“Earlier you said that you cannot make a lot, how many can you make within a month?”
“About thirty bottles each.”
“It’s truly not a lot, I see. And who’s brewing the liquor?”
It was certain that he would think strangely if he said it is brewed by priests. He didn’t want to get people’s attention for nothing like that.
“One aunt and three uncles.”
“They’re people with special talents, I see. Anyways, seems like the quantity you said could digest everyone in our Kisaeng house (brothel).”
“Do we have to monopolize it?”
“Why? Won’t you be able to do it?”
Geom Woo-bin scratched his head awkwardly.
“I already made an appointment with one place.”
“That, right? How many did you say you’re giving there?”
“I still haven’t decided the quantity.”
“Then let’s decide the quantity for our brothel, how many can you give?”
Ha Seok-mun was in a hurry.
As much as the number of Kisaeng houses in Hangzhou were large, the competition was bound to be fierce.
It costs tens and thousands of taels to increase the scale, and a lot of wealth goes into bringing beautiful and talented courtesans.
Among the numerous competitions, it is not easy to differentiate it from liquor. It is because they’ve got limited space to produce high-quality wine.
However, the four liquors Geom Woo-bin brought today could be the most powerful weapon among all the Kisaeng houses in Hangzhou.
“You said it will be fifteen silver taels starting from next year, right? I’ll just give fifteen silver taels starting from the first month.”
If it is fifteen silver taels, it is equivalent to two annual salaries of the waiter who works at the Kisaeng house.
Nevertheless, Ha Seok-mun had the confidence to buy it.
Hangzhou is a place where many people who like liquor gather to the extent they had no control over money.
“Within a month you will have to supply twenty-five bottles each.”
Ha Seok-mun was a man who knew how to win the match.
“As you acknowledged the value of the liquor, I can’t help but sell it to you. Alright. Starting from tomorrow I’ll supply every five days. The payment…”
“I’ll make it immediately after you bring the liquor.”
“Sorry? Fifteen silver taels?”
Even a blood-lion with a sense of money close to zero knew how great fifteen silver taels were.
Actually, he didn’t even think about money.
They just entrusted it to Geom Woo-bin, and they thought it would be enough as long as there is no inconvenience in living.
However, if it’s fifteen silver taels, they would soon become rich rather than face inconvenience in life.
“The liquor is too good, isn’t it? Hehe!”
“Liquor is liquor, but it seems like your point is good.”
Yeon Geum-hong’s words weren’t wrong.
When Ha Seok-mun said he was going to monopolize it, it was the undisclosed push and pull that took a little time.
If Ha Seok-mun’s opponent was an ordinary dealer he wouldn’t have come over as easily as Geom Woo-bin’s intention.
Ha Seok-mun didn’t even think that an eight-year-old kid would show such skills.
However, it wasn’t a loss for Ha Seok-mun.
If it’s bought and sold at a higher price it’s enough.
“Priest Do Pyeong-su, it’s time to study.”
“Yes!”
Studying letters was no longer a hassle for Do Pyeong-su. In the past, even if he tried to do that, memorizing one letter was difficult, but now he has completed one-third of the ‘Thousand Character Classic’.
Seo Seok-san mumbled looking at Geom Woo-bin and Do Pyeong-su walking out the room.
“Is Do Pyeong-su seriously going to learn to write? The abolition has truly got a knack for it. It was something even the master couldn’t do.”
“I’m worried because he’s too remarkable. They say an angular stone is bound to be hit by a chisel. Even his trading skills are like that, and he’s also fast at learning martial arts.” Said Yeon Geum-hong worriedly.”
“Tsk tsk, what are you worried about? If he’s doing everything well, it’s good.”
“I said so because I was worried!”
“After all, we can’t live with the abolition for the rest of our lives.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Wouldn’t it be sad once the abolition grows up fast and then leaves us?”
Yeon Geum-hong couldn’t easily go against Seo Seok-san’s words.
“Abolition will become proficient in the future. We would at least grow up to be as much as our master, right?”
“Do you seriously think that way?”
“We are great abolitions, so of course. All we have to do is protect the abolition until he can fly.”
“When will it be?”
“It’s good if it’s as soon as possible, and even if it’s late there’ll be a lot of time we can spend together, so it’s not bad.”
“He can also fly together with us, right?”
Seo Seok-san evoked a bitter smile at Yeon Geum-hong’s question.
“We even regretted that master left us with karma. If we’re together we’re making the abolition to face our karma. We can’t do that, can we?”
Jang Man-dok who was listening quietly nodded.
Yeon Geum-hong said standing up.
“Ah, I don’t know, I don’t know! It’s a long way from now, so let’s not worry already.”
And then, they were surprised at themselves.
They had no complaints at all with this life now. This life of brewing liquor, thinking about what to eat today, and thinking about what to teach Geom Woo-bin seemed like the most peaceful and valuable time of their lives.
They considered themselves to be the worst murderers of Moorim in existence. They’re wicked to the bone, so they believed that they will never be able to free themselves from that bondage.
However, the time they spend together with Geom Woo-bin makes them reveal their new selves one after the other.
A new look that’s being revealed after exceeding the age of ninety.
That fact was making the four of them deeply astonished.
“Manager Ha, what does that mean? You will only get fifty bottles of our Sohang wine this month?
It was the Wolha brothel which always received a supply of more than one hundred and fifty bottles.
“There are still twenty bottles left in stock. Honestly, I don’t even know if those fifty bottles will sell.”
Kwak Dae-pal yelled fiercely.
“Sohang wine of our Sohang brewery which cannot be sold because there is no stock is not being sold properly now! Does it make sense?”
“That was until five days ago. We would also want to take the same quantity thinking about all that you’ve done for us, but we can’t keep piling up a liquor that’s not selling…”
“That’s enough! It’s not like there is no place I can sell this if not for here! Don’t ever think of dealing with us again!”
Their Sohang wine is the best liquor to the extent it was publicly spread that the Kisaeng house that does not sell Sohang wine in Hangzhou is not the first-class.
So, it seemed like Ha Seok-mun would hang on to his pants, but he just stared blankly at Kwak Dae-pal as he left.
“Humph! How dare he reduce the trading volume with our Sohang wine brewery? He’ll have to go out of business before he could get his act together. How dare he!”
As Kwak Dae-pal was about to walk out the door he spotted a familiar figure.
It was a person named Wang Jang-su who was running the biggest dry goods store in Hangzhou.
As they usually greet when they come and go he was trying to act as if he knows him, but he heard what Wang Jang-su asked the waiter.
“Can I drink at least one of the Sagi (four drink) wine today?”
“Sagi wine? Is there even liquor like that?”
The waiter who was questioned gave an awkward expression.
“Gentleman, as you would know, as the quantity was too little it already ran out of stock two days ago.”
“Uh-huh! You don’t have the liquor the customer asks for in the brothel, does that even make sense?”
“Sorry. With only a small quantity coming in… but still, as we have the finest Sohang wine, let’s go with that today.”
“Did you mean Sohang w… Alright, it’s quite a good liquor. But this is quite…. What I’m saying is, as I’ve been drinking the Sagi wine, the Sohang wine does not go down my throat! I might as well drink a cheap wine than pay and drink this.”
Anger and astonishment burned in Kwak Dae-pal.
“‘Is he treating our Sohang wine with a cheap spirit?’ Was anger and ‘How good does the Sagi wine taste?’ Was an astonishment.”
“Now that I’m here, I can’t just go. Today I’ll have to drink some liquor and go for a Platycarya buttocks massage. Smack!”
Kwak Dae-pal called the waiter as he saw Wang Jang-su entering the brothel.
“Oh no, aren’t you manager Kwak?”
“Yes. It’s nothing else, but I want to taste that Sagi wine.”
“Looks like even you heard the rumors about Sagi wine. However, the rumors have already spread among the heavy drinkers of Hangzhou, so it’s only natural.”
“A rumor is spreading?”
“Yes. The number of customers has significantly increased these days because of the Sagi wine. Since it’s too expensive customers with a lot of money are flocki-…. Hehehe! You know, right?”
Since the business at the brothel was going well he was angry.
“So, can you or can you not get it?”
“Phew! Even the owner of the Kisaeng house can’t get it, so how will I get it? If you want to taste the Sagi wine you have to make a reservation in advance and come as a custo–…”
“I don’t need it!”
As Kwak Dae-pal blew up and headed towards the Sohang wine brewery he spotted his older brother Kwak In-cheol on his way.
“Brother, have you heard about the Sagi wine that’s being sold in the Wolha brothel?”
“You too heard the rumors, I see.”
Kwak Dae-pal told about what happened at the Wolha brothel.
“Actually, I heard something from the manager of the Hang-a brothel. He was angry that few of the regular customers of Hang-a brothel moved out to the Wolha brothel because of that the Sagi wine. He asked us to make a liquor that’s the same as the Sagi wine, but we should be able to taste it from somewhere.”
“Is Wolha brothel the only place Sagi wine is being sold?”
“I guess so. Then we have no other choice but to eventually pay and try it from there…”
Fortunately, they didn’t have to go through such humiliation. It was because the youngest, Kwak Jung-man found and brought the Sagi wine the next day.
“As I asked around, I found that there is a place called ‘The world’s best boarding house’ out of town that’s selling the Sagi wine. I ran straight through and saved it with much difficulty!”
By doing so, he placed the four calabashes on the table.
“Sagi wine doesn’t mean it’s one drink, it’s named so because there are four kinds of liquors.”
Names of each liquor were written on the calabashes.
“Pungryu wine? Should we start with this drink that has a dowdy name?”
He was going to pull out the cork but Kwak Jung-man said.
“But 2nd brother. This is a little expensive.”
“You should tell me how expensive is it for me to see how-…”
“It’s twenty silver taels.”
“What did you say? Four bottles are twenty silver taels?”
“Nope. One bottle is twenty silver taels, at a total of eighty silver taels.”
“This, this is insane! Isn’t that price close to ten times more than our Sohang wine!”
“If it’s bought in wholesale it wouldn’t make much of a difference, but anyway it’s a very expensive liquor, right?”
“Such liquor cannot be sold because they don’t have stocks?”
When he found out the price he even became careful with pulling out the cork.
Pop!
As he took off the cork the aroma of the wine spread out all around.
He swore he’s never seen a wine with such an elegant smell.
The three brothers took turns and drank the Sagi wine one glass each. After that, they couldn’t say a word for about an hour. Even when their grandparents and parents died just ten days apart, it wasn’t this silent.
“Big brother… is it possible…. to brew this kind of liquor?”
Kwak In-cheol who got the attention of his two younger brothers sighed deeply.
“What talent do I have. I’ve been brewing liquor for thirty years, but I can’t even understand the ingredients used for these drinks, I see. It’s as if a winebibber came down from heaven and made it. I wish I could get on my knees and go back to being a student.”
Kwak In-cheol who brews liquor had the mind of an artisan, but Kwak Dae-pal, who runs the business was a thorough trader.
“Will you be able to teach me a secret method to brew this kind of liquor?”
“Right?”
Kwak Dae-pal added as if he had a hard decision.
“So, let’s snatch it away.”
“Snatch it?”
“We can’t leave the guy who interfered in our business!”
It’s the first time in my twenty years of living as a member of a triad (Chinese triad), I’m going to steal the secret recipe of brewing liquor.
As Jo Cheol-joong was riding the horse at ease, he asked Kwak Jung-man who was next to him.
“You must keep the promise of hundred silver taels at all cost.”
“Of course. Would I lie to you?”
They were both thirty-eight years old and they are best friends since childhood who lived in the same neighborhood.
“Guys, let’s go to the Wolha brothel tonight and have the Sagi wine heartily that was rumored to be delicious!”
At the back four gangsters were coming after them.
“Hey brother, now I’m going to the place where Sagi wine is being brewed. Wouldn’t that place be filled with Sagi wine?”
“You will get the true taste of wine only if you drink it with a woman, you stupid guy!”
“Hehehe! Indeed, you know how to appreciate arts.”
“Of course. With that being said should we start with tasting the Pungryu wine (Tasteful leisure)?”
They were making nonsense jokes and then they arrived at the brewery that was located by the river. There was a house in the middle, the house that’s built surrounded with four buildings as if it was being protected, was quite elegant.
As they entered the gate riding the horse, a partially bald middle-aged man who was sweeping the yard straightened his back.
“What brought you here?”