Victory Feast and Capital Curiosities
Aah! This is a match!
To cut to the chase, the Seokjeon ended in Chaekho Village's victory. The young men from the other village had broken through the west gate, but our villagers pelted them with stones so fiercely they couldn't push into the heart of the village. It was nothing like the Burat Rebellion last time, when the barbarians breached the village easily, forcing us to barricade every alley and fight to the death in the square. But now? That same square was hosting a massive feast.
"Kuhaha! Those stones were no joke!"
"Aigoo! I threw 'em like my life depended on it—thought that club of yours would crack my skull!"
"Hahaha! This booze hits different! Gimme another jar!"
Not just Chaekho villagers, but even the guys who'd charged in swinging clubs earlier were all together now, clinking cups and knocking back drinks.
This was the first time we'd feasted with folks from the other villages.
"Hey! Gapsa sir! Have a drink!"
"Uh, sure! Thanks!"
"Try some meat too, young master! Booze on an empty stomach'll ruin you!"
"Thanks! Nom!"
"Kuh! Now that's a man's drink! Here, have more!"
The feast doubled as a welcome for me. As the village's only official, I got the seat of honor, and everyone—Chaekho folk or not—kept shoving drinks and meat my way.
"Eori, dear, try this!"
"Y-yes, auntie."
"Kiddo, I picked these greens fresh today—they smell amazing."
"Th-thank you?"
"You tried booze yet? Tried the young master's lips? Kyahahaha!"
Eori, sitting beside me, wasn't spared either. Aunties from Chaekho and the other villages alike swarmed her, stuffing food in her mouth.
For the record, Geum-ok and Eun-ok were getting doted on by their mom nearby.
"Here, wanna try this? Tasty, right?"
The girls munching away with their tiny mouths must've been adorable, 'cause Mom couldn't hide her fond smile.
"Aigoo!"
Thwack!
"Guhk?!"
Suddenly, someone shoved my back hard. I nearly face-planted into the feast table but caught myself and whipped around. There stood Eori's dad, face flushed beet red.
"Our Chaekho Boy—no, Gapsa sir—no, my son-in-law! How'd you get so damn lucky? Uhahaha!"
"Uh, yeah. You know since I took your daughter."
"Uhahahaha! My son-in-law has no idea what a fine family he's marrying into! Here! Let your father-in-law pour you one!"
I held out my cup, but Eori's dad scowled and shook his head.
"Nuh-uh! Not that! Put it down and grab this!"
"That's a whole jar?!"
"What, can't down that and still snag my precious girl? Uhahaha! Drink like this!"
The second Eori came up, he hefted a jar as big as my head and chugged. It was low-proof grain booze, but the volume was the killer.
"Gulp gulp gulp...!"
I didn't quit—drained the whole thing, bigger than my head, then flipped it to pour out the last drops.
"Puhahaaa!"
Eori's dad looked beyond satisfied.
"Uhahahahaha! That's my son-in-law! Uhaha! One more!"
"One more, you say? You tryna kill the boy?!"
Eori's mom smacked her husband's back as she approached. I rubbed my bloated belly, finally quenching my thirst, and asked,
"So, what's all this about? Weren't you guys on bad terms with the other village? Why the sudden Seokjeon?"
"All thanks to the new Hyeon-gam sir."
It started with the wild boar that rampaged into Chaekho Village. We caught it, only to learn it was one the other village had been chasing—it'd fled here. Those folks—the ones in today's Seokjeon—claimed it was theirs. Our villagers weren't backing down either.
The fresh Hyeon-gam mediated, ruling per tradition that a Seokjeon would settle it. We won, and in the thrill of our first-ever victory, they forfeited the boar. Hell, they even invited us for this feast.
"He's a bit stiff, but he gets how the world works—such a relief."
Like Eori's mom said, any average magistrate probably would've chewed out Chaekho Village one-sidedly.
"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law!"
"Show us what you brought from Hanyang!"
Eori's little siblings, Eoji and Eosu, approached with familiar bundles on their backs—the crates we'd loaded on the horse.
"Hey! That's not yours!"
Eori yelled, maybe the booze loosening her up and making her forget I was there. But Eoji and Eosu ignored her, dumping the crates behind me.
"Stuff from Hanyang?"
"Ooooh..."
"Whatcha bring from the capital?"
The feasting villagers turned curious eyes our way. I hesitated a beat, then stood with grand resolve.
"Alright! Time to see what we brought from Hanyang!"
My stomach was too full for more food or booze anyway. Figured showing off the souvenirs would help digestion.
Amid eager stares, I opened the crates and chests. They brimmed with Hanyang goodies.
"First up! What do you think this is?"
I held up a red paper box, shook it to hint at the small, light items inside, then asked Eori's mom as rep.
"Ma'am! How do you light a fire?"
"Pardon? Oh, we borrow from neighbors or use flint."
"Right! But with this, no need! Watch!"
I pulled out a thin wooden stick, pressed the white head to the box, built suspense, then struck.
Tchk! Whoosh!
"Whoaaa! Fire!"
"Wh-what'd you do?!"
"Heavens. How?!"
This was the match—bulcha in Joseon.
"Aah! This is a match! Just strike and fire! See?"
I lit a few more, each time drawing gasps and wide eyes.
Kuh. This is what a transmigrator protagonist does!
Of course, a twinge of guilt hit—I hadn't made 'em myself, just showing off.
"Next! This!"
After more matches, I held up another. Sun still high, perfect to hype it.
"This is a mirror!"
"Agh! So bright!"
"That's 'cause I'm handsome! Hahaha! Dad, who's that in here?"
I aimed a hand mirror at Eori's dad, sipping booze. He squinted at his reflection, muttering,
"...Grandpa?"
Looked just like Eori's grandpa, apparently. Not the reaction I wanted, so I showed Mom. It was for her anyway.
"Oh my... is that... me?"
Kuh! Yes! Mom, seeing her face for the first time, stroked her cheek in awe. Guess she thought she was prettier than expected.
"Still more!"
I kept pulling Hanyang buys—not just novel stuff like pencils or magnifiers.
"Behold! The clothes Crown Princess Consort bestowed on Eori!"
The custom garb from the Crown Princess Consort wasn't flashy, but elegantly refined.
"Oh my...!"
"Wow...!"
"Eh, yeah, sure, I guess?"
Mom, Eori's mom, and the women swooned; guys like Eori's dad just tilted heads.
"N-no! Don't stare like that! What if it wears out?!"
"Just looking—how's it gonna wear?!"
Couldn't show it long—Eori, blushing, stopped me.
"Huh? Brother-in-law! What's this for?"
"Headwear?"
Eoji and Eosu dug into the chest with Eori's bestowed clothes, pulling something very familiar.
"Oh? What's that?"
"Never seen it."
Most villagers had no clue. Makes sense—it'd take centuries.
"Kyaaak?! Hey! Put that back now?!"
Eori freaked more than usual, lunging at her brothers and snatching it—a yudae in Joseon, bra in modern times—glaring daggers.
"You two are dead when we get home!"
"Wh-why, sis? What's it?"
"Later! Anyway! Young master! Show something else!"
She snapped sharply at me, flustered. I knew what it was from modern knowledge, even if I'd never seen one up close. Face heating, I rummaged the chest.
"Brother-in-law, think hard. You really gonna live with that?"
"Be honest—sis beats you, right?"
Her siblings teased as she stuffed the underwear away. Then they spotted something in the chest I was digging through.
"Huh? Brother-in-law, what's this?"
"What's inside?"
A long wooden box in the corner, silver metal trim catching eyes.
"Oh, this?"
Thinking of its contents, my lips curled up. Wanted to whip it out and proclaim, but not yet—just spilled.
Kim Si-jin shall wed Eori, daughter of Kim Ga.
"This? A royal decree."
"Pardon? A royal decree?"
"Yeah. Royal decree. Ordering marriage between your sister and me."
"Pfft, brother-in-law, come on."
"..."
"Right?"
I just grinned wordlessly at Eosu and Eoji's hardening faces.