We are Friends

Hani was helping her father, Jang Shiwo in separating the weeds from the herbs which they have picked from the mountain area behind the forest area. Yoon Shik entered the house when Hani ran to Yoon Shik and held his hand tightly. "Orabani," murmured Hani. Yoon Shik caressed her head and then greeted his father. "Abeoji (father), please keep this," said Yoon Shik and handed the pouch of money he had earned that day.

"It's yours," said Jang Shiwo.

"But the head of our family is you. So keep this with you," stated Yoon Shik with a smile and then walked inside his room. Hani looked at Jang Shiwo, who smiled at her and then walked towards Yoon's room.

Yoon Shik was sitting on the floor in front of his study table. Tears were flowing from his eyes as he looked inside his bag. He heard the sound of opening up his room's door. He quickly wiped off his tears because he didn't want his sister and father to know about this. He quickly wore a smile on his face.

Jang Shiwo looked at Yoon and sat on the floor in front of him. "Is there something going on, son?" asked Shiwo. Yoon shook his head in refusal and lied that he was tired.

"I told you not to work. You will not work from tomorrow onwards. I can earn more than enough for us. You're still a kid so you should enjoy your childhood," mumbled Shiwo and then caressed at Yoon's head lovingly.

"Abeoji, I love working. I'm tired because there were many customers today. Do not worry about me," said Yoon with a smile. Shiwo nodded and told him to come for dinner in a while. "Abeoji, I do not feel like eating. Ahjussi Baek made me eat so much before returning home. I'm full. You both can eat," stated Yoon.

Shiwo understood that Yoon was going with some trouble but he thought not to ask as it would not be good. "Okay, then you should take a good rest. Tomorrow there is a festival so come home early. We will go there," muttered Shiwo with a smile. Yoon nodded. Shiwo then left his Yoon's room.

Yoon Shik looked at the books he had placed on the table. He then took out a note from the book. It said, "people will always tell you that you can't do this but if your heart says otherwise then go with your heart. Dreams are hard to achieve but not impossible."

"Indeed, that boy doesn't know what it means to me. But it's fine. I should focus on my dream and one day I'll achieve that. I cannot keep onup crying on this. Both my mother and grandma are waiting for justice" saying this Yoon took the book of literature from the table and started reading that in the dim lantern light.

After sometime Hani came inside Yoon's room. Yoon smiled seeing her and sat in front of her. "Orabani, what are you doing? You don't even play with me," said Hani and made circles with her index finger on the wooden floor. Yoon smiled hearing this.

"Orabani is really busy these days as I'm studying these days. I'll go with you tomorrow to the festival," murmured Yoon.

"I also want to study," said Hani.

"Really? Come here, I'll teach you some basics today," stated Yoon with a smile. Hani got up from there and ran to Yoon. He then started teaching her.

"First, you've to learn how to hold the brush, okay. See like this and then you've to freely write on the paper," told Yoon to Hani. Hani then held the brush while Yoon was helping her. Shiwo who was passing by Yoon's room heard their conversation and smiled.

~~~~~~~~

"Ahjussi, I came early today so that you can leave me early in the evening," said Yoon with a smile. Baek Chun who was eating the dumplings put the chopstick over the plate and said, "But today is a holiday. I mean I told you yesterday that you don't have to come today."

Yoon Shik blinked his eyes. "Really?," asked Yoon. A broad smile carved on his lips. "Means I can study today a lot," murmured Yoon. Baek Chun nodded and again started eating. Yoon thanked Baek and left for the book store.

"Ahhh, there's rush hours in the morning," said Yoon Shik standing outside the bookstore. There were many upperclassmen looking in the shelves for the books of their choices. There were tens of shelves in the bookstore and many scripts, papers and books could be found there easily. Apart from that, the calligraphers used to work in the book store, usually Chungin section men who copied the books for better access to more.

Yoon Shik stepped inside the bookstore and saw the upper class men there who were sitting in the chairs and reading the books. Some were talking with the workers there.

"Lim Kyungo, this literature book is good to read. Jangmi told me that it's newly published. Let's give it a read," said a man who has worn the white robes and a hat on his head.

"Scholars have so much to read," muttered Lim Kyungo. Hearing this Yoon Shik smiled. "So, this is how a scholar looks like. I'm usually busy till evening and I never got to know that so many scholars come here to study" thought Yoon in his mind.

He came out of his thoughts and then quickly went to the end of the book store house. There were less or no people there. He looked for the Chinese literature basic book. He was going to take out the book when someone forwarded a book in front of him. He turned to look at the person and it was a friend of Sung Tae, Do Yeong.

"Thank you but I do not need this," stated Yoon and went towards the other end of the shelf and started looking for the Chinese literature book there.

Do Yeong chuckled and said, "the book I'm giving you is the best book for Chinese literature if you want to be a Scholar. It is not easily accessible to anyone," muttered Do Yeong and put his hand down holding the book. Yoon turned to look at him and said, "Why would you help me when I'm a lower class to you?"

Do Yeong smiled and stepped towards Yoon. "Who am I to judge you? It does not matter to me if you're a Yangban or a Sangmin. I should have stopped but I wasn't able to. So take this book as a compensation," said Do Yeong and again forwarded the book towards Yoon.

Yoon looked at him and then accepted the book. He opened the book and found the Chinese literature which was difficult. He flipped the pages when Do Yeong muttered, "I think you do not know this is the toughest subject in the entire civil services test. Words are also difficult to read and write."

"Why these words are written in a different script?" asked Yoon Shik curiously looking at the pages.

"It's Chinese. Do you not know Chinese?" asked Do Yeong to which Yoon Shik refuted.

"Then it won't be possible for you to pass the test," murmured Do Yeong.

Yoon Shik looked at him and said with affirmation, "I will learn eventually."

"I don't think so. A specialized teacher can teach you this. Many people fail because of this thing in the exam," asserted Do Yeong. Yoon Shik was still looking at the pages. "Well I can teach you if you want me to," Do Yeong offered the help. Yoon Shik looked at him in confusion.

"Why would you help me?" asked Yoon and chuckled.

"Do you not want to learn?," asked Do Yeong. "Yes, I want to but a Yangban(upper class) teaching a Sangmin(lower class) is not good," stated Yoon Shik.

"So you think yourself a Sangmin?" asked Do Yeong with a raised brow.

"No. I never think that. But people usually say this," murmured Yoon. Do Yeong smiled and said, "for me no one is a low class. Everyone is equal." Yoon Shik looked at him with a surprised look. "Okay, but I cannot pay you."

Hearing this Do Yeong laughed loudly. The people in the library looked towards their direction so Yeong put his palm on his mouth. "You do not have to laugh. I'm telling the truth. I will not pay you," stated Yoon.

"I did not ask for pay. It is just I want to teach," said Do Yeong. Yoon Shik smiled hearing this. "So then when should we start?" asked Do Yeong.

"Right now?" Yoon asked. Do Yeong smiled hearing this and nodded.

They both walked out of the bookstore when Jangmi noticed this. "Yoon Shik befriended young master Do. It is interesting." His thoughts were broken when two scholars came to him and told him to pack the books and the scripts.

"Yoon, there's a private room which I asked from my father in the market. We can study there and no one will know that you're learning this," said Yeong. Yoon Shik nodded and they kept walking through the market street when a horse cart came running in their direction when Yoon pushed lightly Do Yeong away to save him. Yeong was saved but Yoon's wrist got a scratch.

The cart passed away and Yeong rushed to Yoon. "Are you fine?" asked Yeong looking at Yoon when his eyes fell on Yoon's wrist. "You're hurt and it's bleeding," murmured Yeong.

"Ah, it's normal. Nothing serious," said Yoon with a smile and got up from the ground. He tore his cloth and put it around his wrist. "Look, it's fine now," murmured Yoon with a smile.

"You shouldn't have saved me and gotten yourself injured. Let's go to the doctor," said Yeong with a worried look.

"It's fine. We are friends right," muttered Yoon Shik with a smile and walked ahead.

"We're friends," murmured Do Yeong with a smile and ran after Yoon Shik.