109: Chapter 108 Mighty and Powerful

Lee Tima's childish "diagnosis" of Father Kim's health caused a brief moment of awkwardness, but it successfully caught the attention of the Kim family. Mother Kim immediately asked her husband with concern if he had truly been feeling unwell lately, while Kim Taeyeon secretly decided to take her father for a thorough check-up during a break in the program's recording. After this little interlude, Mother Kim warmly invited everyone to get ready for lunch.

"The most famous thing here in Jeonju is bibimbap!" Mother Kim said with a smile as she brought out various fresh vegetables, meat, sauces, and a steaming stone pot. "Today, Umma will make the most authentic jeonju bibimbap for you all!"

"Bibimbap?" Lee Tima looked at the dazzling array of brightly colored ingredients on the table and then at the steaming stone pot. A look of extreme resistance appeared on her small face, her head shaking like a pellet drum, and her small hands crossed in front of her chest in an exaggerated "X" gesture:

"Bibimbap?!! No way!!!"

Her reaction was so intense that the Kim family was stunned. jeonju bibimbap was a local signature delicacy; how could someone hate it so much? Even Kim Taeyeon asked curiously, "Tima, you don't like bibimbap? Why?"

Lee Tima's face wrinkled up as if she were recalling an unpleasant memory. Using a tone that was slightly disgusted yet mimicking an adult, she said, "Oppa said... although it's not nice to say... bibimbap looks... just like the swill in restaurants! Everything is mixed together in a mess, and all the individual flavors are gone!"

The "Oppa" she spoke of was, naturally, Jiang Zhiyu. This "swill theory" was clearly some nonsense Jiang Zhiyu had babbled when he was either starving or being a picky eater, but Lee Tima had remembered it firmly and was now perfectly reciting it.

Mother Kim and Father Kim's expressions immediately became a bit awkward and hurt. The delicacy their hometown took such pride in was being compared to swill...

Kim Taeyeon facepalmed and quickly tried to smooth things over. "Tima! You can't be so impolite! That was just Manager Jiang's... personal opinion! jeonju bibimbap is very delicious!"

Lee Tima also realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly covered her mouth, a flash of regret in her large eyes. She thought for a moment and decided to make amends through action (and show off a little while she was at it).

"I'm sorry, Uncle and Auntie!" She jumped down from her seat and gave a solemn bow of apology. "I shouldn't have said that. Actually... I can cook! Let me make a delicious meal for everyone to make up for it!"

"You can cook?" This time, even Kim Taeyeon was surprised. An eight-year-old girl? Cooking?

"Of course!" Lee Tima puffed out her little chest with a face full of confidence. She took off the small backpack she always wore (the one that looked stuffed with snacks) and rummaged through it, eventually pulling out... a deep blue armband embroidered with a golden dragon and flame patterns!

The armband was exquisitely crafted, embroidered with traditional Chinese characters and a peculiar font that read: "Cooking Master Boy Special Grade Chef (Jiang Clan Certified)," and below that in smaller text: "Little Medicinal Cuisine Chef."

Lee Tima solemnly placed the armband on her left arm as if displaying a medal of honor. Then, with one hand on her hip and the other handsomely flipping the non-existent hem of an apron, she declared in a clear and resonant tone (learned from Jiang Zhiyu):

"Jiang Zhiyu's top culinary disciple, the Little Medicinal Cuisine Chef—Lee Tima, at your service!"

This highly dramatic scene left the three members of the Kim family and the nearby Manager dumbfounded. What kind of chuunibyou and magical development was this?

Having donned her "Special Grade Chef Armband," Lee Tima instantly entered the zone. Like a little general, she paced through the kitchen with her hands behind her back, checking the fridge and the cabinets, her small brow furrowing:

"The supplies at home... are a bit lacking!" She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... Abba (referring to Father Kim) needs to replenish his Qi and nourish his liver, balancing Yin and Yang; Taeyeon Unnie is travel-worn and needs to moisten her lungs and calm her nerves; Uncle and Auntie also need some mild tonics for their daily routine..."

She muttered a string of observations, then suddenly clapped her small hands, her eyes lighting up:

"Okay, the target is clear! To the Jeonju Market!"

And so, the group went from their original plan of a cozy bibimbap lunch at home to a grand procession (though it was only a few people) following Lee Tima to the traditional market. Kim Taeyeon felt this development was a bit ridiculous, but seeing Lee Tima's enthusiastic and confident look, combined with her parents' curiosity being piqued, she let her have her way.

Jeonju Traditional Market.

The place was filled with the bustling atmosphere of daily life, with all sorts of ingredients on display. As soon as Lee Tima entered the market, she was like a fish in water.

"Unnie! This Astragalus! I want Bei Qi, and it needs to be well-aged!"

"Uncle! Goji berries! Not the overly bright ones, I want dark red, dry, and plump ones!"

"Granny! This chicken! Yes, that energetic one! Slaughter it fresh!"

"Also red dates, Angelica Sinensis, Huai Shan, lotus seeds..."

"Pork belly! It needs to have three distinct layers, with a good balance of fat and lean!"

She darted between the stalls, her crisp child's voice skillfully calling out the names of various medicinal herbs and ingredients. She would even reach out to pinch and smell them like a seasoned pro. Her bargaining was also very logical, which amused the stall owners, who all gave her their freshest goods. Kim Taeyeon followed behind, responsible for paying and carrying things, her eyes wide with increasing wonder: Did this child really know what she was doing?

During the shopping process, the snack segment was naturally unavoidable. Tempting snack stalls were everywhere in the market. While Lee Tima was sourcing "medicinal herbs," her eyes weren't idle either.

"Unnie! That blood sausage looks so bouncy!"

"Ah! Sticky rice sausage! Give me an order!"

"Tteokbokki! Make it spicy!"

"Fish cakes! Nice and hot!"

She practically ate her way through the market, sticky rice sausage in her left hand, fish cake in her right, and a rice cake in her mouth. She was having the time of her life, her small face flushed with satisfaction. Kim Taeyeon followed behind, the bags of ingredients in her hands getting heavier, and seeing Lee Tima's blissful expression while devouring snacks, she couldn't help but whisper to the Manager, "I have a feeling... Tima just came here for the snacks..."

The Manager nodded in deep agreement.

However, once the shopping was finished and they returned to the Kim home, Lee Tima put on a small apron Mother Kim had found. As she stood in the kitchen, her entire aura changed instantly.

Washing vegetables, chopping, prepping the chicken, blanching the pork belly... her movements were too nimble for a child. Although she was short and needed to stand on a small stool, her technique was smooth, even possessing a strange sense of rhythm. Especially when handling the medicinal herbs, her focus and care made Kim Taeyeon put aside her joking thoughts.

"Oh my, Lee Tima really knows her stuff!" Mother Kim watched from the side, clicking her tongue in wonder and unable to stop herself from praising her.

Lee Tima didn't even look up, focusing intently on the stove fire. "This is a medicinal diet; the heat control and the order are very important."

The first dish completed was the signature Double Ninth Ginseng Chicken Soup. She placed the cleaned whole chicken into a clay pot along with Korean ginseng, Astragalus, Angelica Sinensis, red dates, and glutinous rice. She added mountain spring water, brought it to a boil over high heat, skimmed off the foam, and then turned it down to a slow simmer. She pulled up a small stool to keep watch, occasionally checking the fire and making adjustments. She wouldn't let anyone else lift the lid, saying mysteriously, "The 'Qi' mustn't escape."

While the soup was simmering, she began prepping the pork belly to make 100% pure braised pork. Caramelizing the sugar, searing the meat, adding spices, soy sauce, and cooking wine... every step was meticulous. The aroma gradually filled the air, becoming incredibly enticing. But in addition to the usual spices, Lee Tima secretly added a few slices of hawthorn and a bit of dried tangerine peel. She whispered an explanation to a curious Kim Taeyeon: "This cuts through the grease and aids digestion. It'll be less of a burden for Abba (Father Kim) to eat and will help him absorb the medicinal properties."

Finally, she used the remaining scraps and medicinal herbs to quickly stir-fry two refreshing seasonal vegetable dishes, emphasizing the balance of meat and vegetables and the principle that food and medicine share the same origin.

When all the dishes were served on the table, the Kim family was stunned.

The ginseng chicken soup was clear yet had a rich, mellow aroma, and the chicken was incredibly tender. The braised pork was a tempting, glossy red—fat but not greasy, lean but not dry. The seasonal vegetables were fresh and green. Just looking at it was enough to make one's appetite soar.

"Everyone, please eat! While it's hot!" Lee Tima took off her small apron and armband (full of ritual) and looked at everyone expectantly.

Father Kim took a sip of the ginseng chicken soup first, and his eyes instantly widened. The broth was incredibly delicious, carrying the unique sweetness of ginseng and the complex aroma of the blended herbs. As it went down his throat, he felt a warm current instantly spread to every part of his body, and his exhaustion from the past few days seemed to lessen significantly.

"Delicious! It's truly delicious!" Father Kim praised repeatedly.

Kim Taeyeon tried the braised pork and was also amazed. The flavors were rich in layers, perfectly balanced between salty and sweet, and the meat was soft with a faint fruity fragrance (the effect of the hawthorn and tangerine peel). It truly wasn't greasy at all.

Mother Kim was even more full of praise for every single dish.

Even the Manager couldn't help but feast, eating the most of the ginseng chicken soup and braised pork.

However, as he was eating, the Manager suddenly felt a heat in his nose. He instinctively reached up to touch it—he actually had a nosebleed!

"Ah! Uncle! Why are you having a nosebleed!" Lee Tima, being sharp-eyed, immediately cried out.

The Manager hurriedly tilted his head back, and Mother Kim rushed to find some tissues. Kim Taeyeon was also startled. "Is it too much of a tonic?"

Lee Tima wasn't panicked at all. Instead, looking at the Manager's disheveled state, a "wicked grin" that was completely inconsistent with her age appeared on her small face. She said slowly:

"It's fine, Uncle. Having a bit of a nosebleed is normal."

"This is a medicinal diet for restoring manly vigor! You've had a big boost, and your Qi and blood are too strong, which means it's taking effect quickly!"

"Restoring manly vigor???" Hearing this term, Kim Taeyeon was stunned for a moment before realizing what it meant. Her face flushed red instantly, and she looked at Lee Tima with both shame and urgency: "Ya! Lee Tima! What on earth has Jiang Zhiyu been teaching you?!" Is this the kind of term an eight-year-old girl should know?! And she said it so calmly!

Father Kim and Mother Kim also had awkward expressions, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Lee Tima looked innocent, blinking her large eyes as she used her pure expression to say even more shocking things:

"Unnie, don't make such a fuss. Oppa knows a lot. He says this is called a 'professional field'."

"Oppa is a Master of Andrology, specializing in... male physiological defects!"

When she said "physiological defects," she even deliberately lowered her voice and pointed at the Manager, then looked at Father Kim with a smile:

"Uncle, after drinking my ginseng chicken soup and eating the braised pork today, just have a good rest, and I guarantee you'll be refreshed and energetic!"

She paused, her gaze shifting between Mother Kim and Father Kim. Using an "I know everything" tone, she added words that were meant to shock everyone to death:

"Unnie (referring to Kim Taeyeon), maybe next year, you'll have another younger brother or sister!"

"Pfft—!!!!"

Kim Taeyeon, who was drinking soup to calm her nerves, actually spat it out this time, her face turning beet red as she coughed violently.

The mouthful of soup Father Kim had just taken almost sprayed out of his nose, his old face turning bright red.

Mother Kim was completely petrified, the chopsticks in her hand dropping onto the table.

The Manager was so frightened he even forgot to wipe his nosebleed, standing there dumbfounded.

The entire dining room fell into an unprecedented silence of extreme awkwardness and shock. Only the ginseng chicken soup in the pot continued to bubble slightly, emitting its overly "tonifying" aroma.

Seeing everyone's reaction was so "intense," Lee Tima seemed a bit puzzled. She tilted her head, thought for a moment, and added another sentence (which was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire):

"Unnie's brother is called Kim Jiyong Oppa, and Xia Yan Unnie is the sister... so what would be a good name for the new brother or sister? Kim... Kim Jiqiang? Or Kim Xialin? Oppa said names should have a good meaning and be powerful..."

"Lee Tima!!!!!!!"

Kim Taeyeon finally snapped back to her senses from her shock and indignation, letting out a scream of collapse. Forgetting her senior image, she stood up to catch this little devil who had no filter and knew too much "strange knowledge."

Lee Tima let out an "Oh no!" and nimbly jumped off her chair, running around the table. As she ran, she said, "Unnie, don't be angry! I'm just telling the truth! Oppa's medical skills are really amazing! Last time he even gave it to JYP's..."

"Shut up!! You are not allowed to say those things Jiang Zhiyu taught you anymore!!" Kim Taeyeon was practically going crazy. She began to deeply regret agreeing to let Lee Tima join the program. This wasn't a "young listener's perspective" at all; she was clearly a "propagator of Jiang Zhiyu's heretical knowledge" + "medicinal diet little devil" + "terrorist who won't stop until their words shock everyone"!

A warm family dinner (?) ultimately ended in a chaotic scene with Lee Tima being "chased down," Kim Taeyeon collapsing, the Kim parents in a daze, and the Manager bleeding profusely from his nose (and falling into deep self-doubt and fear of Jiang Zhiyu).

As for the culprit behind all this, Jiang Zhiyu, he was far away in Seoul at TG Entertainment, racking his brains over how to explain the "Aquarius Transformation Device" to IZ*ONE. He had no idea that his dear "culinary top disciple" and "Little Medicinal Cuisine Chef" had already successfully turned Kim Taeyeon's family home upside down in Jeonju with a table of "big boost" medicinal food and a series of shocking remarks, nearly (verbally) adding a new member to the Kim family.

The Jeonju episode of music steps was destined to leave a bold, colorful, and absurdly hilarious yet deeply impressive mark because of Lee Tima's inclusion. And Jiang Zhiyu's "fine reputation" (or rather, "notoriety") for being "well-taught" was likely to spread further in the industry along with the "blood and tears" complaints from Kim Taeyeon's team and the Manager.