God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 121

Churros.

This snack, similar yet slightly different from kkwabaegi, is one of the foods symbolizing amusement parks along with boba ice cream.

Even in TV advertisements for amusement parks, they always include a scene of a child eating these churros.

They say even fried shoes would taste good, so how could fried dough coated with sugar not be delicious?

The memories from childhood are still vivid.

Mesmerized by the flashy advertisements leaking from the large screen, I would stand there as if nailed to the spot, watching the same scene over and over again.

-Hey, what are you doing there?

-.......

-Amusement park? Do you want to go there?

-Yes.

-I went there with my dad last weekend, but except for the merry-go-round and bumper cars, it was just okay.

Even with my classmate's words, I couldn't completely shake off the fantasy. The image of a child entering the park with a big smile, holding their parents' hands, seemed too dreamlike to me.

It might have been better if I had experienced it myself. The expectation for an ideal that I had never reached kept growing.

Especially how delicious the churros looked as the child in the promotional video took a big bite with a beaming smile.

-So, have you tried that too? Churros?

-Huh? Of course~

-What does it taste like?

-What do you mean what taste? It tastes delicious!

-No, not that. It's fried food coated with sugar, right? Does it taste like a hot dog?

-Hot dog? No, it was completely different.

-Then?

-It had a different taste! Not just sweet. It, it...... had the scent of the tea my mom often drinks!

-Tea?

-Yeah! You know, the one where you float egg yolks on top!

-Ssanghwa-cha?

-Is that it? I'm not sure. But can't we play hide-and-seek now?

-You lost all your hakjongis yesterday, right?

-Yeah.

-I'll give you this.

I always carried extra hakjongis to lend with interest to kids who had lost all of theirs.

-Wow! Really?!

-Yeah. But instead of hide-and-seek, let's play twenty questions. About churros. How about it?

-That doesn't sound fun.

-Don't you want the hakjongi?

-Okay!

I was able to learn a few more clues about churros from the friend who was jumping with joy after receiving the hakjongi.

He said the churros had a scent like 'ssanghwa-cha'. So, it was probably a cinnamon scent.

But while the scent alone didn't seem particularly delicious, my friend said it was really sweet and tasty. Well, it couldn't not be tasty with all that sugar coating.

'Right. That's how I learned about churros bit by bit. The first time I actually ate them was in high school, wasn't it? When we all went to the amusement park for a field trip to take graduation photos.......'

Until then, I hadn't even seen them in person.

'It must have been similar for Baek Jae-ha.'

There's a strong perception that amusement parks are places where families go to make special memories. Children without families have no choice.

He's a child who had never even properly tasted gan-pung-gi and pondered over its taste. I could roughly gauge how distant amusement park churros must have been for him.

'Were churros trending during this period? I can't remember clearly.'

But from some point in the future, churros and boba ice cream shops started appearing quite frequently.

It also meant that foods once only seen in amusement parks had successfully become mainstream.

'Actually, when I finally got to eat them after only imagining for so long, they weren't as delicious as I thought, so I wasn't particularly interested.'

Isn't that how it usually is with these kinds of snacks? You tend to be disappointed when you eat them with high expectations.

I haven't particularly sought out churros since then, so I'm not sure exactly when they became popular.

But it's an item with enough potential to become commercialized at some point.

"Shall we give it a try?"

I said with a grin.

"While the amusement park image is strong, churros on their own are a delicious snack. It might be good to sell them with some upgrades, don't you think?"

"Really?"

When I responded positively, Baek Jae-ha's eyes sparkled.

His expression was like a child receiving a toy as a gift, and I couldn't help but smile.

"What do you think, Team Leader Jo?"

"I think it's detestable."

"What?"

"I apologize. That was a slip of the tongue."

Just now, what?

Before I could ask again, Jo I-ruk cleared his throat and opened his mouth in a more serious tone.

"I think it's a promising idea. The cooking process isn't complicated either, so it would be easy to standardize. After all, the test store was created with the intention of trying various challenges, so it might be good to start with an unfamiliar menu."

"The first churros specialty store in Korea, that's a good title. I should slip that in during the interview with Reporter Kang Yu-ha."

This much promotion should be fine for giving an interview. If I slip it in with an appropriate question, Kang Yu-ha would understand my intention and write about it well.

She's quick-witted, which is good.

"Then let's discuss specific plans when we invite the chef. Jae-ha, you think more about how to upgrade the churros too."

"Yes, I understand."

"I will!"

Good, this wraps things up for now.

I nodded firmly.

"...Oh right. So what were you two talking about earlier?"

I had forgotten for a moment, but now that we've finished talking about the idea, I'm curious again.

At my question, Baek Jae-ha and Jo I-ruk looked at each other and then grinned.

What's this? Did they become close in that short time? The unique sense of solidarity between those sharing a secret was apparent, and it was slightly bewildering.

"It was nothing much."

"That's right."

They sealed their lips as if on cue.

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"Hello, Chae-rangs~ It's Chae-chae!"

Sim Chae-yoon now effortlessly spouted cringeworthy catchphrases and winked one eye.

As a YouTuber currently rising in popularity with mukbang content, she had taken a break from university to focus on her YouTube activities.

Unlike before, her hair was dyed a flashy color and her unique outfit changed her atmosphere, but her characteristic vivacious feeling remained the same.

"Oh, everyone's coming in quickly. Why a live stream, you ask? Here, I just can't not do a live stream~!"

-Chae-ha

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Surprise live, where is this?

-Isn't today your day off from streaming?

-Chae-ha~!

-Chae-chae-nim, what are you eating today?

Sim Chae-yoon grinned as she read the incoming chats.

"You all know I'm a total fan of Song Woo-yeon-nim, right? I've been visiting and reviewing her franchises whenever they come out. No, it's not like we're super close or anything. She's just such a great person. From when I was a complete newbie... No, never mind that story!"

Sim Chae-yoon swiftly turned the camera. In a corner of the so-called 'Song Woo-yeon Alley', lined with familiar The Song brand stores, a new sign was visible.

<Song Kitchen ~Today's Menu~>

"Ta-da~! You're all seeing this for the first time, right?"

-What is this

-Song Kitchen? Did Song Woo-yeon launch another franchise?

-What do they sellㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Oh, I think I saw this in the news, a test store? That's it, right

"Oh, correct answer! Someone got it right! This is a test store operated by Song Woo-yeon-nim's The Song. They say it's a place where they showcase new menus developed by The Song. They first sell here, and if the response is good, they move it to a test brand to prepare for franchising!"

-They do all sorts of things

-That's interesting

-What are you eating today?

-Please call out my nickname

-So what do they sell

Despite the viewers' urging, Sim Chae-yoon smoothly continued without flustering.

"Ah~ You're all so impatient. This test store, Song Kitchen, hasn't been opened to the general public yet. It's in the soft opening period, but they said they specially opened it for me today!"

Gone was her amateur-like attitude from before, now she had completely established herself as a professional YouTuber.

"So today's content~! We're going to try all the menus at this <Song Kitchen>~!"

-Song Woo-yeon is deadㄷㄷ

-She's seriously declaring war

-Breaking news) Chae-chae declares intention to rob Song Woo-yeon, causing big controversy etc.

-How many menus do you think there are that you're going to try them allㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-If it's a test store, I wonder if they sell all sorts of things? I'm curious

Sim Chae-yoon slowly opened the door of <Song Kitchen>.

"Oh~"

It was evident from the exterior, but the clean and sophisticated design immediately caught the eye.

Perhaps because it's a place to test challenging menus. Overall, it felt targeted towards young people.

"Hello!"

"Hello~"

"Gasp. CEOOO!"

Sim Chae-yoon's eyes widened. She had encountered an unexpected figure inside the store.

Thanks to Song Woo-yeon's smiling appearance, the chat window momentarily exploded with rapid messages.

"Oh my, CEO! How are you here? Aren't you busy?!"

"Even if I'm busy, I have to come see Sim Chae-yoon-ssi. Oh, should I call you Chae-chae-nim?"

"Oh my, whatever you're comfortable with! I heard you were lending the store, but I didn't know you'd be here in person~"

"I had to come personally for Chae-chae-nim's visit."

Song Woo-yeon nodded with a determined expression.

"I'll do my best to defend today."

"No, CEO-nim. I didn't come here to rob the place."

At the naturally flowing banter, the chat window was flooded with comments like 'ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ', 'It is similar though', 'The CEO knows Chae-chae accurately'.

"First, please sit over here. I'll bring you the menu."

"That's great!"

Sim Chae-yoon's eyes began to sparkle.

"I was really looking forward to this. I visit your franchises often, CEO-nim. They're delicious and have good value for money. I've been so excited since last night, wondering what kind of menu you'd showcase this time!"

"Haha. Is that so? This makes me a bit nervous. Are you very hungry?"

"Yesss!"

Song Woo-yeon scratched her cheek as if troubled and handed over the menu.

"What should we do about this. The menu we prepared this time is...... mostly desserts."

"......!"

As Sim Chae-yoon made a despairing expression, Song Woo-yeon continued as if she had no choice.

"I'll make something to fill your stomach with the ingredients we have. This wasn't in the plan, but......."

"Oh my. That's amazing!"

While Sim Chae-yoon was jumping with joy, the chat window unanimously clicked their tongues.

-You'll regret this.......

-Run away~~

-And thus, another kind CEO departs. Amen.

Song Woo-yeon vs. Sim Chae-yoon

The second 'Maker vs. Eater' match of the century was about to begin.