125

Chapter 125 - Sangdo - Part 2

The attacks on the bookstores selling "The Adventures of Tang Family" intensified day by day.

From the boycott movements to business disruptions, garbage dumping, spreading vile rumors, and even allegations of the bookstore owners committing foul play against each other.

Eventually, unable to endure it any longer, the bookstore owners gathered for a meeting and came to a single conclusion.

"We can't do business like this. Please, we need the courier service to protect us!"

Representing the bookstores, the spokesperson sought out the service of bodyguards by visiting one of the courier services in Uichang.

Our troubles stem from a lack of strength. Whether it's garbage throwing or disruptions, can't we just beat them all and drive them away?

While there were means to safeguard Sangdo and cease selling "The Adventures of Tang Family," the bookstore owners who had been victimized refused to admit defeat.

"Lately, we have heard about the boycott movement and bookstore disruption campaign in Uichang. Is that why you have come?"

The courier service master inquired leisurely, sipping tea, towards the bookstore representative.

"Boycotts, business disruptions, garbage—and even a case of arson just a few days ago!"

Shaking with anger, the representative recalled the recent arson incident; it had been the bookstore that sold the most "The Adventures of Tang Family" besides his own.

How could such a bookstore be entangled in an arson case? All the bookstore owners felt a sense of crisis.

"But it wasn't arson. Was it not revealed that the fire was caused by a bum trying to roast a chicken with waste paper? Moreover, it wasn't even a big fire."

"That's just the official story! We can't know for sure whether it's some bum instigated by that Daso-assembly or something!"

Although it wasn't a major fire, the pile of "The Adventures of Tang Family" that had been stacked outside had all been burned to ashes, and the stench of burning left the store unable to do business for some time.

Was it an accidental fire or was it instigated by someone? In situations like these, everything was suspect.

The bookstore representative, harassed daily by disruptions, felt like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"Heh. Your worries must be quite significant."

"Ease our worries, please. A few months of your protection should suffice."

"I must decline."

Setting his tea aside, the courier service master flatly refused.

"What! Isn't this amount of money enough to hire protection even in a tavern? Is it not sufficient?"

"Surely, this amount would be enough to hire protection against hooligans in a tavern."

Indeed, the sum the bookstore representative presented was substantial enough even for a tavern where fights were common.

"Then why won't you provide protection?"

"Because in Uichang, the bookstores have become public enemies. This sum is too little to protect public enemies."

"We, public enemies?"

"The rumors in Uichang are rampant. Bookstores have gone against Sangdo leading to outrage among scholars and commoners alike. Isn't that why even the righteous factions that normally protect the streets are not intervening?"

"I'll triple the amount. Can't you do something even just for a month?"

"Our reputation as a courier service at stake, we cannot incur the wrath of the people of Uichang."

The courier service, tasked with protecting clients or cargo, and the righteous factions, safeguarding the streets, both relied heavily on their reputations.

"Damn. I have no choice but to seek out another courier service."

"You'll find the same response everywhere. Wouldn't it be better to just adhere to Sangdo?"

"This is a merchant's affair. Do not tell me what to do. Surely, some other service will accept the job for the right sum."

"Then do as you wish."

The master of the courier service wrote a letter immediately after bidding farewell to the so-called public enemy, without looking back.

"Courier Head."

After writing several copies of a letter with the same content, he called for the Courier Head.

"Yes, Master."

"Have the couriers deliver these letters to every other courier service in Uichang. Make sure they know it comes from me."

"Yes, understood."

The Courier Head took the letters and quickly vacated the room.

"It won't be long now."

The courier service master mused, expecting that every courier service in Uichang would react with a laugh upon receiving his letter.

The message inscribed in the letter was simply:

[The day to witness Volume 2 is not far off.]

"I must see the scene where Tang Zheng returns to the Sichuan's number one beauty."

Master of the courier service.

He too was a devoted reader of "The Adventures of Tang Family."

And a member of Daso-assembly.

***********************************

News of the bookstores reaching a dead-end was relayed to me moment by moment.

Whatever actions Daso-assembly took, discussions were held at the Dosogak.

I, like a bartender passing an Old Fashioned to the returning hero after a day's work, saying "Must've been an interesting day for you again," had only to make coffee and lend an ear to their stories.

With no alternatives left, the bookstore owners collectively turned up at Dosogak.

"It seems this young barbarian doesn't know his place. This is how things are done. Peacefully, amicably. Are you trying to pick a fight with us?"

"Someone's been behaving like a dog! Our bookstore has no intention of giving up on 'The Adventures of Tang Family'!"

"Stop with these doggish letters and tell that Ho-Pil writer or whatever to publish Volume 2 already."

"We should all be trying to live together; this way, we're all just trying to die together."

The bookstore owners ranted as if they were villagers who, after receiving a harsh lesson for their territoriality, had come to give their neighbors a piece of their mind that they can't behave this way.

"Will you get lost!? Shall I make you crap yourselves all day long?"

"Eeek!"

"The woman of Tang is about to execute her poison spread. Scatter!"

Indeed, such is the martial world. Fortunately, as soon as Hwa Rin spoke up, unable to bear it any longer, they all fled.

"Still not enough, it seems."

I finished my duties for the day and sat at the desk, dipping the brush in ink, reflecting on today's events.

"I'm back."

Hwa Rin entered the attic with a weary look.

"Did you accomplish your broker tasks?"

Though the sales of "The Adventures of Tang Family" had slowed, Hwa Rin's duties remained plentiful.

Lately, Hwa Rin had been utilizing her title as the only granddaughter of Baekga's family to act as an intermediary, facilitating contracts for those who had acquired property from Baekga and required them.

"Yes. I managed the silk contract negotiations well. Just like you said, we called out amounts at a location where no one else was present, so I received a generous referral fee."

"That's good to hear. Well done."

"What are you writing? Don't tell me it's that 'Ho-Pil' stuff again."

"No. I've already prepared all of that. Now, I'm writing the first draft of Volume 2 of 'The Adventures of Tang Family'."

"So it's 'Ho-Pil' after all. You are writing it... But are you really planning to publish Volume 2? Even this morning, those bastards were doing their shenanigans."

Hwa Rin spoke with a disgusted look, thinking of the bookstore owners she had chased away that morning.

"Those bastards have no idea there are ways to make them uphold Sangdo. By the way, Hwa Rin, will you go to see Uncle Chief Accountant after dinner?"

"Yes. I need to use the referral fee to pay off the debt."

"Don't do that. Let's have dinner with Uncle Chief Accountant together."

"Why? Let's, just the two of us, go somewhere nice to eat. I earned money, so it's my treat."

"I have a reason. Uncle Chief Accountant has been struggling, so let's eat together. Let's go, Hwa Rin."

"No, this isn't it."

That day, somewhat begrudgingly, I ended up having dinner with Hwa Rin and Uncle Chief Accountant.

---------------------------

["It's Ho-Pil...."]

"That damn 'Ho-Pil.' Just stop it already. At this rate, our bookstore will go bankrupt!"

["It's Ho-Pil...."]

"The bookstore staff are feeling endangered!"

"We'll sell you the book at cost price! If we clear out our inventory, we won't sell 'The Adventures of Tang Family' anymore!"

["It's Ho-Pil...."]

"Not at cost price! We'll give it away for free! Just take it all!"

"P-please tell author Ho-Pil not to attack our bookstore. We'll give all the money we made from that book!"

["It's Ho-Pil...."]

"We admit defeat. Please, please just stop."

----------------------------

"So only the first bookstore I visited remains."

I straightened my attire while looking in the mirror and muttered these words. I noticed that Hwa Rin was looking at me with disapproval through the mirror reflection.

What could be the matter?

"Why have you been hanging around outside so often lately?"

"It's because of the novel."

"The novel? You roam around drinking because of the novel?"

Hwa Rin's voice carried a hint of anger. Perhaps she was bothered because I came home late last night after drinking alone.

"That's it."

I should have brought up the drinking talk first. 

"Yesterday, there was a faint scent of powder... You're not meeting some woman, are you?"

"Do I look like someone who has time for that? Yesterday, I had a drink with the Chief Accountant because of work."

"With the Chief Accountant? Really?"

"That's what I said. Don't you trust me?"

I turned towards Hwa Rin, opened my chest wide as if I had nothing to be ashamed of under heaven, and spoke.

"I trust... Never mind. Drink this."

Hwa Rin came to me with a bowl filled with some liquid.

"What's this?"

"Honey water. I made it because you came home drunk yesterday."

Hwa Rin looked a bit embarrassed, avoiding my gaze as she handed me the bowl.

Wow. Someone thoughtful enough to prepare honey water for a hangover. That's kind of touching. Back when I lived alone, I used to brew up hangover soup myself after drinking.

I downed the honey water in one gulp.

"Kuh... This is precisely the taste of honey water I've been searching for. Sweet. So sweet."

"Pfft. What are you saying? Really."

Hwa Rin, amused by my dramatic behavior, let go of any suspicion and let out a small laugh.

"Hwa Rin, let's go out."

I put the bowl aside and addressed her, feeling her spirits lifted.

"Where to?"

"Now, there's only one bookstore left that's selling 'The Adventures of Tang Family' without permission, right?"

The bookstore representative. Only the first bookstore we visited had not surrendered.

"Is that so?"

"Follow me. We're going to wrap this up now."

It was time to bring this war to an end.