I Quit My Job and Run a Café - Chapter 4



Only Krnovel

Episode 4

Boooow!!

The village bus departed with a puff of smoke and dust as soon as the doors closed.

You also have a hasty personality.

“Cough! Cough!”

I couldn’t avoid it in time and started coughing.

But this was good anyway.

The problem is more… … .

‘It took over an hour just to go to town and come back.’

After Kim Do-hyuk left.

The remaining time to read and organize the documents barely had enough time to have a drink.

And then we set off right away.

In short, it took almost an hour just to move.

If I had known this would happen, I would have brought the car first.

‘What’s the use of regretting it? It’s already past.’

I stopped looking at the back of the bus after it left.

Just bring the car here as soon as you finish clearing it out… … .

For now, I decided to use the means I have.

It was said that he was walking.

But the destination was not the village, but the opposite. It was the bridge leading across the river.

The reason was simple.

Because I have to go find the gift my grandfather left behind.

He said that was the area with the cafe.

‘I never thought it would be there.’

I was still hesitant until I checked the address on the document on a map.

But the moment I saw the background in the photo of the cafe, I was sure.

That it’s a place I know.

It was also a place filled with long memories with my grandfather.

Of course, there must be a place in this town where we spent our childhood that doesn’t have memories.

It was a really special place for my grandfather and me.

But I never thought I’d leave a gift there.

‘I knew you were the kind of person who would do anything you said you would do.’

Buying land and opening a cafe.

Thinking about my grandfather’s triumphant expression after his accomplishment made my mouth water.

So that’s why you kept telling me to come.

If you had come then, I would have been excited and told you.

‘… … Let’s go quickly.’

I swallowed the bitterness and moved.

Since we had spent a lot of time in town, we had to move quickly.

A path that crosses the river in front of the village and heads towards a small mountain across the village.

Along that road, there was a hidden entrance to a narrow path barely wide enough for one car.

And if you go up that path… … .

“Huk! Huk! Why, not yet?”

We should have arrived earlier in time, but the road was still uphill.

Could this be it?

It’s been so long that my memory may be vague.

Otherwise… … .

‘Come to think of it, when I was little I used to run there, right?’

They say that when you become an adult, the paths you took as a child feel closer, but I guess that’s all a lie.

Even though you may have grown up and your stride has gotten longer, you still can’t jump as fast as a child.

‘How on earth did you get so energetic back then?’

Rather, I feel like I can’t keep up with the excitement of that time.

I think it might be because I’ve been working in an office for so long that my physical strength has deteriorated.

Anyway, it’s something that can’t be stopped now.

Walked.

Walk and walk.

So finally.

“……come.”

Arrived at destination.

I feel like it took twice as long as expected?

As evidence, the moment I stopped, sweat flowed like water.

It’s so hot that it stings my eyes.

Fortunately, a cool breeze soon blew from the mountains.

I closed my eyes and welcomed it.

Saaaaah~!

Just like that for a little while.

I feel like I can live now.

After the beads of sweat running down my back and the sweat dripping down my forehead and obscuring my eyes had all dried, I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.

Then, a small open space appeared before my eyes.

My grandfather and I.

A secret and mysterious place known only to the two of them.

The surrounding area was surrounded by green forest, but this place was the only one without any large trees. Thanks to this, when I raised my head, I could see an unusually clear sky.

Blue sky surrounded by green forest.

Pure white clouds floating between them.

When the green leaves fluttered in the wind, it felt like I had entered a fairyland.

It’s so mysterious that I can’t even dare to think of anything negative…

Even when I was young, I thought it was beautiful.

So when you’re feeling down, or when you just want to relax a little.

Every time that happened, my grandfather and I would lie down in the grass here and stare blankly at the sky.

Strangely enough, after doing that, all the fatigue disappeared… … .

There I saw a log cabin I had never seen before.

And on the sign erected in front of it.

[Cafe – Tiger Shelter]

The café name was engraved in a familiar style.

Since it’s the same name on the documents, it must be my grandfather’s.

Then, this must be the cafe in the photo that my grandfather ran.

But what is the name of the cafe, Tiger Shelter?

Thinking about how my name almost became Baekho, I nodded my head at my grandfather’s firm taste in names.

Still, definitely,

“Isn’t it great?”

That shack-like cafe was a hit.

It was a form that couldn’t be more suitable for this empty lot.

It satisfied the proportions of the space, the functionality, the aesthetics, and even the history of the two people embedded in this place.

Very good, not missing a single one… … .

“this.”

Without realizing it, I developed a habit from my work life. Whenever I see a building I like, I can’t control my mind and start analyzing it like an otaku…

If my grandfather had seen this, he would probably have grumbled.

If it’s good, then it’s good. Why are you saying such unlucky things? Is that important right now?

right.

“That’s cool, Grandpa. This is real.”

The special gift my grandfather left behind was really cool.

To console myself for not being able to convey my message in person, I looked up at the empty sky and conveyed my message instead.

of course,

“I didn’t say I was going to continue yet, Grandpa. That’s why I said I liked it.”

He also conveyed his grandson’s stubbornness, which he somehow did not want to give in to.

A cafe like this.

And 8.9 billion won.

Wouldn’t it have been better if you had told me about it earlier?

Knowing that my grandson is having a hard time.

If that were the case, I could have quit the company right away and helped my grandfather with his work as a dutiful son, regardless of my beliefs.

I could have been there for my grandfather.

“… … You know I’m not being sincere, right?”

I was a little upset.

Please forgive me for that.

I’m so sorry, that’s why.

As my grandfather said, I’m a person who has a hard time expressing myself.

* * *

Ding, ding, ding

After staring at the cafe and the sky for a while as if mumbling a song, I went inside the cafe to take a look before it was too late.

The clear sound of the bell on the door greeted me first, and then I saw the small, cozy interior.

Still, it didn’t look as narrow as I thought because the windows were wide enough to show the empty space.

I put as much care into the outside as I did into the inside.

A lot of soft-toned wood was used, creating a warm feeling.

In fact, you could see the meticulous care of my grandfather, who was once a carpenter, everywhere.

“hmm.”

While admiring those things, I stood at the counter where I had stayed the longest.

My grandfather was watching from here.

There was a kitchen in the back, which was clean as if it had just been cleaned that morning.

“Is the fridge full too?”

The same goes for cabinets containing room temperature ingredients.

The machines used to make the drinks also appear to be well maintained.

The overall condition… … Let’s take a closer look. It was very clean, as if it could be opened for business right away.

Come to think of it, it made sense since he came the day before my grandfather passed away.

Well, it might be simpler than you think?

Among the projects I’ve worked on so far, there was one that involved being a franchise consultant, so with just a little bit of practice, running a store isn’t a big problem.

The recipe might be the problem, but it’s not hard to find such things these days.

At that time, while I was looking around like that!

“uh?”

Something fell with a thud, along with the feeling of something catching on my clothes.

When I picked it up, it turned out to be a photo.

I took a picture of my grandfather and many other people with this as the background.

“Where did this come from… … Huh?”

I looked over at the kitchen counter and saw an open notebook.

I think this is what I bumped into while turning around earlier.

Is this a household ledger?

Why did you put it here and not on the counter?

I roughly put the photo in and took a quick look inside… … .

[menu]

─Americano

─Café Latte

… … .

There was something unexpected.

It seems that my grandfather was serious about not just buying land and building a cafe.

A recipe book that was written down carefully, one by one, by hand.

It seems like he wrote down, one by one, things he learned here and there in his own style.

The notes were thick because of how much study he did.

Even among such elaborate recipes, some seemed quite easy.

“I’ll do this right away. It was easier than I thought.”

[Mint Chocolate Frappuccino]

─Ingredients: ice, milk, whipped cream, fresh mint, chocolate chips.

─How to make: Grind ice, milk, and fresh mint… … .

One time, a team member went to buy coffee and unexpectedly bought a mint drink.

He was a friend who used to do a lot of weird things… … At that time, I was going to curse him for doing something to the drink.

When I actually ate it, it was better than I expected, so I gave it a pass.

It was sweet, refreshing, and fragrant, perfect for recharging my sugar levels.

‘Is this how it’s made?’

I happened to go hiking, which wasn’t really hiking, and my neck got sunburned.

Something cool is appealing… … Should I try making it?

It didn’t look difficult, so it kept catching my eye.

Should I say that the process is naturally drawn in my head? It feels familiar, yet unfamiliar.

“At this level, I think I can make it too.”

Well, my grandfather did it too. What can’t I, who is much younger than me, do?

I flinched at the thought that suddenly occurred to me.

I had a strange feeling about this from earlier, but I wonder if it wasn’t Grandpa who set this up? He told me to continue with the cafe…

‘No way.’

I must be mistaken.

Who would think that making one drink would lead to running a cafe?

He shrugged.

And I’m thirsty so I just wanted to make a drink.

I rummaged around the kitchen to find the ingredients.

But one important thing was missing.

It’s fresh mint.

“Oh! There’s some mint powder. I guess I can use that.”

Replaced with something similar.

So I gathered all the ingredients together.

For some reason, my hand went there brimming with confidence.

First, according to the recipe… … ice and milk.

It was as if my hand was a scale, and everything I put into it was put into the measuring cup exactly as I wanted.

Mint powder has a sweeter flavor than fresh mint, so use in moderation.

Then I added chocolate chips and ground them in a mixer.

Okay! Ssuk!

Wheeing!!

While the mixer was turning like that.

The hands were busy again.

This time I had to whip the whipped cream to go on top.

I added an appropriate amount of sugar and whipped it with a hand mixer, watching the mixer turn.

Then, just when I felt the moment was right, I turned it off and poured the drink into the cup.

A drink with a pretty color.

what?

Why is it easy?

The order is also correct.

This must be your first time.

Without any hesitation, he made the drink in an instant with familiar hand movements.

It felt as if my hands were moving on their own.

Lastly, it was perfection itself, even adding whipped cream.

It looked like I had just gotten a drink from a cafe.

“… … I wonder what it tastes like?”

I couldn’t hold back my curiosity and just took a sip.

Gulp! Gulp!

“… … ?!”

it’s good.

More than I ate then.

I had doubts even though I made it.

It was quite fragrant and refreshing.

“… … Is this okay?”

Did I have this talent?

That could be the case.

Because I’ve always been good with my hands.

What was a little strange, though, was that the whole process felt very skilled.

That he never stuttered even once.

That was big.

Even if you’re a beginner, if you look at the recipe and put in similar ingredients, it can be delicious.

But that process can’t be like that.

That’s why it’s divided into beginners and experts.

The difference could only be overcome with time, effort, or talent.

Of course, I didn’t put in the time or effort, so the only way to overcome the gap is with talent…

“It’s a bit subtle to call it talent.”

It definitely felt like my hands were moving on their own.

This is truly a thing that would make a ghost cry.

While he was admiring his own hidden talent(?).

Why~

“huh?”

I was thinking seriously when I suddenly heard a baby-like voice.

Where did you hear that?

“catling?”

Why?

I made eye contact with a kitten rolling around on the cafe floor.

The guy also looked obviously flustered when he saw me.

The guy who was revealing his small, white belly the size of a fist slightly turned his body.

Black stripes on yellow background.

It’s a cat called a tricolor, but its patterns are just like a tiger.

The fur pattern is unique.

Did you come into an empty cafe and just lie down and sleep?

There’s no place for people to live around here, so I guess it’s a wild cat.

however…….

“Where are you from?”

Was there any opening here to come in?

As I spoke quietly, the kitten came closer and sniffed around.

A cat that has no sense of caution? This cat is totally a dog.

I stretched out my finger and a very faint breeze reached the tip.

A ticklish feeling.

‘It’s cute, though.’

Where on earth did you come from?

I raise my head and look around for a place where the guy might come in… … .

“!!”

I turned my head toward the doorway and was startled.

Beyond the transparent glass door, a pair of eyes were looking this way.

The pitch black color contrasting with the ghostly white skin… … .

“You were a bachelor then?”

“Oh! Who are you, sir? This is my grandfather.”

The guy wearing a bucket asked back from beyond the door.

There’s something I wanted to ask.

Who are you?

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