Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: What I Truly Desire (1)
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Ryu Jeong-hyeon's impeachment had been neatly wrapped up, and the Bangwon Law was about to be implemented soon.
Thanks to that, I was able to return to my hometown of Yanggu County with a very relaxed mind.
"Compared to Jinhae, this place feels a bit rustic, doesn't it? Still, the water is clear and the scenery is beautiful, so it's a great place to live."
Jinhae County was home to many residents because it was near Dongnae County, the hub of trade with Japan, and allowed for both fishing and farming.
On the other hand, my hometown in Gangwon Province's Yanggu County had the advantages of being relatively close to Hanyang and connected by waterways...
But since commerce in Joseon hadn't developed much yet, it was far from being a well-developed area.
"As long as it's where you go, my lord, even the road to the three provinces and five mountains would be fine with me."
"I'm grateful you say that."
"You're the kindest person among all the ones I've met in this world. I can't live without you anymore, my lord."
For a moment, as Winter said this, I swear I saw the shadow of a certain game heroine whose eyes seemed to say, 'Dae-bung is going to die with Winter now.'...
But that must just be the stress and fatigue from dealing with official duties playing tricks on me.
We had a simple wedding ceremony and then... No, not yet. It's too soon.
I just don't get why us Joseon scholars are so impatient and excitable.
It's all because I'm a 22-year-old young man with blood and vigor boiling over.
Definitely not because I like naughty things, beauties, or big-breasted beauties.
"See that mountain over there? That's Gobangsan. Midway up Gobangsan, there's a fantastic waterfall. It's famous for its stunning view and refreshingly cool water. So when summer comes, we take watermelons up there, chill them in the waterfall, and eat them. They're so sweet and refreshing. Winter, we have to go sometime."
"Yes."
As Winter and I chatted while slowly heading home, I noticed the commoners threshing barley in the fields.
"Aigoo, Kim from next door. How long has it been since you got married, and you're already drained? Looks like your wife squeezes you dry at night, so you have no energy during the day?"
"Jealous?"
"Not even a little. Just wait till it happens to you—you'll be trembling at the knees when your wife says, 'I put the kids to bed today,' just like me."
"Aigoo, isn't that because your back lacks strength, brother? I hate to say it, but your weak back is famous in our village. How weak do you have to be to lose a wrestling match at Dano to Gap-dol from the next village, who's over 40?"
People often think that Joseon—whether early, mid, or late—was extremely conservative sexually...
But in reality, that only applied to yangban, mid-level officials, and wealthy merchants.
For ordinary commoners, divorce was relatively common if husband and wife didn't get along after marriage.
There was no dishonor in divorcing, and even restrictions on civil service exams didn't matter.
Naturally, their talk about sex was pretty spicy too.
Winter, who had no immunity to such talk, turned her head away sharply, her face red as a ripe apple.
She looked utterly adorable, but what caught my attention more right now was...
how they were threshing over there.
"That must be really inconvenient."
They were grabbing bundles of barley by hand and whacking them against a log called a gae-sang, or spreading them on mats and beating them desperately with flails.
With this era's threshing technology, that was the best they could do...
But if they used something like a pedal thresher or foot-treadle thresher, they could work several times more efficiently.
Finishing work faster would let them go to the mountains to gather herbs or firewood to sell at market, and they'd eat better than they do now.
That sight kept nagging at me.
Part of me wanted to go over to the farmers and ask if threshing with the gae-sang wasn't uncomfortable... but that wouldn't do.
I'd need to make them a pedal thresher or foot-treadle one and tell them to use the old gae-sang for firewood afterward for it to mean anything.
Asking if it was uncomfortable without providing a real solution would just make them aware of the inconvenience without fixing it.
If I'd stayed in office, I'd have gone to Jang Yeong-sil by now, explained the foot-treadle thresher, and pushed for production and distribution...
No, forget it. Don't dwell on this.
I resigned. Now I can live freely and comfortably.
"......"
Noticing my sour expression, Winter beside me asked.
"Are you thinking of something bad?"
"No, it's nothing. Don't worry about it. Let's just go."
Saying that, I headed toward my father's house with a slight unease lingering.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Returning home after two years, my mother greeted me warmly.
"Dae-bung, you're here. I heard you worked so hard at court..."
"That's all in the past, Mother."
"You who even look after the ailments of mere slaves—how much mental strain must you have endured dealing with those who file impeachment memorials full of slander and intrigue..."
Mother teared up the moment she saw me.
Whether 21st-century Korea or 15th-century Joseon, a mother's worry for her child never changes.
She doesn't care for her own health, but if I, young and resilient enough that most illnesses vanish after a night's sleep, so much as cough once, she calls the physician and brews medicine, fretting endlessly. That's my mother.
"Even animals need rest when they're worn out. If you make an ox work all day, it falls ill—so how could humans be any different?"
"Thank you, Mother."
"......I prepared your favorite braised short ribs. And..."
Mother glanced at Winter standing beside me and smiled gently.
"Is the bride's name Kim Gyeol? I've seen her name often in the letters you sent, Dae-bung. Since you haven't had the wedding yet, would you mind using a separate room? Would that be alright?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Mother gave Winter an encouraging, kind smile.
"Our Dae-bung is such a sensitive soul, but I heard he's received much comfort thanks to you. We're grateful. Even as a concubine due to the difference in status, we won't treat you poorly at all. Don't worry too much."
Our family wasn't exactly Confucian hardliners when I was born, but we were pretty stiff yangban.
But from my childhood, treating slaves as equals—or more precisely, as employees—and showing them maximum consideration gradually changed the family atmosphere.
Mother stopped mistreating Father's concubine one day, and for slave couples who just had a baby, she even gave maternity leave, called physicians, and provided tonics to boost their strength.
Then Mother quietly took Winter off somewhere alone. ...What on earth are they going to talk about?
"......Doesn't seem like she's doing it to bully her."
This time, Father approached with a few fake coughs.
"Dae-bung."
"Yes, Father."
Father looked at me, spread his arms without a word of explanation, and hugged me tightly.
"You worked so hard in your official duties. This father couldn't even pass the preliminary exam, let alone top the great exam like you, so I can't fully understand your struggles. But even in this backwater Yanggu, hearing rumors about you let me imagine how devotedly you served the ancestral temple and state altar."
"I merely did my utmost within my capabilities, as you taught me, Father."
They say after discharge, even military bases look beautiful. Of course, that fades after reserve duty or three days post-discharge...
But honestly, my official life was far better than sticking around for the civil exams or officer duties.
In Jinhae, folks brought expensive abalone without charge, and even erected a stele of merit for me unprompted to express their gratitude.
At the Hall of Studies, Prime Minister Hwang Hui groveled, Jo Mal-saeng groveled, Heo Jo turned into a GPT and served me—though I did get worked pretty hard—but it was fulfilling since I helped the country and people, even a little.
Later, I successfully blocked the disastrous currency introduction with a bold palace memorial, and even laid the groundwork for the Bangwon Law.
Finally, I filed a memorial to clean up Ryu Jeong-hyeon, who kept sabotaging the Bangwon Law to the end.
Filing that memorial on Ryu Jeong-hyeon was truly enjoyable and rewarding.
Back in the military or central offices, I couldn't even imagine stabbing the boss.
But after submitting my resignation, taking down a corrupt official blocking Joseon's progress in a carefree state was utterly thrilling, top-tier satisfaction.
Hell, maybe this is what they call 'yasug'.
"Looks like you quite enjoyed your official life."
"It was tough."
"Where in this world is anything not tough? Farmers toil through the seasons, reclaiming wasteland to expand fields—both grueling. A scholar pursuing learning must suppress urges to nap leisurely or tour famous peaks with friends, focusing only when concentrating on study."
I couldn't argue with Father's words.
Listening to him, a quote came to mind.
'To become special, you must steadily repeat boring, difficult, hard things.'
True to that, to enter officialdom, while hometown friends roamed for fun, I ignored the mood and buried myself in books day and night.
All with dreams of slacking off on studies after passing the exams.
"But tending fields season by season yields bountiful harvests each year, and years of grueling reclamation grant you your own land. Diligently preparing for exams leads to passing them. After reaping such fruits—no, even the process of striving for those fruits is joyful in itself."
......I can't deny it. When I was Jinhae magistrate, exhausted to death by work, if I said it was nothing but hard with zero joy...
That'd be a lie.
Commoners said life improved thanks to me, thanked me for giving hope. Recalling that always brings a smile.
With the Bangwon Law implemented, how much happier will Joseon's people be?
"You've worked hard enough so far. Now rest easy, without a care."
"Yes, Father."
"From your letters, I knew about Winter. So in two days, we've simply prepared for a wedding here at home. Until then, just relax and think of nothing."
And so, I had the wedding right away... and now, the most important union awaits.
Breaking the long, awkward silence, Winter cautiously spoke.
"My lord..."