God-Given Business Genius

“……Is there something special about Jihyang-eup?”

I hesitated momentarily at Jo I-ruk’s question. My answer was rather weak.

‘How can I explain that due to the heavy rains this summer, agricultural damage will be severe, leading to chronic issues with rising raw material costs throughout the year?’

I can’t cite floods that haven’t happened yet as a reason.

Moreover, to explain why specifically Jihyang-eup, I would need to know the exact monsoon front and affected areas. Explaining all that would seem unnaturally detailed.

‘Until now, my actions could be attributed to foresight, but if I predict this accurately too, wouldn’t it seem suspicious?’

Especially when I’m already being asked if I’ve received divine revelations. I just smiled vaguely and deflected:

“Their agricultural products are of good quality. I happened to visit there once before, and it left a strong impression on me.”

“I see.”

Jo I-ruk seemed to accept this for now. What could he say if I claimed the quality was good?

“Besides, consuming more local specialties helps stimulate the agricultural market, doesn’t it? I think that’s important too.”

After all, the food industry is inextricably linked with agriculture, fisheries, and livestock. Even before my regression, I had often glimpsed the hardships and difficulties of the industry.

I had many concerns back then. I pondered how to create new menu items using local specialties.

‘Our country has so many high-quality local specialties. It seems many people aren’t aware of them.’

As products go through multiple distribution channels, prices inflate, naturally distancing them from consumers.

It would be nice if we could fix this chronic problem too. I wonder if PD Kim Seol will create such a program next time.

“I see you had such deep intentions.”

“Haha. I suppose so.”

It seems I managed to gloss over it somehow. I laughed awkwardly as I replied. But something had been bothering me for a while.

“But why are you suddenly curious about Jihyang-eup? We made the contract last year, so you could have asked anytime if you were curious.”

Usually, Jo I-ruk had gotten used to my eccentric actions and often reacted as if it didn’t matter anymore.

As I tilted my head in confusion, Jo I-ruk calmly replied:

“In most cases, you make rational choices, CEO Song, but occasionally you do something unexpected like this.”

“Haha.”

That hits too close to home.

“But every time, the results have always been good.”

Of course they would be, since I’m acting based on predictions of the future.

“From my perspective, Jihyang-eup was a somewhat unexpected choice… so I was wondering if it would turn out to be a hidden card this time too.”

Wow. His intuition is impressive.

I felt like a caught criminal somehow. As I laughed awkwardly, unable to say anything, Jo I-ruk smiled nonchalantly.

“Of course, you said you simply chose it for the quality of the produce this time, so that probably won’t be the case.”

“Hmm. That’s right, probably. But you never know how things will turn out in this world……”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing.”

I brushed it off vaguely. Ahem.

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Boom!

A spotlight burst above my head, turning everything white. Ow, that’s bright.

-Highest viewer rating 46%!

A deafening sound exploded from all directions, hurting my ears. Boom boom boom, drumbeats created an intense atmosphere.

-Last MST-01’s glorious winner!

So dramatic. I barely managed to pull up the champion belt that was slipping from my waist with one hand.

-Song! Woo! Yeon!

“Wooooah~!”

I saw the camera zoom in on me amidst the cheers of the other performers.

Having gained some broadcast experience, standing in front of the camera wasn’t so difficult anymore.

As I grinned and pointed confidently at the champion belt, I heard some performers below booing with “Ooh~” sounds.

“Oh, thank you~”

As I bowed while descending the stairs, the other participants burst into applause and cheers.

“I’m jealous~”

“Wow.”

“That belt is huge.”

As everyone made comments, I unfastened the belt and held it high before sitting down.

“Kiya~!”

“She’s become a real broadcaster now, that one.”

This is how you create scenes for the broadcast, isn’t it? Only after seeing the PD give a thumbs up did I take my seat.

“Congratulations on your win. You won’t go down so easily today, will you?”

A comedian with a sarcastic attitude was the first to challenge me.

“Haha. I’ve prepared even harder today, so look forward to it.”

He seemed to flinch slightly, not expecting me to fire back so confidently.

There were new participants and some I vaguely remembered from the last filming. As I was slowly exchanging greetings with them…

The female MC in a unique outfit, who could be called the mascot of My Small Television, suddenly interrupted.

“Congratulations on your win, Song Woo-yeon-nim. However, it has been confirmed that your broadcast from last time violated the review board’s regulations.”

Review regulations?

What on earth is she talking about? As I blinked in surprise at this unfamiliar phrase, the MC continued.

“Due to confirmed health hazards to citizens from excessive sugar use……”

Oh, come on.

As soon as she finished speaking, laughter erupted from all around with “Puhaha!” sounds. It seemed everyone had already seen the internet buzz about ‘Song Sugar’.

They’re really pouring on this sugar image.

“We’ll be confiscating your winner’s privilege pass.”

Tsk. It’s disappointing, but what can I do? If it ends with just confiscating the pass…

‘I’ll just win again today. Right?’

I wasn’t too concerned about the pass because I was confident about winning this time too.

Thwack!

Until suddenly, a red light came on in the waiting room.

“W-What’s going on?”

“Why is this happening?”

An eerie and threatening atmosphere began to settle. Everyone looked around in shock as men in black suits suddenly entered.

“Who are you?”

And then…….

“For violating broadcast review regulations, you are sentenced to outdoor broadcasting.”

“What?”

“Let’s go.”

“What?!”

I could only be helplessly dragged away by those who grabbed both my arms.

No way, outside the studio?

I never heard anything about this beforehand!

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Whooosh…….

A desolate wind brushed past my cheek. Wow, the weather is nice.

Why am I suddenly talking about the weather, you ask?

How can I not talk about the weather? It’s absurd enough to be suddenly dragged outside. And the place they brought me to cook…

“How on earth did they find a place with a furnace in this day and age?”

A complete outdoor kitchen. That is, a furnace-type kitchen you’d only see in temples or old palaces.

“At least they’re not telling me to chop wood. Should I call that somewhat conscientious?”

Well-split firewood was placed nearby, so I wouldn’t have to chop wood myself. But even so, it’s equally absurd.

“Thankfully, they brought a large screen for you all to watch. Right?”

As soon as I finished speaking, the chat erupted.

-Lost your kitchen?? kkk

-Why are you on the street like that

-Looks like bankruptcy

-Why did you go bankrupt? ㅠㅠㅠ

“Don’t even mention it. I’ve been kicked out of the studio for using too much sugar, just now.”

Viewers who rushed in upon seeing my pitiful state were busy laughing. Sure, laugh. I’m going to cook.

“Sigh. How am I supposed to cook here, really.”

Only bottled water, no refrigerator. There are too many constraints for cooking.

More than anything, the most critical issue was that they brought a furnace instead of a portable burner.

“Phew. I don’t know how many of you have furnaces at home, but the problem with furnaces is that it’s difficult to control the heat. Those who go camping might understand. Unlike gas stoves or burners, there’s no distinction between low, medium, and high heat.”

-Did Song Sugar live in a house with a furnace in the past? How does she know this?kkk

-Ah, is it like grilling meat over charcoal?

-That’s right kkkkk That’s exactly it

-Heat control is crucial in cooking

-Why does this suddenly feel like a broadcast of a runaway girl kicked out of her home?

“But who am I? I’m Song Woo-yeon, aren’t I? The weather these days is perfect for having some jeon with drinks in the evening, right?”

Crisis and opportunity are always two sides of the same coin.

“On a day like this, if you go to a local jeon restaurant and order some assorted jeon with beer or makgeolli! Whew~ Wouldn’t that be delicious? But what if you can’t go out to eat? You have to make it yourself! I’ll show you how to fry jeon on a furnace today~”

Good storytelling.

The chat started to respond with ‘Oh~’, ‘Looks delicious’. I emphasized again.

“Today, we’re not using any sugar. Song Sugar? None of that today.”

Then, I grinned as I pulled out a huge oil container I had hidden behind me.

“Today, we’re going to use a ton of this oil.”

Forget Song Sugar. Call me Song Oil.

Splash splash splash!

I mercilessly poured oil into the cast iron pot sitting on top of the furnace. The more oil, the tastier the jeon.

-She’s using almost the whole can of oil kkkkk LOL kkkkkk

-Next time she’ll probably do an outdoor broadcast because of the oil kk

-OMG

“Now, after pouring in the oil like this, we light the fire in the furnace below. Then, while we wait for the oil to heat up, we can prepare the rest of the ingredients, okay?”

Alright. I may have suddenly been forced to do an outdoor broadcast. But that doesn’t mean my show has been compromised.

If I just proceed smoothly with the cooking show like this, today’s win is in the bag!

……or so I thought.

Sizzle sizzle!

“Huh?”

Until the sweet potato jeon, neatly coated in batter, turned into a black lump of charcoal as soon as it hit the oil.

‘……Ah, I’m screwed.’

I muttered inwardly.

The oil was perfectly still, but I could tell immediately.

‘The oil has burned!’