Chapter 14. Kang Gwon-ha’s Grand Plan (1)

Gwon-ha stepped out of the servants’ quarters.

He wore a sharp suit that looked more suited to a city forest than a traditional brewery. Straightening his back, he suddenly glanced up at the sky.

“Was there any rain in the forecast today?”

Shin Dong-hun hurried after him and answered quickly.

“Yes, they said there would be occasional showers.”

“Damn, it’s going to stay humid all day.”

His eyes narrowed as he scanned the gray sky.

He remembered the way Chairman Kang would reminisce on days like this, his face heavy with old memories.

‘When I was young and working at a brewery, there was this huge yeast room. We didn’t have humidity gauges or anything back then. We had to adjust everything ourselves, which was no easy task. Spring rain was the worst. In the monsoon season you could just keep the floor heating steady, but spring humidity could ruin all the yeast in an instant.’

The image of the Chairman staring resentfully at the falling rain had stayed with him for years.

His habitual stories always circled back to the same person.

‘But there was someone my age who could sense things like a ghost. I used to hate him for it. He had no experience, just arrogance, and I spent all my time resenting someone better than me. Pathetic, really.’

He’d heard the story so many times he could recite it like a script, yet he never listened carelessly.

Those memories held the roots of how Daeseong Brewing had grown into a major corporation.

The entire Daeseong Group had started with Daeseong Brewing’s traditional liquor.

It had now expanded into distribution and F&B, but the core remained the brewing business.

It was the Chairman’s prized enterprise, and the reason Gwon-ha had turned down positions in other subsidiaries to lead a task force at Daeseong Brewing instead.

“Let’s go.”

As he walked toward the communal dining hall, he scanned the surroundings as if he were on a tour of Ihwado-ga.

Past the inner quarters was the restricted area, and right behind that was the yeast room.

That’s what Aunt Jeong-ja had told him yesterday while sprinkling salt at his feet.

‘Oh, and you better watch yourself around the inner quarters. No one goes in there except the Master Brewer. Especially now.’
‘So it’s like a treasure vault then.’
‘You bet. That’s our treasure vault. It’s where the Master Brewer makes Cheondo Ihwaju. Right next to it is the yeast room…’

When the wooden sign reading “Inner Quarters” came into view, he stopped.

‘Smaller than I expected.’

Compared to the overall size of Ihwado-ga, the entrance was surprisingly modest.

To someone used to Daeseong Brewing’s large-scale production system, it looked tiny, but its traditional architecture exuded an intimidating weight.

The thick wooden doors were bound with sacred straw rope and plastered with a paper talisman reading “Great Fortune for the Beginning of Spring.”

And next to that, modern security systems were installed.

A place that looked like it had time-slipped from the Joseon era, but equipped with high-tech security…

‘What’s so special about this Cheondo Ihwaju anyway.’

A cold smile curled at his lips.

Cheondo Ihwaju was the old Chairman’s lifelong wish, so important he’d made its recipe a prerequisite for any heir.

The brewing method had never leaked to outsiders for hundreds of years. Many had tried to steal it, but none had succeeded.

‘Then I’ll be the one to get it.’

If not him, who in Daeseong Brewing would?

He started walking again, his confidence written on his face.

To do that, he’d first need to strengthen his relationship with the heir.

As he pictured Do-ah’s expressionless, pale face, he spoke to his secretary walking half a step behind him.

“Dong-hun. You said the yeast room isn’t far from here, right?”

“Yes, it’s right behind the inner quarters.”

“Let’s go.”

“…Huh? What about breakfast?”

“There’s something more urgent right now.”

“More urgent than breakfast…?”

Gwon-ha chuckled at his secretary’s confused face.

“There is such a thing.”

He strode forward with firm steps.

Even though he didn’t know the exact location of the yeast room, his gait was confident, his eyes set like someone with a clear target.

“Sir, they told us not to wander around. What if we get kicked out…”

“Don’t worry. They’ll thank us instead.”

“Still, sir!”

“You really can’t drop the formalities, huh. I told you to speak casually.”

‘You’re the one still talking politely, though.’

Shin Dong-hun wanted to say it but only showed it on his face.

Gwon-ha just patted his shoulder and pressed on.

They entered the area where the yeast was fermenting.

“Hmm, this must be the yeast room.”

Through the outer yard and the first doorway, a wide central space unfolded, similar to a large reception room.

Thick wooden beams ran across the ceiling, and old fermentation jars and tools lined the walls, creating a serene atmosphere.

“I think this is the place.”

Behind the traditional exterior of tiled roofs, mud walls, and wooden columns was a cleverly designed structure, blending ancestral wisdom with modern creativity.

The air was filled with sweet, toasty, and sometimes tangy fermentation scents, layered like a complex symphony.

The scent alone made him feel this wasn’t just a storage space but a living organism.

“The structure is pretty unique.”

The yeast room consisted of multiple smaller rooms connected like a maze.

The traditional Hanok architecture had been adapted into ㄷ and ㅁ shapes, with small annexes connected by corridors and verandas.

Each room was different in size and height, with windows and doors positioned to create varying angles of sunlight.

Some faced south to let in warm light, while others faced north to allow cool breezes, creating different microclimates.

Mud walls, wooden pillars, and tiled roofs worked together to maintain optimal conditions for different yeasts.

It was a brilliant example of Ihwado-ga’s uniqueness.

‘Now I see why the Chairman always insisted on this place…’

Although Daeseong Brewing was a large company, its foundation was traditional methods. Gwon-ha had a solid grasp of them thanks to their large-scale operations.

He immediately recognized how innovative Ihwado-ga’s yeast control system was.

Suppressing his admiration, he carefully opened doors, checking the logs beside each thermometer and hygrometer.

The neat handwriting and meticulous calculations filled every page.

“No room for error, huh.”

Using those records, he adjusted the temperature and humidity in each room one by one.

He went through eight rooms like that.

When he entered the last one to check the log…

“Sir! Come out, quickly!”

Shin Dong-hun’s urgent whisper came from outside.

Gwon-ha finished adjusting the last meter and opened the door calmly, only to have his arm yanked.

“She’s here. She’s here!”

“Who?”

“The heir of Ihwado-ga! Joo Do-ah just went into that room!”

Of course. Someone with the title of Ihwado-ga heir wouldn’t have earned it for nothing.

A grin crept up his face.

“Perfect. Which room?”

“Uh… over there…”

He followed the direction his mesmerized secretary pointed toward, striding through the light drizzle with wide, confident steps.

The door to the pear blossom yeast room opened, and Do-ah appeared.

“…!”

Gwon-ha flashed a satisfied smile.

The humiliation from earlier melted away like snow in the spring sun at the sight of her startled, wide eyes.

But only for a moment.

She quickly wiped away her surprise and spoke with a voice as cold as frost.

“What are you doing here?”

“I thought it might rain. If you get the humidity wrong in a yeast room, you’ll end up throwing it all out.”

“…You calculated and adjusted it yourself?”

He shrugged casually.

“I told you, I run a liquor startup. Calculations like this are nothing for me.”

“…”

“So, doesn’t it make you think letting me stay here was the right call?”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and smirked.

Do-ah stared at him silently, lips pressed together.

Then, her ripened lips parted.

“Well, at least you’re not a flasher.”

Her single line cracked his smile clean in half.