Taking advantage of Im Beomhyeon's absence, he quietly asked, "Taegeon, between Brother Im and Brother Taehyeon, who's stronger?"
Heo Taegeon cautiously glanced around.
After confirming that Im Beomhyeon wasn't nearby, he beckoned Bok Taejin closer and whispered, "Beomhyeon used to brag that he could take on five Taehyeon alone. But Taehyeon overheard him and gave him a glare, so he quickly changed his claim to three. Then Taehyeon glared at him again, and he got so scared that he revised his statement once more."
Bok Taejin understood immediately. "So Brother Im can't beat Brother Taehyeon?"
Heo Taegeon chuckled. "Exactly!"
Just as Bok Taejin thought he had guessed correctly—after all, Heo Taegeon's tone strongly implied it—Heo Taegeon suddenly continued, "In the end, Beomhyeon said he could take on one and a half Taehyeons. This time, Taehyeon didn't react at all."
Bok Taejin stared dumbfounded at Heo Taegeon, who was grinning from ear to ear.
He took several deep breaths before finally calming himself down.
He tilted his head and gazed at the sky in exasperation.
At first glance, Heo Taegeon looked like an honest and straightforward person.
Who would've guessed he had such a mischievous streak?
Couldn't he have just said from the start that Im Beomhyeon was stronger?
Why drag it out like this?
Still, Heo Taehyeon's combat ability probably wasn't much weaker than Im Beomhyeon's.
Otherwise, Im Beomhyeon wouldn't have revised his claim just because of a single glare from Heo Taehyeon.
As dusk fell, Bok Taejin finally got to meet Heo Taehyeon.
He watched as a small giant, like a walking iron tower, approached.
Heo Taehyeon nodded his head at him before effortlessly lifting an entire bundle of bronze bamboo.
Bok Taejin had tried lifting it himself.
The bronze bamboo was much heavier than ordinary bamboo, and a bundle like that wasn't light at all.
Yet Heo Taehyeon carried it as if he were holding nothing, striding away with ease and returning just as quickly.
The open space had already been set up with tables and chairs, the aroma of food filling the air.
Another day was coming to an end, preparing to welcome a new one.
The bamboo shoots that Bok Taejin and Im Beomhyeon had brought back were stir-fried with cured pork by Second Uncle.
The cured pork had distinct layers of skin, fat, and lean meat.
The skin and fat gleamed with oil, and when sliced thinly, it was almost translucent.
The overall color was a rich golden-red, contrasting with the light yellow of the bamboo shoots.
Paired with fresh green scallions, the dish looked mouthwatering even in the dim light.
Second Uncle used lard for cooking but didn't add too much, relying instead on the fat within the cured pork.
The bamboo shoots absorbed the meat's rich aroma while maintaining their fresh and crisp texture.
Compared to the chewy pork, they were even more tempting to eat.
As usual, Bok Taejin ate at the same table as Second Uncle.
Perhaps because of his age, Second Uncle didn't have as big of an appetite as the younger men.