Chapter 154: Chapter 154

A lot of preparation was needed to brew alcohol.

How good the ingredients were, how they were used to brew the alcohol, and how much aging time it had to take.

Many things had to be taken care of, and it had to be watched closely.

Hoyeon Ji had learned how to brew alcohol since childhood.

Actually, rather than learning, it was more like she had watched and acquired it from the side.

Although she was merely copying it, she was still confident that she could make it better than most breweries. Indeed, even the alcohol Dan Woo-hyun had left unfinished was several times better than the cheap alcohol sold nearby.

“So, I’m thinking of making medicinal alcohol!”

At the table gathered for breakfast early in the morning, Hoyeon Ji shouted and clenched her fists.

Since she had entered this place to brew alcohol in the first place, she intended to show her passion for alcohol to her heart’s content without hiding it anymore.

Watching her quietly, Dan So-mi jumped up and raised her hand high.

“So-mi too! So-mi will help you too!”

“Shall we?”

“Yes, yes! So-mi wants to do it too.”

Because Dan So-mi’s appearance of raising her hand was so cute, Hoyeon Ji wore a full smile.

Thinking that it would probably feel like this if she had a younger sibling, she was already excited.

“It would be better if you didn’t do that.”

However, Dan Woo-hyun’s opposition shattered her thoughts. Although she shot a sharp glare toward him, Dan Woo-hyun was eating without any perturbation.

Is there some reason why she shouldn’t take So-mi outside the manor?

She quietly looked around at the others, not Dan Woo-hyun.

One by one, as their eyes met, they all turned their heads.

It felt as if they knew something that only she did not know.

“Why? Does she lack hand dexterity that much?”

“Hmm…”

“Ahem…”

Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak let out dry coughs.

Lacked hand dexterity? Of course, at first, that feeling was strong. Since she only caused accidents no matter what work she was given, it was to the extent that it would be better not to have her at all.

But now it was a bit different.

Dan Woo-hyun also had not spoken because of that.

Namgung So-hye also wore a reluctant expression.

“So-mi is still young, and to brew alcohol, it might be a bit… hard, so they are probably saying that…”

“I learned it from a younger age than that. Moreover, she is only helping by my side, and I won’t make a child taste alcohol.”

“Is… is that so?”

Namgung So-hye stealthily turned her head.

Although she felt a slight sense of incompatibility at the sight of her avoiding her gaze, when she looked at Dan So-mi who was wearing a pouting expression, she felt an impulse to defend her in spite of herself.

“So-mi! Let’s go out with big sister. We will dig up medicinal herbs in the mountains and look for delicious things too!”

“Yes, yes! So-mi is happy no matter what she does! Hehehe.”

Rising from her seat, Hoyeon Ji took Dan So-mi’s hand.

The appearance of the two going outside looked quite excited.

At that, clicking tongues were heard here and there.

“Pity.”

“Hahaha.”

“Ah… she shouldn’t…”

At the sighs of the others, Dan Woo-hyun smirked, put a piece of meat into his mouth, chewed it, and felt the presence of the two moving away.

He carefully put down his chopsticks and spoke.

“Sometimes, tasting frustration is also helpful.”

* * *

Hoyeon Ji climbed the mountain holding Dan So-mi’s hand.

There probably had not been a time when she felt this good since her childhood.

That was when she lived a life that was envious of no one, wearing good clothes and eating good food before her parents passed away.

Although it was a past she could no longer return to, Hoyeon Ji had the expression of a young child lost in childhood innocence, as if she had returned to that time.

“What do we do first?”

“Hmm… let’s see? Shall we look for things that can become medicinal herbs first?”

“Yes! So-mi is good at that too!”

Hoyeon Ji stroked So-mi’s hair as she replied brightly, raising her hand high.

She earnestly wished that this bright smile would last forever.

She would try to make sure this child did not live a life like her own.

Making good alcohol was indeed the first step.

Anyway, she had to find good medicinal herbs first.

The reason the Ho Yeon family became famous for alcohol was precisely because they made medicinal alcohol that was good for the body.

It was not simply about having a good scent or tasting good, but the advantage was that by drinking the alcohol, that person’s body could become healthier.

She looked around to find medicinal herbs.

Even though they had not entered deep into the mountain, medicinal herbs were visible everywhere. It seemed that herb gatherers did not visit near here often.

Although that was slightly strange, what did it matter?

It was enough as long as she could obtain high-quality medicinal herbs.

Glancing to the side, she saw Dan So-mi diligently digging up medicinal herbs.

Whether she was digging up medicinal herbs or weeds, though she didn’t know as her hands moved here and there, she was picking up and putting things in quite quickly.

‘Right, what would that child know about medicinal herbs?’

She probably just thought that if it was grass, it was all medicinal herbs.

Moreover, she was a child who looked like she had never got water on her hands. Since she lived in such a large manor and was receiving the protection of the Namgung family.

Hoyeon Ji only looked at Dan So-mi’s behavior cutely.

A long time passed like that. Since she had dug up a basket full of medicinal herbs where there was nothing, it was now time to look for other things.

“Did you dig them all?”

“Yes!”

“Fufu, let me see.”

Hoyeon Ji, who showed a faint smile, examined the basket Dan So-mi brought.

Looking at how she had dug up so many that it was full, cold sweat trickled down for no reason.

In spite of herself, she turned her head and looked at her own basket.

Medicinal herbs smeared with black soil were visible. Moreover, since she could not dig them up properly to the roots, some were cut here and there.

Although she was proud that she had dug up high-grade medicinal herbs and roots well in her own way, she was lost for words as it was compared too much with the results Dan So-mi had brought.

“…Y-You dig them well.”

It was literally clean.

From the roots to the leaves.

Even the soil, which had not been shaken off properly when she shook it, was perfectly shaken off, and only the highest quality products, which would make money if brought to a medicine shop, filled the basket.

“Hehe, because I come often with daddy.”

‘This is not a level that can be done just by digging often, though?’

Until not long ago, digging and selling medicinal herbs was Hoyeon Ji’s livelihood. Even this young Dan So-mi did it too easily, a task that she herself could not do.

Since the difference in quality was also significant, she felt shrank for no reason.

“Then… shall we go back?”

Hoyeon Ji moved while stealthily hiding her basket behind her back. Because showing it was also embarrassing, her face was completely red.

* * *

Regaining her composure, she began preparations to make alcohol. She filled a large cauldron with water, wrapped the cleanly trimmed medicinal herbs with cloth one by one, and put them into the cauldron.

In a way, it seemed like decocting medicinal herbs, but most of the Ho Yeon family’s alcohol was manufactured in this way and went to the market.

Right now, it would fall far short of the taste of that time, but Hoyeon Ji worked hard, promising to regain that taste once again.

“Oh? You are going to do it too?”

“Hehe, So-mi is going to try it too.”

Dan So-mi brought a small pot and filled it with water. She laid out a cloth and put the medicinal herbs she had dug up one by one. Her appearance of closing the lid and putting it on the fireplace was copying Hoyeon Ji from head to toe.

Perhaps because that appearance was cute, Hoyeon Ji watched warmly.

“It’s fine to make it, but you must not drink it. You know, right?”

“Yes! I know too. It’s fine because this is to be given to daddy. Hehe.”

Hoyeon Ji willingly nodded her head. As long as she did not drink it, there was nothing to be a problem. Moreover, the heart of So-mi thinking of her father was good to see.

Now, she only needed to light the fire and wait.

The two looked blankly at the burning fireplace. And they did not think even a little that this would become an occasion to crush her pride.

* * *

Ten days later.

Finally, the alcohol was completed.

Hoyeon Ji and Dan So-mi put the alcohol they had made into two small bottles and headed to where the others were gathered.

Dan Woo-hyun, Namgung Cheon, and Sa Do-hak, who had finished their meal, were putting refreshments brought by Namgung So-hye into their mouths, perhaps because their mouths were bored.

“It seems to be completed.”

“Yes. This time, it’s really a work of confidence! Since I made a lot of it, it will be fine to sell it if the taste is good.”

“Really?”

Seeing Hoyeon Ji who was confident, Dan Woo-hyun nodded. Seeing her speak to that extent, he could know that she made it quite sincerely.

Actually, since Dan Woo-hyun was watching the entire process of making alcohol, he knew well where her confidence came from.

Opening the lid of the jar, she poured alcohol into the cup.

Trickle-

The sound of alcohol falling into the cup rang pleasantly. The fragrance spreading deeply made even Namgung So-hye, who could not drink alcohol properly, drool.

Sa Do-hak and Namgung Cheon’s gazes gathered on Dan Woo-hyun.

What kind of taste is it? It was a gaze urging him to try it quickly.

Whether he accepted that meaning, Dan Woo-hyun drank the alcohol at once. At that resonance of gulping down, exclamations leaked out here and there.

Soon, Dan Woo-hyun, who savored the taste for a while, put down the cup.

“Certainly, it has become better than last time. But that is because the ingredients that went inside are good, not because your skill has improved.”

“Eh…?”

“The result is that it has not changed much.”

Ugh! Hoyeon Ji swallowed a groan.

The ingredients Dan So-mi dug up were good. Because of that, she thought she could produce a better taste, but Dan Woo-hyun pointed out exactly that point.

“If it is this degree of alcohol, I don’t feel the value to drink it by paying a expensive price.”

“Ugh…”

Hoyeon Ji was dumbfounded and her expression collapsed. Sa Do-hak and Namgung Cheon also drank a sip, perhaps curious about the taste, but they did not even say anything as if they had a similar evaluation to Dan Woo-hyun.

In the meantime, Dan So-mi ran over and sat next to Dan Woo-hyun.

“Daddy, it’s mine! Mine!”

“Hmm? You made this?”

“Yes, yes! I made it very hard to give to daddy.”

“Thank you.”

“Hehe.”

Since it was alcohol made in the same way, he did not expect much, but just that his daughter had made it was very precious alcohol to Dan Woo-hyun.

Dan Woo-hyun slowly opened the lid.

Whoosh-!

The pungent fragrance spreading in all directions stimulated the nose.

The two old men, who were disappointed by the alcohol they tasted just before, raised their heads suddenly.

“Give me some of that too.”

Trickle-

Dan So-mi carefully poured the alcohol she brewed first to Dan Woo-hyun, and next to Sa Do-hak and Namgung Cheon. Because the fragrance drifting from the cup was too different from earlier, it was like completely different alcohol.

Even Hoyeon Ji, who was discouraged, had a surprised expression.

Gulp-

“Oh- this is fine.”

“Hahaha, this is… a famous alcohol that can be counted on fingers in this old man’s life.”

“It is really delicious.”

“Hehehe.”

At the favorable reviews heard from here and there, Hoyeon Ji was lost for words.

At the sound that was too hard to believe, Hoyeon Ji quickly poured alcohol into a cup and brought it to her mouth.

Along with the deep fragrance, that clean taste going down the throat.

It was a level that even her parents could not imitate.

Tremble-

Hoyeon Ji shook her body.

‘What kind of nonsense is this…’

At the situation that was too unrealistic, she also forgot how she should deal with it. Her gaze returned to Dan So-mi, and she held those small two hands.

“Ma…”

“Ma?”

“Master…”

Looking at Dan So-mi whose eyes turned round, Hoyeon Ji barely swallowed her tears.

The pride of the Ho Yeon family fell in ruins.

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