Apricot Blossom Academy (2)
The shopkeeper nodded after checking the ledger and order sheet.
"Indeed, it's true! This one here..."
As the shopkeeper started to name the book, I quickly cut in to shut his mouth.
That spring picture collection—embarrassing just to hear the title.
And Palgap and the guards were right beside me.
"Anyway, those two books. They were so mortifying to look at that I couldn't hold back and burned them."
"I see. That makes sense."
"So I'm here to pay for them."
The shopkeeper quoted the price listed next to them, and I pulled money from my pouch and handed it over.
"Here you go."
"Thank you. It's truly appreciated that you've come all this way just to pay for the books."
"It's not something merchants should do to each other."
"No other merchant would worry if they were all like you, young master."
There was a bite to his words.
After settling things at the bookstore, I stepped out and began browsing the book district.
There were quite a few intriguing books.
That's when someone caught my eye.
A young man.
What stood out first was his headband, worn so thin it seemed about to tear through the leather.
Normally, he'd buy a new one by that point, so wearing it still meant he was short on cash.
And the ink stains on his fingers, along with the headband, suggested he worked with ink.
He was talking to a bookstore owner.
"Here's the book you requested."
"Perfect as always. Here's your promised pay."
"Thank you."
I figured it was just a passing encounter.
But didn't someone say that meeting three times without prior plans meant fate?
The second time I ran into him was at a bookstore I wandered into casually.
"If any work comes up, please call on me."
"Got it. You're always my first choice."
"Thank you."
He was asking for work.
The third time was by the riverbank.
"Waaah!"
A child was thrashing in the water after falling in, while another stomped their feet on the bank, sobbing.
"Help! My little sibling fell in! Waaah!"
It looked like they'd been playing on the ice, which cracked and dumped them in.
But no one stepped forward readily.
Not surprising—the river wasn't just any river; it was covered in thin ice.
An adult stepping on it would fall through and be in danger themselves.
That's when it happened.
The young man I'd seen twice that day tied a rope around himself and shouted.
"Is there anyone who can pull the rope up after I go down?"
I rushed over at his words.
"I'll help."
Palgap and the guards followed me, and the young man fearlessly descended from the bridge.
We slowly lowered him down. Meanwhile, the flailing child was losing strength, sinking lower.
"Gold Spirit!"
At my call, Gold Spirit shot from my sleeve into the water like an arrow.
Soon, the child's body floated up.
Gold Spirit had pushed them with its body.
Thanks to that, the child didn't drown before the young man reached them.
"Pull me up now!"
And so we rescued the child.
But we couldn't relax yet.
The child's lips were blue, and they were shivering uncontrollably.
I told the older sibling,
"Your sibling could get hypothermia. We need to stay at an inn nearby."
I scooped up the child and ran to a nearby inn, handing over silver and demanding hot bathwater immediately.
The inn errand boy, seeing the drenched, blue-lipped, trembling child, quickly led us to a room upstairs.
Another errand boy followed and filled the tub with hot water.
Once it was the right temperature, we put the child in.
After a while, color finally returned to the child's pale lips.
"They're safe now."
"Thank you so much."
"Where's your home? I'll take you there."
Their house wasn't far.
The mother, seeing her child in Palgap's arms, ran over in shock.
"Wh-what happened...?"
"They fell through the ice while playing. A young man saved them. They're fine now, so don't worry."
"Aigoo! Thank you. But who was the savior...?"
"A young man with a worn-out headband. His hair was tied back tight..."
"Ah! Bo-uk the Giant saved my child. And thank you for bringing them home."
"You know him?"
She let out a sigh of relief and nodded.
"Of course. He's quite famous around here."
"Giant" referred to someone who'd passed the provincial exam.
"He does copying work, and everyone speaks highly of him. Lots of people seek him out."
"I see. Thanks for letting me know."
After bidding her farewell, I headed to the bookstore where I suspected he delivered books.
I was curious about his copying skills, famous enough for the mother to know.
"Welcome."
Perhaps because of my fine clothes, the bookstore owner was extremely polite.
"Do you have any books copied by Bo-uk the Giant?"
"You've heard the rumors, I see. Here you go."
I took the book he offered and opened it. I was stunned inside.
Handwritten? For real?
The handwriting in the book I held was impeccably neat and uniform.
Books were printed, but hand-copied ones were more popular than printed ones.
Printed books often had defects here and there.
Movable type printing still lacked precision and was too expensive.
Mostly used in the palace for distribution, but it couldn't meet the masses' demand.
So hand-copied books were far more common.
"How long for a book like this?"
"Two days."
"Pardon?"
I was genuinely shocked.
The book I was looking at was fairly thick, and copying it was no easy task.
To my eye, it'd take at least a week.
Two days?
"I understand your surprise and doubt, but it's true. Bo-uk's specialty is speed copying."
My eyes lit up at that.
Talent.
Exactly the talent I needed.
As Hyunpung Branch grew, copying documents for storage was becoming a burden.
Poaching him from the book district felt a bit guilty, but survival first.
And it wasn't like the district would stop without him.
I headed to where the young man lived.
According to the bookstore owner, he was on long-term stay at an inn.
Five years already?
That meant five years failing the metropolitan exam.
I asked around discreetly and confirmed his speed-copying prowess.
Fate, perhaps—the inn was the same one where I'd gotten hot water for the frozen child.
As I entered, Bo-uk was sitting at a table.
"Ah!"
He spotted me and hurried over.
"Thank you so much for your help earlier. Is the child okay?"
"Yes, just handed them over to their guardian."
"Thank you."
"It was the right thing to do. Braving such danger—truly admirable."
"I just did what anyone should when seeing someone in peril."
I smiled and said,
"Oh, we haven't introduced ourselves. I'm Eun Seo-ho, branch head of the Eunhae Merchant Group's Hyunpung Branch."
"I'm Bo-uk. Nothing much to introduce. Passed the provincial exam and came here to prepare for the metropolitan."
Passing provincial meant solid scholarship, and using the rope on the spot showed quick thinking.
Plus the character to dive in and save a kid, and top-tier speed copying.
Perfect.
Bo-uk rubbed his arms.
"Suddenly chilly. Haha."
"You don't seem well."
"Just winter."
"Truth be told, I'm thrilled to meet a true hero today."
"H-hero? Me?"
"Who else but Bo, who risked his life for a child?"
Bo-uk scratched his cheek, looking embarrassed.
"I-I'm unworthy of such praise."
But his face was honest—lips curved upward.
"Since I've met a hero, let me treat you to a meal."
I called to the errand boy.
"What's this inn's specialty?"
"Dongpo pork and preserved egg dish."
"That, please."
I sat across from Bo-uk at the table.
Palgap and the guards took the next table.
As we chatted, the food arrived, and I ordered a bottle of liquor.
"Have a drink."
"Cheers."
After a couple glasses, Bo-uk opened up.
"So, hero, aiming for higher office?"
"Came to the capital for that, but the more days pass, the more it feels wrong. Sad, really."
"Family?"
"Mother and brother farming in the countryside. Makes me feel guilty—they're waiting for my success."
"I see. Must worry you. But what's driving you to high office?"
"Family... to live comfortably. We farm, but it's tough. I'd like us all better off."
As expected.
"They're struggling to support my studies. I need to end this soon."
Studying cost a fortune—writing supplies, books, all pricey.
Investing in exams was for a better life.
Some chased fame or power, but mostly better living.
"As I said, I'm Hyunpung Branch head for Eunhae. We're looking for talent like you."
"Talent? I'm just a perennial exam failure."
"No. You're exactly who we need."
I continued.
"I'd hire you as Hyunpung's clerk. Eight taels of silver monthly."
"Wh-what? Eight taels? You're joking."
One tael bought a seom of rice; eight bought eight— a year's worth for an adult male.
Even officials needed high rank for that pay.
No wonder he was shocked.
"I don't joke about this."
"I know my place. What skills do I have for that pay?"
"Be honest."
I chuckled.
"You don't believe me?"
"W-well..."
He nodded.
"Yes."
Fair enough—I'd doubt too in his shoes.
But show trust, and they'd come around.
"Then like this."
Thud.
I placed one tael in front of him.
"This is for our fateful meeting. Look into me—if you trust, come to Yeonjun Merchant Group. I'm leaving in three days, so before then."
A big bait on the hook.
Now, wait.
.
.
.
The next day,
I received the Emperor's summons and headed to the palace.
I went straight to his office, submitted reports, answered questions, and that ended the audience.
On the way back, I ran into a familiar face.