles. The chewy noodles clung to the chopsticks. Since he was not usually good with spicy food, he hesitated to take a bite.
"Mm… this aroma…"
Baek Un-seong sniffed the air. A spicy yet savory fragrance teased his nose.
"Just try one bite."
At Kang Yeon's urging, Jin Cheon-myeong went first.
Slurp—
The moment the noodles entered his mouth, Jin Cheon-myeong's eyes flew wide open.
"Good heavens. Th-this is…!"
The chewy noodles and the fiery broth intertwined perfectly, filling his entire mouth. The heat pricked his tongue, yet the deep umami that followed was addictive.
"It's delicious!"
Jin Cheon-myeong, who normally prized dignity above all, cried out before he could stop himself. Yu Ha-yeong hurriedly stuffed noodles into her own mouth.
"Let me try as well. Hah! What is this chewiness? It's a completely different kind of noodle from hand-pulled!"
Kim Dae-bu was already inhaling the noodles without restraint.
"Slurp! Slurp! Khhh~ this fiery kick!"
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, yet he could not stop his chopsticks. Baek Un-seong took a mouthful of broth and sighed in admiration.
"This broth… it looks simple, yet it has such depth. How on earth do you create a flavor like this?"
Kang Yeon smiled as he explained.
"I used a special seasoning blend and a secret stock. The noodles are made with a particular method that produces this texture."
Jin Cheon-myeong spoke in an excited voice.
"Young Master Kang, this is a truly remarkable dish. So simple yet so delicious! And it can be made quickly…"
Kang Yeon had whipped up the dish while the brief meeting continued. While Jin Cheon-myeong was still marveling, Kim Dae-bu had already emptied his bowl.
"Haa… even though I'm full I keep wanting more. It's strangely addictive."
Yu Ha-yeong wiped sweat from her brow.
"It makes me sweat from the heat, yet I can't stop eating. What kind of sorcery is this?"
Baek Un-seong asked with a serious face.
"Young Master Kang, this new dish… would it be possible for our inn to sell it as well?"
In that instant the other innkeepers' expressions hardened. Baek Un-seong had stolen the first move.
"Hey! Representative Baek! That's foul play!"
"Young Master Kang, please allow our inn to sell this dish as well."
Kang Yeon grinned.
"I made this dish precisely to sell during the competition period. The ingredients and method are simple enough that we can produce it very quickly."
Everyone swallowed hard and focused on him.
"Think about it. Countless visitors will be looking for something they can eat conveniently. With this new dish we can achieve enormous sales volume."
Kang Yeon smiled as he continued.
"However, other inns may sell it only during the competition, and there is one additional condition."
"What condition?"
"Thirty percent of the sales revenue goes to our inn."
Even though he demanded thirty percent, the inn representatives agreed at once.
"Agreed."
"I'd give half if you asked."
Jin Cheon-myeong shot to his feet.
"Excellent. Excellent! We can turn this new dish into West Lake's next specialty!"
The innkeepers grew excited as well.
"And this broth… it seems like it would be excellent for hangovers."
Kang Yeon nodded.
"Exactly. Eating this the morning after drinking is wonderful."
"It would also make a perfect breakfast substitute."
Kang Yeon headed back toward the kitchen.
"Shall I bring another bowl for anyone who wants more?"
The innkeepers answered over one another.
"Please do."
"Make mine a double portion."
The solemn atmosphere of moments earlier vanished completely; everyone became one before the noodles. Jin Cheon-myeong stared at his empty bowl and murmured,
"To think a dish like this existed… Young Master Kang truly is no ordinary man."
Just then Jo Seol came in from the backyard, having finished a light session of breathing practice.
"Oh? Everyone's already eating that? It's good, right?"
"Miss Jo Seol, this thing is pure devilry."
Jo Seol laughed and nodded.
"Yes! Oppa makes it for us sometimes at night, and it's so good you can't sleep afterward. Just be careful—your face might be all puffy the next morning."
Yu Ha-yeong marveled.
"Even if my face swells up like a steamed bun… I don't think I could ever forget this taste."
Kang Yeon brought out a second pot.
"Here, have some more."
The innkeepers began devouring the dish with abandon. After they had eaten for quite some time, Jin Cheon-myeong suddenly remembered something and asked,
"Ah. By the way, Young Master Kang."
"Yes?"
"What is the name of this dish?"
Kang Yeon grinned.
"Ah. The name of this dish is—"