I Quit My Job and Run a Café - Chapter 40
Only Krnovel
Episode 40
The well-made dough was cut into appropriate sizes after the first fermentation.
And then you just need to shape it appropriately and store it in the refrigerator, but before that… … .
“brownie?”
Kuru~
I showed the tray containing the dough to Brownie.
Then the guy climbed onto the dough.
Then he left footprints one by one on the dough. Of course, they weren’t real footprints.
Because Brownie was just an aura, not a real thing.
Instead, the aura was imprinted in the shape of a footprint.
It seemed like some kind of marking.
“It will be delicious, right?”
Kururu~
“okay.”
Let’s believe it.
The marked dough was covered with plastic wrap and placed in the refrigerator.
This way, secondary fermentation will not occur and this state can be maintained.
“Then… … .”
tomato.
I lightly boiled the ripe tomatoes and peeled them.
Then, I removed the tough top part and the core inside and crushed them one by one.
It wasn’t difficult.
Perhaps it was because my dexterity had definitely improved, but now I could easily make things I had never made before.
anyway.
The crushed tomatoes were passed through a fine sieve once more to remove the seeds and prevent particles from getting caught.
We’ll use this to make the sauce.
First, add olive oil and minced garlic to the pan and fry.
When the delicious garlic aroma comes out, add the mashed tomatoes and stir-fry to remove the moisture… … .
‘It’s not a whole tomato, so there’s a lot of water.’
The original recipe called for whole tomatoes, but I had plenty of them in my garden, so I just used these.
It took some time though.
As I stir-fried it, the tomato flavor mixed with the garlic flavor made my mouth water.
‘This much should be enough.’
Season with salt, pepper, and sugar over the slightly sautéed tomato paste to remove moisture.
Slightly sweet and salty, but still brings out the freshness of the tomatoes.
“Okay.”
The original recipe calls for adding spices here, but I left them out.
It’ll be enough even if you don’t go up.
So now we are ready… … .
“hmm.”
I saw an empty lot because no guests had arrived yet.
When I first arrived, Rangi was engaged in a war of nerves with Baekgu.
Are we going to decide the match that we couldn’t finish yesterday?
It’s a little exciting, but this time, the match between the two will have to be postponed.
A guest has arrived.
This time the guest was a familiar person.
However, even from a distance, the dull aura was ominous.
Above all… … this guest had the flower of talent pinned to his head.
It won’t be easy.
* * *
[Nam Woo-shin]
*situation
─Loss of confidence due to repeated failures
─Depression due to the burden of having to take responsibility for the family and regret over what I had to give up
The prediction was not wrong.
The guest whose talent had been cut off was not in good condition.
The flowers are withered and the stems are diseased. The roots are probably in a similar condition.
Customers in that state even ordered slightly differently.
“Takeout?”
“Yes, my friend’s father came by recently and said it was delicious. So my friend heard about it and said he wanted to try the coffee here… … Sigh.”
An unexpected order came in with a dark aura: takeout.
Of course, if you look at it that way, it wasn’t a strange order.
Because, like Kim Ha-na, there were cases where people took the drink home after drinking it because it was so delicious.
But you came all the way here and wrapped it up to give to your friend… … .
He doesn’t even ask for his own things.
By the way, my friend’s father just came and went…
‘Not a friend, but a friend’s father… … Well, recently, the guest of the same age who can be called father… … Ah! There’s Mr. Park Dae-san. So, he’s Mr. Park Dae-san’s son’s friend?’
Considering Mr. Park Dae-san’s personality, I think his son would have grown up well, but this kind of order, and the fact that he carries it out so straightforwardly, seems unusual…
‘No.’
Come to think of it, it’s more amazing than strange. No matter how much I ask, they come all the way to a corner like this to pick me up.
Normally, friendship wouldn’t be enough, right?
“Oh! So you came to pick up the package? You must be really close to me?”
however…….
Splash!
“We are very close friends.”
hmm.
We’re best friends, right?
I think I just answered while gritting my teeth… … .
Did you come here under threat or something?
Then, as if he had read my subtle expression, Nam Woo-shin let out a small sigh and quietly said.
“500 thousand won.”
“yes?”
“That’s the money he gave me for delivery.”
“ah.”
The reason why he said it directly was so surprising.
500,000 won for a cup of coffee delivered… … .
Considering its location, it wasn’t a small amount.
Then it seems like I have a really good friend?
Of course, just because someone has a lot of money doesn’t mean they’re a good friend.
I think I know why Mr. Daesan’s son asked his friend to run this errand.
‘Maybe he sent it here to his friend so he could catch his breath.’
I thought I could tell even without the system window. Nam Woo-shin’s condition didn’t look good at first glance.
The 500,000 won is just an excuse to avoid awkwardness between friends.
His skills are extraordinary. His appearance of being subtly considerate of others was exactly like Mr. Park Dae-san, who used to be subtly considerate of me when I was making latte art.
Of course, that guy is also a good friend, so it’s understandable why Mr. Park Dae-san’s son did this.
I checked the guest’s condition again.
It was really bad.
The condition is the condition, but above all else… … that broken flower.
It seemed like there was a deeper story behind him than simply calling him a job seeker or an unemployed person.
In that kind of condition, I wouldn’t even think about coming to a place like this to rest.
‘That’s why they sent it that way.’
If they did that over there… … I want to take appropriate action here too.
Since I’ve already come this far, I can’t just let it go.
I don’t want to be like that.
“Oh, by the way, can I have a latte too?”
“Can I have one latte and one Americano?”
“yes.”
At the sound of the order, I looked at the customer in front of me again.
Judging from his expression and attitude, it seemed that the customer still did not understand his friend’s deeper meaning.
Well, it’s strange that I can think that far in that state.
Life as a job seeker at a fairly young age.
It will be so dark ahead that you won’t even be able to see what’s right in front of you.
If you package the drink like this, I’ll probably just take it without hesitation.
I myself have not had any rest here.
“Are you okay, sir?”
“Yes? I’m, well. I’m fine.”
“Oh really? While you’re here, why don’t you eat something before you go? You’ve come a long way.”
“Ah, um.”
Judging from your worried expression, I don’t think you’ll order something like this.
What should I do?
ah!
“Since it’s already a start, I’ll give you one for free. And since that friend said he was curious… … How about trying it and talking about it?”
How about this?
Because he is a guest who is on good terms with his friends.
“Hmm. Well then.”
It worked.
As I looked at the menu and thought about what to choose, I clenched my fists under the counter.
Of course, the guest’s condition was still the same.
Now we’re finally in a situation where we can do something.
Swish.
In the meantime, I used attunement on the auras wandering around the cafe.
First, open that solid door.
As a calm aura that calmed the mind and body gently circulated around, the singing also became gentle.
* * *
Nam Woo-shin, as usual, was working part-time at a cafe.
But today was a little different.
Even though there are no customers, he just stands at the counter blankly.
To be honest, it wasn’t very nice to look at.
“ha…….”
But there’s nothing I can do.
Because right now, nothing was entering his eyes.
It’s been like this since I received a text message.
The text was simple.
[You have failed.]
I don’t know how many times this has happened.
Having failed countless exams has now caused my confidence to drop to rock bottom.
“Hoooo─.”
He wasn’t like this from the beginning.
Until elementary, middle, and high school, he was popular and did well in school.
He had a decent appearance and was tall.
He showed his talent in baseball while in middle school and became the team’s ace as soon as he entered high school.
So it can’t be unpopular.
He had a good personality and no flaws, so he had friends, seniors, juniors, and even a girlfriend.
Those were my school days when I had everything.
His life began to go wrong during his third year of high school, when he suffered a minor injury before an important match.
Not only did that injury ruin his game, but it also led to a bigger injury that caused him to miss the all-important rookie draft.
I entered college late and joined the school baseball team, hoping for another opportunity… … .
That minor injury snowballed into something that would eventually end his playing career.
At first I was discouraged, but there was hope.
Anyway, now that I’m in college, I’ll have to pull myself together and get a job so I can make a living.
but…….
Graduated from a university famous for baseball, but not so great in other areas.
Moreover, no matter how much I studied, the gap was not small because I focused on exercise.
The biggest problem with elite sports was revealed to him.
Moreover, it was at that time that my family’s finances began to decline. So I couldn’t just focus on my studies.
Even if it was a part-time job, I had to do something to help out. I had to eat to live.
I woke up at dawn and did the necessary studying.
Build up the qualifications needed for your resume.
Then, up to three or four part-time jobs a day.
When I return to my gosiwon, which is like a small room, after becoming like that…
Other friends who were settling in one by one contacted me.
Let’s have a congratulatory drink.
Naturally, he couldn’t go out.
I was getting more and more anxious.
Aren’t you the only one being left behind?
No, you’re the only one being left behind.
I need to get a job quickly and settle down… … .
That way, I can provide steady support to my family.
“Haa─.”
I’m preparing for employment again, and I’m preparing for employment again, with a grudge.
The results did not change.
Moreover, the bigger problem is, should we say that such defeats have become familiar now?
It seemed as if something had become empty in my heart, or if something had broken. This result seemed insignificant.
Is it because the most important purpose has disappeared?
‘You crazy bastard. Get used to it.’
I quickly washed away the thought that came to my mind while washing my face with a dry towel.
But at that moment, when my mind was spinning like crazy, I thought I needed to get some fresh air!
Zing! Zing!
“huh?”
Just then the phone rang.
He was my high school classmate and the only friend I still keep in touch with.
Not only is the family well-off, but I also heard that she recently had a child… … She was walking a very different path from me.
“Uh. Why?”
─As soon as you receive it, you immediately ask, ‘Why?’ Do you have time?
“Will it be there?”
─Why doesn’t a freeloader have time?
The reason I couldn’t get angry at my friend’s words that hit me where I was hurt was because I had received and gotten a lot from him over the years.
Still, it hurts a little.
“… …Why time? I don’t drink.”
─Who drinks alcohol? I can’t drink alcohol either. I’ll abstain from alcohol until my wife finishes breastfeeding.
“Then what is it?”
If it’s not alcohol, then why?
─My father recently went to a cafe called Tiger Shelter. He said he was originally going to go to the mountain but got lost and ended up going there, but the coffee there was really good.
“……so?”
─Please pick me up. My wife heard about it and said she really wants to go, but we can’t go right now. My wife is sick and I have to earn money as the head of the household. So, please go and get some takeout for me.
“What, Inma?”
You even ordered delivery.
This kid.
─I deposited money into your account thinking you would do it. So, should I ask you a favor?
“What? This crazy guy! Hey hey!”
Stop!
The guy who hung up first as if he knew I was going to yell.
Even if I call again, you probably won’t answer.
No one will ever know the true value of this madman, whom others call the standard of a good life.
Why is it that only I know about this antics!
“This stone.”
I’ve felt this since high school, but he really is a crazy person.
Give me back my money quickly… … Huh?
for a moment.
Why are the numbers printed on my account a bit strange?
Why… … does it look like 500,000 won and not 50,000 won?
“Wow, this is really a dolphin eye. It’s true.”
500,000 won for delivery fee.
Is money rotting away? Oh, this kid works for a big company… … .
But it’s a bit much to use your friends like this for money!
“Where did you say it was? Tiger Shelter? Just buying a cup of coffee for my friend’s family happiness.”
The amount was a bit large to say the least.
At this point, it’s worth going and coming back.
It’s hard to make money even if you work full-time every day.
Since I have to start preparing for the interview again anyway, I guess I can just think of it as taking a breather?
“Yeah, I was just trying to get some fresh air. But where is the tiger shelter… … Oh, you crazy guy.”
I turned on the map app and took a picture of the tiger shelter.
But strangely, after the map grew a lot in size, it was printed in a small place a little far from the current location.
Park Seon-yu, this guy is really crazy.
That was what brought him to this tiger shelter.
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