Chapter 133: Changing People. (1)
While various experiments and revisions were being conducted at the royal court for the transformation of Joseon, the kingdom was gradually changing.
These changes were also slowly taking place among the common people of Joseon. The nature of these changes seemed insignificant, but their repercussions were spreading ever more widely.
* * *
Yeongdeungpo, near Hanseong.
From a blacksmith's shop located in one corner of the village, the noisy sound of hammering could be heard.
Kwang! Kkang! Kwang!
When the clamorous hammering finally stopped, the blacksmith wiped the sweat from his brow and gazed at the result of his work.
"Hmm... This came out well?"
The object the blacksmith gazed at with a satisfied smile was a wire mesh made of iron wires woven horizontally and vertically within a large rectangular frame.
* * *
Song Il-cheol—known as "Blacksmith Song" and called Han-soe by his parents and acquaintances—had made this wire mesh because of a side business.
The reason Il-cheol had to take up a side business began when Hyang started weapons development in District 51.
At that time, to determine whether rapid supply was possible, Hyang had evaluated blacksmiths in Hanseong and surrounding areas.
During the evaluation process, Il-cheol ended up being eliminated in the final stage. Though his quality was excellent, he had failed in standardizing specifications.
"Well, it's fine! It's fine! Actually, it's better not to deal with the troublesome government tribute!"
When informed of the results, Il-cheol had shouted in a boisterous voice. But the truth was, his pride was wounded.
'Damn it! What makes me inferior to those bastards!'
As time passed, customers at Il-cheol's blacksmith shop began to gradually decrease. This was because the perception of the people living in Hanseong and nearby areas had changed.
'Those who supply District 51 are skilled; those who cannot supply them are unskilled.'
As the people's perception changed in this way, customers at Il-cheol's blacksmith shop started to dwindle. Of course, neighbors who knew Il-cheol well continued to use his shop, but customers coming from afar gradually decreased.
The decrease in customers from afar was a significant loss for Il-cheol. Since iron goods had long lifespans, relying only on neighbors didn't provide enough profit.
* * *
Eventually, Il-cheol's wife had to step forward.
"We need to start a side business too."
"A side business... A side business, huh..."
In the past, Il-cheol would have snapped at her to stop talking nonsense, but this time he listened to his wife's words with a serious expression.
Seeing her husband listening, Il-cheol's wife raised her voice.
"You know about gyeyak too, right?"
"Of course I know. It's that gyeyak that Jang-soe and Dol-soe eat even when they wake up in the middle of sleep. Why, are you thinking of opening a gyeyak shop?"
"Yes."
"Gyeyak isn't easy to make..."
When Il-cheol hesitated, his wife made a sour face.
"Come on! Have you forgotten that I'm called every time the Jinsa Oh household has a feast or memorial service? How famous is my buchim (fried dish) skill?"
"Hmm... As far as I know, even if we get chicken and oil separately, we have to buy the coating powder from merchants, and I heard that's quite expensive?"
"After tasting it myself, I figured out roughly what goes in it. So I'm thinking of making it myself."
"Hmm..."
At his wife's words, Il-cheol calculated the costs.
The most important things for making gyeyak were chicken, the powder coating for the chicken, oil, and finally fuel.
'There's a soybean oil press right nearby, so that's taken care of. As for fuel... I know the coal suppliers for the blacksmith shop well, so no worries there...'
An oil press that extracted oil from soybeans grown on Neobeolseom Island was right in front of them, and thanks to the blacksmith shop, there were no concerns about frying pots or coal.
'The problems are obtaining chicken and the taste...'
Il-cheol shared the problems he had identified with his wife.
"Where will you get the chicken?"
At Il-cheol's question, his wife answered with a look that said it was no big deal.
"There are more places selling chicken these days, and if things get tight, we can raise them ourselves. We can figure out the taste with a little experimentation."
"Hmm..."
Unlike his confident wife's words, Il-cheol couldn't make an immediate decision.
"Let's think about it a little more."
"Honey!"
"I said let's think about it for a few more days!"
Eventually, after being pestered by his wife for over half a month, Il-cheol had no choice but to wave the white flag.
* * *
And one month later,
"Mom, gyeyak again today?"
"Mom, now you smell like chicken poop as soon as you open your mouth~."
"Wife. Let's give up now."
Il-cheol and his children were pleading with Il-cheol's wife.
Since the decision to 'Open a gyeyak shop!' was made, for the past month, Il-cheol's family had to endure suffering that wasn't quite suffering.
"I'll create my own unique blend!"
Il-cheol's wife decided not to purchase the frying powder used for gyeyak from merchants but to make it herself.
"It's not just about the money, but using the same taste as other shops means less profit."
Having made her decision, his wife spent an entire month frying chicken to find the 'optimal blend ratio,' and Il-cheol and the children had to eat chicken until they were sick of it.
"Argh! I'm confident about this one!"
Despite Il-cheol and the children's complaints, Il-cheol's wife answered confidently and placed a dish containing gyeyak on the table.
"You've been saying that all month..."
"Shut up and eat!"
At his wife's fierce voice, Il-cheol and his children shrunk their necks like turtles and picked up pieces of gyeyak.
"Hmm? The pieces are a bit smaller this time?"
*Sniff sniff sniff!* "The smell is unique?"
"There's some kind of good fragrance."
Noticing a pleasant smell different from before, Il-cheol and his children put the gyeyak in their mouths with expectation.
A moment later,
"Mom! This one is delicious!"
"It's really delicious!"
"It's not bad!"
Il-cheol and his children gave their wife and mother the highest praise. At the evaluation from her husband and children, the expression on Il-cheol's wife's face, which had been stiff until now, finally relaxed.
* * *
Three days later, Il-cheol and his wife visited Jinsa Oh's house with the gyeyak they had made.
"Do we really have to do this? It's just gyeyak?"
At his wife's words full of anxiety, Il-cheol answered.
"This is how business succeeds."
Hearing that 'The blacksmith Il-cheol and his wife have come to visit,' Jinsa Oh appeared at the main hall with a relaxed expression.
Seeing Jinsa Oh's face, the Il-cheol couple bowed deeply from the waist.
"Jinsa-nim. Have you been well?"
"Yes, I've been well. What brings you here today?"
At Jinsa Oh's question, Il-cheol answered respectfully.
"Yes, my wife has decided to open a gyeyak shop. So we've come to ask Jinsa-nim to taste it."
"Gyeyak?"
"Yes, sir."
At Il-cheol's gesture, Il-cheol's wife carefully stepped up onto the veranda and respectfully held out a basket.
Hearing the voices, Jinsa Oh's wife emerged from the inner quarters, took the basket, and lightly smelled it.
"Oh my? The fragrance is unique."
"Yes, madam. Since gyeyak flavors are similar everywhere, I've made some adjustments myself."
"If it's your handiwork, it must be delicious. My lord, please try it."
"Oh my!"
Jinsa Oh, having taken a bite of the gyeyak the Il-cheol couple brought, let out an exclamation of admiration.
"Even though it's cooled a bit, it tastes excellent! The seasoning is perfect, and especially the fragrance is superb! People will come looking for it in droves!"
"Indeed, your cooking skills deserve recognition."
"We are deeply honored!"
At the favorable review from the Jinsa Oh couple, the Il-cheol couple smiled broadly and repeatedly bowed. Il-cheol cheered inwardly.
'It worked! If it passes Jinsa Oh, that's it!'
Jinsa Oh was known as the wealthiest man in the area and a gourmand. If word spread that such a person had given a favorable review, it was a guarantee of success.
"So... have you named the shop?"
"Not yet."
"Would you mind if I name it?"
"There would be no greater honor!"
When Il-cheol brightened up, Jinsa Oh pulled a writing desk that had been set aside closer to him.
"For something like this, a brush is better than a gold pen after all."
Dipping a brush made of the finest marten fur generously in ink, Jinsa Oh wrote the name with a single flourish on the paper.
'Ilmi Gyeyak (一味鷄炸 - Unique Flavor Fried Chicken)'
"I can't promise it's the finest under heaven, but I can say it's the finest in Hanseong."
"Thank you! My lord, truly thank you!"
"Prosper well. That way I can eat it often too."
"Yes!"
* * *
Thus, 'Ilmi Gyeyak' established in Yeongdeungpo began to attract more and more customers through word of mouth.
Eventually, there were even people who heard the rumor from within the city walls and crossed the Han River to buy it.
"Is this the famous Ilmi Gyeyak?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Looking at the 'Ilmi Gyeyak' the court official had obtained, Hyang picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.
"This fragrance and taste... black pepper and turmeric?"
'It's curry chicken! Not bad.'
"Hmm... Not bad. Invite the person who makes this gyeyak to the palace sometime. I think His Majesty would enjoy it as well."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After eating a few more pieces, Hyang pushed the plate away and gave an order.
"Share it inside the palace, and you all share it among yourselves too."
"We are deeply grateful!"
At Hyang's command, the court official bowed deeply from the waist and carried the plate away with great enthusiasm.
Watching this, Hyang muttered to himself.
"I need to look into sangmullim too... I had forgotten about it because it was too familiar. I need to reflect on that."
* * *
A few days later, the Il-cheol couple was summoned to the palace.
Seeing the couple trembling nervously, an official smiled and tried to put them at ease.
"His Majesty has summoned you because your gyeyak is said to be the finest in Hanseong. Go ahead and show your skills. If you do well, there will be a great reward."
"Yes, yes!"
As soon as the words 'great reward' came out, Il-cheol's wife was fired up.
King Sejong, having tasted the Il-cheol couple's gyeyak, was greatly satisfied and awarded ten bolts of the finest silk as a prize.
With the rumor spreading that 'Even the King praised the taste!' Il-cheol's gyeyak shop grew increasingly prosperous.
* * *
But isn't there a saying that good fortune brings misfortune?
The Il-cheol couple's gyeyak shop, which seemed to be doing well, also hit a snag.
What blocked the couple's path was 'chicken.'
"Chicken prices have gone up starting today."
"What? How can you suddenly raise them?"
When Il-cheol protested, the chicken shop owner shrugged his shoulders.
"Can't help it. Gyeyak shops keep increasing, but the amount of chicken is limited."
"This is..."
At the chicken shop owner's words, Il-cheol's face showed distress.
Unlike pigs or cattle, chicken was a common source of protein that people could easily eat. Every household raised at least three or four chickens.
As gyeyak gained popularity and demand for chicken increased, the chickens raised this way couldn't meet the demand.
Therefore, before long, professional chicken farmers appeared. Even so, demand still exceeded supply.
"Can't be helped. How much more do we need to pay?"
At Il-cheol's question, the chicken shop owner answered briefly.
"It's gone up by 10 percent."
At the chicken shop owner's words, Il-cheol shouted in anger.
"10 percent? These thieves!"
Though Il-cheol was angry, the chicken shop owner casually picked his ear with a calm face and answered.
"Then don't buy it..."
"Ngh..."
Eventually, Il-cheol had to buy the chicken at the increased price. And before even half a month passed, the price went up another 5 percent again.
However, not long after, Il-cheol had to feel greatly indignant. Only his shop had to buy chicken at the raised price.
"I'll report this to the Pokcheong!"
At Il-cheol's angry words, the chicken shop owner replied with a still unruffled expression.
"Go ahead and report. Did I sell rotten meat? Or did I cheat on the count? I just sold it expensive. Isn't the selling price up to the seller?"
"Hey there!"
"Come on! Why are you being like that? If you made money, you should share some with us too. Isn't that right?"
"Grr!"
Grinding his teeth, Il-cheol looked for another chicken shop. But as soon as the name 'Ilmi Gyeyak' came out, everyone tried to charge higher prices.
Eventually, unable to contain his anger, Il-cheol picked up his hammer.
"Damn it! I'll just raise chickens myself! I just need to make a chicken coop!"
* * *
Though he had decided to raise chickens himself, the work wasn't easy.
The first problem was the chicken coop. If raising just three or four chickens like before, finding a spot in a shed or barn would suffice, but for large-scale raising, dedicated facilities were needed.
To solve this problem, Il-cheol secretly examined the chicken farms in the area.
"They're all similar..."
The chicken coops installed at each farm looked similar.
Wooden posts and roofs were set up, and the lower half of the walls were blocked with planks or dirt. The upper half had wooden shutters installed that were left open during the day and closed when it rained or at night.
Thanks to this, what chicken farmers struggled with most was confining the chickens.
With just a moment's inattention, chickens would escape through the open shutters, jump over walls, or enter neighbors' yards to peck at grain—it happened often.
But if they closed the shutters, chickens would suffocate or die from heat.
Having confirmed the problems at the chicken farms, Il-cheol fell into thought.
"I need to let air through while also keeping the chickens from escaping..."
As Il-cheol pondered to find a solution, he absentmindedly fiddled with iron wire.
"Hmm..."
Il-cheol, who was thinking hard to find an answer, suddenly looked at the iron wire in his hand. Seeing the iron wire, Il-cheol's eyes sparkled.
"This is it!"