Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 133

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

133. Changing People (1)

As the court implemented various reforms and experiments to modernize Joseon, the country was slowly but surely changing.

These changes were gradually permeating the lives of the people as well. While seemingly insignificant at first, their impact was spreading wider and wider.

* * *

Yeongdeungpo, near Hanseong [present-day Seoul].

The blacksmith’s shop on the edge of the village echoed with the rhythmic clang of hammering.

Clang! Clang clang! Clang!

The hammering ceased, and the blacksmith wiped the sweat from his brow, examining his handiwork.

“Hmm… turned out alright, I suppose?”

The blacksmith, Song Il-cheol—affectionately known as Han-soe to his family and close friends—was crafting wire mesh as a side job.

Il-cheol had taken on this extra work because Hyang [the crown prince] was overseeing weapon development in Area 51 [a reference to a top-secret research facility, likely alluding to advanced technology being developed].

Previously, Hyang had assessed blacksmiths in Hanseong and the surrounding areas to determine their capacity for rapid supply.

During this evaluation, Il-cheol was eliminated in the final round. His craftsmanship was excellent, but he struggled to meet standardized specifications.

“Well, that’s fine! It’s fine! Better this than dealing with those bothersome tribute demands!” Il-cheol had exclaimed with forced cheerfulness upon hearing the results. But the truth was, his pride had been wounded.

‘Damn it! What makes those guys so much better than me?’

As time went on, the number of customers at Il-cheol’s smithy dwindled. This was due to a shift in perception among the people living in Hanseong and nearby areas.

‘Those who supply Area 51 are the skilled ones; those who can’t are just…unskilled.’

This new mindset led to a decline in customers for Il-cheol. While his neighbors, who knew his skill, continued to patronize his shop, customers from farther away gradually disappeared.

The loss of these distant customers was a significant blow to Il-cheol. Ironware lasted a long time, so he couldn’t sustain his business solely on local trade.

* * *

Eventually, Il-cheol’s wife felt compelled to intervene.

“We need to find a side job.”

“A side job? You think we need a side job…” Il-cheol would have snapped at her in the past, but this time, he listened with a serious expression.

Encouraged by her husband’s attention, Il-cheol’s wife spoke more assertively.

“You know about gyajeok [a type of savory pancake], right?”

“Of course, I know. Jang-soe and Dol-soe [their children] wake up in the middle of the night craving gyajeok. Are you thinking of opening a gyajeok shop?”

“Yes.”

“Gyajeok isn’t easy…”

Il-cheol hesitated, prompting his wife to pout.

“Hey! Have you forgotten that the Oh magistrate’s family always calls on me whenever they have a feast or memorial service? How renowned do you think my pancake-making skills are?”

“Hmm… As far as I know, even if you source the chicken and oil separately, you still have to buy the batter from the merchants, and that’s quite expensive, isn’t it?”

“When I taste it, I can roughly figure out what goes into it. I’m thinking of making the batter myself.”

“Hmm…”

At his wife’s words, Il-cheol began to calculate the potential profits and losses.

The key ingredients for making gyajeok were chicken, the batter for coating the chicken, oil, and fuel.

‘There’s an oil mill nearby that extracts soybean oil from the soybeans grown on Neobeol Island, and thanks to the smithy, I don’t have to worry about the frying pot or coal…’

The oil mill that processed soybeans from Neobeol Island was conveniently located, and the smithy provided a ready source of frying pots and coal.

‘The problem is sourcing the chicken and perfecting the taste…’

Il-cheol voiced his concerns to his wife.

“Where are you planning to get the chicken?”

His wife responded with a nonchalant shrug.

“There are more and more places selling chicken these days, and if things go well, we can raise them ourselves. We can figure out the taste with a little experimentation.”

“Hmm…”

Unlike his confident wife, Il-cheol couldn’t commit to a decision immediately.

“Let’s think about it a little more.”

“Honey!”

“I said let’s think about it for a few more days!”

Ultimately, Il-cheol had no choice but to wave the white flag after enduring his wife’s persistent nagging for over two weeks.

* * *

And a month later,

“Mom, is it gyajeok again today?”

“Mom, I smell like chicken poop every time I open my mouth now.”

“Honey, let’s just give up now.”

Il-cheol and his children clung to Il-cheol’s wife, begging her to reconsider.

For the past month, ever since the decision to ‘open a gyajeok shop,’ Il-cheol’s family had been suffering.

“I’m going to create my own unique blend!”

Il-cheol’s wife had decided to develop her own frying powder for the gyajeok instead of buying it from merchants.

“Money is important, but there’s less profit if our gyajeok tastes the same as everyone else’s.”

With that decision made, she had spent the entire month frying chicken, trying to find the ‘optimal mixing ratio,’ forcing Il-cheol and the children to eat chicken until they were utterly sick of it.

“Ah! I’m confident about this one!”

Despite the complaints from Il-cheol and the children, Il-cheol’s wife confidently placed a plate of gyajeok on the table.

“You’ve been saying that all month…”

“Just shut up and eat it!”

At his wife’s sharp tone, Il-cheol and his children cautiously reached for pieces of gyajeok.

“Huh? These pieces are a little smaller this time?”

“Sniff sniff sniff! The smell is…different?”

“It’s a good scent, though.”

Unlike before, Il-cheol and his children had a glimmer of hope as they put the gyajeok in their mouths.

A moment later,

“Mom! This one is delicious!”

“It’s really good!”

“It’s not bad at all!”

Il-cheol and his children showered Il-cheol’s wife with praise. Hearing their positive feedback, her previously tense face relaxed.

* * *

Three days later, Il-cheol and his wife took their homemade gyajeok to the Oh magistrate’s residence.

“Do we really have to do this? It’s just gyajeok, after all.”

Il-cheol reassured his anxious wife.

“This is how business is done.”

Upon hearing that ‘The Il-cheol couple, who run the smithy, have come,’ Oh magistrate appeared on the main porch with a leisurely air.

Seeing Oh magistrate, Il-cheol and his wife bowed deeply.

“Magistrate, have you been well?”

“Yes, I’ve been well. What brings you here today?”

Il-cheol answered politely.

“My wife has decided to open a gyajeok shop. We came to ask if you would be willing to sample our product.”

“Gyajeok?”

“Yes, dear.”

At Il-cheol’s prompting, Il-cheol’s wife carefully ascended the stone steps and politely presented the basket.

Oh magistrate’s wife, who had emerged from the main room upon hearing the commotion, took the basket and inhaled deeply.

“Oh? The scent is quite unique.”

“Yes, madam. Most gyajeok taste similar, so I’ve made a few adjustments.”

“If it’s your cooking, it’s bound to be delicious. Magistrate, why don’t you try it?”

“Oh!”

Oh magistrate took a bite of the gyajeok that Il-cheol’s couple had brought and exclaimed.

“It tastes good even though it’s a little cold! The seasoning is excellent, and the aroma is particularly outstanding! People will be lining up for this!”

“Your cooking is truly something special.”

“I’m honored!”

Overjoyed by the praise from Oh magistrate and his wife, Il-cheol and his wife smiled broadly and bowed repeatedly. Il-cheol cheered inwardly.

‘Okay! If Oh magistrate approves, we’re set!’

Oh magistrate was known as the wealthiest gourmand in the area. If word spread that he had praised their gyajeok, success was guaranteed.

“So… have you decided on a name for your shop yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Would you like me to name it for you?”

“That would be the greatest honor!”

Delighted, Il-cheol watched as Oh magistrate moved a desk closer.

“After all, a brush is far superior to a pen for such an occasion.”

Oh magistrate dipped a brush made of the finest sable fur into a pot of ink and wrote the name on a piece of paper in one fluid stroke.

‘Ilmi Gyajeok (一味鷄炸) [One Flavor Chicken Fry]’

“I can’t guarantee it will be the best in the world, but I can confidently say it will be the best in Hanseong.”

“Thank you! Magistrate, thank you so much!”

“Prosper. That way, I can enjoy it often as well.”

“Yes!”

* * *

And so, ‘Ilmi Gyajeok,’ born in Yeongdeungpo, began to gain popularity through word of mouth.

Eventually, people even crossed the Han River from within the city walls to purchase it after hearing the rumors.

“Is this the famed Ilmi Gyajeok?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang, upon seeing the ‘Ilmi Gyajeok’ that the eunuch had brought, picked up a piece and tasted it.

“This scent and flavor are… pepper and turmeric?”

‘It’s curry chicken! Not bad at all!’

“Hmm… it’s quite good. Have the person who makes this gyajeok invited to the palace sometime. I believe Father would enjoy it as well.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang ate a few more pieces, then pushed the plate away and gave an order.

“Tell the kitchen staff to try it as well, and share it with everyone.”

“Thank you very much!”

At Hyang’s command, the eunuch bowed deeply and eagerly took the plate.

Hyang, watching the scene, muttered to himself.

“I need to address the Sangmullim [a system of resource management] as well… I’ve become too complacent and forgotten. I need to reflect on this.”

* * *

A few days later, Il-cheol and his wife were summoned to the palace.

The official, noticing the couple’s nervous trembling, smiled reassuringly.

“Your gyajeok is said to be the best in Hanseong, so His Majesty wishes to sample it. Show us your cooking skills. If you perform well, there will be a great reward.”

“Yes, yes!”

As soon as the words ‘great reward’ were uttered, Il-cheol’s wife’s eyes lit up with determination.

Sejong [the king], after tasting Il-cheol’s gyajeok, was highly satisfied and presented them with ten rolls of the finest silk as a reward.

As the rumor spread that ‘the king praised the taste!’, Il-cheol’s gyajeok shop gradually flourished.

* * *

But, as the saying goes, good things never last.

The gyajeok shop of Il-cheol’s couple, which seemed destined for success, soon encountered an obstacle.

The obstacle blocking their path was ‘chicken.’

“The price of chicken is going up, starting today.”

“No, how can you raise it so suddenly?”

When Il-cheol protested, the owner of the chicken shop shrugged.

“I can’t help it. The number of gyajeok shops is increasing, but the supply of chicken is limited.”

“This…”

Il-cheol’s face fell at the chicken shop owner’s words.

Unlike pigs or cows, chicken was a common source of protein. Most households raised at least three or four chickens.

As gyajeok became more popular, the demand for chicken increased, and the chickens raised in this traditional way couldn’t keep up.

Therefore, before long, people began specializing in raising chickens. Nevertheless, demand still exceeded supply.

“I can’t help it. How much more do I have to pay?”

At Il-cheol’s question, the chicken shop owner replied curtly.

“It’s up 10%.”

Il-cheol exclaimed in disbelief.

“10%? You thieves!”

Despite Il-cheol’s anger, the chicken shop owner nonchalantly picked at his ear.

“Then don’t buy it…”

“Ugh…”

In the end, Il-cheol was forced to buy chicken at the inflated price. And in less than two weeks, it went up another 5 pun [a unit of currency].

But soon, Il-cheol had even more reason to be furious. He discovered that he was being charged a higher price than other shops.

“I’m going to report you to the authorities!”

At Il-cheol’s angry threat, the chicken shop owner remained unfazed.

“Report me. Did I sell rotten meat? Or did I cheat you on the number of chickens? I simply sold it at a higher price. Isn’t the selling price up to the seller?”

“Hey!”

“Oh, come on! Why are you being like this? If you’re making money, we should share some too. Isn’t that right?”

“Gritting!”

Il-cheol gritted his teeth and searched for another chicken shop. But as soon as he mentioned ‘Ilmi Gyajeok,’ everyone tried to raise their prices.

Finally, Il-cheol couldn’t contain his anger any longer and grabbed a hammer.

“Damn it! I’ll raise chickens myself! All I have to do is build a chicken coop!”

* * *

Deciding to raise chickens himself was one thing, but it wasn’t easy.

The first problem was the chicken coop. Raising three or four chickens, as before, could be accommodated in the shed or barn, but raising them on a large scale required a dedicated facility.

To find a solution, Il-cheol secretly observed the surrounding chicken farms.

“They’re all pretty much the same…”

The chicken coops on each farm looked similar.

They consisted of wooden pillars and roofs, with the lower half of the walls made of planks or packed earth. The upper half had shutters made of wooden planks that were opened during the day and closed when it rained or at night.

Consequently, the biggest challenge for chicken farmers was containing the chickens.

A moment’s inattention could result in chickens escaping through the open shutters, crossing fences, and running into neighbors’ yards to peck at their grain.

Closing the shutters, on the other hand, risked suffocating the chickens or causing them to die from the heat.

Having identified the problems with existing chicken farms, Il-cheol fell into 고민 [deep thought].

“I need to keep the wind blowing and prevent the chickens from escaping…”

While 고민 [pondering] a solution, Il-cheol unconsciously 만지작거렸다 [fiddled with] a piece of wire.

“Hmm…”

Il-cheol, still 고민 [searching] for an answer, suddenly 바라봤다 [looked at] the wire he was holding. His eyes 반짝였다 [sparkled] as he 바라봤다 [gazed at] the wire.

“That’s it!”