EDFF 09

Chapter 9

O-il Market

When So Yeon-hui first devised her business plan, she believed that Tanghulu would revolutionize the entire region.
The reason was simple.
Overwhelming visual appeal and taste.
‘The snacks of this age amount to nothing more than rice cakes, dried fruit, or nuts glazed in honey. What could possibly compete with Tanghulu?’
Of course, malt syrup and honey had their own appeal.
They possessed a depth of flavor that sugar alone could scarcely replicate.
Yet no snack sold in any market could achieve the overwhelming sweetness that Tanghulu delivered.
‘That’s because if they used malt syrup in such quantities, the cost would be prohibitive.’
To produce five hundred grams of malt syrup required one and a half times that weight in rice.
As for wild honey, one had to venture deep into the mountains to find it—no need to elaborate on that.
How precious and sweet a confection Tanghulu must be, then.
One need only observe the children’s reactions to grasp its popularity.
“Sister, can I please taste just one piece of Tanghulu?”
So Yeon-u gazed at the glossy-surfaced Tanghulu and swallowed hard.
“Of course you should taste it. That’s the whole point—I made plenty so we could share it among ourselves. Don’t be shy; take one each.”
The moment permission was granted, both children grabbed a stick and took a large bite.
Crunch.
The sugar coating shattered with a satisfying snap, and the sweet-tart juice of the fruit burst across their tongues.
“!!!”
“Wow! This tastes even better than that Candied Wild Strawberry we had in Seongdo!”
“Right? The sweetness is so strong it doesn’t taste sour at all.”
Listening to her siblings’ excited cries, So Yeon-hui smiled warmly.
“Truth be told, it would taste even better with other fruits. Grapes, for instance—or wild grapes, mandarin oranges, strawberries.”
Honestly, juicier fruits suited Tanghulu far better than hawthorn berries.
But unfortunately, wild strawberry season had already passed.
‘Once I’ve accumulated enough Good Deed Points, I’ll have to buy some Shine Muscat grapes from the Jijang Mall and make Tanghulu with those.’
After all, isn’t it human nature to want to give the best things to those you love first?
So Yeon-hui wrapped the Tanghulu carefully and prepared her bundle for departure.
“Right then. I need to set out quickly. It’s still the morning watch, and if I hurry, I should reach the market before the afternoon watch begins.”
“What? You’re going to the market? Without telling the adults first?”
“Yeah, and if Grandmother finds out, I’ll catch it again.”
Her siblings tried to dissuade her with worried faces, but So Yeon-hui simply narrowed her eyes with a slight smirk and replied.
“I already mentioned it to Father separately. Besides, this sort of thing is always easier to apologize for than to ask permission for.”
* * *
The O-il Market was held about half a watch’s journey on foot from Mangok Village—roughly an hour’s walk away.
Since all the local inhabitants gathered there, what better place to test the potential of Tanghulu, a snack friendly to common folk?
Yet the thought of a young girl walking a mountain path alone without a guardian was a foolhardy venture by any measure.
‘But if I don’t do this, Father will be dragged away to compulsory labor.’
So Yeon-hui used a sturdy bamboo pole as a walking staff and proceeded with determined steps.
Just as she crested one hill, a creaking sound echoed from ahead, and an old cart drawn by an aged donkey approached slowly.
The cart was pulled by an elderly man with a slightly bent back and a young woman—Shim, a neighbor of the So Family, and his second daughter-in-law, Song.
‘What brings that elder to this place?’
Momentary confusion slowed her pace, but the old man stopped first.
“Are you headed to the market?”
“Yes, sir.”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, So Yeon-hui bowed cautiously.
‘Of all people to meet here, it had to be Shim.’
While he was certainly kind—he had been the first to discover her after she’d eaten the poisonous mushroom and had given her emergency care—she had no wish to be fussed over for something she hadn’t even done.
Especially not when the memory of her embarrassingly angsty declaration of ‘Why did you save me?’ still lingered so vividly.
‘So Yeon-hui, you really are… ugh, I should keep my mouth shut.’
Yet contrary to her worries, Shim didn’t meddle unnecessarily or burden her with concern. Instead, he spoke casually, leaning his back against the cargo in the cart.
“Well then, since we’re headed the same way, I’ll give you a ride to the market. Come, climb aboard.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t. There’s already so much cargo in the cart, and I’d hate to be a burden.”
The cart, slightly larger than a hand-cart, already had bamboo wickerwork taking up more than half its space.
While it was possible to make room if necessary, the woman who appeared to be pregnant was also riding—was it really necessary to add to their troubles?
Grateful for Shim’s kindness, So Yeon-hui shook her head and waved her hand dismissively, not wanting to feel uncomfortable.
Yet Shim, as if he’d expected this, gave a short laugh and continued.
“Taking one more person isn’t a burden at all. Besides, your father, the General, made a special request of me—how could I pretend not to know?”
So Yeon-hui, who had been searching for a way to slip away, froze in her tracks.
She looked between Shim and Song with a somewhat confused expression before asking in a bemused tone.
“Father made a request?”
“Yes. He stopped by our house about half a watch ago. He said his daughter would be going to the market, and asked if we happened to pass her on the road, would we give her a ride.”
At this, Song chimed in, as if she’d been waiting for the opening.
“He didn’t say much, but his love for his child was truly profound. He even gave us some bamboo shoots as payment for the ride.”
But when did he even harvest those bamboo shoots?
True, bamboo grew abundantly around their home, but with the hoe broken yesterday, digging wouldn’t have been easy.
Moreover, even in exile, a man of noble birth had his dignity.
The laws of the Four Professions were strict; she’d assumed he would look down on commerce as base and resist such pursuits.
‘What is this? Father’s thinking is far more flexible than I expected.’
While surprised by his unexpected behavior, there was nothing wrong with it.
After all, she now had a formidable backer in her father.
So Yeon-hui, her face brightening, hoisted her bundle onto one side of the cart and spoke.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept your kindness. Thank you both, truly.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re close neighbors anyway, so let’s continue to get along well.”
Song responded with a warm, good-natured laugh.
* * *
After riding in the swaying cart for about the time it took to burn a stick of incense,
So Yeon-hui’s party arrived at the open ground near Gangha Village where the O-il Market was held.
“Riding in the cart made the journey so quick. It looks like we’ll be able to claim a good spot.”
“After rising before dawn, we can’t let the best location slip away from us.”
Shim surveyed the marketplace with eager eyes.
Then, without hesitation, he led the group toward the heart of the market and swiftly claimed a spot right beside a meat stall.
“You two, it’s been a while.”
“Oh my, have you come out as well, sir?”
From the warm exchange of greetings, it seemed they knew each other well.
So Yeon-hui glanced at the middle-aged couple—a robust man and woman with a kind expression—and found them striking.
Then Song, standing nearby, whispered discreetly in her ear.
“They’re the Jangs. He runs a butcher shop in Jin-seong. I’ve heard that the Poong-un Trading Company recently set up in Jin-seong and drove all the merchants there to ruin. I’m surprised to see them even at the O-il Market.”
What? The Poong-un Trading Company—one of the three greatest merchant houses under heaven?
‘What would a trading company from the capital be doing in such a remote place?’
While the question troubled her, there was no time to dwell on it.
The butcher’s wife glanced sideways at So Yeon-hui and opened her mouth.
“Well, I see you have some new companions these days?”
“Ah, this young lady is the eldest daughter of the So Family from next door to us. Young lady, this is Jang and his wife Yang, who run a butcher shop in Jin-seong. Greet them.”
At Shim’s words, So Yeon-hui stepped forward and smiled brightly, as if she’d been waiting for the cue.
“I’m Yeon-hui of the So Family. Today I’ve come to sell Tanghulu with the Shim family.”
“Tanghulu?”
Yang’s brow furrowed slightly.
So Yeon-hui, suppressing a quiet laugh, swept away the cloth covering her basket.
‘Showing is better than explaining.’
As the cloth fell away, sunlight poured forth, and the Tanghulu sticks gleamed like precious gems with their lustrous beauty.
How could anyone fail to be astonished at such a sight?
It was inevitable that Jang and his wife’s eyes widened in wonder.
‘Exactly as I’d imagined their reaction would be.’
So Yeon-hui smiled knowingly and handed out sticks to the group.
She remembered not only the Jangs but also Shim and Song.
“Please, try one each. I won’t ask payment.”
“Oh dear, if you give away so much before business even starts, people will take advantage of your kindness. Miss Yeon-hui, you’ll only invite trouble.”
Yang expressed concern, but So Yeon-hui simply smiled and shook her head.
“It’s fine. I have good fortune in my destiny. When I do kind deeds, the Bodhisattva surely returns them to me.”
And truly, she did.
At So Yeon-hui’s good-natured words, the Jangs burst into laughter together and accepted the Tanghulu sticks.
“After we sell the meat, we’ll set aside some bones for you, so wait a moment after the market closes.”
“Really? I’ve always heard your face resembles the Bodhisattva’s, auntie, and now I see your kindness is just as great!”
“My goodness, this young lady has quite the gift of words. You needn’t worry about your future marriage, girl. Your husband’s family will surely treasure you.”
The warm exchange of compliments lifted the atmosphere further.
So Yeon-hui, seizing the momentum, picked up two or three sticks and held them high in the air as she called out loudly.
“Tanghulu for sale! A heavenly delicacy that shatters like ice! Aids digestion and prevents colds—good for young and old alike! Only two Mun per stick! Don’t miss this opportunity!”