Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 220
Episode 220: People who change. (3)
After Hojo officials first opened the door, delivery quickly became established among officials working in the Yukjo government office.
The officials enjoyed the delivery because they could eat delicious food from Gibang, which they frequented regularly.
As Baedal became established quickly, a unique scene was created in Hanseong. When the officials arrived, servants from the gibang came out to hand out leaflets.
“New food came out this time!”
“If there are more than 10 people ordering, we will give you pyeonsu (a Kaesong-style dumpling dish) and boiled pork as a bonus!”
Not to be outdone, the servants of the kibang raised their voices, promoted their kibang, and handed out leaflets.
The leaflets handed out by servants detailed the foods available for delivery and their prices.
Hyang, who was watching the servants of Gibang making propaganda, began to slowly become worried.
“Does this look a bit dangerous?”
As the delivery companies competed in delivery, signs of overheating began to appear.
As not only Kibang but also nearby restaurants joined the competition, the overheating rate began to accelerate.
It was clear that if the overheating level was exceeded, the risk of problems occurring would rapidly increase.
But soon delivery problems surfaced for other reasons.
Officials of the Constitutional Department and Saganwon filed an impeachment complaint.
-The officials of the Sixth Dynasty who work overtime are issuing passes for their own sake! This is an injustice done through expedient means that is prohibited by the government, so it must be prohibited!
Upon hearing the news of the appeal from the Saheonbu and Saganwon, officials from other government offices suddenly uttered curses.
“What nonsense are these kids talking about!”
“Didn’t they order delivery?”
“What kind of bullshit are these idiots who drink during the day talking about?”
As I mentioned before, the officials were very liberal, unlike other government departments.
It was the officials who risked their necks to argue with not only the minister but also the king if they felt something was wrong.
Therefore, as compensation for the risk they faced, it was customary for officers to have no respect or respect among their ranks and not be reprimanded for drinking to the point of intoxication during working hours.
The reason why the officials of the Six Dynasties cursed and called them ‘bastards’ was also a mistake.
Amid this commotion, King Sejong, who received appeals from the Saheonbu and Saganwon, soon came to a conclusion.
“It is natural for officials to feel hungry when they work late. However, it is clear that issuing passes through expedient means is unfair. So, Lee Jo, please reorganize the system and create passes and usage instructions related to delivery.”
“I follow your orders!”
“majesty! This is…”
“Stop.”
When Daesagan and Daesaheon opened their mouths to refute Sejong’s decision, Sejong raised his hand to block their remarks.
“Again, it is natural to feel hungry when working late. However, operating a communal restaurant late is not efficient. And isn’t this also a good thing since money is made to the local government and local government through delivery? Therefore, I think it is better to guide people in a good direction rather than just block them. “If this is not right, we will punish the officials of the Saheonbu and Saganwon for drinking and getting drunk during working hours.”
Due to King Sejong’s threats, Daesaheon and Daesagan had to keep quiet.
The officer who recorded all of this added:
-So the Lord ordered to create a proper system for delivering and eating food.
The officer discusses.
Since ancient times, he has said that he does not even touch the dog while eating.
* * *
Since King Sejong’s permission was granted, Lee Jo devised ways to create related laws.
After several days of deliberation, Ijo created the ‘Legislation on Night Delivery’.
The contents of the newly created system were as follows.
-Persons delivering food must have a pass indicating ‘delivery’.
-The pass can only be used once, and the color of the pass is different for each group of 6.
-When a delivery person is inspected, he/she must submit a pass and verbally name the government office to which he/she is delivering. If the color of the pass is different from the verbal destination, the delivery person will be detained.
-Food delivered must be divided into individual servings and placed in separate bowls. It must also be perfectly cooked. Delivery of uncooked food is prohibited due to the risk of fire.
-Baskets containing dishes for delivery are limited in size. This is to prevent weapons or other dangerous items from being transported.
-Alcohol is absolutely not allowed with food delivered. Also, other than the delivery person, unrelated people such as gisaeng are not allowed to move together.
(Shortly)
This detailed and meticulously organized bill was submitted to King Sejong. After reviewing the bill, King Sejong immediately stamped the royal seal.
“It’s okay. “Let it be carried out like this.”
“I am devastated!”
In this way, delivery began to become systematized.
As soon as the bill was enacted, Lee Jo printed it and distributed it to stores and restaurants in Hanseong.
“If you don’t comply with this law, you will have to risk being shut down.”
“I will keep that in mind!”
* * *
After seeing the bill enacted like this, restaurants and cafeterias had to worry.
“We have to divide it into bowls according to the number of people?”
Until then, the delivery method was to put the soup in a large soup container, place the noodles and other toppings in a separate basket, and place the empty dishes in another basket and carry them on the cart before delivery.
When you arrived at your destination, you lined up empty plates, filled them with noodles or toppings, and scooped up the soup with a ladle.
However, doing so required the use of a large tray or jar. And a tray or jar of that size was large enough to hide a few long swords.
Therefore, it was natural for the Uigeumbu and the Pocheong to be suspicious.
“Well, it’s not a task to divide the food into plates according to the number of people, but…”
The issue that the restaurant and the restaurant were concerned about was not the issue of sharing. What they were worried about was how to transport it.
“How should I carry this and carry it?”
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t find an answer, so a gisaeng who ran a gibang in Unjong-ga complained to a regular official.
“How can I even share it in bowls?” “But I don’t know how to transport it!”
The regular official tilted his head in response to the gisaeng’s complaints. The official, who had been thinking for a while, let out a long sigh.
“Ha~. It’s a challenge! “It’s a challenge!”
The official’s face suddenly brightened as he was contemplating a problem for which there was no easy answer.
“I don’t have the answer, but there is someone who might know the answer!”
“Is that true?”
“Really!”
“If you give me the answer, I will not only pay for today’s drinks, but I will also give you two free prizes in the future!”
“Don’t forget that promise!”
* * *
The official, who had gotten free alcohol the day before, headed straight to Hyang’s research center. He found a motive for passing the exam like him.
“What’s going on, you’re so busy with work?”
“I came here because I need your help. “If you do it right, I’ll treat you to a drink for free!”
“What?”
After hearing the problem from the Lee Jo official, the institute officials immediately started thinking about it, but could not easily come up with an answer.
“I can’t think of it right now, but I’ll let you know as soon as I get the answer.”
“Please.”
* * *
The researcher who took on the homework thought about it here and there, but could not easily come up with a good solution.
“This is it…”
The official, who had been suffering from an awkward situation, brightened as soon as he saw the incense.
“Is that right? “You were there!”
The management who found the optimal talent got up from his chair quickly.
“Lowering! Lowering!”
* * *
After hearing the story from the official, Hyang took a moment to remember and immediately answered.
“When I went to Mingguo before, I saw that they had a square box attached to the front and back of a long bamboo pole, and they put dishes in there to move it. Wouldn’t it be okay to use that?”
After hearing Hyang’s explanation, the official immediately pointed out the problem.
“Every time I take a step, the bamboo sways. Unlike the food of Ming Dynasty, the food of our Joseon Dynasty has a lot of soup and is difficult to use. And in our Joseon Dynasty, the dishes are so big that we can’t fit a lot.”
“Hmm…”
Hyang muttered to himself at the official’s explanation.
‘In conclusion, there is only an iron bag.’
After coming to a conclusion, Hyang spoke to the official.
“Just wait three days.”
“Yes sir.”
“Then go and do your work. “Have you finished everything you need to do?”
“I’ll finish right away!”
In response to Hyang’s question, the researcher ran away without any hesitation.
* * *
Arriving at Area 51, Hyang called the field leaders and started making the iron bag.
After adjusting the size to match the soup and rice bowls currently used in Joseon Dynasty, Hyang-hyang, who created the optimal prototype, stroked his chin.
“Wait…. Is this going to make money?”
Hyang, who smelled money, registered a patent for the iron bag with the Intellectual Property Management Office.
* * *
The iron bag thus born was warmly welcomed.
One appropriately sized iron bag could transport 6 bowls of soup.
Therefore, two delivery workers could deliver soup and rice side dishes for 10 people.
No, not even two people were needed.
As expected, using the cart made by Hyang, he was able to deliver more than 20 servings by himself.
The strength of iron bags was not only ease of transportation.
The silver, shiny iron bag looked clean just by looking at it. And even if soup spilled inside, it was easy to clean and there was no smell.
Also, even if it was dropped or hit and dented, it could be repaired with just a few hits of a hammer, so it had a long lifespan.
In the end, there was no place in Hanseong that delivered food or a restaurant that did not have iron bags.
And this iron bag soon spread across the country.
This was because local government offices also suffered from overtime work. And women who wanted to eat food from Gibang, which is famous for its gourmet cuisine, but had difficulty accessing Gibang, frequently used delivery services.
It was the birth of a new market.
What is interesting is that, unlike in Hanseong, where the market was mainly formed targeting officials who worked overtime, the market targeting women’s houses was formed first in the provinces. And it came to Hanseong through word of mouth.
Thanks to this, deliverymen carrying iron bags in both hands or pulling carts full of iron bags ran through the streets of Hanseong and local cities day and night.
As a new market was created, a butterfly effect occurred.
Pottery craftsmen began staying up all night to develop porcelain bowls that would not break easily even when shocked during delivery, and organic craftsmen began to worry about making lightweight ceramic bowls that would not cool easily.
It wasn’t just pottery craftsmen who were worried.
Gibangs and restaurants throughout Joseon began to think about creating food that could represent themselves.
After hearing this news, Sejong smiled and looked back.
“Once the road construction is over, you’ll have to take me and take a trip around the country.”
“yes?”
“There are so many delicacies like this throughout the country, shouldn’t you try them at least once?”
At Sejong’s words, a thunderbolt struck Hyang’s head.
‘Michelin Guide!’
“Then, how do you feel about scoring Abamama?”
“Score?”
“Yes, the cafes and restaurants that Abamama gave high marks will spread the word and prosper. Would other restaurants stay still after seeing that? “If something like that happens again, how delicious will our Joseon food become?”
“I see!”
In this way, the ‘King’s Gourmet Map’, boasting history and tradition, was created.