chapter 8
“… haha.”
Kang Ho-yeon stood still for a while. I watched my son’s back on the spot, and before long, I moved my steps around the point.
‘I wonder if it’s grown so quickly, Won… … .’
I used to be more mature than my peers. He had taken care of my own business, and since he was discharged from the army, he hadn’t asked for pocket money.
But it wasn’t just a story on that level. I would say it’s a feeling of having matured beyond maturity. It couldn’t have been, but it felt like I had grown older by several decades.
‘He grew up much better than his father.’
Naturally, the awkward father-son relationship was also a burden on Ho-yeon Kang. I just didn’t know how to solve it because I was clumsy.
In my heart, there are so many things I want to ask, and I want to give compliments, but why am I so speechless when I see you face to face?
But this time it was different.
The son, Taehan, spoke kindly first.
It must have been difficult for me as well. I was just grateful and proud for that alone.
“furthermore… You do a great job at massage too.”
Hoyeon Kang muttered as she turned her right shoulder three or four times. It was a bit cool until yesterday, but it definitely felt different when I woke up.
It’s like replacing a broken screw with a new one and oiling it again. It was too excellent to say that it was the effect of just one massage.
‘It must be because of my mood.’
How long had it been since Taehan rubbed his shoulder?
According to his memory, it has been almost 10 years. That’s enough to make me feel like I’m not sick at all. Actually, I was so happy about it.
Kang Ho-yeon also knew that his shoulder was not a problem that could be cured with a few massages.
It must be a placebo or something.
With that in mind, Kang Ho-yeon arrived at the store and started preparing for business as usual.
“… what?”
But something was different.
Even if it was different, it was definitely different.
Kang Ho-yeon has been working in the kitchen for over twenty years. So, you know what to do when and how long it will take.
Especially these days when I go to the store alone.
But today, things ended quickly.
Carrying food, cleaning the store, preparing ingredients in advance. A situation where everything was destroyed twice as fast as usual.
Even so, the condition of the body was brisk, as if it had just come from home to the store, without a hint of fatigue.
“this… Why is it like this?”
Originally, it took much longer, and after finishing, I had to catch my breath while drinking a glass of water. and… I had to relieve my throbbing shoulders with stretching for a while.
But now it was fine. I didn’t breathe hard, and I didn’t even feel the pain in my shoulder. No, on the contrary, I felt like I was overflowing with energy.
‘Sooner or later, you’ll be able to pull hand-made noodles as well.’
Suddenly, I remembered what Taehan had said. I thought, ‘You’re good at joking now’, but I thought that maybe it wasn’t empty words.
For an instant, his gaze turned to the corner of the kitchen.
A space with large windows open to the outside. The place where the large kneading board was placed was once where Kang Ho-yeon used to beat hand-made noodles every day.
A space that was originally the symbol of this store.
And a space that I had never used since the aftereffects left on my shoulder. Even so, I couldn’t bear to clean it up, and I left it until now.
‘… Should I try it once?’
Is it because I have a lot of time left or because I have too much energy?
Kang Ho-yeon got up and headed to the dough cutting board. It was a little awkward since it had been a long time, but my hands got used to it.
Bang, bang, bang.
Before long, the sound of hand-pulled noodles resonated through the alley.
* * *
After reuniting with his father, Kang Tae-han headed to a jjimjilbang as soon as he arrived in Seoul. I must have slept well at home, I was thinking of starting work right away.
[Can I come out a little earlier? Of course not!]
Fortunately, Chief Hwang’s side also welcomed this. As soon as Kang Tae-han said that, the tone of his voice went up a notch.
Is it because of the lack of manpower?
No, that was something Choi Seong-hyeon made up in case it would become a burden. If that’s the case, it must mean that the reviews from customers were good.
‘Well, the effect must have been excellent.’
It awakened the stiff muscles and opened the airway to the clogged blood vessels, so of course it had no choice but to be effective.
To add a bit of exaggeration, it would have felt as if she had been replaced with a new body. This was an extremely objective effect, not conceit.
‘There’s nothing wrong with good reviews.’
Anyway, it was a good story for Kang Tae-han. Deep down, I was thinking that this part-time job was good for the money.
First of all, according to Seonghyeon Choi, pay was quite good, and depending on the customer, they were able to gain internal energy through Absorbing Great Law as part of their treatment.
In other words, killing two birds with one stone.
Of course, considering the pay, there may be better jobs, but considering that you can get both money and skills, it will be hard to find a better job than this.
If that’s the case, it’s better to do what you’re doing right. If the reputation is good, the number of customers will increase, and then the bonus will increase, and the opportunity to acquire internal skills will also increase.
“… Whoops. It’s a very simple story.”
Kang Tae-han burst into laughter without realizing it.
It was a story on a really small scale, considering that he had a body that was praised as a Heavenly demon not too long ago.
But it wasn’t a bad feeling.
Since there were no more enemies in Moorim, he even felt a sense of boredom, and perhaps because of that, it seemed that these simple days seemed fresh.
“This wouldn’t be bad either.”
… However.
Kang Tae-han’s simple day soon became a little less simple and busy.
“I’d like to get a massage now.”
“Yes, are you looking for someone?”
“As Teacher Kang Tae-han… … .”
“ah… … .”
Chief Hwang slurred his words and scratched the side of his head with the tip of a ballpoint pen. He held out the notepad in front of him. There were five or six names and numbers written on it.
“Right now, this is Taehan’s waiting.”
After Kang Tae-han started working in earnest, the number of customers looking for him increased day by day.
Hwang’s role also played a big role in this. If you want to be a somewhat important guest, you have Kang Tae-han attached.
From first-time visitors to difficult customers.
In particular, the effect was excellent when entrusting a difficult customer, and even a customer of the truth level would add the word ‘teacher’ like a lie after receiving a massage from Kang Tae-han.
In any business, it is difficult to satisfy demanding customers.
However, once satisfied with this type, it is also a type that quickly settles down as a regular customer. As a result, the number of customers looking only for Kang Tae-han grew rapidly.
“Are all these people here?”
“Yes, I fell into the stomach a bit, but there are still three left…” … .”
“Um… … .”
The man was troubled for a moment. At first, he seemed embarrassed, but soon a deep regret covered his face. It was too sad to go back like this.
“How long will it take to wait?”
“Let’s see… It will take at least three hours.”
“Then I’ll be back in three hours.”
“yes?”
Director Hwang, who was taken aback by Soon-gang, asked back. I have no intention of lowering my business, but it is a massage shop attached to a jjimjilbang. This reaction was inevitably unfamiliar.
“it can not?”
“… No, it works. Of course it does.”
As Chief Hwang, it’s just nice to see him. Director Hwang, who immediately came to his senses, nodded and wrote down the customer’s name and number.
“Hey… … .”
And admiration burst out of Choi Seong-hyun’s mouth, who was watching it.
“why? What’s going on?”
At that exclamation, Kang Tae-han, who had just come out to rest after an hour, asked.
“No, I thought maybe I might have discovered an outrageous talent. Shock and joy are just mixing in my head.”
“What is that strange noise?”
“More than that… Aren’t you tired?”
Seonghyun Choi looked at Taehan Kang and said.
The time now is 2:00 PM. Kang Tae-han went to work at 7:00 am and has been receiving customers non-stop except for the time to eat and take a little break.
In fact, massage itself is more difficult than you think. Even if I just massaged my parents’ shoulders, my arms would get sore in 5 minutes, but it’s because I’ve been kneading every nook and cranny of my body in earnest for several tens of minutes. It’s not just about paying performance money.
‘Have you eaten wild ginseng in Daejeon? … .’
However, this guy just came back after an hour of massage, but he doesn’t look tired and even breathes. At least the beads of sweat on his forehead were human.
However, Kang Tae-han said in a sullen voice as if asking what he was talking about.
“Of course you are tired. That’s why you came here to rest.”
“No, not that… done. Grab some rice later.”
“dinner? good. What do you want to eat?”
“Let’s have a bowl of soup. for what you live for.”
“Why do you keep looking at me? Who said you didn’t buy it?”
Choi Seong-hyun burst into laughter instead of answering.
I was worried that I was overdoing it, but it seems that it was a useless worry.