The Awaited Harvest (3)
Soon after, an urgent voice rang out.
"Snap out of it! Baekwol!"
"Baekwol!"
I turned my head and saw someone collapsed on the ground, with people gathering around.
I rushed over to them and asked hurriedly,
"What happened?"
"Baekwol suddenly collapsed."
Looking down, I saw a gisaeng lying there, her face deathly pale, as if she might stop breathing any moment.
"We need to get her to a physician right away."
At my words, Palgap immediately hoisted her onto his back.
"Where's the nearest physician around here?"
The errand boy who'd been attending us stepped forward to guide us.
"Follow me."
We hurried after him to the physician's clinic. But it was farther than I'd expected.
I was sure we'd passed at least a couple of clinics' banners on the way here.
"Is the physician really this far?"
"...The other clinics won't treat gisaengs."
"Why not?"
But he fell silent at my question, and soon we arrived at a clinic.
"We have a patient!"
A woman rushed out from inside. Seeing the gisaeng called Baekwol on Palgap's back, she said urgently,
"Lay her down here!"
Palgap placed her on the mat, and the physician took her pulse.
"Acute stagnation."
Just as I thought...
I'd sensed her qi and blood weren't circulating properly—now I knew why.
The physician fetched her acupuncture needles and inserted them into Baekwol's body. Then she propped her up and struck her back firmly.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
After a few strikes, something shot out of Baekwol's mouth.
Hm? That's...
"Rice cake?"
"Yes, rice cake."
Palgap confirmed my mutter.
By then, color had returned to Baekwol's face, and she turned her head away in embarrassment.
The physician clicked her tongue.
"She didn't chew it properly and just swallowed, so it got stuck and blocked her qi and blood."
Everyone looked at Baekwol, who murmured softly,
"I was so hungry... The leftovers looked so tasty when I was clearing the table..."
So... she was starving so much that she wolfed down the scraps and choked?
I asked the errand boy,
"Is the pavilion in such bad shape? So bad that the gisaengs can't even eat properly?"
He hesitated, and the physician stepped in to answer.
"Cheongpa Pavilion is one of the better ones. It's not abundant, but they provide two meals a day."
Baekwol said in a quavering voice,
"Our pavilion mistress isn't at fault. It's my own gluttony. She's such a kind lady."
"True, other places make the gisaengs pay for their own meals, so Cheongpa Pavilion providing them for free is quite generous."
The physician continued,
"Anyway, about today's fee..."
"Um, could we get it on credit? We haven't had any customers lately..."
Baekwol pleaded desperately, while the physician looked troubled.
I sighed and asked,
"How much?"
"Pardon?"
"I'll cover it. Rest for now. And physician, could I have a word?"
I led the physician aside.
"What's this about?"
I cut straight to it.
"How many clinics are there around here?"
"Over ten, easily."
"I saw several clinic banners on the way from Cheongpa Pavilion. But the errand boy ignored them and brought us here. You said the others won't treat gisaengs."
She nodded readily.
"That's right."
"Any reason?"
"Reason... yes, there is."
She smiled bitterly and went on.
"They say gisaengs who sell their bodies are too lowly to treat. That their 'lowliness' is contagious."
Were the other clinics like that too?
"I don't know about elsewhere, but it's especially bad here. With so many taverns, there are that many gisaengs—maybe that's why."
"..."
"That's why even minor illnesses can be fatal. Like my mother."
She said no more, but I could guess she'd studied medicine because of that tragedy.
"That's regrettable."
I pulled a gold coin from my pouch.
"For the treatment."
Her eyes widened, and she waved her hands.
"What? That's way too much!"
True, even I thought it was generous.
I was doing this because I was irritated—no, furious.
At physicians who refused to treat gisaengs as "lowly," and at the gisaengs who accepted it as fate.
Aren't gisaengs people too?
They have precious lives, marvel at beauty, shed tears for the pitiful.
Yet men cling to them for pleasure, drinking at their side—then ignore them when they need help.
Hoo, I got too worked up.
Calming myself, I said,
"From what I heard, the other gisaengs can't afford proper care either. Use this for any gisaengs who come."
"...You're a good man."
"Don't say that. It's just a whim."
If you become our branch and serve as our eyes and ears, we will ensure the Cheongpa Pavilion's legacy endures. So return to us.
Cheongpa Pavilion.
Its mistress, Cheongpa, gazed at the spot where Eun Seo-ho had sat moments ago.
He'd expressed his intent to acquire the pavilion.
And he'd said both the place and she herself appealed to him.
Instinctively, she felt repulsed.
Many had schemed to claim her over the years.
Even if Eun Seo-ho was the famed Seonhyeopmirang, she wouldn't let her guard down at a hero's name.
Heroes' eyes had always brimmed with lust when they looked at her.
But... Eun Seo-ho was different.
No lust in his gaze—only the cool assessment of a business partner.
Hoo...
She sighed.
Truth be told, Cheongpa Pavilion's fortunes weren't good.
She'd scrimped and saved, cut every expense, and held on—but the limit loomed.
She rose and fetched a letter from the wall cabinet.
Cheongpa sighed again.
No sender named, but she knew who.
Haomen.
An information network of gisaengs and errand boys.
In other words, become a Haomen branch.
But the offer didn't sit well.
She wanted no factions meddling in her pavilion.
Haomen had long coveted her, the rumored "Hangju's Foremost Beauty," and her pavilion—but she'd rebuffed them while finances allowed.
How did I escape that place!
Actually, she was from Haomen.
But she'd left to found Cheongpa Pavilion.
She'd run it happily since... until famine and the alcohol ban struck.
No end in sight to these woes, and now at the brink.
As she pondered tearfully accepting Haomen's offer, Eun Seo-ho appeared.
"Mistress."
The errand boy's voice came from outside.
"Come in."
She quickly hid the letter.
The door opened, and the boy entered.
He'd been with her since she founded the pavilion.
"I heard Baekwol collapsed."
"Yes. We took her to Jami Clinic, and she's fine now."
"Good. She's okay now?"
"Yes."
"The fee must worry you. Surely on credit—use this..."
But the boy shook his head.
"No need. Eun Seo-ho, the branch leader who visited earlier, paid it."
"Eun Branch Leader did?"
"Yes."
The boy nodded.
"And Jami Physician mentioned he gave a gold coin for the other gisaengs' treatments."
"What an odd man."
Odd was all she could say.
No man had ever scattered coin for gisaengs' sake—just to sate their desires.
"What caused Baekwol's collapse?"
"Well..."
The boy bowed his head.
"She was hungry and swallowed rice cake whole from a customer's table. Acute indigestion..."
"..."
Cheongpa bit her lip.
Normally, leftovers went to errand boys or kitchen staff.
But hunger drove a gisaeng to break that rule.
"The meals for gisaengs have been skimpy lately, haven't they?"
"Still, they get them free—and they're grateful for that."
Unlike elsewhere, where they paid.
Recalling Eun Seo-ho's gaze, Cheongpa asked,
"Do you know where Eun Seo-ho Branch Leader is staying?"
"Probably Yangyang Martial Hall."
"Send word. I want to meet him."
From Cheongpa Pavilion: Branch Leader Eun Seo-ho, the mistress wishes to meet.
I was passing time at Yangyang Martial Hall.
Just playing with the kids, but the nannies adored it.
The kids too, of course.
When we move to a new place, the children will love it more.
The tavern built where Yangyang Martial Hall once stood was called Gaho Pavilion.
Returning Gaho Pavilion to Yangyang's fold would come much later.
Once I start acquiring taverns, the people in West Lake's taverns will cling to hope.
Of not starving, or maybe earning coin.
And Gaho's owner, Pavilion Master Sung Jun, would harbor that hope, waiting for his turn.
That's the play.
But to the end, hope won't reach Sung Jun.
Too cruel?
For that ungrateful wretch, it's mercy enough.
The late Pavilion Master Sung Ji-myeong would understand.
I wonder when word from Cheongpa Pavilion will come.
Hopefully quick—yes or no.
Then.
One of Yangyang's disciples approached with a letter.
"From Cheongpa Pavilion—for Branch Leader."
I read it and smiled.
The moment of decision had arrived.
Soon after.
I headed to Cheongpa Pavilion.
The same errand boy from yesterday greeted me.
"Welcome. We've been waiting. This way."
He led me to the mistress's room on the third floor.
The guard at the door announced me immediately.
"Mistress, Eunhae Merchant Group's Eun Seo-ho Branch Leader has arrived."
"Show him in."
The door slid open, and I entered.
She was still stunning.
Yesterday I heard she was well over thirty—did her martial arts play a role?
Some techniques slow or halt aging, they say.
"Merchant Eun Seo-ho greets the mistress. Thank you for inviting me."
"Sit."
"Yes."
As I sat before her, she personally brewed and poured tea.
Every gesture was graceful, fluid.
Training contributed, but something innate shone brighter.
That blend must have earned her "Hangju's Foremost Beauty."
"Drink."
"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
I sipped.
Hm? This aroma... Dragon Well tea?
Serving such fine tea? Things looked promising.
Clink.
As I set down the cup, she spoke first.
"I invited you to discuss your earlier proposal."
"Yes."
"So, what value do you place on this pavilion?"
"A thousand silver taels."
She pondered briefly, then nodded.
"Agreed. And your earlier condition—entrusting operations to me—still holds?"
"Of course. I'd insist on it."
"Lifetime contract?"
"Naturally. You built this place; your attachment is clear."
She nodded.
"I won't meddle in operations. Your record shows I'd only hinder. But reports must be thorough."
"Agreed. The pavilion for a thousand silver taels."
I cheered inwardly.
With the deal sealed, I paid on the spot: ten bills of a hundred silver each.
Plus five hundred more for operating funds, then off to meet Branch Head Wi Jun-deok.
"Welcome."
He greeted me, and I informed him of the acquisition.
"Impressive."
He marveled.
"What's next—the best-situated one?"
I heard about the next target from Branch Head Wi Jun-deok, then returned to Yangyang Martial Hall.
Night had fallen completely.
As I prepared to wash and rest, Palgap rushed in frantically.
"Young master! Young master! This isn't the time!"