Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Kwon Ram and Han Myeonghoe (7)
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The power of education is truly immense.
It has the ability to transform even someone born a psychopath into a fine individual who contributes to society.
Believing in that, I decided to reform and make use of Han Myeonghoe and Kwon Ram.
"Alright, then. From now on, I'll impart my first lesson to you two."
At my words, Kwon Ram tilted his head and asked,
"Isn't studying about opening books, reading the characters, and learning what the sages of old said? But right now, we don't have a single book."
"Studying isn't just about memorizing the words of ancient sages. Learning how the world works is also studying, and sharing our thoughts on how it turns and what we think about it—that's all studying too."
Studying can't just stop at simply accumulating knowledge.
If you settle for that and repeat it endlessly, you'll end up as nothing more than an exam specialist who excels only at rote memorization.
Such exam specialists can become worthless outside of tests, or even villains.
If you visit high schools in Gangnam, you'll see kids whose mock exam scores would get them into top universities with ease, yet due to poor character education, they lead school violence.
Or, because of poor social skills, they fail to adapt to their workplaces and end up quitting due to maladjustment. Or they get scammed because they know too little about the world.
I once witnessed a colleague from the administrative exam who married a woman that even I, a stranger, could see was dangerously shady, ruining his life in the process.
The lesson I learned from that experience is this:
Specialized knowledge is important, but you must also learn the knowledge necessary to live as a human being.
"So, I'll teach you about how the world works from time to time and guide you to become upright scholars with proper character. As for the Four Books and Three Classics, a teacher I've specially invited will handle that starting tomorrow."
"Yes, Master."
If I could, I'd teach them the Four Books and Three Classics myself and instill knowledge of the right human ideals...
But since I'm tied to official duties, my time isn't that plentiful.
Typically, preparing for the civil service exams requires studying 10 to 13 hours a day. How could I possibly hold these kids for that long?
So, on rest days or when I have spare time, I'll fulfill my role as a teacher by instilling the ways of living as a proper human and correct values.
"Now, from here on, answer my questions freely and without hesitation. Why do you two study?"
At my question, Han Myeonghoe answered first.
"To rise high in office and bring glory to my family."
"That's a valid answer too, but is that truly what you want?"
In this world, only a tiny minority truly enjoy studying.
Even doctors, lawyers, judges, and other professionals feel the same, as did exam prep students who studied 14 to 15 hours a day.
Even I, back in school, felt the urge to goof off the moment I sat at my desk with a book open.
But the reason I suppressed that impulse and threw myself into studying was... because I wanted to become a fine person like that civil servant uncle who helped me.
Without that motivation, I wouldn't have studied so hard.
"Inspector Han told me you hold your wet nurse in high regard. He said it's because she wrapped your frail body—born in the seventh lunar month, when everyone thought you'd die—in warm down feathers and cared for you meticulously, earning your special gratitude. Is that right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Whether in Europe or the East, wet nurses were highly respected by nobles.
Because they personally nursed with their own milk and changed diapers in place of busy birth mothers,
from infancy until adulthood, it was the wet nurse who raised them.
Thus, even in Joseon, where slaves were often beaten for trivial reasons, no master mistreated their household wet nurse.
When the wet nurse who raised them died, everyone wore mourning clothes for three months, just as they would for close kin.
Among them, Han Myeonghoe, born weak and hovering near death, must feel especially grateful to his wet nurse who saved and raised him.
"If you memorize all the Four Books and Three Classics within four years, I'll tell Inspector Han to burn the slave papers for your wet nurse and her family."
"Really?"
"Myeonghoe, isn't she like a mother to you? As your master, I can do at least this much. Of course, if you fail to memorize them in four years, this offer becomes void."
What people often misunderstand is that records say Han Myeonghoe hated studying and preferred wandering around, leading to assumptions he wasn't smart...
But as an adult, he had enough scholarship to pass the civil service exams.
Perhaps as a boy, lacking any motivation or reason to study diligently, he neglected it. That's what I think.
Just give him the motivation, and he'll do well—that's my belief.
'Even if he doesn't memorize it in four years, if he puts in bone-grinding effort, I can persuade based on that.'
Han Gi will probably die next year anyway, so I'd have to convince Han Myeonghoe's uncle then.
"I'll study hard."
"Good. Then, Ram. Why do you think you must study?"
"I want to become someone like you, Master."
His unexpected answer left me momentarily speechless.
"Thanks to you, Master, my mother can now sleep peacefully every night. My other siblings no longer fear the coming of night. It's all because you rescued me and my sister when we fled in the dead of night."
If I hadn't intervened, Kwon Je would have continued his rise as a genius with a shattered personality.
He'd have compiled the History of Goryeo and eventually reached Vice Prime Minister.
And in that process, his family would have suffered his violence and abuse.
"When I told Mother about you, she said that becoming a great person like you would be the highest form of repayment."
If Kwon Ram grows up with proper values and passes the exams in that state,
he'll become an excellent official with a true heart for the people.
And once he and Han Myeonghoe secure positions in court...
'With these two around, this old, incompetent minister will resign.'
After submitting my resignation like that, I'll step down from office and head to my hometown with Gyeol.
"Your heart is truly admirable. And hearing you makes me think I need to work harder too."
"What effort do you mean, Master?"
"A master must always be worthy of his disciples' respect. Since you're going to study hard to follow my example, I can't slack off either."
A master must act like one.
This means I have to stand tall like an insurmountable mountain in their eyes for life.
It won't be easy, but I'll do my utmost.
"Today's lesson ends here. You may go home now. One thing I ask: as you study from now on, never forget the reasons you spoke of today for why you must study. Keep them always in mind."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Kwon Ram and Han Myeonghoe emerged from Kim Dae-bung's house after his brief lesson.
As they were about to part ways, Kwon Ram grabbed Han Myeonghoe.
"Class ended early, so let's grab something at the market. How about injeolmi?"
"I don't have money for that."
"I'll buy. Let's have injeolmi and even a bowl of gukbap each."
Originally, there was no such food as gukbap in Hanyang.
But after Kim Dae-bung suggested the idea in Jinhae County and Hanyang,
market gukbap houses gained explosive popularity and eventually spread nationwide.
Kwon Ram and Han Myeonghoe, having lived as refined young masters of yangban households, had never had the chance to eat gukbap.
Kwon Ram happened to have some rice from his allowance, and class ended much earlier than expected...
It was perfect for sharing a bowl of gukbap with a friend.
"Sure."
Han Myeonghoe nodded, and Kwon Ram dragged him to the nearest tavern from Kim Dae-bung's house.
People glanced curiously at the two young masters coming for gukbap...
But ignoring that, the pair ate it with great relish.
"Why gukbap all of a sudden?"
"Master is more famous than anyone for understanding the plight of the common folk. So as his disciples, we should start here and experience the people's lives firsthand."
"You think one bowl will make you understand the people's lives?"
"Then don't eat."
"Aigoo, Ram hyung. Why be like that between us?"
Kwon Ram smirked at Han Myeonghoe backing down.
"You really need to study hard from now on, huh? You've just been wandering around playing until now."
"Even for my wet nurse, I thought I have to. When I was little, I was so weak—fevers all the time, delirious—and she stayed up without sleep, nursing me through it all. That's why I survived. Of course I have to do this for her."
"Same for me. That man I don't even want to call father would beat us when drunk, and though Mother was already battered and couldn't help much, she always threw herself to shield us, comforted our trembling fears, and raised us with loving kindness. How much heartache she must have endured."
"We're both filial in that sense."
Kwon Ram burst out laughing at that.
"Hey, I only have Mom. You have your wet nurse and father—two people. You gotta study twice as hard as me."
"What're you saying, you lunatic? Wrong medicine?"
"Ha, it's great not having a father... Honestly, I wish Master were my real dad. And Kim beats Kwon any day, right?"
Han Myeonghoe had just one retort.
"What are you, Lü Bu? Just gonna make multiple surnames? Cut the nonsense and study."
From the next day, the two threw themselves into studying as if they were different people altogether.
To achieve their respective goals.