Chapter 34

"...So, good meat is bright red and glossy. The fat should be milky white, while tough and tasteless meat has fat that is a deep yellow. The denser the grain of the meat, the more tender it is. Generally, the grain is better in female cattle than in male cattle. Next, the most delicious part is..."

Jeong Charyeon sighed, watching her mother and younger sister admire Jeok Leegeon's know-it-all attitude.

Seriously, that guy knows everything.

"Enough already, let's just grill it and eat!"

Jeong Charyeon shouted, but Ahn-ssi and Suryeon frowned at her instead. Suryeon even put a finger to her lips, signaling her not to interrupt.

It was one thing for her mother to be won over by her older sister's ridiculous flattery in the garden, but when did Suryeon become such an enthusiastic supporter of Jeok Leegeon?

"Okay, now let's move on to the practical grilling session!"

Suryeon even applauded.

If this continued, she would be calling him 'brother-in-law' soon. Then again, for Suryeon, who had to stay in her room every day, Jeok Leegeon, the oddball, must be a whole new world.

Sizzle.

The sound was truly mouthwatering, and an aroma that stimulated the appetite spread. Jeong Charyeon didn't usually enjoy meat, but as Jeok Leegeon grilled it with all sorts of expressions, she felt a slight craving.

"Now, this is the moment when the juices are just barely seeping out! Eat!"

"Father!"

Suryeon called Jeong I-chu.

Jeong I-chu and Hwa Ryeon joined them at the grill. Everyone tasted a piece of the meat.

"Amazing, isn't it?"

As Jeok Leegeon had confidently declared, the taste was incredible.

Delicious things always soften people's hearts. Even her older sister's gaze towards Jeok Leegeon had softened.

"Wow! It's really good."

Everyone smiled contentedly as they watched Suryeon chewing on the meat.

"Chew it well."

"It melts in my mouth before I even chew it."

Suryeon looked more lively than she had in a long time. Suryeon picked up a piece of meat and held it out to Jeok Leegeon.

"Oppa, ahh!"

"Already calling him 'Oppa'?"

Jeong Charyeon chided, and Suryeon stuck out her tongue.

Jeong Charyeon comforted Jeong I-chu, who was giving Suryeon a disappointed look.

"There's no use raising daughters."

"Isn't our youngest still young?"

"I was talking about over there."

Hwa Ryeon was feeding Seo Baek meat. Hwa Ryeon said shamelessly.

"Your brother-in-law hasn't been feeling well lately."

Seo Baek mumbled the meat and grinned.

"If you're jealous, little sister, find a partner soon!"

Jeong I-chu sighed and turned to Ahn-ssi.

"They say a couple to scratch each other's backs is the best in old age, and that's exactly right."

Ahn-ssi, who was wrapping meat for Suryeon, replied coldly.

"I prefer my daughters."

Jeong I-chu sighed again, and Jeong Charyeon linked arms with him.

"I'm here, Father."

Jeong I-chu was pleased that his three daughters had grown up so well.

He only wished for his daughters to live happily.

To do that, he needed to build his strength. Jeong I-chu had learned a lot from this incident.

It was a lively dinner time for the first time in a while.

Suryeon asked Jeong Charyeon casually, as if she had just remembered.

"Oh, are you going to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering this time?"

The boisterous atmosphere quieted down for a moment at the mention of the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.

Suryeon said in a subdued voice.

"Sorry, my mistake."

Jeong Charyeon stroked Suryeon's hair.

"I was going to talk about that anyway."

Everyone focused on Jeong Charyeon, as if she was about to make a major announcement.

Jeong Charyeon hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Father, I'm going to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering."

Her family was shocked.

"I'm going to go and completely crush Jang In-geol's pride."

"That won't do!"

"Why?"

Jeong I-chu didn't want his daughter to be caught up in the conflict with the Palm Heart Clan. Moreover, he thought that Jeong Charyeon could be in danger, especially since the Palm Heart Clan was so openly hostile towards him.

"It won't do, and that's final!"

Then Hwa Ryeon asked in a calm tone.

"If you go, who are you going with? You're not going with Young Master Jeok, are you?"

Jeok Leegeon was too busy eating meat to pay attention.

Please, just put on a serious face at times like this.

"That's right. I'm going with Young Master Jeok."

Jeong I-chu and Hwa Ryeon looked dumbfounded.

"You know that the Dragon Phoenix Gathering is a competition that all Jianghu people are watching, right?"

Jeong Charyeon glared at Hwa Ryeon's words.

"So? Are you saying I'm not qualified to go to such a competition?"

"No. I think you're more than qualified."

Then Hwa Ryeon looked at Jeok Leegeon.

Jeong Charyeon jumped up.

"What are you doing now?"

In contrast, Hwa Ryeon was calm. Hwa Ryeon formally performed a Clasped-fist Salute to Jeok Leegeon and bowed her head.

"Thanks to Young Master Jeok, our family avoided a great disaster. Whether Young Master Jeok intended it or not, that was the result. Thank you again."

But Hwa Ryeon's tone was cold.

"However, I think we need to clearly distinguish between public and private matters. The Dragon Phoenix Gathering is a Martial World competition that involves not only personal honor but also the honor of the Clan. To be honest, we can't trust Young Master Jeok."

Jeong I-chu added a word.

"Please understand. We don't mean to disregard you."

Jeok Leegeon smiled and nodded as if he understood. Then he picked up a piece of meat and put it in Suryeon's mouth. Suryeon, caught off guard, smiled awkwardly.

Jeong Charyeon shouted.

"What are you doing!"

"Charyeon!"

"Fine. I can accept that you're ignoring my opinion. But shouldn't you at least ask Young Master Jeok's opinion? This is no different from those Palm Heart Clan bastards. You're all going too far."

Jeong I-chu was a little flustered when he was compared to the Palm Heart Clan.

Hwa Ryeon raised her voice.

"Watch your mouth!"

"No!"

"You used to hate the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, didn't you? Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

"....."

"If you go with Young Master Jeok... you'll become a laughingstock, won't you?"

"Even if I become a laughingstock, that's my burden to bear."

"No. That's a burden our family has to bear."

"Your sister is right."

"Father!"

The three of them did not stop arguing.

Jeok Leegeon was only focused on eating meat, even though his name was being mentioned several times. Feeling sorry, Suryeon whispered in Jeok Leegeon's ear.

"Our family is usually a bit noisy. Because there are so many women."

Ahn-ssi across from them said with a kind smile.

"Please understand."

Jeok Leegeon put a lettuce wrap in Suryeon's mouth and grinned.

"Because we're family... I think family should be like this."