Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 885

Episode 885: Generation Change (16)

As expected, it was chicle shoes that started the flow of chicle products.

“The shape of this is similar to danghye…”

In fact, the shape of the chicle shoes made by Hyang was borrowed from the shape of danghye, which were often worn by noblemen and rich people. For women, it was modeled after Onhye.

“The look is good, but the price is ridiculous…”

The imperialists who saw the chicle shoes for the first time showed a lukewarm reaction.

The price was much cheaper than the expensive Onhye and Danghye, but it was much more expensive than straw sandals, which could be made and worn for free as long as you had straw and dexterity.

“And the color is also good…”

The fact that only white was available was one of the main reasons why imperialists hesitated to purchase it.

“Still, if you’re paying money to buy it, shouldn’t you have a nice frame?”

“cancer! cancer!”

Contrary to initial expectations, the sales situation was sluggish or even frozen, which gave management a headache.

* * *

At this time, it was Lim Sun-wook who came up with a plan.

Im Sun-wook, who found the incense, immediately bowed down on the floor, bowed his head, and made a request.

“Conviction Lim Sun-wook! “I would like to make an impious request to His Majesty the Great Emperor!”

“Profanity? Something?”

“I hope to rely on Your Majesty’s prestige to sell chicle-related items, especially chicle shoes!”

“My name? “Hmm…”

Hearing Im Soon-wook’s words, Hyang stroked her chin and muttered to herself.

‘Are familiar advertising methods popping up in the 21st century? There won’t be any problems… Ah! ‘I was in a prenatal situation!’

As Hyang said, using celebrities to advertise was the most common method.

However, even at this time, political leaders and religious leaders were not invited as models.

Moreover, it was now the 15th century. It was certain that if he carelessly mentioned the state of the fetus, he would be accused of insulting the Supreme Being.

“Anyway…”

Hyang paused for a moment and glared at Im Soon-wook.

“Did you come here with permission from the emperor, or did you move on your own?”

“This is something only your Majesty the Emperor knows. “It is certain that if there are many ears to listen, there will be more words.”

“is it? In that case… just wait a moment.”

Hyang took out a blank piece of paper, wrote something down, and settled it. As if the hand-me-down wasn’t enough, I even stamped the seal I had left next to me and presented it to Lim Sun-wook.

“This is confirmation that Jim gave permission. Submit it to the emperor. “We will definitely be able to stop the humans who are trying to capture the pod.”

Lim Soon-wook, who received the confirmation from Hyang, was deeply moved and bowed deeply in response.

“I am truly devastated by your great grace! “I am devastated!”

“I have a responsibility when it comes to chicle, so it’s a natural thing to do. “I hope we get good results.”

“There will definitely be good results.”

The township’s document became a clear shield, preventing backlash, but not preventing backlash.

“I heard you’re so stubborn… I didn’t know that Captain Im Soon-wook would pull such a trick, right? “I’m sure I was influenced by Captain Han Myeong-hoe!”

“But the water is still low. If it had been Captain Han, I would have rushed to Taesang right away. “At least since I am the Inspector-General, I went with permission from His Majesty.”

“Isn’t it fifty or a hundred steps?”

* * *

Anyway, not long after, a large banner was hung in front of a store selling chicle shoes.

-Tae Sang-sang himself wears chicle shoes instead of his hands!

“Is that what Taehyung did?”

“Then it’s different!”

Incense was almost like a religion to the people of the empire who had benefited greatly from all the objects and systems created by incense.

Thanks to this, as soon as the scent was mentioned, people who had hesitated started buying chicle shoes one by one.

What is interesting is that those who bought the shoes showed unusual behavior. Those who bought the shoes laid out a table in the yard, carefully put them out, and bowed to them.

“It is an honor to wear the precious shoes made by Tae Sang-tae.”

After bowing to their shoes, they carefully put them on and walked around the yard. And then he let out an exclamation.

“Kya! “It’s different after all!”

The chiclesin made by Hyang went through some improvements. The soles are thicker than traditional rubber shoes, greatly reducing the impact on the soles of the feet. For women, the heel was slightly raised to enhance the look.

What was particularly well-received was its waterproofness. Unlike straw sandals, which become unusable when wet, chicle shoes can be worn even when wet, and all you have to do is dry them well in the sun.

Through word of mouth from those who bought them first, chicle shoes began to sell like crazy.

It was very interesting to see how those who purchased chicle shoes wore them.

In households where one could make a decent living, they were worn as everyday shoes. However, in poorer families, they usually wore straw sandals and only took them out when attending family events or important events.

Another interesting thing is that the imperial people started calling the chicle shoes ‘chickle shoes’.

They started calling them ‘squeak shoes’ because they said that if you walk in wet chicle shoes, your feet will make a squeaky sound.

And these scrapy shoes pushed out the name chicle shoes. To a certain extent, Japanese merchants who came to purchase chicle shoes said this.

“Jukkkkushin Gudasai!”

“How many should I give you?”

Chicle shoes have suddenly become an essential product for the common people of the three countries in Northeast Asia.

* * *

As chicle shoes became popular, those who found themselves in trouble were the kibachi.

As quite a few noblemen began to wear chicle shoes, their income was greatly reduced.

Accordingly, a group of people living in Seoul visited the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

“Even small people are citizens of the empire! Are you telling us that small people should starve to death?”

It was Lim Sun-wook who appeared immediately upon hearing the noise of a crowd of ragtags causing a commotion.

“I heard your story well. “There is such a problem.”

“This is not something you should take so lightly! “The small people’s food bowls are at stake!”

Lim Sun-wook smiled softly and accepted the desperate protests of the kibachi.

“I still have something to show you.”

“Do you have something to show me?”

“That’s right.”

At Lim Sun-wook’s gesture, an official from the Ministry of Finance and Economy next to him went outside and came in carrying a box.

“God’s sole made of chiclo.”

“Is it because it’s the sole?”

“That’s right, when you make a shoe, you put the most effort into every part, but isn’t the sole the part you’re most concerned about?”

Everyone nodded at Lim Sun-wook’s words.

Not only did the toughest leather have to be used, but the studs had to be carefully installed to prevent it from slipping easily. The toughest means that it is difficult to make a hole with a needle or an awl, and it is one of the most difficult processes.

Lim Soon-wook held up the sole and explained.

“If you look closely, you can see that even the irregularities have been carved with chiclo. This means that there is no need to put any effort into studs and the waterproofing problem has been solved. And you intentionally made a groove on the side, right? If you sew along the groove, it is easy to attach the dori (side of the shoe) and the bottom. “How is it?”

After listening to Im Sun-wook’s explanation, the kibachi held the sole in question in their hands and examined it thoroughly.

After looking for a while, the Gabbychi asked Lim Soon-wook.

“Do you mean to sell these soles to small people?”

“That’s right.”

“The shape of the soles of the shoes made by small people is a little different from these.”

“If you really insist on that shape, you can order it separately. But then the price will go up quite a bit. I recommend using that for the sole.”

“But then you become the same as other gods…”

“Hehe. Don’t people who wear shoes buy shoes based on the soles? Everyone buys it to see how stylish and suitable the eyes and patterns carved on the body are. “Wouldn’t it sell better if we paid more attention to that part and put more effort into making the sole?”

“Ah….”

Those who fell for Lim Sun-wook’s persuasion signed a purchase contract for the sole.

Ministry of Finance and Economy officials who saw this scene from the side later gathered in small groups and started whispering.

“No matter how you look at it, it’s true that it’s about patience and persistence.”

“Wasn’t Captain Lim originally engaged in commerce? Isn’t bargaining the basis of a merchant? “Captain Lim was originally a competent merchant, so he must be good at bargaining.”

“It’s up to you to bargain. The Inspector Lim I know is not someone who can be persuaded that skillfully. “No matter how I look at it, it’s stained.”

“To whom… Ah!”

“Shh!”

Later, when the rumor spread and reached Han Myeong-hoe, Han Myeong-hoe immediately went to Lim Sun-wook.

“I need to buy some bee wine.”

It was a meaningless statement, but Lim Soon-wook immediately nodded.

“Of course.”

* * *

After eliminating the resistance to chicle with chicle shoes, the product introduced was a wheel with a chicle rim.

Rickshaw wheels with air pockets made of chicle inside, and cart wheels with wire mesh instead of air pockets and full rims filled with chicle, became very popular as soon as they appeared on the market.

“It’s so much better than a leather frame!”

“Customers also like it because it’s quiet and there’s less splashing!”

“It’s quieter than an iron ring, so that’s great!”

“This is the best because it’s less slippery even on wet roads.”

As it became so popular, the first to move were, of course, Japanese merchants.

“Ano….”

“Are you looking to buy chicle rim wheels?”

“Hi hi!”

This was the same for Myeongguk as well.

Ministry of Finance and Economy officials smiled in repentance as they watched the famous merchants returning home after buying a boatload of chicle-rimmed wheels.

“You guys can’t copy that.”

Illegal copying by Ming people has been famous since ancient times. Although products with complex and precise structures, such as high-end gold pens or sembuls, could not be copied, copies of many products that were worth money began to appear.

On the other hand, the Japanese came to the empire and signed legal contracts for products that sold well in their country.

Of course, there were those who attempted illegal copying even within Japan. However, in a situation where everyone in power is pro-imperial. It was a situation where an empire with greater military power than Japan was just around the corner. In these circumstances, piracy was gradually disappearing because anyone caught could not avoid severe punishment.

As this situation was established, merchants from other countries, including Europe, took full advantage of it.

-Imported goods that will be used in moderation, regardless of quality, come from famous countries.

-Imported goods from Japan are of reasonable quality and reasonably priced.

-Things that must be of the highest quality must be made in the empire.

And the objects made of chiclo were meant to destroy this structure.

But the country was a famous country.

Over time, Myungguk began replicating the chicle-rimmed wheel.

“Where did these kids get their chicle?”

The imperial people who received the information and began investigating soon smiled empty-handedly.

The Ming Dynasty people collected chicle from old, unusable chicle wheels, melted it down, and used it again.

“It’s so gross!”

* * *

Meanwhile, products made from chicle were a huge hit in a field that not everyone had thought of, or even incense, which was expected.

The product in question was an eraser.

Everyone who used a stylus, from school students to commercial clerks and managers, welcomed the eraser.

“Now you don’t have to get your fingers wet!”