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chapter 28
As soon as Nasim took a spoonful of the kofta, ecstasy and emotion instantly spread across his face.
[…Oh!! This… is delicious…?!]
Seeing Nasim’s expression, the merchants who had been watching anxiously finally let themselves dive into the food.
[That picky successor is making that face!]
[Then it must be safe to eat, right?!]
Then suddenly, Nasim shot up from his seat, turned toward Seorin, and cried out in a trembling voice!
[You don’t know how much I’ve missed the food of my homeland. I will eat with peace of mind. I am truly moved by your sincerity.]
Hearing Nasim’s words, Seorin let out a silent scream of joy inside.
Rasheed, who witnessed his nephew staring at Seorin with a completely flushed face, stroked his beard and chuckled.
‘He’s of marrying age but has never shown interest in women, making the whole family worry… and now he shows interest in a foreign woman? Well, that’s something to think about later.’
Putting aside his thoughts about his nephew, Rasheed turned his gaze to the steaming bowl of chorba in front of him. In truth, he’d been dying to try it ever since he saw it.
He took a big spoonful and filled his mouth. The savory aroma of mung beans coated his tongue before sliding down his throat.
The texture of the grains that came with each bite was also extremely satisfying.
‘Oh! This is truly delicious! It’s not the bean flavor I know, but this is quite addictive! Not greasy at all, very clean… I should find out what kind of bean this is later and consider importing it…’
With Nasim and the vice caravan leader both eating with such satisfied expressions, even the merchants who had been hesitant until the end finally relaxed and dug in.
[Ohh! This is exactly my kind of flavor!]
[My stomach, which only had jerky for days at sea, is thanking me!]
[This hot broth… oh, how I have missed it!]
[Ugh… suddenly I miss home…]
Watching the merchants happily devour the food like starving soldiers, Seorin felt all her anxiety melt away, replaced with the deep satisfaction of having truly pleased her customers.
‘Ahhh… I’m so happy…’
She smiled brightly as she watched them eat. Her heartfelt smile naturally drew everyone’s attention inside the pavilion.
— Clink.
Especially Nasim, who had been staring at her up close; he even dropped his spoon as he became completely entranced by her.
Jun-gyeong frowned deeply at the sight.
“…Euncheon. That rude brat is looking at our Hye-eum Hall member with weird eyes.”
At his words, Euncheon glanced at Nasim, then at Seorin—the direction of his gaze.
“You see it too, right?”
“…”
“…Euncheon? Are you listening?”
“Seems the food was to their liking. That’s fortunate.”
“Huh? That’s not why his eyes are popping out like that though?”
“We’ve seen what we needed to see. Let’s return.”
Without another word, Euncheon walked straight out of the pavilion.
At that moment, a clerk entered the pavilion and whispered something to Director Lee Jeong-ah. She nodded and brought Seorin outside.
“There’s something I need you to check.”
“What is it?”
“They say they’ve prepared the prayer room. Come, let’s take a look.”
Lee Jeong-ah led Seorin to the central gate pavilion.
Climbing the steps where small lanterns had been placed, they found brazier pots arranged throughout the wooden floor. A Hye-gwang monk stood by the railing, looking up at the star-filled night sky over Hye-eum Ridge.
“You have arrived.”
Upon hearing about the prayer room from Seorin, Lee Jeong-ah immediately sought out Hye-gwang, who could read the stars. He brought his astrolabe and came here right away.
Using the Polaris as a fixed point, his experienced gaze moved skillfully among the constellations.
Without taking his eyes off the sky, Hye-gwang spoke to Seorin.
“I was told the direction roughly aligns with where the sun sets on the shortest day of the year. But since their homeland is very far from here, that alone isn’t enough to pinpoint the exact direction.”
He alternated between a specific group of stars and the fine markings on the astrolabe for a long moment, then finally pointed in one direction.
“It should be this way.”
Immediately, the clerks waiting behind them adjusted the floor cushions in the direction he indicated.
“Is that satisfactory?”
He asked gently with a warm smile.
“Yes! Thank you so much!”
Seorin bowed deeply in gratitude.
Lee Jeong-ah looked over the now-prepared prayer room, then added with a cautious expression,
“I asked rashly out of urgency earlier… I feel sorry for making a Buddhist monk handle preparations for another religion’s prayer room.”
Hye-gwang waved his hand with a benevolent smile.
“Do not speak so. Though the object and method of worship may differ, are we not all pilgrims seeking truth under the same sky? To help a traveler, even a little, brings me joy as well.”
* * *
[How long has it been since we tasted food from home?]
[Truly. I ate ten bowls of chorba.]
[It was absolutely wonderful.]
Stuffed and satisfied, the merchants patted their bloated stomachs as they left the dining hall.
Then one merchant with an impressive beard looked up at the night sky and approached Rasheed.
[Vice caravan leader, it’s almost time for Salat.]
[Ah, the hour for Isha prayer already? We must have lingered long over dinner. Haha.]
Salat—the mandatory five daily prayers for Muslims—had fixed times, and Isha was the final night prayer.
[Come, let’s find the qibla.]
The merchant pulled out a compass and lifted his head to check the stars.
But just then, Seorin, accompanied by the interpreter Won-ri from the kitchen, approached them.
[Please come with me. We’ve prepared a place where you may perform your prayers.]
Seeing her, Nasim quickly stepped out from among the group.
[How did you know and prepare this?]
[It’s nearly time for the final prayer. We wanted to ensure you could worship comfortably. Please follow me.]
Still bewildered, the merchants followed her.
Seorin led them to a pavilion overlooking a large pond. Twenty prayer mats had been neatly laid out.
[Even the mats were prepared in advance?]
Nasim asked, touched.
[Yes. They have also been aligned to face the qibla, so you won’t need to adjust your direction. While you pray, we’ll organize your belongings in your rooms. Please take your time.]
[Such thoughtful hospitality!]
The direction the mats faced was open and unobstructed, allowing the moonlight to shine brightly.
Like the dining hall, several braziers warmed the pavilion. The merchants were once again impressed by Hye-eum’s careful arrangements.
[Thank you. We never expected preparations of this level.]
[The guests’ joy is the joy of Hye-eum.]
Seeing their satisfaction filled Seorin with pride.
‘Yes! This is it. A hotelier’s pride and motivation comes from guests’ happiness!’
She bowed to them and headed toward Bohwagak, where the merchants would be staying, to organize their luggage.
Behind her, soft murmurs of thanks and prayers rose and echoed reverently across Hye-eum.
* * *
‘Aigo… now that the tension’s gone, my shoulders, back, and wrists are all screaming.’
After finishing the luggage arrangements, Seorin massaged her shoulders.
‘Times like these… lying on a warm ondol floor, eating snacks, chatting with the girls—that’s the best.’
When she baked the lavash earlier, she purposely made extra so she could share with the Hye-eum staff. She headed to the kitchen to grab a few to snack on with her friends… when she saw the clerks coming out of the pantry carrying loads of food.
