Past and Present
No-sim’s eyes widened at the name that had not been mentioned.
“Dan Yeop is Dan Bul-wi Hyangju’s adopted son?”
“Damn, I was only joking when I said that.”
“From what the juniors below are saying, Dan Bul-wi Hyangju has been looking after him a lot since we left the training grounds.”
“He probably took pity on the kid and grew fond of him.”
“Must have.”
“So, what are we going to do?”
“What else? If he tries to climb up, we step on him. We can’t treat someone who came out with the fourth-generation trainees the same as the first-generation ones.”
“Then why did he go to Jeommun instead of Amun?”
“With his skills, how could he survive in the brutal Amun? I heard he’s working at a fabric shop in Seosi.”
“A fabric shop? With Dan Bul-wi Hyangju backing him, he only got a fabric shop?”
The most profitable places in Jeommun were taverns, followed by inns. Customers often tipped extra if you flattered them well. Fabric shops lacked that advantage, so they were less popular even within Jeommun.
“Even that’s a blessing, considering that blockhead.”
“Then why did he go to Shimhyanggak?”
“The Munju often meets with backed kids to ask if they have any problems.”
“Tsk……”
No-sim, an orphan himself, clicked his tongue. A fresh wave of bitterness at having no backing washed over him.
“We don’t need to worry. Working at a shop makes it hard to become a Munwi. Still, we can become Munwi within a few years.”
“If we’re still alive, that is.”
“We have to accept that level of risk. Do you want to do odd jobs even at fifty, or become a Munwi at twenty?”
“Munwi, obviously.”
“Exactly. Our paths are different from that guy’s. No matter how much backing he has, some things just won’t happen.”
“But damn it, doesn’t that mean Dan Yeop might become a Munwi before us?”
At No-sim’s words, Jin-mu slammed his chopsticks down roughly.
“Hey! Why say something so unlucky and ruin the mood? Even if Haomun is rotten, that kind of thing should never happen.”
“It should be obvious, but somehow in Haomun it feels like it could actually happen.”
“……”
Jin-mu could not refute it. The lowest managerial position, Munwi, could be obtained through connections alone. There were already several such people among the current Munwi.
Thinking about it, if Dan Bul-wi became a Dangju, Jeommun would likely install Dan Yeop as a Munwi out of consideration for their relationship with Amun.
As the atmosphere sank, No-sim spoke in a deliberately bright tone.
“That’s just talk. Would something like that actually happen? To force a blockhead like Dan Yeop into a Munwi position, Dan Bul-wi would have to become a Bumunju. A mere Hyangju could never pull it off.”
Jin-mu’s expression brightened slightly at those words.
The two shook off their uneasy feelings and focused on their meal.
***
At that same moment, Dan Yeop was walking along the main road of Seonpyeong-bang with Yang Hoe Munwi. Their purpose was to find a new place to live.
Jipdanhyang was located in Seonpyeong-bang, but the house he currently lived in with Old Man Lee was a little far from there. Once he became the head of Jeommun, he would be visiting Jipdanhyang often, so he intended to move to Seonpyeong-bang altogether.
Yang Hoe Munwi pointed at Cheongun Gaekjan with his finger and said,
“We’re meeting No-bang there. No-bang is the best broker in Seonpyeong-bang, so it’s good to get to know him.”
Since Dan Yeop’s matter was still confidential, Yang Hoe Munwi spoke to him naturally without honorifics.
“A broker?”
“People who mediate goods, land, or houses are called brokers.”
“Ah……”
“If you want to stay in this line of work for a long time, you should get along with them, so behave politely.”
Of course, “this line of work” meant Haomun.
“Yes.”
A short while later, the two entered Cheongun Gaekjan.
After passing through the main gate, they came upon a wide courtyard where quite a few people were gathered, basking in the sunlight. An elderly man among them approached Yang Hoe and greeted him.
“Yang Seonsaeng, it’s been a while.”
“Elder No, thank you for coming out despite being busy. This is Dan Yeop, a distant relative on my wife’s side. Yeop-ah, greet him. This is the Elder No-bang I mentioned.”
Dan Yeop clasped his hands respectfully and bowed his head.
“I am Dan Yeop.”
No-bang smiled and replied,
“A very handsome young man. The young ladies of Seonpyeong-bang won’t be able to sleep. So, you’re looking for a house to rent?”
No-bang asked Dan Yeop directly, eager to finish the job quickly. Even with the sun out, it was still winter and cold.
“Yes.”
Nodding, No-bang turned his gaze to Yang Hoe Munwi.
“I’ll find the nephew’s house, so you may leave now, Yang Seonsaeng.”
“Yes, then I’ll leave it to you. Yeop-ah, I’ll go ahead, so take good care of Elder No.”
“Yes.”
After Yang Hoe Munwi left, No-bang asked,
“Are you thinking of around one hundred mun per month for rent?”
“Yes.”
Having suffered in Old Man Lee’s small room, Dan Yeop was willing to pay a higher rent for a decent house.
“Then there’s one good place. Follow me.”
After speaking, No-bang led Dan Yeop outside.
When No-bang entered an area lined with high-class houses, Dan Yeop grew a little worried.
“Elder, these houses look nice. Is the rent really only one hundred mun?”
“Don’t worry. Exactly one hundred mun, no more, no less.”
“Ah, yes.”
Only then did Dan Yeop relax.
Before long, No-bang stopped in front of a large gate. A plaque reading “Son-taek” hung above the soaring gate.
“Do you happen to have strong nerves?”
“Nerves?”
“Yes, nerves. Why, are you easily frightened?”
“Not really, but why?”
“So your nerves are strong, then?”
When No-bang pressed persistently, Dan Yeop began to feel uneasy. A house this nice costing only one hundred mun, and the whole situation felt off.
“Why are you asking that?”
“The previous tenant hanged himself, and ever since, something seems to wander around at night. That’s why the rent is cheap, but everyone avoids it. The house itself is good—very good.”
“……”
For a moment, Dan Yeop’s mind grew complicated. The person who had used Old Man Lee’s small room had also died. He wondered why such things kept happening wherever he went.
As he hesitated, No-bang knocked forcefully on the gate.
Thud. Thud. Thud—.
“Look, Elder, I think I’ll……”
Just as he was about to refuse, the gate opened.
“Oh my! Elder No-bang! Please come in. Come, come, this way.”
The elderly gatekeeper bustled about like a shop boy, ushering No-bang and Dan Yeop inside.
Before he knew it, Dan Yeop had followed No-bang into Son-taek.
Contrary to his worries, the interior of the mansion was clean and carried no eerie atmosphere at all.
The gatekeeper went ahead to the inner quarters and called out loudly,
“My lord! Elder No-bang has arrived with a guest!”
Soon after, an old man with a white beard opened the inner door and stepped out onto the main hall.
No-bang bowed at the waist and clasped his hands respectfully.
“Lord Son, have you been well? I brought a relative’s nephew who is looking for a room.”
“You came at the right time. I was waiting so long my neck was about to fall off. Is that the young man beside you?”
“Yes. Greet Lord Son.”
At No-bang’s words, Dan Yeop clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
“My name is Dan Yeop.”
“Welcome. The place you will use is that annex over there.”
Son Yu-baek pointed with his finger at the neat building to the left.
Dan Yeop unconsciously looked at No-bang. Was he really being offered the entire annex rather than just one room?
Guessing his thoughts, No-bang said,
“The contract is to rent the entire annex.”
“The entire thing?”
“That’s right. What do you think?”
“I’ll take it.”
Dan Yeop would have accepted even if ghosts—or their grandfathers—were said to appear.
44th Episode. Past and Present
After signing the rental contract with Son Yu-baek, Dan Yeop returned to Old Man Lee’s house in Boseon-bang.
He then informed Old Man Lee that he would be moving out.
“When?”
“Right now.”
Old Man Lee’s expression darkened slightly.
“Moving out right now? There are still ten days left on your rental period…… I don’t know if you know this, but leaving early doesn’t get you a refund.”
“That’s fine.”
It was his own unilateral decision, and more than anything, he did not want to shiver in the cold small room any longer.
At his calm reply, Old Man Lee’s face brightened again.
“Well then, go live well. It’s nice to see you leaving in good health. You’re moving to a better place, right?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, Ma-deung poked his head out from behind the door and said,
“Little brother Dan, you’re leaving? If you need money in the summer, come find me. Let’s do some water-selling business together during the summer season.”
“Yes, big brother.”
A short while later, Dan Yeop stepped out the gate carrying only a single bundle.
It felt like only yesterday that he had arrived at Old Man Lee’s house, yet four months had already passed.
Still, the fortunate thing was that his life was gradually improving.
‘From a small room to an entire annex……’
Even if it was just living as a dependent in someone else’s house, it was still something.
Dan Yeop stepped forward vigorously through the bitter cold.
***
Seonpyeong-bang.
Son-taek annex.
Early Shin-si (3 p.m.).
Dan Yeop entered Son-taek carrying his single bundle.
The gatekeeper looked at the bundle slung over Dan Yeop’s back and asked,
“Young master, is that all your luggage?”
“Yes.”
Dan Yeop felt itchy all over at being called “young master” for the first time in his life.
As he crossed the courtyard, Dan Yeop suddenly asked,
“Do you know who lived in the annex before, Grandfather?”
“My name is Jang-mok. You may simply call me Old Man Jang. The previous resident was a scholar who came to take the civil service examination. He arrived in mid-October, a few days before the exam. Tsk! We shouldn’t have taken him in……”
“Why?”
“Originally, our Son-taek does not rent out rooms.”
“Is that so?”
“If the master hadn’t met that scholar at the bookshop…… Tsk! His circumstances were rather pitiful.”
“A scholar?”
“Yes, he said he had been robbed of everything on his way to Chang’an. Anyone who goes to a bookshop in that state was clearly born to be a scholar. The master took pity on his situation and accepted him as a guest.”
“Ah……”
“But he repaid kindness with enmity. After failing the exam, in the annex…… Ahem, anyway, that’s what happened.”
“I heard something wanders around at night. Is that true?”
“Haah! In truth, that’s why the master decided to rent the place out. The household members were too frightened……”
“Really?”
“If not, why would we rent out the annex? A Taoist from Mount Hua said that if someone with strong energy moved in, it might improve……”
“So you’re making the tenant take on the bad luck?”
“Do you believe in ghosts, young master?”
“I’m not sure.”
Dan Yeop looked at the annex with an ambiguous expression. If he himself had another personality, why couldn’t ghosts exist?
As he was lost in thought, Old Man Jang lowered his voice and said,
“I saw it.”
“……”
For an instant, a chill ran down Dan Yeop’s spine and his hair stood on end.
A strange silence flowed between Old Man Jang and Dan Yeop.
At that moment, from behind the annex came the sound of “caw, caw,” and a crow flew up, crossing the courtyard with a flutter of wings.
Old Man Jang, who had been stiff with tension, bowed to Dan Yeop and hurried back to the inner quarters as if fleeing.
Entering the annex alone, Dan Yeop first took out his belongings from the bundle.
All he had was one spare set of clothes, a flint, and a single white booklet.
After shaking out the empty bundle, Dan Yeop muttered,
“Ghosts, huh……”
He was not afraid, but it was true that he felt uneasy.
Suddenly, his gaze turned to the writing desk. An inkstone, ink stick, and brushes were neatly arranged on it.
“Surely these aren’t the belongings of the scholar who hanged himself……”