Chapter 131
"Okay, everyone, are you all feeling okay?"
"Yes!"
"Yes."
"...Yes."
We gathered at the mart at 9 a.m., an hour before opening time.
The bulgogi sales/tasting table located in the middle of the butcher shop corner is fully prepared to be launched at any moment.
The teacher in charge of our education carefully checked the hot plate and brought us sanitary supplies.
"I'll leave extra ones under the table, just in case you need to change gloves or a sanitary mask mid-work. And don't worry too much! If there's an emergency, I'll be right there."
"I hope that situation never comes up!"
"Hahaha, that's right! It's best if everything goes smoothly without any problems. You've been practicing hard so far, so I'm sure you'll do well."
The teacher repeatedly gave words of encouragement.
We put on gloves and masks and went inside the butcher shop to check out the bulgogi that would be sold today.
"Looking at it this way, there seem to be a lot of them?"
"Honestly, it's hard to sell this amount in one day. So, considering your sales target of 500,000 won, selling just 1/3 of the amount prepared today will probably be enough."
"That's true, but I don't think we should set our goals too low! How about we all decide that our goal for today is to sell out? "
Yoo Min-ha, already showing his fiery passion, asked me and Ji Yoon-chul.
Honestly, it seemed like it would be difficult to sell out, but I nodded my head, following Yoo Min-ha's momentum.
"If we achieve a sellout, the PD-nim might give us a bonus, so let's do our best until we can."
"Good! I hadn't thought about the bonus, but it's Karis Hyung-nim after all!"
"... I will also try hard."
Although Ji Yoon-chul still seemed unable to adapt to Yoo Min-ha's enormous energy, he still nodded his head.
With the help of the staff, we managed to transport the fresh meat to the tasting corner table, and now all that was left to do was look at the clock and wait for the opening time.
"Don't worry, Hyung-nim. I'll definitely bring many mothers. I have a secret card, you know?"
"Are you talking about the promotional song? "
"Yes! Once they hear that, everyone will have no choice but to come to our corner!"
I glanced at Ji Yoon-chul, who was silently cleaning the scissors and tongs.
"It looks like Min-ha will be in charge of the promotional song alone, so don't let your strength drain you too much from the beginning. You have a long way to go today."
"It's okay, Karis Hyung-nim! I'm an unstoppable energizer!"
"Where on earth have you seen lines like that?"
"Hehe, this is the comic I read before going to bed last night!"
As I spent time chatting with Yoo Minha, who was chattering like a chick, 10 o'clock came quickly.
As the camera crew informed us that the main gate was now opening, Yoo Min-ha shook his head from side to side to stretch his body.
"We should probably get ready right away."
"So soon?"
"Yes! We've got a one-plus-one event going on for our bulgogi, right? Since the sale items are often announced in advance, I think there will be a lot of people coming to buy the discounted items first."
Ji Yoon-chul, who heard Yoo Min-ha's words, nodded briefly and started to heat the grill.
"I will start grilling right now."
"Okay! Then I'll wander around here and check out the situation!"
"Take care on your way back."
"Just leave it to me!"
Exchanging lines like this makes me feel like I'm back in the Grand Quest Saga.
It was a natural procedure to observe the movements of the Demon King's army before launching a full-scale operation on the battlefield.
Yoo Minha even saluted and greeted, which brought back even more memories from the game.
'If this continues, the Crown Prince's ego will break, and it will be a big problem.'
Since the Crown Prince's ego has a very vague reference point for when he will wake up, I must always be careful.
If an abnormal status were to occur during content filming with ordinary citizens like now....
I could spend all day talking to older people in an arrogant tone.
Such a terrible situation must never happen.
I was anxiously hoping that the red status window wouldn't appear.
Fortunately, even after Yoo Min-ha left the tasting corner, the crown prince showed no signs of waking up.
I can take a breather.
Ji Yoon-chul placed the first piece of bulgogi on the preheated grill.
Along with the sizzling sound, the delicious smell of meat wafted in the air.
"Yoon-chul. The customers' evaluations are in your hands."
"I'll do my best, hyung."
When I said something to encourage Ji Yoon-chul, his tone of voice was completely different from his usual way of speaking.
A firm tone that did not hesitate or trail off.
Ji Yoon-chul opened his eyes wide and stared at the surface of the meat as the teacher had taught him.
About 10 minutes after opening, people started arriving at the food corner where we were.
I straightened my back and watched carefully to see if anyone was walking this way.
"Oh my, you have to grab this sale no matter what! Right, Mother?"
"I come here a lot, but this is the first time I've seen them promote something this passionately, ya."
A familiar voice reached my ear.
Yoo Minha was coming towards us, accompanied by a mother carrying a shopping basket.
It looks like the active promotion is already having a big effect.
I spoke to Ji Yoon-chul quickly.
"Yoon-chul. It looks like a guest is coming. How much time is left until the meat for tasting is finished?"
"... There's still one more minute."
"Then we have no choice but to waste some time."
At that moment, Yoo Min-ha's gaze met mine.
I pointed to the grill and raised one finger urgently.
A signal that there is still one more minute to go.
Yoo Minha nodded and cleared his throat, somehow realizing it.
He intends to pull out his trump card right away.
"Ahem! Mother, we're preparing some meat for you to try before you buy, but it'll take some time! While you wait, can I play you a song I prepared?"
"Omo, you've prepared a song?"
"Yes! You must know this song!"
Without a single ounce of hesitation, Yoo Min-ha sang a song promoting bulgogi, showing off the trot singing skills he had been honing.
The mother, who was listening to Yoo Min-ha's song, which was equipped with advanced skills to break the note, was very satisfied and even applauded.
"This handsome young man is really good at singing! You could become a celebrity later on."
"How did you know that my dream was to be a celebrity! Mother, you're so witty!"
"I know how much time I've lived, just look at you and I'll know. You're destined to become a great singer."
"Hehehe, thank you!"
While Yoo Min-ha was killing time with his characteristic friendliness, Ji Yoon-chul finished the first bulgogi that he had painstakingly cooked.
I cut the bulgogi into bite-size pieces and put them in a tasting cup.
After quickly sticking a toothpick into the meat, I smiled and said to the mother.
"Try the meat, Mother. It's Korean beef, so it'll be very tender."
"Oh, thank you."
It's a tense moment.
All three of us had our eyes fixed on mother's hand as she brought the bulgogi to her mouth.
After blowing on the hot steam to cool it down, Mother ate the bulgogi in one bite.
And a few seconds later,.
"This is so delicious, young man. Who cooked this?"
"... I, I did it."
"Omo, my eyes aren't so good so I couldn't see from far away, but the young men here are all very tall and handsome. Are they all your friends?"
"You're right."
"Are you all here to work with your friends? The young people are also sincere. Since you're all handsome, don't waste your time and be sure to appear on TV later, okay?"
"Thank you!"
Mother, who had been giving lots of advice, asked for a pack of bulgogi.
I carefully packed two packs of bulgogi and attached price tags.
"Thank you. Enjoy your meal, Mother."
"Everyone, sell a lot!"
And so our historic first sale took place.
"As expected! Look, hyung-nim! I did a good job making the song, didn't I?"
"That was really great, Min-ha."
"I'll keep this momentum going and bring in more people! Oh, right. You had a few extra tongs, right? "
Yoo Minha, with two extra pairs of tongs in hand, set out on another journey, wondering what he was going to do.
Ji Yoon-chul smiled faintly as he placed the next piece of bulgogi on the grill.
"... I feel proud."
"It's a great feeling when the food you make yourself gets a good review."
"Even then.... I was very happy to hear that they enjoyed the cake at the cafe, too. So I really wanted to do well this time; you said that...."
Certainly, Ji Yoon-chul doesn't always maintain a blank expression.
You can also express your emotions without hesitation.
What kind of past did this guy have that made him act like that until now?
"Father, try our bulgogi! It's so fresh and delicious, made with clean Korean beef! "
"We're having a Bulgogi One Plus One Sale! Delicious bulgogi for one plus one! This isn't an opportunity that comes every day! "
Meanwhile, Yoo Minha used the vocalization technique he learned yesterday to his advantage and shouted out loud to attract customers.
Due to Yoo Minha actively walking around the mart, people began to slowly flock to the bulgogi tasting corner we ran.
In particular, there were quite a few older people, like the mother earlier, who was the first customer.
"Buy one, get one free?"
"Yes! Since it's a one-plus-one deal, we're giving you one pack for free! You can even try it before you buy it, so come without any worries, Mother!"
I wondered why Yoo Minha was holding a pair of tongs, but he was tapping the beat of a song he had made with the tongs in both hands.
It was almost like an impromptu busking scene.
'Truly, Yoo Minha was born to be an idol.'
It was a loss for Korean K-pop not to utilize such excitement and talent. This thought came to mind as I saw Yoo Min-ha walked around the mart and gathered customers.
Ji Yoon-chul's hand movements while grilling meat also became faster.
"Try some bulgogi."
"It's hot, so you can eat it slowly."
"Yes, it's 12,000 won per pack."
My skills in serving guests also improved quickly.
The first time I packaged it, I wasn't very good at cutting the plastic wrap, but now I'm quickly wrapping up packs full of bulgogi.
'Still, it's fortunate that nothing much happened.'
This was my first time having a direct conversation with ordinary citizens rather than fans.
Maybe that's why I was a little nervous, but thanks to my passive skill, I was able to continue the conversation very smoothly.
But there was one old man who made me a little flustered.
"Why did you dye your hair yellow, young man?"
"Haha, I'm actually a foreigner, so my hair is naturally yellow."
"You're not Korean? But why do you speak Korean so well? Are your parents Korean? "
Someone with quite a few questions showed up.
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