Chapter 43
43rd Episode: Noodle Dish Competition
"Excuse me? A noodle dish?"
Ji-young's eyes widened as she repeated Yoon Nae-gwan's words, having rushed to the Royal Kitchen from the morning.
Yoon Nae-gwan nodded, deep wrinkles etched on his forehead.
"To ensure the beautiful relationship between the two countries lasts for all time, the envoy has requested to prepare a noodle dish at the Following day banquet this afternoon as a symbolic gesture."
"In that case..."
"It means we must respond with a noodle dish as well."
Seeing his face full of worry, Jang-geum quickly asked, "Should we prepare a simple Janchi Guksu as a temporary measure?"
"...That won't be nearly enough."
Ji-young shook her head with a grim expression.
This was clearly an unfavorable battle for Joseon.
Compared to China, which boasted all sorts of bizarre and wonderful noodle dishes, Joseon's noodle dishes were less developed.
There were several reasons for this.
The biggest reason was the 'Wheat Flour' used to make the noodles.
Wheat grew well in dry regions with consistent rainfall, but in Joseon, where rain was concentrated during the monsoon season, wheat production was not high except in some northern regions.
Therefore, Joseon had an environment where dishes using Wheat Flour were difficult to develop.
Moreover, the variety of wheat produced in Joseon was different from that in China.
'The Joseon native dwarf wheat, if classified in modern terms, would be considered 'Soft Wheat' with a gluten content of less than 10%.'
Soft Wheat had a soft texture that allowed the grains to be crushed with a finger, so it was mainly used for desserts such as cookies and cakes.
Therefore, Joseon's native wheat was a suitable choice when making Tiramisu cake last time.
'But it lacks elasticity for making noodles.'
On the other hand, the wheat used to make noodles in China was 'Hard Wheat' with a gluten content of 12% or higher.
The chewy and bouncy texture of Chinese noodles came from that rich gluten.
The gluten in Wheat Flour dough was called 'Noodle Sinew' in Chinese because of its strong elasticity.
'...But Soft Wheat isn't necessarily bad.'
Ji-young had something in mind since a while ago.
It was none other than the pasta map of Italy.
In Italy, which boasted over 200 types of pasta, different forms of pasta were made in each region.
If those numerous pastas were divided into just two types,
'...You can divide it into 'Fresh Pasta' in the north and 'Dried Pasta' in the south.'
'Spaghetti', which modern Koreans commonly encountered, was a typical 'Dried Pasta' from the southern region.
It was a type of pasta made from 'Semolina', a Wheat Flour made from a wheat called 'Durum Wheat'.
'That Durum Wheat is a typical Hard Wheat that grows in the dry southern Mediterranean.'
However, unlike that, Soft Wheat grew in northern Italy, where the climate was relatively similar to Korea.
So, what came to the table in northern Italy was 'Fresh Pasta' made with Soft Wheat.
'...Although it doesn't have a chewy texture, it has the advantage of the sauce soaking well into the noodles due to its soft texture.'
Moreover, Soft Wheat had a better flavor itself.
The tendency for high-end Italian restaurants to use northern-style Fresh Pasta was not unrelated to that.
So, the strategy Ji-young had to employ in this situation was clear.
'Make Fresh Pasta with Joseon's native Soft Wheat and win with the accompanying sauce!'
If she properly utilized the characteristics of the Wheat Flour, it wouldn't necessarily be a disadvantage.
"Jang-geum, please prepare Wheat Flour from the warehouse. Chef Jeon, please prepare the eggs and rolling pin to be used for the dough."
In Ji-young's mind, which was rapidly issuing orders in all directions, was the form of pasta she was already thinking of. The representative northern Italian Fresh Pasta, 'Tagliatelle'.
'It's almost similar to our Kalguksu. It's easy to explain because it's not unfamiliar to the people here.'
The name itself originated from the Italian word 'tagliare', meaning 'to cut', so even the etymology was similar to Korean Kalguksu.
The method was to roll out the dough thinly with a rolling pin, then fold it in half and cut it with a knife like slicing, creating flat noodles like Kalguksu.
But then.
"Aaaaaah!"
Jang-geum's piercing scream echoed through the Royal Kitchen.
"What's wrong!"
Ji-young rushed over in a flurry, and Jang-geum stood in the middle of the Royal Kitchen's food storage with a bewildered expression.
And what was visible below was a Wheat Flour sack with a hole punched in the bottom.
All the contents had been spilled out onto the dirt floor, completely white.
"The, the Wheat Flour... it's all unusable."
Jang-geum trembled, her face pale.
* * *
The day before the Following day banquet, Mohwagwan.
Seong Hui-an, the reception officer, sat facing the Ming Dynasty envoy Liu Jin with a strange smile.
As a China expert who had traveled to and from the Ming Dynasty several times in the past, he didn't even need an interpreter.
No, rather, an interpreter shouldn't be present for such a secret private meeting.
Liu Jin, who had been listening to Seong Hui-an's words until a moment ago, let out a seemingly sly laugh.
"Hahaha, the reception officer is saying frightening things."
"There's an old saying, 'The King must be King, and the subject must be a subject.' I'm simply doing what is right."
Although he was speaking in a polite tone, Seong Hui-an's eyes were shining strangely.
"...So, shouldn't you advise the Emperor of the Great Ming? That the King of Joseon has some 'mental problems'."
"Hmm..."
The moment he heard those words, Liu Jin's eyes narrowed.
Using the Emperor as a shield to pressure the King and become a powerful subject himself?
Liu Jin barely managed to hold back the words that almost slipped out of his mouth.
Such a familiar tactic.
Wasn't that the method he had always used to tame the foolish Ming Dynasty Crown Prince?
"I understand your words well. However, meeting the Emperor is an extremely daunting and difficult task for me as well, so I wonder if this dull body can properly handle such an important task empty-handed..."
Liu Jin began to speak circuitously at length.
Seong Hui-an, who knew well what that meant, revealed a faint smile.
"How can you say empty-handed? You will soon monopolize Joseon ginseng, a world-class product."
"Oh...?"
Only then did Liu Jin lean forward, as if he was intrigued.
"How can that be?"
"That cooking competition you're holding."
The light in Seong Hui-an's eyes grew increasingly bizarre.
"...Why don't you make the ginseng distribution rights a condition? Our King values precious cuisine more than state affairs, so he won't refuse."
In this era, ginseng trade was a public trade linked to the envoy's journey.
If the King permitted it, it was a structure where one could fully seize the monopoly.
"Haha, now that I see it, the reception officer is, how should I put it, a truly bold person."
"You flatter me."
Liu Jin's lips curled up without him realizing it, his heart elated at Seong Hui-an's words.
* * *
Wheat Flour scattered white on the Royal Kitchen storage floor.
"How could this happen..."
Chef Jeon and Jang-geum, who saw it, could only stand there dumbfounded, their faces pale.
Ji-young's vision also became dizzy, but if she lost her mind here, it would really be over.
Once outside the Royal Kitchen, Ji-young took a moment to breathe in the outside air and think calmly.
'Someone must have deliberately made a hole in the Wheat Flour sack.'
Come to think of it, there was something suspicious about yesterday's match as well.
The dish she had created with the rice wine found in the liquor storage, 'Boeuf Bourguignon Braised Ribs'.
But the opponent had presented 'Ma La Xiang Guo' as if they had been waiting for it, completely erasing that flavor.
Moreover, a hole was made in the Wheat Flour sack on the morning of the day they were competing with noodle dishes.
All of this couldn't be a coincidence.
'That means there might be a spy inside the Royal Kitchen...'
As that thought occurred to her, a chill ran down her spine and cold sweat broke out.
At that moment, Ji-young heard a strange song in her ear.
"Eogieo Eogangdori~ Aeu Darongdiri~"
'Huh? This strange sound... I feel like I've heard it somewhere...'
The one humming the bizarre tune at will was an Old man sweeping the Royal Kitchen courtyard.
Wasn't that the Palace Slave Old man she had met on the day she first presented the Royal Cuisine Table to the King?
"Uh, Old man?"
"Oh my, isn't that the loud-voiced Royal Cuisine Master, Miss Hang-a?"
"...How long ago are you talking about?"
"Yes, yes, that's right. Health is the most important thing. Of course."
He seemed to be a little senile and hard of hearing.
"But why are you so downcast?"
"...It's nothing."
"Don't say it's nothing, you can't fool my eyes. I'm telling you, I have ghost eyes. I can tell you're full of worries."
"Well, that's... actually..."
Ji-young was about to say what she was worried about, but she closed her mouth again.
"...It's nothing."
If she blurted it out carelessly, she didn't know whose ears would hear what.
The Palace Slave Old man, who had been quietly watching her, muttered to himself again.
"Ah, if you don't have teeth, you use your gums, and if you don't have Wheat Flour, you use buckwheat. That's life, why are you so worried."
Ji-young's ears perked up at the word she had been listening to casually while looking at the distant mountains.
Wheat Flour.
The word Wheat Flour definitely came out of that Old man's mouth.
"What, what did you say? Old man?"
When she quickly came to her senses and turned her head, the Old man was already humming a tune and walking away.
A question suddenly arose in Ji-young's mind.
How did that Old man, who was going back and forth between sanity and insanity, know that Wheat Flour was needed in the Royal Kitchen?
Who on earth was that Old man?
Questions arose one after another, but this wasn't a situation where she could just be curious.
'There's no time to be doing this!'
Ji-young hurriedly ran into the Royal Kitchen.
"Chef Jeon, please prepare buckwheat flour."
"Yes? Buckwheat?"
Chef Jeon's eyes widened.
That was because buckwheat was treated as a famine relief crop, so it wasn't often used in royal cuisine.
But Ji-young's face was serious.
"I'm going to make noodles with it."
"But, Royal Cuisine Master. Buckwheat alone doesn't have enough stickiness to make noodles..."
That wasn't wrong.
Because buckwheat didn't have gluten, it had to be mixed with Wheat Flour in a ratio of about 5:5 to 7:3 to make proper noodles.
But Ji-young's eyes were just strangely shining.
"No. I'm going to make the best noodles."
* * *
That afternoon.
Taepyeonggwan, where the Following day banquet had begun.
Against the backdrop of the Gisaeng's gayageum sounds, the banquet table filled with all sorts of delicious food was naturally stimulating the appetite of those who saw it.
But Liu Jin, who was sitting at the head table, wasn't touching any of the food.
He was just watching Yeonsangun and the Royal Cuisine Master Ji-young standing behind him with gleaming eyes.
'Yesterday, I was surprised by a dish I didn't expect at all, so I couldn't decide the victory. But today will be different.'
As the banquet gradually matured, Liu Jin, who had been watching for an opportunity, slowly set the mood.
"Now, then, to continue the friendship between the two countries for all eternity, let's present the noodle dish prepared by our envoy. I hope the King of Joseon will gladly accept it."
After finishing his words, Liu Jin gestured, and Dang Baek-ryong, wearing a hood, walked forward to the banquet table.
An atmosphere like a martial artist about to demonstrate martial arts.
But what he held in his hand wasn't a weapon, but a large Wheat Flour dough.
"Heop!"
With a sharp shout, Baek-ryong's hands danced as if possessed.
He took out a piece of dough the size of his palm and stretched it out with both hands, continuing a strange motion of hitting it as if he were shaking laundry.
A light popping sound echoed each time the dough hit the cutting board.
- Pang, Pang
The strong elasticity of the dough could be felt just from that sound.
'That, that is...'
Ji-young knew about that noodle.
The name that had made Ji-young the most perplexed when she was organizing noodle dishes from all over the world to develop new recipes.
The so-called 'Biang Biang Noodles'.
That was because the character 'Biang', which expressed the sound of the dough hitting the cutting board with a 'Pang', couldn't be entered into the computer because there were almost no Chinese fonts.
What was impressive wasn't just the name.
Biang Biang Noodles were known to be the widest and thickest of Chinese noodles, and therefore the chewiest and most elastic.
Dang Baek-ryong threw a few strands of the stretched Biang Biang Noodles into the boiling pot.
And as if what he had done so far was a warm-up, he scooped up a handful of water from the water bowl in front of him and scattered it over another Wheat Flour dough.
'That is...!'
Ji-young could easily guess the identity of that water.
Then the next action could also be predicted.
"Go!""
With a short shout, Baek-ryong grabbed the large Wheat Flour dough and pulled it out with both arms without hesitation.
Then, an amazing thing happened before her eyes.
The dough stretched out endlessly with a mysterious elasticity, like a rubber band.
"Oooooh...!"
Admiration burst out from the audience.
Ding Baek-ryong folded the stretched dough in half and stretched it out again.
Then he folded it in half again and stretched it out again.
Each time he repeated this motion, the dough gradually became thinner, gradually turning into strands of noodles.
Noodles made by pulling the dough by hand, using the character 'pull'.
The so-called 'Pulled Noodles'.
'...The very noodle-making method that would later become the origin of 'Ramen'.'
Ji-young couldn't take her eyes off the splendid hand skills and muttered to herself without realizing it.
But that wasn't the end of it.
"Hat!"
Dang Baek-ryong let out a shout and swung the last remaining lump of dough into the air.
Then, as if he were a ribbon gymnast, he shook his arms in the shape of an 8, and in response to that movement, the long noodles began to wriggle like a living snake.
"Oooooh-"
Admiration erupted once again from the people gathered in the audience.
Truly a movement close to divine skill.
To think she would actually see that sight.
'...A specialty of Sichuan, where one bowl of noodles is made with only one strand. One-Root Noodle!'
The fact that those long noodles didn't break was impossible without a dough with tremendous elasticity.
Ji-young swallowed hard without realizing it.
'If I don't keep my wits about me, this is a fight I can never win!'
