Doctor goes back to Joseon

Chapter 196: Chapter 69

Kanghyok had to walk with Hangbok for a minute.

Though Hangbok’s family was not rich as he lost his father as a child, Yul Kwon was from a pretty rich family as his father served as a prime minister.

Hangbok’s house was very large.

“Though my father-in-law was on the government payroll only briefly, he made a fortune.

He’s got great skills in making money.”

If any stranger had heard this, he would have thought Kwon made money by imposing crushing taxes on the people.

“My father-in-law is a good guy, although he acts slowly.”

Hangbok continued to make fun of his father-in-law like that, which made Kanghyok at a loss how to respond.

General Kwon was too great for him to make a caricature of.

‘I learned in a history textbook that Soonsin Lee was the best admiral in the sea while Yul Kwon the best general in the land.’

But Hangbok didn’t care.

“Oh, I see.”

Kanghyok had no choice but to nod approvingly whenever he commented about General Kwon.

“This is my place. There is another ‘father-in-law’ inside.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Actually, that person is my wife.”

“I know that…”

“Haha. Wait a moment here.”

Hangbok opened the door and went in abruptly.

Kanghyok overheard some sweet dialogue between Hangbok and his wife inside.

Though Hangbok hated his wife’s face, obviously he was still fond of her.

After a while he opened the door again.

“My wife is also interested in any possible solution. Do you want to see her?”

“Sure. Can I bring my medical assistant?”

“Of course.”

Kanghyok briefly turned back and found Yoni with her hair braided cutely standing there.

She was also dressed like a medical doctor.

He was escorted by Hangbok into the room.

Hangbok’s wife was seated in the middle when he came in.

Kanghyok almost burst into laughter as soon as he saw her face.

‘Gee….she is a carbon copy of her father’s face.’

If she had a beard like her father, she could be another General Yul Kwon.

Kanghyok could clearly understand why Hangbok badly wanted plastic surgery on his wife

“I need to take a closer look at her face.”

“You can do so, but don’t touch her directly.”

“Yes.”

Up close she exactly looked like General Kwon.

Even if she was noticed on the market, they could easily recognize she was Ge. Kwon’s daughter. She must have heard questions like “Oh, you must be General Kwon’s daughter, right?”

While he was imagining about her, Hangbok suddenly asked, “Doesn’t she really look like her father?”

Controlling the urge to burst into laughter, Kanghyok asked his wife, “Do you want me to do something about your jaw?”

“Yes, right here,” she said in a husky voice, touching her thick jaw with a strong hand.

“Oh my god..”

Kanghyok had to turn his head for a moment.

“Let me take a look…Yoni, can you touch it?”

“Yes, master.”

Just as instructed, she slowly touched her lower jaw.

“How about it? Is it bone or what?”

“Hmm… it is pretty stiff, but I’m confused.”

The jaw muscle is one of the toughest muscles in the human body.

A well-built man’s jaw is as tough and strong as a stone.

“Can you open your mouth for a moment and close it?”

“Like this?”

“Yes, good.”

As the wife of Hangbok and the daughter of General Kwon, she followed Kanghyok’s directions meekly.

“How about now?

“It looks like my jaw relaxes.”

“Good. Bite your teeth tightly.”

“Oh, I feel tight in my jaw.”

If that’s the case, it was not jaw bone but muscle that made her face look ugly.

When Kanghyok nodded with his face, as if he found the solution, Hangbok gladly asked, “So, can you fix her face?”

“I think so…”

“Really? What is it?”

Though he was a mid-ranking official with the culture and education ministry, Hangbok was still powerful and wealthy as he was married to the girl of a man in power, namely General Kwon.

“I need fugu.”

“Fugu…?”

“Yes, fugu.”

Fugu was one of the oldest fish that the Koreans enjoyed for a long time.

Though it had poison, it was okay when properly cooked.

“Where can I get it?”

“I think if you can ask local ministers for it, you can get some.”

“Hmmm… I know several men in provincial cities, but…”

It looked like they were far away from Hanyang.

‘I guess it will take at least one month to get some fugu if Hangbok writes letters now.’

It would take just one day to have goods delivered with a couple of clicks on the computer keyboard in modern Korea.

Everything was inconvenient here in Joseon.

“I think I have to check out the shops on the market street.”

Oh, that sounds good. Let’s go there together.”

It looked like Hangbok would follow him immediately.

“Aren’t you going to the palace today?”

“To the palace? I’m off today.”

Off days in Joseon? That’s new to Kanghyok.

“Oh, I see. Shall you go with me then?”

“Sure.”

A market in Hanyang were different from that in Suwon.

First of all, it was quite large, and there were a great variety of goods.

Some goods made in China or Japan were also on sale.

“Where should we go to find fugu?” Hangbok asked with a nervous look.

He was full of determination to have her treated even today.

“Shall we move over there?” said Dolsok, who was serving as a guide for the day.

He had an excellent sense of direction.

“If you go this way, there are spice shops.”

When they turned around the corner, they smelled pepper very strongly.

As pepper was very precious and expensive, there were few customers.

“This way, you can meet salt merchants.”

“And there are fish shops this way.”

“Oh, you look like a modern navigator!” said Kanghyok, praising Dolsok.

“I’m flattered, sir. Hahaha.”

Though Dolsok heard such an expression for the first time, he didn’t talk back.

“Hmmm… there are lots of dried fish here.”

Hangbok went into the shop abruptly.

With a surprised look the shop owner stood up quickly as Hangbok’s face was quite well known.

“What can I do for you?” asked the owner.

“Do you sell fugu here?”

“Fugu? Yes, I’ve got some fresh one just in, sir.”

“Really?”

He soon came back with salted fugu.

“If you steam it, it tastes very good.”

Kanghyok, who was walking behind Hangbok, came forward and asked, “Oh, I see. Did you dress it already?”

“No, not yet. If you want, I can clean it right now. Let me remove this part of fuga.”

The owner pointed at the parts of fuga that might contain its liver, ovary and spermary.

Kanghyok shook his head quickly and said, “You don’t have to.”

“What? It’s dangerous as it’s poisonous there.”

“Well, I need that poison now.”

“Really?”

“This man is a famous doctor. Just sell it to home as he says even poison is good as medicine.”

Hangbok was a famous nobleman in Hanyang, affiliated with the education and culture ministry.

The fish shop merchant had no other choice but to sell fugu to Kanghyok with Hangbok’s reassurance.

He was about to put four fugu in the basket when Kanghyok stopped him.

“Can you remove the poisonous parts from fugu?”

“Oh, no problem.”

Come to think of it, Kanghyok felt he didn’t dress it by himself.

And he didn’t know how to.

‘Let me enjoy steamed fugu today!’

Kanghyok felt happy even at the thought of steamed fugu on the table.

The fish merchant skillfully removed not only the skin but also its liver, ovary and intestine.

“All done, sir.”

“Good. Can you put them in a separate bag?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Dolsok, Yoni, carry these.”

Dolsok put the flesh of fugu in the basket while Yoni put its poisonous parts there.

When they went out of the shop lightheartedly, there was a commotion nearby.

“You son of a bitch, how dare you claim this is your home turf?”

“What the heck, you, rogue! This is my territory!”

Lots of people in Joseon were quite used to using foul language in their daily conversation.

“What the heck is happening?”

Hangbok was anxious to go and check it out by himself.

“Shall we go there?”

Kanghyok had no reason not to go with him as he couldn’t treat her today.

As fugu had toxin, it could kill people when used wrong.

Kanghyok would certainly conduct clinical test several times before actually using it.

It was great fun to watch others’ fighting or watching fire.

Because of the commotion there was already a large throng of people there.

It was difficult to elbow their way out of the throng.

After all, Dolsok and Yoni had to force their way to make a hole for Kanghyok and Hangbok.

“Looks like your servants practices martial arts well.”

Watching Yoni and Dolsok clearing the way, Hangbok praised them.

“Well, you’re right. They’re quite good at it.”

“Good for them! Hahaha.”

As Dolsok and Makbong walked ahead, clearing the way, Kanghyok and Hangbok could enjoy a conversation while walking toward the noisy place.

“Hmm?”

“Do you know those guys?”

“Yes, I wonder why they are here.”