Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Butterfly Effect of My Fake Faint
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My fake fainting spell had triggered a butterfly effect.
Yang Hwan-chun and Yang Shin-chun, the older brothers of Yang Man-chun who had heard the news, came rushing over in a panic. When they saw me sitting on the floor of the post station, covered head to toe in mud, their faces turned pale.
"Are you alright?"
In response to Yang Hwan-chun's question, I assured him that I was fine.
The hot-tempered Yang Shin-chun yelled at his younger brother, who was squatting by the door.
"Are you really trying to ruin our family?!"
"No, brother, I was just playing cuju and tripped."
Yang Shin-chun grew even angrier at Yang Man-chun's excuse.
"Don't you know our little uncle is in Chang'an right now? If anything happens here, we can't guarantee our safety!"
Yang Man-chun looked wronged at his brother's words.
"Even if Namsaeng got hurt, it wasn't on purpose."
"Do you know how far Chang'an is from here? By the time the news travels and gets passed along, all sorts of twisted rumors will get added. Someone might even accuse us of harboring treasonous thoughts."
Spitting as he ranted, Yang Shin-chun glanced at me and added,
"And this is the eldest son and heir of the Eastern Division Leader. You think he'd stay quiet if something happened to him here?"
Hearing Yang Shin-chun's words sparked a mischievous urge in me.
"That's right. My father is the simple and brutish type."
The air around us froze at my words.
"So he wouldn't get mad over my death. He'd probably think about what he could gain from it instead."
I looked at the stunned Yang Man-chun and continued.
"Yang Man-chun's head wouldn't bring him any profit."
Yang Man-chun rubbed his neck with one hand and said,
"It hurts that my head isn't even worth that much."
Yang Shin-chun glared at him.
"You're cracking jokes in a situation like this?"
Watching it all, I finally understood why Yang Man-chun had earned the image of a hopeless fool.
'His thinking is different.'
Unlike his father and brothers, who saw themselves as the masters of Ansi Fortress, he was unpretentious.
He might seem reckless, but it was only skin deep. He played cuju with the young men of Ansi Fortress and had calmed down the furious Geom Mojam over my injury.
His cool and rational nature led him to thoughts that differed from those around him.
'I almost misunderstood him based on what others said.'
Seeing things escalating, I stepped in to calm the raging Yang Shin-chun.
"I'm really fine, so don't be too hard on your brother. He wouldn't have pushed me on purpose to kill me, right?"
"Even so, what if you'd been seriously hurt?"
"These things happen. You can get injured playing cuju."
As I spoke with a smile, Yang Hwan-chun, who had been watching, let out a sigh.
"At least you're not badly hurt. I'll give the youngest a good scolding, so relax."
"No major injuries, so don't worry. But this isn't something I can just let slide."
Everyone's faces stiffened as I changed my expression at the end. Seeing that, I burst into laughter and turned to Yang Man-chun.
"Let's drop the formalities, you and me. Do that, and I'll let it go."
Amid the stunned silence, Yang Man-chun snorted.
"That's a steep price. When's your birthday?"
"Year of the Snake. The year of the Battle of Salsu."
"Then we're the same age. I was born in the Year of the Snake too. When my father was serving under General Eulji Mundeok."
I extended my hand to the grinning Yang Man-chun, and he took it.
"One more round of cuju?"
As everyone around us gaped in shock, I replied with a smile.
"This time, I won't go easy."
"Good. Let's see some Chang'an cuju skills."
The two of us linked arms, laughing as we left the post station. We joined the waiting young men and kicked the ball around.
Though this time, they were a bit more careful than before.
Yang Man-chun was mindful of his brothers' watchful eyes and didn't get too rough.
I seized the openings to kick the ball and dart through. Though barefoot and using a pig's bladder, my modern techniques gave me the edge.
I pushed the ball forward, then stopped abruptly and pulled it back, faking out Yang Man-chun. He stumbled to a halt and fell into the mud, muttering,
"Not bad."
After scoring two or three goals each, with the score close, the game finally wrapped up.
What was meant to be a quick game before breakfast ended only when the sun was high in the sky.
The young men, drenched in sweat, headed toward the fortress gate. There, they dove into the reservoir beside it.
As I followed the young men, I asked Yang Man-chun,
"What's that?"
"A reservoir collecting water from inside the fortress. It drains out through the outlet to the outside."
On one side of the reservoir Yang Man-chun mentioned, women were doing laundry, while horses and pigs drank nearby.
The water looked incredibly murky because of it.
"Stagnant puddle."
No sooner had I said it than Yang Man-chun shoved me.
"Argh!"
I flailed my arms and splashed into the water.
Yang Man-chun, watching and chuckling, jumped in after me. He said,
"It's not for drinking, just washing. Who cares if it's dirty?"
"True. But how'd you build such a big reservoir inside the fortress?"
"The ground around here is clay-heavy, so water doesn't drain well. That's why."
Looking at the center, it was impressively large and deep. Not drinkable, but perfect for animals or other uses.
It would be invaluable during a prolonged siege.
The young men in the water laughed and splashed around without restraint.
Yang Man-chun mingled with them freely. Unlike other places, where clothes and speech marked status, here there were no such barriers.
After splashing and washing up, Yang Man-chun said as we climbed out,
"Come to my place for a meal."
"Where?"
"Head down a bit from the post station, then up the path to the right. Big house at the end."
"Now?"
"Put some clothes on first. I'll cook that wild boar I caught yesterday."
"I'm in."
"See you later."
Yang Man-chun climbed out first, dripping water as he walked off.
I followed, heading to Geom Mojam who waited nearby.
Arms crossed as he watched, Geom Mojam asked,
"Are you alright, young master?"
"What's not to be alright about? He invited me for food, so I'll eat and come back."
"I'll come with you."
"I'm fine. Eat with the men."
Back at the post station, I roughly dried off and dressed.
I put on the undergarment, draped the overcoat, tied the sash, slipped on leather shoes, and topped it with a scholar's cap.
Geom Mojam offered the Hwandu greatsword, but I declined. I just strapped on the spearhead given by the Liaodong shrine maiden.
As I stepped out, Geom Mojam followed with a worried look. I told him not to fret and headed down the hill.
Just as Yang Man-chun said, a winding path led up to the right. Following it, a two-story house came into view.
It screamed Yang family estate at first glance. Unlike other fortresses with government offices, nothing like that was here.
Instead, houses for retainers dotted around the Yang estate.
Yang Man-chun appeared at the half-open gate, his sash loosely tied over a baggy overcoat. He grinned wide.
"Come on in."
Inside was a courtyard. Unlike others paved with bricks, it was just laid with stones.
The first floor had a colonnade-like structure with storage and kitchen combined.
Next to the entrance, slaughtered animals hung upside down like in a butcher shop.
Beside that, a grain storage shed and kitchen. Maidservants in pleated skirts with headscarves tied forward bustled preparing food.
A massive clay-plastered hearth dominated one wall. Over the roaring firewood in the firebox sat an iron pot and steamer.
'I knew in the Three Kingdoms era they steamed rice in steamers instead of boiling in pots. Looks like it's true.'
Amazed, I followed Yang Man-chun inside.
Next to the hearth stood rows of large and small jars. In the corner of the courtyard, a well where a man with rolled-up sleeves drew water.
"Dining area's over there."
Yang Man-chun led me to a space beside the kitchen, partitioned by curtains on pillars.
Pulling back the curtain revealed a long table inside. The Yang family, led by Yang Nung-hwan, sat there. Yang Man-chun took the end seat and pointed to the one opposite.
The table was a thick slab cut sideways from a great tree. The chairs were plain and sturdy, without ornament.
As I sat, food was served: freshly roasted wild boar, salt-pickled vegetables.
Simpler fare than Liaodong or elsewhere.
Yang Man-chun sliced meat with his knife and passed it to me.
"Caught it hunting yesterday."
"I figured you were good with a sword. Archery too?"
"Decent shot. But can't match second brother's skill."
Suddenly praised, second brother Yang Shin-chun smiled awkwardly.
"Never thought I'd hear compliments from you."
The steaming wild boar was a bit tough.
Would've been better with sauce, but just lightly salted. The pickled veggies helped pair with it.
The Yang family meal was lively with chatter. They seemed wary of me at first. But seeing me banter casually with Yang Man-chun eased them up.
Talk turned to the youngest son's mishap at the schoolhouse where first brother Yang Hwan-chun taught writing. They blamed it on inheriting Yang Man-chun's traits.
Yang Man-chun looked indignant, but father Yang Nung-hwan said,
"Just like you as a kid, so don't feel too hard done by."
Laughter bloomed around the table. Family bonds felt deeper than formality.
I chuckled too, munching pickled veggies.
Next came rice of mixed grains and barley, served with a hefty bronze spoon. Scooping rice, I chewed the boar.
Steamed in the steamer, not boiled, it tasted blander than expected.
'Just like army rice.'
Thinking about it, army steam-cooked rice probably tasted similar.
After the underwhelming rice and meat, porridge came out.
Seemed cooked in a jar over the firebox embers. Tastier than the rice.
'Still, experiencing Goguryeo meals from murals firsthand. Not bad.'
Yang Man-chun, laughing and chatting with his brothers, turned to me.
"Brothers said you came to discuss something with me?"
"Right. I need your help."
The mood grew a touch heavier. Yang Man-chun fiddled with his loose overcoat hem and asked,
"With a good-for-nothing like me?"