Chapter 3: The First Guest

The Note contained an incredible number of tea varieties.

From the common Earl Grey and Lemongrass Tea,

To the unusual Jin Gamgeul Tea, Mugunghwa Tea, and Lily Tea.

And there were teas I’d never even heard of, like Reverse Tear and Spirit of Green Shade.

“So strange.”

These alone are already mysterious enough, but what’s even more surprising are the Photographs.

“How does this even work?”

The Photographs in the Note moved as if they were alive.

Just like those pictures you see in .

It doesn’t make sense.

But since it’s something Grandfather prepared, it does make sense.

I was skimming the recipes with my eyes when it happened.

Ding-a-ling.

“Ahjussi!”

No-Rani burst through the door.

No-Rani scampered over and plopped down at the bar table.

She moved with the ease of someone who felt that was her own reserved seat.

“Hello, No-Rani.”

“Hehe, Ajussi, hello! The store got all clean!”

“Really?”

“So amazing! Hehe.”

I think so too.

Come to think of it, yesterday she said what I made didn’t taste as good as Grandfather’s.

“No-Rani, want some Honey Water?”

Today is the Revenge Match.

“Yes! Honey! Water! Honey! Water! Sweet honey and water!”

Brimming with excitement, No-Rani immediately made up the Honey Water Song.

As if that wasn’t enough, she jumped up and started dancing.

It was the kind of dance that would’ve had all the adults grinning from ear to ear at a school talent show.

If she likes it that much, I have to meet her expectations.

“Just wait a second.”

I flipped through the Recipe Book and found Honey Water. I thought maybe something that simple wouldn’t be there, but it was.

And at the top, there were three yellow stars marked. Plus,

Even a Special Note written carefully by Grandfather.

“Looks like No-Rani really earned Grandfather’s affection.”

Looking through the recipe, I realized something about Grandfather.

“Our Grandfather was really serious about tea.”

It said to get the amount of honey, the water temperature, even the teapot’s heat just right. Finally,

Just add a few tea leaves, and you’re done.

“So particular.”

One by one, it doesn’t seem like much, but it’s a pretty delicate task.

Guess I’ll get used to it after a few tries?

Following the recipe, I carefully made Honey Water and set it in front of No-Rani.

“Here you go, delicious Honey Water is ready.”

“Yay! It’s Honey Water!”

No-Rani, who’d danced her heart out, came over and sat down.

She took a sip and shuddered with her eyes closed.

“This is it. This is Grandfather’s flavor.”

“Really?”

“Mmm! Delicious!”

No-Rani cupped the cup with both hands and began sipping in delight. Sipping, giggling.

She really is cute.

While No-Rani drank her Honey Water, I slowly looked through the Recipe Book.

Looking closely, there were a few more menus like No-Rani’s Special Menu.

“Bingsulhwa Tea is for Nuni. Is that the Nuni you mentioned?”

“Hmm? Ah! Right! That’s the tea Nuni likes!”

“Really? This one’s really bitter though?”

“Nuni has grown-up tastes. She likes bitter and smelly things. I don’t.”

“Really?”

I’m curious about Bingsulhwa Tea too.

But there’s a warning written in red.

It’s the first time I’ve seen a warning like this…

Grandfather must have had a reason for writing it that way.

I’ll have to ask Nuni herself if I ever meet her.

Besides No-Rani and Nuni, there were a few more names in the Recipe Book. Were there really this many kids in the neighborhood?

“No-Rani, do you know all the kids around here?”

“Umm… not all. But I know a lot.”

“Did the other kids come to the shop a lot too?”

“Sometimes?”

“So not often.”

Maybe it’s a good thing they’re not all coming at once.

Even just making Honey Water takes a lot of care, so with things like flower tea or Jin Gamgeul Tea, there’s no way I could serve them right away with my current skills.

“But once people hear the tea shop has opened, they’ll come. It’s a small neighborhood.”

Before that, I need to organize and memorize the teas here and get familiar with making them.

I can’t be flipping through the Recipe Book every time a customer comes in.

I do worry if I’ll be able to recreate Grandfather’s flavors, but that’s fine.

“Because I have an excellent helper right here.”

“No-Rani, want to help Ajussi?”

“Yeah. But I don’t like hard work.”

“If you don’t help, I won’t make you Honey Water anymore.”

“Ahhh! Okay, I get it.”

No-Rani puffed out her cheeks and grumbled.

She put down the Honey Water she’d been drinking and scampered over.

“What are we going to do?”

“Well, starting now, I’m going to make Grandfather’s tea. You just taste it and tell me if it’s similar.”

“I don’t want anything bitter though.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t make anything too bitter.”

I’m asking for her help, but I’m not about to make her taste things she hates.

I can get someone else to help with the bitter ones next time.

“Shall we start with Milk Tea?”

Thankfully, all the ingredients were stocked in the tea shop’s storage.

Yesterday, I worried about whether it might violate food hygiene laws, but today it’s different.

All the leaves and flowers in storage were perfectly fresh.

As if they’d just arrived yesterday.

It’s a little odd, but…

I’ve decided not to be surprised by things like this anymore.

The first few times, even finding the right teapot and boiling water was a hassle, but after making a cup, then another, I started to get used to it.

“Ajussi, you’re good at this.”

“Really? That’s because I used to run a café.”

“For real?”

“Yeah.”

At the higher levels, I gave directions on operations, menu development, and customer service.

In short, I was in a position to change the national operating policy for all our branches.

How much effort did I put in to get there?

Part of that was learning how to make drinks myself.

“How’s this?”

“This is delicious! Sweet.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Starting with Milk Tea, I went on to Green Tea, Five Grains Latte, and various other drinks.

While making them, I remembered some of the drinks I developed—like Brown Sugar Latte.

“Wow, it’s sweet!”

“Makes your tongue feel sticky, right?”

“Sticky-sticky! But I like it!”

Brown Sugar Latte made without coffee is pure sugar.

Even for my sweet tooth, it was so intense that I told them to tone it down during development, but the staff feedback was surprisingly good.

Trusting that, I gave the order to push it out, and bam.

It became a massive hit.

Thinking about it now, I feel both stunned and proud.

A menu I created became a trend all over the country. For a workaholic, there’s nothing more gratifying.

“Ajussi.”

“Hm?”

“I’m full.”

“You haven’t even drunk that much… have you?”

Caught up in making one drink after another, I’d made over ten different drinks.

She didn’t have to finish each one, but No-Rani sipped them all to the last drop.

Thanks to that, the little one’s belly was a bit rounder.

“Hmm… I want to make more.”

“I’m not going to drink any more!”

“All right, all right. I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

“Really?”

“It’s true. No-Rani, you know what? If you drink too much tea, ghosts come at night and go whooo~.”

“Ghosts! I hate ghosts!”

No-Rani scurried away to a corner of the tea shop and curled up. Eyes shut tight, body curled small—it must be her way of escaping from ghosts.

I don’t know who taught her that, but I can tell she’s easy to tease.

Seeing her like that, I can only say it was well done.

“No-Rani, where are you going~”

“Eek! I don’t want to!”

No-Rani dashed out of the tea shop so fast her footsteps made a “dododo” sound.

Hope she doesn’t trip running like that.

I thought about following, but just left her be.

I had to watch the shop, and I figured No-Rani would come back eventually.

I just stood by the door, staring vacantly, then looked at the empty teacup on the bar table.

“No-Rani drank everything just to help me. That’s so sweet of her.”

Next time, I’ll have to prepare something to eat with the Honey Water.

“Dessert, huh…”

Grandfather never served Dessert at the tea shop.

The reason was, Grandfather said he just wasn’t talented in that area.

If I’m going to carry on Grandfather’s legacy, I shouldn’t bother with Dessert…

But if I said that, I can already imagine Grandfather scolding me from heaven.

“‘If you’re thinking of me, just do as you like.’ That’s what he said.”

He was someone who hated the thought of me giving up on something because of him.

I can almost hear Grandfather’s voice, gently echoing by my ear.

“Then, just as Grandfather wanted, I’ll do as I please.”

If he holds a grudge on the other side, I’ll let him say everything he wants then.

After all he did for me, it’s the least I can do.

As soon as I made up my mind, I started listing the teas I could make.

I sorted them into what I could make immediately and what would take time to learn, and divided them by taste and impression.

Then, I thought about the Desserts that would match, and jotted down information about them.

Luckily, since I’d planned out the Season Menu and written up their sales plans before, this process wasn’t hard.

Everything you learn comes in handy eventually, and here I am using it all.

“I guess Cookie is a safe bet for now.”

Maybe add Rusk or Biscuit to that.

The thought of making them myself is a little overwhelming, but the first time is always the hardest.

I’ll get used to it as I go.

“I’ll have to get an Oven and Dough Mixer, and a refrigerator for storing ingredients too.”

It’d be nice if the shop just provided everything I wanted, but that’s asking too much.

If I get too dependent, I might end up unable to do anything myself later.

I listed the necessary equipment, considered efficiency, and organized the items.

Once I had everything ready to order, I realized the whole day had passed.

“I hope No-Rani got home safe.”

No-Rani, who’d run away from the ghost story, didn’t come back.

She’s a kid, so she probably went off to play somewhere else, but I do feel a bit worried and disappointed.

I just hope nothing happened.

It’s surprising how attached I’ve gotten to No-Rani after just one day, as I locked up the shop.

***

“Wow.”

The next morning, I arrived at the shop earlier than yesterday.

I’d already thought about the layout, but I wanted to check the available space once more.

But when I arrived in the morning, the Oven and Dough Mixer were already in the exact spot I’d imagined.

Exactly the models I’d thought of, too.

“Not even, ‘We accept any requests.’”

More than just surprising—it’s almost miraculous. What kind of magic did Grandfather use?

I ran my hands over the Oven, and greed started to rise again.

If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve imagined a higher—no, several levels higher—Oven.

They say human greed has no end, and it’s true.

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

Instead of getting greedy, I just gave Grandfather my thanks and stepped outside.

With an Oven in hand,

Today I’ll try making the products I’d thought of, and think about their Balance with tea.

“And to make up for yesterday, I’ll also prepare a delicious Dessert for No-Rani.”

Having organized my thoughts, I strolled leisurely toward the City Center.

It’d be easier to drive, but I don’t have the money for a car right now.

Maybe after I make a killing in the stock market, I can buy one then.

“It’s been a long time here, too.”

The City Center I visited after several years hadn’t changed at all.

It’s called the countryside, but there’s even a small Cinema, a Fast Food Restaurant, and a big Mart.

This neighborhood really has everything you need.

Still, since it’s rural, it’s a bit cramped…

“Hey, isn’t that Changseong Lee?”

“What are you talking about? Why would he be here?”

“Look at that face. That’s definitely that jerk, Changseong Lee!”

This is how you instantly run into familiar faces.

The advantage and the downside of small towns.

Everyone knows everyone by one degree, and there are faces I got sick of seeing during my school days.

A farmer, pulling a cart, stopped abruptly and got off.

He strode over, smiling at me. I smiled back.

“Long time no see, Hyeonung. And Hyeonseo.”

“So it really is Changseong Lee? What are you doing here? Didn’t you go to Seoul?”

Seo Hyeonung, and Seo Hyeonseo.

The twin siblings with identical faces, except for their hair, welcomed me the moment they saw me.

They look the same, and even their reactions are similar.

“Hey, isn’t it obvious? He must be here to see Grandfather. But isn’t Grandfather’s memorial day now?”

“Are you dumb? Grandfather’s memorial is in winter. There’s still a long time left.”

“Did you just call your older brother dumb? You blockhead pig-head.”

“Want to get whacked with this pig-head? Want to be thrown in the fertilizer barrel? Huh?”

These two are always at each other’s throats.

I stepped in between to separate them.

“Don’t you two ever change? You’ve been like this since elementary school.”

“People don’t change that easily. So, what brings you here?”

“Yeah, what’s up? Need any help?”

Even though this is the first time seeing them since graduation, my two friends immediately asked if I needed help.

Their faces, full of curiosity, needed only one word to clear the confusion.

“I’m living here from now on.”