215

Chapter 215 - The New Employee - 1

"Do you want me to become an employee of Dasuhgak?"

Wondering if she had misheard, Im Ha Yeon asked the Ui-chang branch chief again, her ears filled with doubt.

"One person needs a job, and the other is looking for an employee. Isn't it a perfect match of interests?"

The client who had come to request help finding an employee. Having brought the precious Black Scroll, the man who should have been treated as a distinguished guest was instead threatened.

The branch chief unveiled a brilliant solution, cleverly mending the awkward relationship born of misunderstanding, and addressing the problems of both parties at once.

"I dislike the idea."

Of course, this solution seemed brilliant only to the branch chief.

"You need money, and since you're a runaway gisaeng, you can't do gisaeng work, nor do you have a job since you're not doing what you're good at."

Speaking in a consolatory tone, the branch chief addressed the incredulous-faced Im Ha Yeon.

"I'm an aspiring author."

"That's another way to say you're jobless."

"..."

Im Ha Yeon was lost for words against the branch chief's sharp retort.

"Don't just refuse. Listen to what I have to say."

"What is there to listen to?"

Im Ha Yeon pouted her lips, clearly not willing to listen.

Who does she take after? The branch chief said, reminiscing about a friend he hadn't seen in over a decade.

"You're not one of those authors with enough money to print tens or hundreds of copies of your book, then walk into a bookstore and say, 'Please stock my book, and if it sells well, let's make a contract.'"

"Indeed, I'm not."

"Nor are you a renowned scholar with such flair for writing that you could publish multiple books and have bookstores ask for your next one. Right?"

"Correct."

"Is a rookie author supposed to walk up to a bookstore and say, 'Please cover the printing costs, do the publicity, take on the inventory risk if it doesn't sell, and also pay me an advance?' Anyone would say you're unlucky from the morning and be lucky not to get salt thrown at you."

"...You're right."

Feeling increasingly small under the reality laid out by the branch chief, Im Ha Yeon slumped.

"You know that while there are bookstores that sponsor authors, most prefer to deal with already famous ones?"

"Yes, I know."

Becoming an author is all too difficult. Im Ha Yeon realized the harsh reality she faced and dropped her head dejectedly.

"But Dasuhgak is different."

"Different how?"

"Let's skip over ho-pil since you're not one. Dasuhgak is a bookstore that has been sponsoring literary people in Ui-chang for decades, long before the current manager, Kang Yoon Ho, took over."

The grandfather of Dang Hwalin, the former master of Baekga, sponsored many talented literary people over the years.

Thanks to the sponsorship, there were authors who managed to write decent books, but many cases were not too far from charity work.

Kang Yoon Ho, the manager of Dasuhgak in Ui-chang, had discovered a new author known as ho-pil.

The fact that people did not suspect much about it was due to the long-standing prestigious sponsorship from the times of Baekga bookstore decades ago.

"Does Dasuhgak sponsor rookie authors?"

"Yes. Dasuhgak is famous in Ui-chang for sponsoring rookie authors. And now, the person who considers Mu Young Sin Tu as his sworn brother has become the manager? If Mu Young Sin Tu's daughter asks for a book to be published, it wouldn't be something he could just ignore, right?"

"You want me to ask that manager Kang to publish my book?"

"That's right. Of course, publishing a book costs a lot of money. And until that money is sorted out, it's best if you become a Dasuhgak employee and work hard to get familiar with the manager."

"..."

Im Ha Yeon looked at the branch chief, whose face suggested that all she needed to do was nod and the matter would be settled.

It was an offer very fitting for her situation. However, to accept would mean having to bow to manager Kang Yoon Ho. Im Ha Yeon crossed her arms and kept her thoughts to herself, her face showing her discomfort.

The branch chief stole a glance at Im Ha Yeon, who emphasized her features even more by crossing her arms and then spoke out.

"While you work together, just smile with your eyes once, and when you're close by, cross your arms like you're doing now. Just nonchalantly show a bit of your cleavage..."

"Cl-, cleavage?! What are you talking about! Those are the kinds of things Hwang Ki does! I was educated as a cheonggi, you know!"

Cheonggi sell dances and songs, not their bodies. Im Ha Yeon exclaimed, her face suddenly reddened, as she uncrossed her arms.

"You must have at least learned how to act coquettishly. Use those skills of a gisaeng. Who knows, instead of just showing a little cleavage, you might end up showing more. You know, manager Kang, that friend, after a while, he might have to call Mu Young Sin Tu his father-in-law."

The branch chief spoke as though it was nothing, even though she looked at him with eyes wide as if he had said something outrageous.

"Branch Chief Kwak!"

"Goodness, it's noisy. I am the branch chief of Ui-chang. Address me as 'branch chief,' please."

"Br- bran- branch chief! Do you not know how much I detest that man, to talk about fathers-in-law and such?"

Im Ha Yeon blurted out, revealing the animosity she held towards her father, Mu Young Sin Tu.

"There must have been some reason for that man."

"Reasons, my foot. He just abandoned my mother like any other man would leave a gisaeng."

Im Ha Yeon spoke with a mixture of anger and sadness in her eyes, indignant about one man's actions.

It was a common story.

Im Ha Yeon's mother, Ms. Lim, was a famous cheonggi in U-san. And Mu Young Sin Tu was a well-known thief in the martial world.

To a gisaeng, there was no black or white money. All money was precious. Smitten by Ms. Lim, Mu Young Sin Tu had spent lavishly in the gisaeng house.

"Mae-chang-bul-mae-eum (賣唱不賣淫)."

While they sold songs, they were not to sell their bodies. It was a maxim spread amongst the cheonggi who sold entertainment; if it was kept well, would it even be a maxim?

Ms. Lim, the cheonggi, was charmed by Mu Young Sin Tu and consented to him, and he embraced the finest gisaeng of U-san.

Subsequently, a child came into the picture.

"That guy has a bit of a wandering spirit; that's why."

The branch chief faltered in defense for the absent father.

"Yes, a wandering spirit so great that he wasn't there even when I was born."

If he were the type to quit his roaming for the sake of a child, he wouldn't have gotten the nickname Mu Young Sin Tu.

Im Ha Yeon spoke with a bitterness that seemed to bite into a man's reputation.

"It's just a misunderstanding. And he thought of you as his child, that's why he taught you the martial arts of Mu Young Sin Tu."

"I have talent."

—Though you're my child, to have such sturdy bones! From today onwards, I'll pass on my martial arts to you.

A man who was absent more often than present. Im Ha Yeon recalled the moment that very man decided to teach her martial arts.

"Since the child had outstanding talent, maybe he was eager to teach earnestly."

"The daughter, at that young age, desired nothing more than to have her frequently absent father by her side, if only for a day, and so she trained diligently."

Im Ha Yeon recollected her younger self.

Whenever she practiced martial arts, that man was by her side. Her mother also had a happy expression whenever he was around, smiling contentedly.

More earnestly. With even greater effort.

She learned martial arts more intensely to keep that man near, to see her mother's smiling face.

"I wonder why that friend went into hiding."

Branch Chief Kwak looked at her, who was clearly not intending to excuse him, and sighed, giving up on defending his friend.

"Perhaps his interest waned. That's what happens with most men involved with gisaeng—they run away."

One day, Mu Young Sin Tu stopped coming to U-san. As Im Ha Yeon and her mother wondered why he didn't return, they heard about the rebellion in Hao Mun.

Misfortune comes all at once.

The news of Mu Young Sin Tu ceased, and shortly afterward, her mother passed away. As the lowly child of a lowly gisaeng, she would have become an orphan, left to beg or suffer abuse.

Thanks to her mother's connections, she managed to do odd jobs for Hao Mun and eventually entered a gisaeng institution that taught cheonggi.

"He's alive? Then why hasn't he come to look for me?"

Was he dead, or had he abandoned her mother and herself?

Since Mu Young Sin Tu stopped coming to U-san before the rebellion, Im Ha Yeon found it hard to guess. But now she knew.

That man had abandoned her mother and herself.

Anger bubbled up within her like water simmering with bubbles, rising slowly to a boil. Perhaps he's alive? Maybe he'll come for me? The young girl she once was, who harbored such faint hope, seemed laughable now.

'In the end, you abandoned us.'

The world might sing praises of Mu Young Sin Tu, but to Im Ha Yeon, he was nothing more than an irresponsible thief who couldn't take responsibility for his own woman.

"So are you giving up on being an employee at Dasuhgak? I mean, manager Kang Yoon Ho. He may be ruthless in trade, even called an unscrupulous merchant, but he's no villain."

Im Ha Yeon recalled manager Kang Yoon Ho upon hearing the branch chief's words.

The notion of seeking help from someone she disliked felt humiliating, yet before knowing his identity, she had even mistaken him for someone with the presence of the great Danggapungun.

Her savior but also a merciless merchant. Im Ha Yeon felt a strange sensation, akin to looking at someone who is a benevolent person yet a villain, a father yet also an enemy.

There seemed to be no reason for her not to ask for Kang Yoon Ho's help. But he was the sworn brother of Mu Young Sin Tu.

Accepting his help would be no different from accepting help from her estranged father.

Due to her anger at her father who had abandoned her, Im Ha Yeon was unwilling to receive help.

"I don't want to receive help from someone related to that man. Plus, there's a way to become an instant success as a novelist."

Despite the branch chief's suggestive offer, she couldn't just reject it outright. Im Ha Yeon decided to reveal her intentions.

"What way would that be?"

With curiosity, the branch chief looked at Im Ha Yeon.

Why Ui-chang? She could have chosen any city with a Hao Mun presence, but she had headed to Ui-chang.

Because she liked Danggapungun? Because she wanted to see Dasuhgak?

Because the branch chief of Ui-chang Hao Mun was an acquaintance?

No. She wanted to be an author. And in Ui-chang, there was a way for even a penniless author to become instantly renowned.

Im Ha Yeon opened her mouth to reveal the true reason she had come to Ui-chang.

"I'll submit my work to the Ui-chang Literary Association's newcomer author event."

******

It's ridiculous to think that finding an employee should be a matter of life and death. If one must risk their life, it should be for the future. What absurdity this is.

Fiddling with the Black Scroll in my pocket, I arrived at the entrance of Dasuhgak.

"Is anyone here! Manager Kang, are you in? Or perhaps absent?"

Who could it be? At the door of Dasuhgak, two individuals were knocking.

"Brother! It's really you who has returned, isn't it?"

"That's what I said, isn't it?"

"Or have I longed and prayed so fervently that this is but a mirage…"

"Ha! Haven't you heard what the other members of Dasaehoe are saying?"

That familiar voice...

"Teacher Hwang?"

As I approached, there stood Teacher Hwang, a Dasaehoe member and tavern owner for several months, and his younger brother.

"Manager Kang! Looks like you've returned from your travels!"

"Yes, there's a lot to prepare for the reopening. It's been a while since I saw Teacher Hwang's younger brother."

Is it the first beauty of Sichuan, or the number one courtesan from Hubei competing for the title of prime beauty at Dasuhgak?

"It's been some time. To celebrate your safe return, I've brought some walnut pastries."

"How thoughtful of you, bringing something like this. Thank you."

I accepted the small paper bag from Teacher Hwang's brother. Nice and warm. I should share these with the people from Dang family later.

"What brings you here? If it's to do with Dasuhgak, the reopening might take some more time."

"I've come not on behalf of Dasaehoe today but as a member of the Ui-chang Literary Association."

Teacher Hwang's brother spoke to me with formal courtesy.

"What?"

Not Dasaehoe but the Ui-chang Literary Association?

The Ui-chang Literary Association, famous for having a chairman who once served as a scholar at Hanlin Academy, an advisory body to the emperor, and responsible for compiling imperial literature.

And renowned for having such influence that it had made Danggapungun well-known in Ui-chang, to the point that there wasn't a person who hadn't heard about it.

What business do they have here?

As I looked on curiously, Teacher Hwang bowed his head and made an unexpected request.

"Please, become a judge for the Ui-chang Literary Association's newcomer author event."