Chapter 09
Not long after the Tang Family left, the Prefectural Administrator and his wife hosted a tea gathering for Qingming (April 5).
It had long been a tradition that, since farmers began their work after Qingming, officials would gather around this time to discuss the coming year’s agriculture, pray for a good harvest, and enjoy tea together.
Officials of every rank from the Sichuan Provincial Administration Commission (åå·ēčęæ宣åøęæä½æåø) attended,
along with many officials from the Sichuan Provincial Judicial Commission (åå·ēčęåęåÆä½æåø)
and the Sichuan Provincial Military Commission (åå·ēčé½ęę®ä½æåø).
After the ceremony praying for a plentiful harvest, the tea gathering began.
While the officials discussed government affairs together, their wives naturally gathered separately.
The hostess of that gathering was the Prefectural Administrator’s wife.
The wives of the Judicial Commissioner and Military Commissioner, who were considered her equals, were absent.
And as was always the case whenever noblewomen gathered, the conversation eventually turned to complimenting each other’s beauty.
“My goodness, Sister. Have you been getting younger lately? How has your skin become so beautiful?”
“Exactly! How is your skin so firm?”
Young people might have laughed at such conversations, but elderly women had their own standards of beauty.
At an age where age spots and wrinkles only increased with each passing day, they cared about their skin more than anyone could imagine.
Their husbands were high-ranking officials, so they lacked neither money nor influence. They sought out every food rumored to restore youth and drank countless medicinal tonics.
The wives of lower-ranking officials were no different.
In fact, they were even more desperate.
High-ranking officials were often older, with less interest in romance, or too busy with government work to look elsewhere.
But the husbands of lower-ranking officials were mostly between their twenties and early forties.
If their energetic husbands took younger concubines, they would inevitably wonder whether it was because their own beauty had faded.
To prevent that, they tried every possible method to maintain their appearance.
Surrounded by women staring at her with admiration, the Prefectural Administrator’s wife chuckled.
“Oh, stop flattering me.”
“Oh, come on, Sister. Have I ever said something like this just to flatter you?
Besides, what would I even gain by flattering you?
My husband is only a Deputy Military Commissioner. Even if I got on the Prefectural Administrator’s good side, it wouldn’t benefit us at all.”
The Administration Commission, Military Commission, and Judicial Commission all handled different duties and had separate chains of promotion.
The logic was sound enough that the Prefectural Administrator’s wife smiled.
“Hmm… is that so?”
“It really is! I’d even say you look like you’ve gone back to your forties. So tell us your secret. If you’ve found something good, share it with us.”
The other women couldn’t ask so directly because of differences in rank, but their eager expressions said they all wanted the same answer.
Only then did the Prefectural Administrator’s wife smile knowingly.
“Oh, it’s nothing special…
I recently gained a grandnephew, and he gave me a present.”
“A grandnephew? Congratulations, Sister!”
“Congratulations, Madam!”
“Hahaha, not a real grandnephew. He’s the son of my sworn nephew.”
“A sworn nephew?”
“Actually…”
She explained everything that had happened.
After listening with sparkling eyes, the women became excited when they heard the cosmetics had been created by the Young Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family.
“The Sichuan Tang Family… aren’t they famous for poison?”
“Not just poison. I’ve heard they’re also experts in medicine. After all, poison can become medicine, and medicine can become poison depending on how it’s used.”
“Do you happen to have them with you?”
“Of course. You there, go to my room and bring the cosmetics.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The maid returned carrying the cosmetics and placed them on the table.
Admiration immediately erupted.
“Wow… these are cosmetic boxes? Not jewelry boxes?”
“I’d believe it if someone told me the boxes themselves were treasures. They’re gorgeous.”
The Tang Family craftsmen were capable of forging hidden needles as fine as cow hair and engraving scriptures onto iron pieces the size of rice grains.
Although many hidden weapon techniques had been lost, their craftsmanship in metal and wood remained unmatched.
When they put their minds to carving and decoration, the boxes became works of art.
Enjoying the envious gazes around her, the Prefectural Administrator’s wife opened one box.
“This is Samilseol, a moisturizing ointment. Would you like to try some?”
“May I?”
The wife of the Deputy Military Commissioner, who was close to her, eagerly applied some to her hand.
“Oh my… it’s so soft, moisturizing, and refreshing.”
In this era, skin cosmetics were little more than heavy face powder.
Other than that, people simply applied camellia oil.
To them, the smooth, moisturizing sensation of aloe lotion was an entirely new experience.
“It works wonderfully for cracked skin, dryness, burns, and redness.”
“It’s amazing… What about the others?”
“Oh, these.”
She opened the remaining boxes.
“This is Bulgeonyeon. It doesn’t dry out and lasts a long time.
And this is Micheopmuk. You apply it like this…”
“Oh my!”
“My goodness!”
The women admired Bulgeonyeon’s beautiful colors and silky texture.
Then they gasped when they saw eyelashes lifted with Micheopmuk.
“Wow… This is… wow…”
By the time they had finished examining everything, desire practically burned in their eyes.
“So, Sister… can we buy these from the Tang Family?”
“Of course. My grandnephew made them.
Would you like me to get some for you?”
“Please! I’ll gladly pay whatever it costs.”
Meanwhile, something similar was happening among the officials.
“Deputy Military Commissioner, why are you limping?”
“Ah, Lord Prefectural Administrator.”
The man gave an embarrassed smile.
“It’s rather shameful. Yesterday I twisted my ankle getting off my horse.”
“Oh dear. Were you not more careful? Does it hurt badly?”
“My ankle’s badly swollen, so walking is troublesome, but it’ll probably recover in a few days.”
“Still, have you received treatment?”
“I summoned a physician, had acupuncture, and applied an ointment for sprains…
but I’m not sure it’s helping.”
“Hmm… Is that so?
Bring me the wooden box with the tiger carving from my room.”
“Yes, my lord.”
After the servant hurried away, the Deputy Military Commissioner asked,
“A wooden box with a tiger? Is it a medicine box?”
“Something like that.
A man who was like a brother to me left behind a grandson who recently gave me an ointment.
It’s quite remarkable. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
“I see.”
Even as he answered, he wasn’t expecting much.
A grandnephew couldn’t be much older than ten.
How could a child possibly make anything worthwhile?
Even the great Prefectural Administrator becomes soft around his grandchildren.
He dismissed it as an old man’s indulgence.
But when the black ebony box carved with a black tiger was placed before him, his eyes widened.
“The box alone is extraordinary.”
“Indeed, my lord. It’s hard to believe it’s only a medicine box.”
The surrounding officials also praised its craftsmanship.
Black ebony coated with lacquer.
A tiger carved in relief.
Its stripes inlaid with gold.
Amber eyes.
Ivory fangs.
The box alone was worth a fortune.
The Prefectural Administrator opened it and handed it over.
“Take some and apply it to your injury.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
The Deputy Military Commissioner scooped out some Hogolgo and rubbed it onto his ankle.
His expression immediately changed.
“What… is this?”
“It’s good, isn’t it?”
The Prefectural Administrator grinned.
The Deputy Military Commissioner nodded in disbelief.
“It feels warm and cool at the same time… almost like the heat is coming from inside my body.
It truly feels as though the injury is healing.
I never imagined such medicine existed.”
It was simply the cooling effect of menthol from mint combined with improved blood circulation from the other medicinal herbs.
But to someone who had never experienced such a sensation before, it genuinely felt as though the injury was rapidly recovering.
“What is this marvelous medicine called?”
“It’s an ointment called Hogolgo.
Apparently it contains tiger bone… and… what else was it?
Anyway, it’s said to be especially effective for injuries to bones and muscles.”
“Tiger bone?
It contains something that precious?”
“Your grandnephew is truly remarkable.”
The praise made the Prefectural Administrator strangely proud.
“Of course.
Wasn’t my sworn younger brother the head of the Sichuan Tang Family before he passed away?
What kind of family is the Tang Family?
The greatest family in the Central Plains when it comes to hidden weapons and poison.”
“Ah, now I understand.
Since hidden weapons are so tiny, it makes sense that the craftsmen who made them could create such delicate and beautiful boxes.”
“And it’s no surprise the medicine is so effective.
After all, medicine and poison come from the same source.”
The Deputy Military Commissioner looked down at his warming ankle for a moment before asking,
“My lord… would it be possible for me to obtain this medicine?”
“If I ask, my grandnephew won’t refuse.
But why?”
“As you know, military officers are injured all the time.
If I gave these as gifts, everyone would appreciate them.”
“Hmm.
I don’t doubt your judgment, but if you present gifts this luxurious, won’t your subordinates feel uncomfortable accepting them?
A junior officer’s salary could never afford something like this.”
“I’ll only use the luxurious boxes for a few senior officers.
For everyone else, the box doesn’t matter.
The medicine does.”
“Hmm… True enough.
Very well. I’ll speak to him.”
“My lord… could I also get some? My back has been hurting from handling official business…”
“My neck…”
“My shoulders…”
“Hahaha.
We’re all getting old, so everyone has aches somewhere.
Very well!
I’m in a good mood today.
I’ll give each of you ten jars of Hogolgo.”
“Thank you, my lord!”
“As expected of you, my lord!”
Feeling pleased that his grandnephew had given him such an opportunity to earn everyone’s gratitude, the Prefectural Administrator smiled with satisfaction.
“Hah… I never imagined it would be this effective.
In the end, you were right.”
Tang Unsang visited Hwiyeom with a bright smile after receiving reports of the flood of orders coming through the Prefectural Administrator’s household.
Hwiyeom smiled.
“There are quite a lot of orders, but we’ll prepare them as quickly as possible.”
“Good.
Have you discussed pricing with Elder Park Chang-eon?
The raw materials aren’t especially expensive, but there’s also the craftsmen’s labor and the cost of the boxes.”
“According to Elder Park Chang-eon,
‘Setting a price yourself is the worst strategy. The best strategy is letting the customer decide the price.’
I agree completely.”
“Ah!
As expected of someone worthy of being an elder.”
Hwiyeom remembered his days running a business in the twenty-first century.
Chinese people valued pride and reputation immensely.
They loved exchanging gifts, yet those same gifts often became burdens.
If a Korean received a gift worth one hundred thousand won, they generally returned something of equal value.
But in Chinese culture, people felt they had to give back something even more valuable to preserve their mianziātheir face.
That’s the famous culture of mianzi. I benefited from it quite a bit myself.
In his previous life, whenever he entertained Chinese businessmen and Communist Party officials, Hwiyeom never spared expensive gifts.
They would repay him with benefits and presents worth even more, even if they had to go to great lengths to do so.
The same principle applies here.
The other party stands at the very top of Sichuan’s political world.
No matter how prestigious the Tang Family is, to government officials we’re still nothing more than local strongmen.
To preserve his dignity, he’ll have to value these gifts generously.
If we set a price, he’ll pay more than that.
But if we simply send the goods without naming a price… he’ll pay whatever amount he believes they’re worth.
Smiling to himself, Hwiyeom instructed the craftsmen to work as quickly as possible, promising generous rewards for high-quality products.
Exactly one week after the shipment arrived at the Prefectural Administrator’s residenceā
An endless procession of carts arrived at the Tang Family estate.
“W-What is all this?”
Hwiyeom stared blankly for a moment before answering Tang Unsang.
“…It seems he valued our relationship far more generously than I expected.”
Apparently delighted to have earned prestige throughout Sichuan by distributing such luxurious gifts, the Prefectural Administrator had sent back an absurd amount of jewelry and valuables in return.
It far exceeded even Hwiyeom’s optimistic expectations.
“He really knows how to show off.
Well… works for me.”
“Hm? What did you say?”
“Nothing.
Father, I’ll go supervise production now.”
“Hm? Haven’t we already delivered the goods?”
“Not even close.”
Hwiyeom grinned.
“The real busy part starts now.
If possible, please assign us a few more craftsmen.”
He was right.
The noblewomen who had received the cosmetics immediately began showing them off.
The women who hadn’t received any became furious and started tormenting their husbands.
The sighs of henpecked husbands echoed all across Sichuan.
The military officers were no different.
After experiencing Hogolgo’s remarkable effects, everyone wanted to know where they could buy it.
Before long, every merchant in Sichuan was in an uproar.
“What do you mean you can’t get a shipment?!”
“Elder Gong Du-chan? Damn it! Who cares?! If we’re the only shop that doesn’t carry it, we’ll be the only fools left behind!”
“Let’s go directly to the Tang Family! If we sign a supply contract with them, we’ll be rolling in money!”
Like a stampede of buffalo, merchants poured into the Tang Family.
Waiting to greet them was Hwiyeom, wearing a perfect business smile.
“Welcome, everyone.
I am the developer of these cosmetics and Hogolgo, as well as the Young Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family with full authority over their production and sales.”
Sitting comfortably in the seat of honor, Hwiyeom smiled leisurely.
“So then…
How much were you prepared to pay, esteemed… customers?”
He muttered quietly to himself.
“I wonder if you’ve ever heard the phrase, ‘The seller names the price.'”
The ruthless aura of the multinational conglomerate chairman who once dominated developing countries hadn’t disappeared.
The smile on his face was the same one he used when squeezing raw material suppliers in Southeast Asia for every last penny.
