Chapter 55: Tasting Event

The atmosphere inside the store was completely different from usual.

A long table covered with a snow-white tablecloth was placed in the center.

On top of it, crystal glasses gleaming with sharp light and silverware were lined up as neatly as a military parade.

This place was no longer a grocery store, but a dazzling banquet hall one might find in an upscale Manhattan restaurant.

“This way, please.”

Pierre guided them.

Around the table, about fifteen people were gathered, elegantly enjoying champagne.

The women wore silk dresses that sparkled with pearls and diamonds at their necks and wrists, and the men hung gold pocket watch chains from their well-pressed suits.

In the air mingled the scent of expensive perfume, wine, and their relaxed laughter.

“Everyone, may I have your attention for a moment? Allow me to introduce you.”

Pierre raised his voice.

“Today’s stars: Mr. Lee Jun-hyuk, the representative of La Choy Food, and Dr. Yu Ilhan.”

All eyes immediately focused on the two men.

Their gazes were filled with curiosity.

But in them also lingered an unmistakable hint of skepticism.

Canned goods of uncertain origin made by Orientals—what could they possibly taste like?

“Good evening. I am Lee Jun-hyuk.”

Lee Jun-hyuk met their eyes without flinching and greeted them politely.

His English pronunciation was flawlessly clear and precise, the product of tireless effort at Columbia University.

At the moment he spoke, the expressions of several people subtly shifted in surprise. It was not the awkward image of an Oriental they had expected.

“Thank you sincerely for giving us this precious opportunity to present our product today.”

“Well then, seeing is believing. Shall we begin?”

Pierre clapped his hands in delight.

Two store employees appeared and carefully placed the wooden boxes brought by Lee Jun-hyuk and Yu Ilhan on the table.

With the golden ribbons untied, the clean and sturdy cans finally revealed themselves.

“Could you briefly explain the product first?”

A middle-aged gentleman asked.

With his well-groomed beard and dignified bearing, he was clearly the most influential person at this gathering.

Yu Ilhan stepped forward.

Though nervous, his voice was steady and full of pride in his product as he began to explain.

“La Choy preserves traditional Eastern ingredients using the latest Western techniques, creating a new concept product that can be enjoyed fresh anywhere, anytime.”

“These soybean sprouts are sprouted from mung beans, a beloved ingredient in the East for thousands of years. It’s a healthy food, rich in protein and vitamins, easy to digest, and low in calories…”

“Excuse me.”

A lady with a dazzling diamond ring raised her hand.

“Soybean sprouts? I’ve never heard of such a thing. What exactly is that?”

“Ah, in English, they’re called ‘Mung Bean Sprouts.’”

Yu Ilhan explained calmly, unfazed.

“It’s the sprout of the mung bean. Perhaps if you’ve dined at an upscale restaurant in Chinatown, you may have had it in some stir-fried dishes.”

“Oh, Chinese cuisine…”

At those words, several people nodded.

For the upper class in New York, Chinese food was already familiar and sophisticated.

Pierre personally opened the can with a can opener.

Psssh.

With a fresh sound, a savory and aromatic scent spread over the table.

“Oh…”

“The aroma is truly unique and fresh.”

Someone marveled.

Pierre carefully plated the soybean sprouts onto small dishes and distributed them.

In front of each person, a sparkling silver fork was placed.

People hesitated briefly, then began to taste it cautiously.

The first to taste it was the bearded gentleman who had asked the earlier question.

He picked up a strand of soybean sprout with his fork and put it in his mouth.

Crunch.

In the silent, breath-held room, the crisp sound echoed louder than ever.

His eyebrows rose in surprise. Slowly, for a long time, he savored the taste.

“This is…”

At last, the bearded gentleman set down his fork and spoke.

“This is truly remarkable. Is this really canned? How can the crisp, fresh texture be so perfectly preserved?”

With his high praise, the others gathered courage and began tasting as well.

“My goodness, it really is!”

The lady with the diamond ring exclaimed like a girl.

“I usually dislike canned vegetables because they’re mushy and have a sour smell, but this is an entirely different level of food.”

Genuine words of admiration sprang forth from all around.

“The seasoning is just perfect. Not too salty, not too bland, with a very elegant flavor.”

“Most of all, the taste is very clean. There’s no greasiness, and the original flavor of the ingredient shines through.”

A young lady gracefully raised her hand.

“This tastes wonderful—how could I use it in my own kitchen?”

It was an excellent question.

Lee Jun-hyuk answered directly.

“You can add it straight into salads to enhance freshness, or use it as an ingredient in stir-fries with meat or seafood. Also, if you add it at the end of a clear soup, you can make a special soup with a lively texture.”

“In soup, you say…”

Just then, Pierre interjected.

“In fact, my friend, Chef Jean, experimented yesterday—he added them to hot chicken soup and said the taste was absolutely fantastic.”

“Really? Is that so?”

Interest among the guests grew even greater.

“Do you have any other kinds of products?”

The bearded gentleman asked.

“At present, we only produce soybean sprouts,” Yu Ilhan replied.

“But soon, we plan to launch products using other traditional Korean foods such as Kimchi, soybean sprouts, and bracken.”

“Kimchi!”

A lady’s eyes sparkled.

“I tried it for the first time at last year’s Korean Empire embassy party in Washington. It was a bit spicy, but really charming and addictive.”

Others nodded in agreement.

In 1920s New York, the upper class was always eager for new experiences, especially when it came to food.

“So, what’s the price?”

At last, the practical question emerged.

“At this Gourmet Deli, the retail price is 25 cents,” Pierre answered directly.

“The wholesale price supplied to stores like ours is 15 cents.”

“25 cents…”

The bearded gentleman murmured, as if calculating.

“It’s a bit more expensive than regular canned vegetables, but with this quality and uniqueness, it’s certainly worth it.”

The others seemed to agree.

“Our cook will absolutely love this,” a lady said.

“She’s always looking for new and special ingredients.”

“I’d like to buy a few as well.”

“So would I.”

People everywhere declared their intention to buy on the spot.

Pierre looked at Lee Jun-hyuk with a satisfied smile, as if to say, ‘See, I told you so.’

“But there’s one thing I’m curious about.”

The bearded gentleman spoke up again.

“Why have you been selling such an excellent product only in Oriental stores in Brooklyn until now?”

Suddenly, the air went quiet.

It was a sensitive question, deeply tinged with issues of race.

Lee Jun-hyuk took a moment to steady himself and answered calmly.

“We’re still a small company just starting out. So we began in the market that best understood the value of our products and welcomed us warmly. But now, we are ready to move into a wider market.”

“So that’s why you started with Pierre’s store, which has the most discerning eye in New York.”

The bearded gentleman nodded.

“A very wise and clever strategy.”

The atmosphere softened.

“Do you plan to do business with other shops in Manhattan as well?”

A young gentleman asked.

“Of course,” Lee Jun-hyuk answered without hesitation.

“We’re ready to supply our products to any place that recognizes their quality.”

“Then, perhaps my brother-in-law’s deli on Fifth Avenue…”

“I’m sure our Waldorf Astoria Hotel restaurant would be interested as well…”

Several people started speaking to him at once.

Pierre raised his hand to restore order.

“All right, all right, everyone. One at a time, please. Today is a delightful tasting event, so enjoy to your heart’s content. I’ll take individual orders afterward and be sure to convey them to our guests.”

He gestured to Lee Jun-hyuk.

The two of them moved to a quiet corner of the store.

“This is a tremendous success, Mr. Lee,” Pierre said in a low voice.

“Judging by the atmosphere, we should get at least 500 cans ordered just from this gathering today.”

500 cans.

That was almost equal to the factory’s entire daily maximum output.

“And do you know that bearded gentleman, Mr. Harrison?”

Lee Jun-hyuk shook his head.

“He’s the chief food buyer for Macy’s Department Store.”

Macy’s Department Store!

One of the biggest and most famous department stores in New York. If they could get their product in there…

“He’s been showing a great deal of interest in your product all evening,” Pierre said with a meaningful smile.

“If you can get into Macy’s, it will be a huge breakthrough.”

Lee Jun-hyuk’s heart began to race even faster than before.

A much greater opportunity was approaching, much faster than he had anticipated.

Returning to the table, people were still passionately discussing La Choy.

“We need more products like this in the future,” a lady said.

“We’ve only ever had French canned asparagus and Italian canned tomatoes, but now, Oriental canned food—this is truly fresh and exciting.”

“That’s right. Diversity is the most important value in gastronomy.”

Another lady agreed.

At that moment, Harrison approached Lee Jun-hyuk.

“Mr. Lee, if you don’t mind, may we speak privately for a moment?”

The two moved to a quiet corner of the store.

“I’ll be direct,” Harrison said, pulling out his business card.

“Would you be interested in supplying your product to our Macy’s Department Store?”

Lee Jun-hyuk accepted the card.

“Harrison Wellington – Chief Food Buyer, Macy’s Department Store”

“Of course. It would be our greatest honor.”

“Good. But we have a few conditions.”

Harrison’s expression shifted from friendly to businesslike sharpness.

“First, you must be able to supply stably. We require a minimum of 1,000 cans per week.”

1,000 cans.

With current production capacity, it would be a tight squeeze.

“Second, the quality must always remain consistent. Since we sell under the Macy’s name, we cannot tolerate a single mistake.”

“That goes without saying.”

“And third…”

Harrison hesitated briefly.

“Could you make the packaging a little more luxurious? Macy’s customers care about the story and appearance of a product as much as the taste.”

All were reasonable requests.

“I’ll show you a new packaging design sample within a week,” Lee Jun-hyuk replied confidently.

“Excellent.”

Harrison smiled in satisfaction and extended his hand.

“Then, please visit my office next week. We can discuss details further there.”

By now, the tasting event was drawing to a close.

Guests began to leave one by one.

Most wore looks of deep satisfaction.

Several placed orders with Pierre before departing.

“You did extremely well today,” Pierre told Lee Jun-hyuk and Yu Ilhan.

“I think everyone here was deeply impressed by your product.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Pierre,” Lee Jun-hyuk expressed his heartfelt gratitude.

“Thank you for creating such an incredible opportunity…”

“No, I simply discovered a good product and introduced it to my customers.”

Pierre pulled out a notepad.

“After tallying the orders from today… it comes to about 450 cans.”

450 cans.

Yu Ilhan’s mouth opened slightly in amazement.

“You’ll be able to deliver within a week, correct?”

“Of course! We’ll work through the night if we have to!”

Yu Ilhan answered with a voice brimming with excitement.

They left the store and headed for the truck.

The warm afternoon sunlight shone peacefully on the streets of Greenwich Village.

“I can’t believe it, sir,” Yu Ilhan murmured with emotion.

“Macy’s Department Store… it feels like a dream.”

“It’s not certain yet,” Lee Jun-hyuk replied calmly.

“But the prospects are very promising.”

They climbed into the truck.

The driver started the engine.

“How did it go? Looks like things went well?”

The driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror.

“It says ‘success’ all over your faces.”

“Yes, it went very well! It’s a huge success!”

Yu Ilhan replied with a bright smile.

On the way back to Brooklyn.

Lee Jun-hyuk gazed out the window, deep in thought.

The hostile hygiene inspection in the morning.

The friendly tasting event in the afternoon.

Truly a day of extremes.

On one hand, he was oppressed for his race. On the other, his skills were recognized and a new opportunity was offered.

But this was reality.

To do business as an Oriental in 1920s America meant that discrimination and opportunity always coexisted like two sides of a coin.

“If we get into Macy’s…”

He would have to immediately expand production facilities.

Hire more employees. Completely redesign the packaging.

There was a mountain of work ahead.

But far from feeling tired, his heart burned with excitement.

These were joyful concerns.

They arrived at the factory.

All the employees were waiting at the door.

Their faces made it clear they simply couldn’t wait inside out of curiosity.

“How did it go?”

Walter was the first to rush over and ask urgently.

“A huge success!”

Yu Ilhan jumped down from the truck and shouted.

“We received an order for 450 cans just here, and we’ve scheduled a meeting with the buyer from Macy’s Department Store, the best in New York!”

Waaaah!

An even greater cheer erupted than that morning.

“Macy’s, you say?”

“Is it true?”

“My goodness, I can’t believe it!”

The employees hugged and jumped for joy.

Lee Jun-hyuk watched their happiness and quietly smiled.

The malicious inspector in the morning.

The friendly customers in the afternoon.

All of this had happened in a single day.

“Now it truly begins.”

Truly, it was only just beginning.

The Bancroft Company would continue to obstruct him.

But La Choy would break through those obstacles and keep on growing.

Who would be the winner in the end?

Lee Jun-hyuk already knew the answer.