Find Me in 1000 Years

Broths

Ken doesn't feel good about Lucas, Balto's old employee, but he also owes the restaurant owner a debt of gratitude. He rubbed the back of his neck. "How is it? It's up to you." This time he did not want to think much, because he was still traumatized by many things. He is clearing his mind.

"OKs. How about you make consomme(broth)?"

"Oh, okay."

"Do you know how?"

"This may be my version, sir. I don't know if this is anywhere near Father's standard." Ken believes the restaurant is a good restaurant although it may not be big. He guessed from the type of food that was arranged neatly and kitchen uniforms that he had to wear while working.

He could only guess because he had never walked out of the building. Just when he tried to get out, Lucas banned him. Lucas is the only key holder of the building so when he gets home, he locks Ken inside the building.

The middle-aged man frowned the tip of his lips. "Then, I want to see your standards." Finally the bule man became a spectator when Ken prepared the ingredients until cooking. He saw the Japanese man cooking to the end.

Ken turned off the stove. "That's it, sir."

The man looked into the pot whose smoke was still billowing. He saw a slightly different color and also the process earlier. Immediately he grabbed the spoon and took a sip after giving a slight pop on the surface of the spoon.

Ken's surprised. "Lho, isn't there no taste?"

"For some people who don't understand, they don't feel anything but there's something left in their mouth after tasting it" said Balto, who was silent after tasting it.

"really?" The Japanese don't even know.

"Mk." Balto was silent again. "What if I put it in my restaurant's cooking?"

"What's? Uh, but it's home cooking not restaurant-grade cooking" Ken replied half-surprised.

"I like the taste. I want to try on my customers and I want to know their opinions."

Ken twisted the washcloth he was holding out of worry. "Are you sure? This is you risking the tongue of your own customers! Is that not dangerous?"

Balto smiled widely. "No, because I'm going to have them pick out, using the broth we usually wear or the new broth we offer."

"But ...."

The bule man raised his hand. His hair, which is gray to the beard, does not make him look too old. Even his neat appearance made people guess how old he was because his facial skin was still tight like a young man. "Let them decide."

The Japanese man is of course ketar-ketir because his cuisine has never been used for any restaurant purposes. A good restaurant is like the restaurant where you work. "How about ...."

"The customer is responsible for his own choices and I am responsible for my decisions."

Ken could say nothing more than to see what was about to happen. The restaurant was never empty when the meal arrived. Even the seat was never left. The man once peeked at her from a door that could be pushed from two directions, connecting the kitchen and dining room.

His heart pounded as the restaurant guests began to arrive. On average they are regulars, as Ken has seen most of them come yesterday. Their clothes look expensive, signifying they are important people.

They were led to an empty seat by the two waitresses, Irene and Min Shi. As instructed, the two servants offered the customers a second choice of the broth. After getting the order, the two went to the kitchen.

"Table number 15 is like that, too" Irene added.

Both of them handed over the order records. Ken was relieved. The two women went back and forth to the kitchen and mostly ordered food with broth that was commonly used by Balto, until finally a young woman with a man came to the place. He was not a customer of the restaurant and had only tried to eat there for the first time.

"Darling, how about we try a new recipe? I'm tired of that-that's it," the woman asked spoiledly. Clothes with the neckline up to the waist make it look sexy. Moreover, her body was beautiful with a seductive beautiful face.

"As far as you go, honey." The man in black glasses pinched his woman's chin.

Be them ordering food with Ken's broth. The man was half dead! After the order was made by Lucas and Balto, food was served. Ken's heart beats again when the lovers start eating. They seem to enjoy it.

Then came another order that also asked for Ken's broth. So far no one seems to feel harmed when eating, instead they seem curious after eating foods that use Ken's broth. It is seen from their mimicry when eating.

"Something they like, Ken." Balto's heavy voice shocked the Japanese man who was peeking. He stood right behind Ken.

"Eh, I don't know, sir." The Japanese man looked nervous.

"Later we'll ask when we pay later."

"Eh, no, sir." Ken himself hesitated between curiosity and fear of expectation.

"Lho, let's know what they think. Opinions won't hurt you."

The Japanese are still doubtful. Lucas who saw Ken's success was of course envious. It took a long time for him to become the Chef (cooker) he is today. He studied with Balto for 2 years until he finally got the title of Chef. While Ken who has just two days of work, can already offer his homemade broth to customers. Which man is not envious?

It was finally discovered that Ken's broth was very natural. Fused with almost all dishes with home-based flavors that cause different sensations. Some of them even miss going home to their parents or remember their childhood.

Ah, just say the village food! The rich people just knocked his heart remember the hometown, because they were very busy and never visited his parents. I can make village food like that too! Lucas glanced cynically at the Japanese man's success. He twisted tightly the table cloth in his hand so anxious.

As lunch hour drew to a close, a restaurant guest dressed in a full suit without a dark blue tie came along. This includes customers, although they rarely come to the restaurant. The man, who was about 40 years old, seemed to frown at the hearing of Irene.

After ordering the food, the woman returned to the kitchen. "He ordered this food but with Ken's broth." He put a piece of paper on Balto.

The man immediately made it. After serving, Ken tried to peek at her. The man's expression looked surprised. He called the waiter Irene who then rushed to the kitchen. "Sir," said the woman who stopped and gasped after passing through the door. "She wants to see her Chef she said, sir."

"Good." Balto took off his apron and went to the dining table.

Ken looks more and more anxious. "What's going on?"

"I don't know because the guy just said so" said Irene, who was equally tense. "Uh, even though he's the most fussy customer in this restaurant. He would often protest that food was undercooked, or unpleasant and Mr. Balto was forced to free it."

"What?"

Lucas smiled broadly.