HLM – Chapter 223 Jinro

Upon hearing Wang Bo’s question, Kim Jung-tae replied in a very formal tone, “Yes, Mr. Mayor, this is authentic Korean ginseng, harvested from **** Changbai Mountain. It’s genuine wild Cheon-sam!”

“Wild Korean ginseng is called Cheon-sam? Compared to their Texan American ginseng, which one is better?” asked the curious Juan.

Kim Jung-tae smiled and said, “No, Cheon-sam is the highest grade among Korean ginseng. Our ginseng is divided into red and white types. Red ginseng is better for making soup, and red ginseng is further categorized into four grades: Heaven (Cheon), Earth (Ji), Good (Yang), and Cut (Cheol). Cheon-sam is the best. It’s very rare in Oceania and extremely expensive.”

“Did you bring all this Korean ginseng from your hometown?” Wang Bo suddenly asked.

Not knowing the reason for the question, Kim Jung-tae answered cautiously, “Yes, ever since I came to New Zealand and started running a restaurant, all the ginseng I’ve used has come from my homeland. But most of it is cultivated. Wild ones are rare and only reserved for esteemed guests.”

Wang Bo asked, “Then can you get seeds for red and white ginseng from your homeland? You may not know, but people in my hometown also grow ginseng. I know a few cultivation techniques.”

Of course, this was complete nonsense. He didn’t know a single thing about planting ginseng. His hometown was a fishing village — they raised sea cucumbers, not ginseng.

But since Kim Jung-tae said that high-grade Korean ginseng was rare in Oceania, Wang Bo’s interest was piqued. Ginseng is a tonic — if the quality is good, it can sell for a high price easily.

Two months ago, Wang Bo had planted a Heart of the Vegetable Garden, and he believed ginseng could grow in that garden. With the lord’s energy enhancing it, the quality of the ginseng would be excellent and could surely fetch a good price.

After just one dinner, he had stumbled upon a new path to getting rich — Wang Bo was delighted.

Kim Jung-tae already had ginseng seeds on hand. He had planned to grow them himself but failed. So he had to order more from his homeland.

Wang Bo said he wanted to buy some seeds, but Kim Jung-tae simply gave him a box and said, “Seeds aren’t valuable. They’re only worth something after they’ve been grown and nurtured successfully.”

Wang Bo made a token refusal and ended up accepting them for free.

The upright auditor frowned at the sight, keeping his eyes fixed on Wang Bo.

But Wang Bo couldn’t care less. He tucked the seeds away and took a sip of chicken soup. The broth had a sweet taste — clear and not greasy. The chicken meat was tender and smooth, far exceeding his expectations.

Charlie and the others also tasted it and were shocked, exclaiming in awe:

“Shit, this is freaking delicious. This is the best chicken soup I’ve ever had!”

“Are all Asians amazing chefs? Boss Kim’s cooking might not be quite on par with our leader, but it’s still incredible!”

“With such skill, why open a barbecue shop in our small town? I’d think he could easily make it big in cities like Auckland or Wellington!”

Wang Bo was also curious. Honestly, even without talking about the barbecue, just this chicken soup alone was good enough for Kim Jung-tae to establish himself in a big-city restaurant.

Kim Jung-tae didn’t answer, but Kobe did. After tasting the chicken, he said, “This must be chicken from the local ranch. The meat is so tender — aside from ranch-raised chicken, I can’t think of any other source.”

Hearing this, the Korean boss laughed and said, “Exactly. That’s why I came to Sunset Town. By chance, I tasted the beef, lamb, and poultry raised here, and I was so impressed that I decided to open a barbecue restaurant right here!”

Kobe wasn’t laughing anymore. He also planned to open a restaurant in Sunset Town. Now he realized he and Kim Jung-tae had overlapping ideas.

In fact, they overlapped in more than just ideas. For example, their progress: Kobe’s restaurant building had just been completed and was waiting for decoration — just like this Korean BBQ place.

Seeing his buddy’s gloomy mood, Charlie leaned over and whispered, “Dude, can you not be so spineless? It’s just a barbecue place. There are BBQ joints all over New Zealand. But your restaurant? That’s a Michelin two-star! One of a kind!”

“Not one of a kind — there are over ten,” Kobe corrected him.

Charlie rolled his eyes. “Fine, over ten. But barbecue joints? There are like ten thousand of them!”

That snapped Kobe out of it. “You’re right! Why the hell was I losing confidence? Damn it, cooking for you guys every day has been dragging down my standards. Starting today, I’m sharpening my culinary skills again!”

After finishing the chicken soup, Kim Jung-tae lit the gas burner. The Korean-style grill started heating up. He placed thin slices of beef on it one by one, then clapped his hands.

Immediately, a young chef brought over a tray of condiments — sesame sauce, chili sauce, tomato sauce, chili powder — all for self-seasoning.

Once the meat was grilled, Kim Jung-tae sprinkled on a bit of fine salt, wrapped it in a fresh lettuce leaf, and respectfully raised it above his head to offer it to Wang Bo. “Mr. Mayor, please enjoy.”

Wang Bo felt a bit awkward. He was a rough guy — used to casual meals, not this formal son-in-law style of serving. It was a bit too much for him.

Taking a bite of the meat wrap, Wang Bo nodded. “Delicious. The meat has no burnt taste at all — just pure aroma. Really enjoyable!”

Kim Jung-tae poured him a glass of liquor and said, “How can you eat barbecue without Jinro? Mr. Mayor, this is our treasured Jinro soju from my homeland. Please do have a taste.”

Wang Bo chuckled dryly, “Can I just drink beer?”

Since coming to New Zealand, he’d grown used to drinking beer. Some of the local craft brews were light, rich in malt flavor — almost like drinking soda.

Kim Jung-tae smiled and said, “Mr. Mayor, you must try it. This liquor has a connection to you. If we trace it back, Jinro’s roots lie in your country — it originated as shochu during the Yuan dynasty. It was introduced to the Korean Peninsula in the 14th century. In our history, it was once considered a luxurious high-end liquor — forbidden to be brewed by civilians and even used as a medicinal wine in the Joseon royal court.”

Charlie nodded in agreement. “Yes, give it a try. Korean Jinro is truly delicious. I had it once at a Korean coworker’s home — it’s a fine drink.”

Jinro is a traditional Korean soju. Originally just a type of liquor, it’s now also a major brand.

Seeing that it was a type of white liquor, Wang Bo planned to take a small sip. But Kim Jung-tae gestured, “Jinro should be downed in one go — that’s how you taste it properly. Don’t sip it.”

Saying that, the Korean boss raised his head and downed the shot, then pulled a dramatic face like he’d just taken a hit.

Not knowing the alcohol content, Wang Bo braced himself, then poured the drink into his mouth all at once.

To his surprise, it wasn’t nearly as spicy or harsh as he expected. Instead, there was a pleasantly sweet flavor up front, followed by a mild alcoholic kick.

Wang Bo savored it and looked at Kim Jung-tae in confusion. “Calling this fruit juice would be a stretch, but it really isn’t strong at all. What’s with all that exaggerated wincing just now?”