A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 224

57. Gotta Avoid Greasy Food (4)

The next day, afternoon.

The KH Cannons’ front office staff were bustling around.

With only one win away from their first-ever regular season championship, there were many things to prepare.

“Team Leader, we just got a call from the league office. The commissioner will be waiting at the Baseball Hall of Fame tomorrow.”

“The Baseball Hall of Fame is in Dogok-dong, right? Let’s see, should I call them around the end of the fifth inning?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to hurry a bit? If we’re not careful, we could get stuck in rush hour traffic.”

The marketing team was tearing their hair out while looking at map applications.

“Everyone got it? As soon as the first out of the last inning is made, you have to run straight to the locker room.”

“Then where should we keep the championship 기념 [commemorative] t-shirts and hats? Can we just leave them here and take them with us?”

“No, the facilities team has agreed to open the first-floor warehouse tomorrow. We’ll put them there in the morning and take them at the right time.”

The operations team staff was checking the items to be given to the players when the championship was decided.

“I’m really sorry to bother you while you’re busy! GBS wants to film our front office working!”

“Hey, Deputy Kwon! Can’t you cut that off? We’re really busy right now…….”

“Come on, Team Leader! Just 5 minutes! Please? Just 5 minutes. Wow, our Team Leader! You’re going to look great on camera today, aren’t you?”

“Ugh, you’re good with words!”

The public relations team staff was scurrying around, leading the local broadcasting station’s staff.

In addition, while each department of the front office was running around 정신없이 [frantically], the following matter was being discussed in the team manager’s office.

“So, what you’re saying is…….”

Sigh.

Team Manager Seo Chang-gi sighed briefly.

“The 전주집 [Jeonju House] owner is preparing an enormous amount of food? That there are over thirty dishes?!”

“Yes, Team Manager.”

Ji-seop nodded.

“That’s what I confirmed.”

* * *

Preparing a celebration.

Especially when preparing a championship celebration for a baseball team, it was necessary to approach it as conservatively as possible.

Wasn’t there a saying, ‘It’s not over until it’s over’?

A baseball sport where you never know who will win until the 27th out.

Therefore, when preparing a championship celebration, the basic idea was to think, ‘Today’s event can be canceled at any time.’

“Wasn’t I telling you from the beginning? There’s no need to make a lot of food. In case of emergency, prepare only menus that can be refrigerated.”

But what is all this?

Team Manager Seo Chang-gi shook his head while looking at the list Ji-seop brought.

“There are seven meat dishes alone, and five kinds of kimchi……. And you’re even making pufferfish dishes? No, how can the 전주집 [Jeonju House] owner prepare all this by herself? She’s not even in good health.”

“When I went yesterday, there were a lot of additional personnel. I heard that relatives came up from the owner’s hometown…….”

“Oh, still!”

Team Manager Seo grabbed his head.

“Okay, let’s say it takes a few days to prepare the food. But most of these foods…… shouldn’t they be consumed on the same day?”

Ji-seop nodded silently.

“What if we lose tomorrow’s game after preparing all this 거하게 [lavishly]? There will be a limit to how much we can store in the refrigerator.”

“Yes, I did say that to the owner, but…….”

Ji-seop scratched his cheek and continued.

“The owner seems to be planning to provide meals to the players regardless of whether the Cannons win or not.”

“Regardless of winning or losing?”

Team Manager Seo Chang-gi blinked.

“What does that mean?”

“The 전주집 [Jeonju House] owner initially thought of the menu with the championship celebration in mind.”

Focusing on menus that can be prepared quickly while watching the game situation on the day.

Focusing on menus that can be refrigerated and eaten the next day in case of emergency.

“But as she excluded them from the list one by one, she said there weren’t many menus she could make for our players.”

“Don’t tell me…… that’s why?”

“Yes.”

Ji-seop nodded.

“From the owner’s point of view, aren’t they all players she’s seen since they were rookies? It’s a bit much to only make the food that a few of them want, and it’s also not right to only feed them if they win…….”

That’s what she decided.

Now that it’s come to this, let’s make all the food the players want.

Regardless of the outcome of the game on the day, let’s set the table full so that everyone can eat their fill.

“Of course, she also said that she would prepare so that there would be no problem with the celebration even if the championship was delayed. She said she even called all her relatives for that purpose…….”

“Sh, she did all that?!”

After hearing this, Team Manager Seo Chang-gi couldn’t say anything for a while.

He had entrusted the celebration preparation to the 전주집 [Jeonju House] owner, but he didn’t even think she would be so 신경을 써주실 [considerate].

He knew the owner’s feelings for the Cannons players to some extent, but he didn’t seem to know that it was so special.

He wandered around the office silently, and finally uttered a word.

“That’s a thankful thing.”

Team Manager Seo Chang-gi muttered.

“For someone who is not even in good health to be so 마음을 써주실 [thoughtful]. Thankful. It’s really a thankful thing, but…….”

슥 [Sound of turning].

Team Manager Seo’s gaze turned to Ji-seop.

“Hey, Special Assistant Kim.”

“Yes, Team Manager.”

“If the situation has become like this, shouldn’t we also have something to do?”

Something to do.

Ji-seop didn’t bother to ask what it was.

“Yes, we have to win tomorrow no matter what. We have to win and 확정지어야 [secure] the regular season championship.”

Ji-seop continued.

“We can’t eat the food that the 전주집 [Jeonju House] owner 정성껏 [sincerely] prepared in a gloomy atmosphere.”

* * *

Several hours later.

A simple meeting was being held in the KH Cannons Field home team locker room.

“Everyone has worked hard training.”

Said Arthur Freeman, the manager.

“Originally, I was going to end training today without a separate meeting, but…… the front office said they have something to tell you.”

“From the front office?”

“No, what’s going on…….”

The players tilted their heads.

Arthur Freeman smiled faintly and gestured to Ji-seop.

“Ji-seop.”

“Yes, Manager.”

Ji-seop, who bowed slightly and stepped forward in front of the players, opened his mouth with a calm expression.

“Under the direction of the team manager, I have been asked to inform you of one thing.”

Nothing else.

Ji-seop looked around at the players and slowly continued.

“It is about the location where our KH Cannons’ regular season championship celebration will be held after tomorrow’s game.”

A notice about the location where the celebration will be held.

The players who heard Ji-seop’s story blinked and asked back.

“Wait a minute, Special Assistant! The celebration location…… can we reveal it now? I heard you were going to keep it a secret until right before winning?”

“That’s right, the operations team said that? They said they could never tell us…….”

The players’ stories were true.

It was customary for the baseball team to keep the championship celebration location a secret until the end.

There was also the purpose of allowing the players to focus only on the game, and there was also the purpose of avoiding criticism for 괜히 설레발을 떨었다 [prematurely celebrating].

But in some ways, now is an ’emergency situation’, and the KH Cannons’ team manager’s office was determined to break the baseball team’s long-standing taboo.

“That’s right. Originally, it’s right to keep it a secret, but…… there’s a special reason now.”

Originally, it was around this time.

The timing to reveal the information that had been kept secret from the players.

The regular season championship celebration will be held at 전주집 [Jeonju House].

This is a decision for the 전주집 [Jeonju House] owner, who will soon be hospitalized.

And that 전주집 [Jeonju House] owner is preparing an enormous amount of food for the players.

Ji-seop was going to tell the players one by one like that, but-

“Then, as expected…….”

At that very moment, an unexpected answer came out from among the players.

“Is it 전주집 [Jeonju House], Special Assistant?”

“Yes?!”

Ji-seop, who was 깜짝 놀란 [startled], opened his eyes wide, and a shout of ‘Wow’ erupted from among the players.

“That’s right! It’s 전주집 [Jeonju House]!”

“I had a feeling from the beginning! Anyone can see that this is 전주집 [Jeonju House]!”

“Hey, Special Assistant! Aren’t you too surprised? We have that much reasoning power, you know? Hahaha.”

The players were 떠들어대는 [chattering] among themselves.

This time it was Ji-seop’s turn to tilt his head.

“No, how did you…….”

Ji-seop asked the players.

“How did you know? That the celebration is scheduled to be held at 전주집 [Jeonju House]?”

“Didn’t Cannons TV do a questionnaire survey a while ago? The moment I heard the question at that time, I had a feeling.”

What do you want to eat?

Everything is fine, but no fried food.

“I’ve heard that a lot.”

Said captain Cheon Jin-woo.

“When I went to 전주집 [Jeonju House] to eat when I was a rookie, the owner always said that. A baseball player’s body is their asset. So it’s better to avoid fried food as much as possible.”

“…….”

“It’s not like I’ve only heard it once or twice…… When the Cannons TV PD asked the same question, I knew right away. Ah, the celebration is at 전주집 [Jeonju House]! The 전주집 [Jeonju House] owner is preparing the food!”

No, but.

Cheon Jin-woo looked into Ji-seop’s face and asked.

“Is there something wrong with 전주집 [Jeonju House]? Is that why you’re bothering to tell us this as a notice now…….”

“Ah, about that?”

Here, Ji-seop hesitated slightly.

About how much information would be good to explain to the players.

Is it right to say all the information you know, or is it right to 둘러대는 [beat around the bush] at an 적당한 선 [appropriate level]?.

Of course, his 고민 [worry] didn’t last long.

‘Yes, the owner also said that she hoped the players would enjoy the meal…….’

Then there is only one conclusion.

Ji-seop, who had made up his mind, raised his head.

“Ah, that’s…… I just got a call. The owner prepared too much food.”

“A lot? No, how much did you prepare…….”

“It seems to be about thirty dishes. She’s doing all the dishes that came out in the last questionnaire.”

“Th, thirty dishes?!”

Seeing the players 입을 쩌억 벌리는 [gaping], Ji-seop quickly continued.

“She said that the amount is so much that it won’t all fit in the refrigerator, so it seems like we have to eat it all up by tomorrow.”

“Ah, so? Is that why you came here to make this special announcement?”

Ha, haha, hahahaha.

It was from this point that laughter erupted from among the players.

“Anyway, our owner, you really have to acknowledge that she has a big 손 [generous hand]!”

“I know, right! That’s why I can’t go to 전주집 [Jeonju House] often! Because every time I go, she gives me a 고봉 [heaping bowl] of rice.”

“I know! It’s a bit much to leave what they give you like that…….”

They 키득키득 [giggled], 설레설레 [shook their heads], and 하아아 [sighed] long.

The players, who recalled their memories with the 전주집 [Jeonju House] owner in their own way, turned their gaze to Ji-seop.

“I understand, Special Assistant!”

The players clenched their fists.

“Tell the owner! Tell her not to worry!”

“That’s right, I wasn’t even thinking of 질질 끌 [dragging] in Magic Number 1 in the first place?”

“I’ll win the game 화끈하게 [decisively] tomorrow and go get the rice that the owner makes!”

It was the 모습 [sight] of the players showing a stronger will than ever before.