CRC

Chapter 1

“Ma’am, here is the vodka you ordered.”

Yeon-eum took a sip of the vodka the flight attendant brought.
The strong alcohol burned her throat as it went down.

There was no way she could stay sober through the long flight to Korea.

What? Someone died…?

One year ago, Yeon-eum had quit her job and gone to Australia on a working holiday.
Then she got a phone call from Korea with news she could not believe.

She dropped everything and booked the fastest flight back.
Thinking there must be some mistake, she returned earlier than planned.

She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself, but words she once said came back to her.

“Grandpa, isn’t this too hard? These days machines do everything. Why do it by hand?”
“Food tastes deeper when people make it with their hands.”

Yeon-eum’s mother’s family had run a brewery for generations.

Her grandfather had quietly protected Jeongju Brewery for many years, keeping its tradition and history alive. His answer was always the same.

A stubborn grandfather who insisted on tradition, and a mother who followed him even though she could not change his mind.

Like a father and daughter who had worked together for a long time, they always said the same thing.

“Some things can be done by machines, and some can’t. If hands are needed, then no matter how hard it is, we must do it. The taste is different.”
“People these days care more about how it looks on social media than the taste. Of course, taste matters too, but they eat with their eyes first!”

Yeon-eum argued strongly while looking at her mother’s swollen hands, stirring steaming rice with a big wooden spoon.
But neither of them listened.

“Who can change your grandpa’s mind? I won’t make you do it, so stop talking and go.”

Her mother, Hae-ju, wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve and waved her hand, chasing Yeon-eum away.

“Seriously, both of you are so stubborn. Why suffer like this on purpose?”

She had said that because she felt sorry for her hardworking mother and grandfather.
Now, remembering how childish she had been, Yeon-eum forced herself not to cry.

The plane finally arrived at Incheon Airport.

Without waiting for her luggage, Yeon-eum ran straight out of the airport.
Getting to Jeongju as fast as possible was more important than her bags.

She jumped into a taxi and told the driver to go to Jinhwa County right away.

“What? Jinhwa County? It’s already evening. I can’t go that far.”

The driver looked at her through the rearview mirror, clearly uncomfortable.

Even while panicking, Yeon-eum tried to fasten her seatbelt, but her hands shook and she couldn’t clip it properly.

Thud.

Hearing that he wouldn’t go, her strength left her body.

She had rushed without thinking.

Opening the door to get out, she muttered,

“I’m sorry. My… my mom… passed away… I was in a hurry…”

The driver quickly grabbed her arm.

“Wait—what did you say?”

“The funeral hall… my mom…”

She couldn’t finish the sentence. Her eyes filled with tears.

Seeing her like that, the driver’s face grew serious.

If that was true, it changed everything.

With a determined look, he shifted gears and started the car.

“Put your seatbelt on tight.”

The taxi drove quietly, speeding down the road.

Yeon-eum pressed her lips together, trying to hold it in, but tears soon streamed down her cheeks.

“You can cry out loud.”

When the driver spoke gently, she couldn’t hold back anymore.

She still couldn’t believe it. It didn’t make sense.
But once the tears started, they wouldn’t stop.

“Hic… sob… hngh…”

* * *

“Why does this taste like shit?”

At the man’s words, everyone in the lab froze.

Lee Hwi-do became CEO of Daebok Liquor at a young age.
It wasn’t only because he was the grandson of Chairman Lee Bok-cheol.

He developed soju and beer with flavors that fit younger tastes, focused on ability over seniority, and strengthened marketing.
He turned the old-fashioned Daebok Liquor into a trendy brand.

Because of that, no one could deny his skills.

He was tall, well built, and handsome like a celebrity, drawing attention wherever he went.

But because he was extremely strict, blunt, and cold-hearted, employees were terrified whenever he appeared.

“Why is the CEO here? This is still in development.”

The team leader and researchers exchanged nervous looks at the sudden inspection.

The moment Hwi-do took his first sip, he frowned deeply and slammed the glass down.

“That’s because… this is still a mid-stage test. There’s time left for aging…”

The team leader explained nervously, but Hwi-do stepped toward a nearby researcher.

Everyone watched, confused.

Hwi-do inhaled, then his face twisted.

“Not perfume… car air freshener?”

The researcher nodded in shock.

“H-How did you know? My girlfriend gave me one a few days ago…”

Hwi-do raised a hand, clearly not interested.

Then he walked over to Assistant Manager Kim.

Sniff. Sniff.

“Did you smoke?”

Hwi-do looked down at him and asked quietly.
Kim felt chills run up his arms.

“I—I had just one this morning. I showered right after, brushed my teeth again at work, and washed my hands…”

Kim sniffed himself and asked the person next to him,

“Do I smell like cigarettes?”

Don’t ask me.

The researcher beside him bit his lip awkwardly.

For a moment, contempt crossed Hwi-do’s face.

“He should be moved to another department. Issue the transfer order this afternoon.”

“What? Sir, suddenly a transfer?”

The team leader hurriedly stopped Kim from protesting.
A transfer was much better than being fired.

“Didn’t I make myself clear? This premium traditional liquor project needs special care. And researchers working on taste and aroma should be more sensitive than anyone. Air fresheners? Cigarettes?”

“I told everyone not to smoke or wear perfume. I was very clear…”

The team leader carefully tried to explain.

Hwi-do raised one eyebrow, as if amused.

“Sorry. We’ll be more careful.”

The team leader quickly corrected himself, realizing Hwi-do wasn’t actually interested.

“So… what about the tasting?”

“Throw it away.”

Hwi-do left the lab without looking back.

* * *

They said the old man’s mind comes and goes, but he sure lives long. His daughter died before him. Hwi-do, go check it yourself.

Leaning back in the back seat of a luxury sedan, Hwi-do pressed his heavy eyelids and asked quietly,

“How long will it take?”

“The navigation says two hours and forty minutes. You must be tired after working late. Try to sleep on the way.”

About sixty years ago, rice was too precious for ordinary people to use for alcohol.

The government banned distilling soju from rice, and diluted soju made from industrial alcohol took its place.

Daebok Liquor started with diluted soju, then expanded into beer, bottled water, and drinks—becoming one of Korea’s largest companies.

The time has come.

Chairman Lee Bok-cheol once held the hand of his capable grandson and said,

“Soju, beer, drinks—we have homes for all of them. But shouldn’t traditional liquor have a home too?”

Traditional liquor slowly became popular again, then suddenly exploded among young people.

As Korean culture gained attention overseas, its reach kept growing.
Traditional liquor was expected to succeed not only in Korea, but abroad.

To celebrate Daebok Group’s 60th anniversary, they decided to build the largest traditional liquor factory and tourist complex in the country.

The location was Jinhwa County’s Cheonghyang Village—Bok-cheol’s hometown, known for its clean mountain spring water.

It was also where Jeongju Brewery stood, the place where Bok-cheol first learned to make alcohol.

On the chairman’s orders, Hwi-do drove through the night.