Chapter 8 …
It was so unfair to be accused of lying.
On top of that, she couldn’t even cook her favorite dishes.
“If I cook diligently, maybe Dad will get better and come see me….”
“After eating that dessert, my appetite returns… It feels as if my illness has completely gone away, just like that,” her father’s words kept flickering in her mind.
It felt as if she could meet him any moment now. And all of it would be through her own abilities.
Choa could never forget the happiness she had felt at that moment.
“Huuuuu!”
She exhaled deeply, thrust her clenched fists into the air, and sprang up energetically.
“I can’t give up just like this!”
Muttering to herself, Choa began to move stealthily. She straightened the blanket and cautiously stepped toward the door with her small feet.
Peeking into the kitchen, she saw Kim Chun-ja, Bok-hee, and Un-nyeon bustling under the lamplight. Ingredients were laid out on the cutting board, and steam rose from the pot.
“Everyone’s busy… Now’s my chance!”
Choa quickly changed direction. She went around the back of the main building and squeezed through a small gap under the fence.
Because of her tiny frame, it wasn’t difficult at all.
“Success!”
Once outside, Choa caught her breath and dashed down the alley with her short legs.
After running for a while, she suddenly stopped, sniffing the air out of habit.
“Something smells delicious.”
In the distance, she could see a bustling tavern with the chatter of customers.
Choa crouched beside the tavern’s wall.
“They have so many fresh ingredients…!”
Next to the wall was a large garden, filled with vegetables that looked incredibly fresh.
“Lettuce, green peppers, cucumbers, eggplants…”
Excited, Choa pictured in her mind all the dishes she could make and slowly crept closer to the window.
Through the window, she faintly saw a man tending the fire beneath the pot.
“Wow… so that’s how you start a fire.”
Choa’s eyes widened in amazement. Bok-hee and Un-nyeon had always kept her away from the fire when cooking, and though she had grown up around the kitchen, she had never seen the fire being started properly.
“Ah, arranging the logs like that makes the fire catch so well.”
She picked up a few sticks, mimicking the arrangement with her hands, fascinated by the process.
“Hey, little one, what are you doing here?”
“…!”
Startled by the voice behind her, Choa flinched.
Looking back with wide eyes, she saw the shadow of a woman.
Step by step, the woman fully appeared, her feet crunching on the dirt.
She wore a kitchen apron and had her hair tied neatly atop her head—it was the tavern’s landlady.
Fresh from the smoky kitchen, she held a spatula in her hand and sweat beaded on her forehead.
The woman looked down at the child before her and smiled gently.
“Lost your way?”
Shaking her head, Choa denied it, and the woman wrinkled her nose before asking again.
“Then… did you follow the delicious smell here?”
“Yes….”
Feeling guilty for being caught spying, Choa shyly looked around as she answered.
Then, her stomach growled loudly: grumble… grumble…
Startled, Choa jumped like a rabbit and placed her tiny hands on her stomach.
“Oh my, you must be hungry.”
The landlady couldn’t hide her amusement at how cute Choa looked.
“The rice just finished cooking. Would you like a bowl of delicious bibimbap made with freshly steamed rice?”
Choa’s eyes widened in hesitation.
“Bok-hee and Un-nyeon said I shouldn’t follow strangers…”
Yet, she found herself glancing at the tavern’s kitchen.
Gulp.
She swallowed reflexively. The temptation to enter, explore the kitchen, and taste the delicious food was too strong to resist.
Nodding, Choa finally agreed, and the landlady smiled brightly, extending her hand.
With her tiny hands, Choa carefully grasped two of the landlady’s fingers.
“Come on in.”
And so, Choa safely entered the tavern’s kitchen!
“Wait here for a moment. I’ll mix it up for you soon,” the landlady said, arranging a small spot for Choa to sit before busily moving about.
When the landlady opened the pot’s lid, a warm, savory aroma of freshly cooked rice wafted out.
“Now, let’s take a scoop.”
Muttering to herself, the landlady stirred the steaming rice a few times before transferring it into a large brass bowl. The hot steam tickled Choa’s cheeks.
Then, she mixed garlic, perilla oil, and red chili paste in a neat small dish to make the sauce.
As she stirred, the sauce gleamed, and the aroma of the perilla oil spread enticingly.
“The seasoning is ready!”
“What a nice smell!”
Choa exclaimed without thinking, making the landlady glance back and smile.
“The real fun starts now!”
The landlady chopped fresh greens and vegetables with a swift motion. The crisp scent of cucumber, the fresh aroma of spinach, and the nutty fragrance of fern roots filled the entire kitchen.
“Wooooah—”
Choa’s eyes sparkled as she followed every step, unable to miss a thing.
Like magic, colorful vegetables were layered neatly over the rice, and the red sauce flowed over them.
The portion was small, probably considering she was a child.
Finally, the landlady dropped a single drop of sesame oil on top, and the combination of colors, aroma, and warmth created a “mini feast” in a bowl.
Choa clasped her hands together and swallowed, trying hard not to immediately dig in, watching intently from the corner of the kitchen.
“Come closer. I’m mixing it now!”
“Yes!”
Quickly, Choa ran and stood on tiptoe next to the landlady.
With both hands, the landlady stirred the bibimbap, blending the rice, colorful vegetables, and sauce into a glossy, sparkling harmony.
“Here you go, enjoy.”
The landlady carefully placed the hot bibimbap in front of Choa.
Choa grabbed it with her small hands and placed it on the table the landlady had prepared. Meanwhile, the landlady neatly arranged some freshly fermented kimchi and radish kimchi on a small plate.
“Take a bite.”
Choa held the spoon the landlady handed her and scooped up a generous bite, shoving it into her mouth.
“Hhh!”
She inhaled sharply, almost choking.
Nothing unusual happened. The fragrance of the greens, the nutty sesame oil, and the subtly spicy, savory sauce combined perfectly, spreading throughout her mouth.
The fresh crunch of vegetables she had grown herself made it feel as though she had captured the essence of the mountains and fields in a single bowl.
And then…!
“Spicy—spicy!”
The tip of her nose tingled, and her eyes watered from the addictive heat!
“Oh dear, I tried to add just a little sauce so it wouldn’t be too spicy… Here, drink some water!”
Seeing Choa’s red face as she ate, the landlady quickly handed her water.
Choa gulped it down immediately.
“Ahhh!” she exclaimed, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand.
“Are you okay?”
She gave a big thumbs up to the concerned landlady.
“It’s delicious!”
