Chapter 8: Checking the Maturation

“The legendary Nicotine Overlord! The three-pack-a-day warrior!”

“I quit.”

“Seriously? Wait, how? You used to get the shakes if you went without a cigarette!”

‘Three packs? Was this body’s owner’s lungs alright?’

“You can’t have meat smelling like cigarettes when you’re handling it.”

“Whoa… Amazing! Jung Junho actually quit smoking! If I tell the study group, no one’s going to believe it.”

Minjae puffed his cigarette alone, looking amazed.

“But, hyung, are you really okay? Suddenly working at a butcher shop and all…”

“Just… life, act two?”

“What about the civil service? You prepped for three years.”

“…I gave up.”

Saying that, a pang ached somewhere deep in my chest.

It wasn’t my own story, but I could feel Jung Junho’s three years.

Minjae let out a sigh.

“Even so, there was a time when you were the smartest in our department.”

“Really? Hmm… I don’t think I really was.”

No way someone who drank every day and smoked three packs of cigarettes was that smart.

“Come on, don’t be modest. Remember the cell culture experiment presentation in sophomore year? All the professors were amazed. One even tried hard to get you to join graduate school.”

Cell culture?

“Oh? Uh… Yeah, that happened.”

Wow, seems like the previous owner of this body had some skills.

“But grad school? You need money for that. I knew how things were at your place back then.”

Minjae exhaled a long stream of smoke.

Looking at it now, cigarettes didn’t seem all that bad.

The white smoke curling from his lips even looked sort of cool.

Still, the smell was foul.

“But you hung in there. Working part-time all night while prepping for grad school…”

Jung Junho, the owner of this body.

A genius, but a youth plagued by poverty.

“Your mom collapsed in the summer break of your senior year, right?”

“Oh? Yeah… That’s right.”

Ah, that’s why Dad was alone.

And why the son wasted three years searching for a stable job.

“From then on, you really changed. Your mom always wanted you to have a stable job… So you said you’d become a civil servant.”

“Yeah, I did…”

“Hyung, you ever thought about the bio field?”

“Bio?”

“Yeah, I’m working at a small bio company right now.”

“Oh, you got a job.”

“If you call it that… It’s a startup, so the pay’s low. But there’s a lot to learn.”

Minjae stubbed out his cigarette.

“Cell culture is hot these days. That’s what our company researches.”

“What’s the company called?”

“BioMedina… Probably haven’t heard of it. Fewer than ten employees.”

“Still, that’s impressive.”

“It would’ve been even better if you’d come along…”

Minjae sounded regretful.

“Anyway, hyung, let’s keep in touch. The study group guys want to see you.”

“Yeah… Got it.”

“If the butcher shop gets tough, let me know anytime. I’ll recommend you if we’re hiring.”

“Thanks.”

Minjae turned to go, then stopped.

“Oh, right, hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“Could I get some meat at a discount? Hehe.”

“Of course. Come by anytime.”

“Really? Wow, I guess I’ll never have to worry about meat again!”

Minjae grinned and waved his hand.

“I’ll come again! Hyung, fighting!”

“Yeah, take care.”

Watching Minjae disappear, I thought to myself.

The late Jung Junho.

A biotech major.

Cell culture experiments.

‘A cell culture specialist from 2025 and a Butcher Master from 2157, working at the same butcher shop…’

It really felt like a twist of fate.

‘Maybe this, too, is some kind of connection?’

Just as Minjae was about to vanish down the alley—

“Hey! Minjae over there!”

Dad came running out, waving a plastic bag.

“Huh? Sir?”

Minjae turned around in surprise.

“You… Are you that Minjae? Kim Minjae?”

“Huh? Uh? When?”

Dad looked Minjae up and down, then suddenly his eyes turned red.

“Aigoo… I’m getting old, I can’t even recognize people who helped me! It’s really you, Minjae!”

“Helped? Me?”

Minjae stepped back in confusion.

“You remember Junho’s mom’s funeral, right?”

Dad’s voice trembled.

“Ah…”

Minjae’s face changed, too.

“You were the one who stayed by Junho’s side all three days.”

“Ah… That…”

“I saw it all. If Junho wouldn’t eat, you fed him by force.”

Dad sniffled.

“When he cried and threw up, you patted his back, helped him to the restroom…”

“You even remember that?”

“How could I forget? You cared for him better than a real sibling.”

Dad pushed the plastic bag toward Minjae.

“Here, take this!”

“Huh? What’s…”

“Meat! I picked out the best stuff!”

Minjae waved his hands, refusing.

“No, really! Back then, I was just doing what I should…”

“There’s no such thing as ‘just doing what you should’ in this world! Life teaches you that!”

Dad forcibly shoved the bag into Minjae’s arms.

“Just take it!”

“Sir…”

Dad opened up the bag wide.

“Look! This is striploin, and it’s grade 2++!”

“Whoa… That’s expensive!”

“And this is for bulgogi! This is for ribs! And this is for soup!”

A veritable meat bomb.

“Sir, this is too much…”

“Too much, my foot! You live alone, right? Stock up your freezer!”

Minjae hefted the bag and gasped.

“This must be over 3kg!”

“Come on, it’s only 2kg!”

‘Only 2kg?’

“Eat it with your girlfriend!”

“I don’t have one…”

“Then get one and eat together!”

Dad’s logic was flawless.

Minjae’s eyes glistened.

“Thank you… really…”

“No need to thank me. I don’t know what would’ve happened to Junho if you hadn’t been there…”

Dad patted Minjae’s shoulder.

“This is your house from now on. Come by all the time!”

“Huh?”

“Come by at mealtime! Take meat home!”

“No, that’s too…”

“Quiet! Just come!”

Minjae bowed his head, choking up.

“Thank you… so much…”

I felt a lump in my throat, too.

‘Junho, you had a good friend.’

“Hyung! I’ll really come often!”

“You’d better!”

“Once a week? No, twice?”

“Come every day if you want!”

Minjae hugged the meat bag tight and ran off, like he was holding a treasure chest.

Dad and I went back into the shop side by side.

“Minjae really did all that?”

“Of course. He stayed by your side all three days.”

Dad looked up at the sky.

“Your mom would’ve been grateful too. To see your friend do so much…”

A moment of silence.

“I had a good junior, huh?”

“Yeah. Be a good hyung to Minjae, too.”

“…I’ll try.”

Jung Junho, the owner of this body.

Drowned in booze and cigarettes.

Wasted three years on civil service exams.

But at least he knew how to pick good people.

‘Having a friend like Minjae…’

I was jealous.

Did I have anyone like that, 132 years in the future?

As Dad opened the shop door, he said,

“Hey, from now on, whenever Minjae comes, give him extra service.”

“Yes, sir!”

“No, just give it to him for free!”

“Dad, that’s a bit…”

“Quiet! That’s my call!”

From that day, our shop had one more special VIP.

Kim Minjae.

Unlimited meat refills, member.

*****

Saturday morning.

“Junho! Get ready! The war’s about to start!”

Dad shouted urgently.

“What war?”

“Saturday’s market day! Didn’t you know?”

Now that I looked, things were different in front of the butcher shop.

Several ajummas were already looking for meat.

Our shop was at the entrance of an alley a bit away from the main marketplace.

There were three or four butchers in the market, yet customers came all the way here.

“Dad, why do people come here when there are butchers inside the market?”

“Well…”

Dad grinned sheepishly.

“Thirty years of business—built up regulars. Never mess with the scale, always give fresh meat.”

“That’s all?”

“We also give lots of freebies. But honestly, most come because of your mom.”

“Mom? Why?”

Dad’s face briefly filled with longing.

“She remembered all the customers’ names and their favorite cuts. ‘Thinly sliced bulgogi for Mrs. Kim, thick ribs for Mrs. Park,’ that kind of thing.”

“She remembered all that?”

“Sure did. Even the kids’ names. ‘Oh, Minsoo’s Mother! Did Minsoo do well on his test?’ she’d say.”

Dad spoke, lost in reminiscence.

“The other butcher shops just sell meat, but here, we’d chat, ask after each other. It was like the town’s meeting spot.”

“Ah…”

“Even after your mom passed, the customers stayed… Must be because of the affection she built.”

At that moment, a grandmother’s voice called from outside.

“Boss! I’m here!”

“Welcome, Choi Madam!”

Dad greeted her warmly.

“Oh my, Junho’s here too? Handsome, just like your mom.”

The old lady patted my back.

“Choi Madam, soup meat again today?”

“Of course! Going to make beef soup for my husband.”

This is what they called jeong—affection.

A shop built on thirty years of trust.

The regulars’ warmth was filling the space Mom left behind.

Ah, so that’s why I made the rounds yesterday, lugging those heavy meat bags.

“Every Saturday is like this. Everyone buys a week’s worth of meat.”

“Boss! Three geun of samgyeopsal!”

“Two ribs over here, please!”

“Do you have bulgogi meat?”

It was complete chaos.

“Wait, I was here first!”

“No, I was first!”

The ajummas’ rivalry was fierce.

“Everyone, calm down! I’ll help you in order!”

Dad managed the crowd skillfully.

Just then, a young newlywed couple peered at the display and asked,

“Boss, why is that meat so dark?”

“Oh, that?”

Dad was about to explain, but there were too many customers.

“Junho, you explain.”

“Me? Me?”

Flustered, I stepped over.

Just as I reached for the meat they pointed at—

[Cut: Hanwoo Striploin]
[Slaughtered: 72 hours ago]
[Surface oxidation: 3 hours elapsed]
[Internal freshness: 92/100]

“Uh… Well… When meat is exposed to air, it oxidizes…”

Even as I explained, my head was spinning.

“Ah, to be precise, a protein called myoglobin reacts with oxygen and the color changes. It’s bright red at first, turns brown over time.”

“Oh my, so it’s spoiled?”

“No, no! Even if the color changes, it’s still fresh. Actually…”

A sudden idea hit me.

“You two, come over here.”

I took out two pieces of meat—one bright red, one a bit brown.

I picked up the bright red one.

[Cut: 10 minutes ago]
[Juice retention: 99%]
[Flavor maturation: 15/100]

Then I picked up the slightly brown one.

[Cut: 180 minutes ago]
[Surface umami development: in progress]
[Flavor maturation: 68/100]

‘Actually, the brown one should taste better, right?’

“These were both cut this morning. But this one was just taken out, and this one was out an hour ago.”

“So?”

“Watch, if you cut into the brown one…”

I sliced into it.

The inside was still bright red.

“It’s true!”

“That’s how you know the meat is fresh. If it’s brown all the way through, that means it’s really spoiled.”

Just then, an elderly man nearby chimed in.

“Hey, young boss. Sell me that meat.”

“Huh?”

“That one you took out an hour ago.”

He pointed with his cane.

“Sir, this one?”

“Yes. Young folks these days don’t know, but…”

He laughed and looked around at the other customers.

“That young man is exactly right. Meat like this tastes even better.”

“Really?”

“I’ve been in the butcher business for forty years. It’s tastier when the meat’s had some air and the color’s changed a bit than when it’s just been cut.”

Dad’s face lit up in recognition as he approached the old man.

“Ah, President Kwon! It’s been a long time.”

“Hehe, yeah. Came out to the market today.”

President Kwon looked at me.

“You’re the owner’s son, right? You’ve learned well. Not many young people know their meat.”

The customers whispered among themselves.

“If President Kwon says so, it must be right. He ran the oldest butcher in the market.”

The old man picked up the brownish meat.

“Look. This color is just right. If it’s too red, it’s not as tasty.”

Then he winked at me.

“Keep explaining. I’m enjoying this.”

“Yes! And actually, this is called aging…”

“That’s right, aging!”

He chimed in enthusiastically.

“These days, they sell dry-aged beef for a premium, but it’s the same principle. Time brings out the flavor.”

The mood lightened even more.

The newlyweds nodded.

“Then, we’ll take that meat!”

President Kwon told Dad,

“You raised your son right.”

“Oh, President Kwon, come on now!”

Everyone laughed.

Who knew one cut of meat could spark so much joy?

Such things would be unthinkable in 2157.

I was rushing around, but having fun.

“Junho! Pack this up!”

“Yes, sir!”

It was a hectic Saturday, but I felt strangely satisfied.

This wasn’t so bad.

In 2157, there were no conversations like this.

Everything was perfect.

No explanations needed, nothing to be curious about.

*****

“Junho, today’s the day, right?”

Dad hovered in front of the aging fridge, his voice tense.

“Yes, it’s finally time to check.”

My heart was pounding too.

Time to see the results of a 3,270,000 won gamble.

Dad’s hand trembled as he opened the aging fridge.

“Alright… Let’s see.”

He pulled out the vacuum-sealed sirloin.

It looked completely different from three days ago.

“This… The color’s totally…”

Dad’s eyes widened.

When he opened the package, a rich aroma filled the air.

This was nothing like the bland grade 1 beef from three days ago.

“Junho! Look at this!”

Dad held up the meat.

Under the fluorescent light, the marbling sparkled.

“The marbling… How…?”

I pretended to be shocked, but inside I was cheering.

‘This isn’t just grade 1. The fat was distributed evenly, and once the moisture’s out, the marbling pops. I was right.’

[Hanwoo – Grade 1]
Current freshness: 95/100
Marbling: ★★★★☆ (was ★★☆☆☆)
Juiciness: ★★★★★ (was ★★★☆☆)
Tenderness: ★★★★☆ (was ★★☆☆☆)
Meaty aroma: ★★★★★ (was ★★★★☆)
Note: Hidden intramuscular fat fully revealed
Actual grade: Equivalent to 1++