For My Aunt (1)
Yu So-ak closed the book.
"That's all for today's lesson."
"Thank you for your teachings."
"Thank you for your teachings."
Sitting properly before Yu So-ak were two young men.
Or rather, they were far too boyish to be called young men yet.
They were Kwak Hyeong-jin and Seok Il-song.
Both were on the cusp of coming of age this year.
Two years prior, they had met at Eun Seo-ho's inauguration as branch leader, and from then on, they had studied together under Yu So-ak.
They were fierce rivals in their studies and, at the same time, the closest of friends.
Thanks to their relentless diligence, they were now, at nearly fifteen years old, delving into the Book of Documents.
It was an astonishing achievement.
Perhaps stimulated by Seok Il-song's work at the accounting office, Kwak Hyeong-jin had also volunteered to help out.
Go Il-pyeong, the external steward and leader of the Silver Wind Squad, had snapped him up immediately.
"Oh! Looking at you, I can tell you've got some martial arts training. Your father's the stationmaster Kwak, eh? Learning the family arts, are you? Already studying the Analects? Smart kid. Perfect! I've got a pile of work to handle—think you can lend a hand?"
"I'll do my best."
He'd been in dire need of a capable aide anyway.
But the ones he'd brought from the accounting office had all quit after a short time.
Dealing with martial artists wasn't easy.
Yet Kwak Hyeong-jin was not only sharp-minded but utterly unfazed by the warriors' auras. There was no way Go Il-pyeong would let a talent like that slip away.
Kwak Hyeong-jin thrived like a fish in water.
Under Yu So-ak's guidance, his document-handling skills sharpened by the day.
And the Silver Wind Squad's chronic issue—failing to submit required paperwork on time—was resolved.
If they didn't hand over the documents they owed, he'd come charging in like a bolt of lightning to hound them.
"You said you'd give me the roster of warriors on duty tomorrow by this morning, right? Why haven't you?"
"Ah, we'll get it to you."
"Hand it over now!"
"Argh, this kid's relentless."
"Yeah, I'm that kid, and I'm not leaving till you do."
"Fine, whatever..."
The martial arts Kwak Hyeong-jin practiced were his family's Great Yin Frozen Sea Divine Art and the True Snow Twelve Forms Swordsmanship.
The same as Eun Seo-ho.
Though his internal energy was far less cultivated and his proficiency lower by comparison.
But the Great Yin Frozen Sea Divine Art was modeled after the biting chill of a winter sea.
Its aura was too much for ordinary warriors to withstand.
Moreover, having grown up under his father's imposing presence, Kwak Hyeong-jin was never intimidated by the squad members' pressure.
In the end, the Silver Wind Squad warriors—who had long delayed paperwork and caused headaches for other departments—now processed it on the spot, thanks to him.
Work flowed smoothly as a result, leaving External Steward Go Il-pyeong and Silver Wind deputy leader Yun Chung-jin thoroughly pleased.
"I brought in a real gem, didn't I? Heh heh heh."
And so, Seok Il-song shone at the accounting office, while Kwak Hyeong-jin earned acclaim in the Silver Wind Squad.
"Your vacation starts the day after tomorrow, right?"
"Yes."
"That's right."
The Eunhae Merchant Group offered two official vacations: the dog days break in summer and the winter solstice holiday.
The dog days one allowed three consecutive days off, chosen from initial, middle, or final dog day.
Kwak Hyeong-jin and Seok Il-song had opted for the final dog day this time.
"No lessons during your break, so make the most of it."
"Yes, sir."
"Understood."
"So, what do you plan to do with your time off?"
"Well..."
"Not sure."
They suddenly realized something crucial.
They had three days off, but no idea how to spend them.
"Think it over."
"Yes, sir."
They bowed to Yu So-ak and left his pavilion annex.
Yu So-ak resided in one of the annexes within the merchant group grounds.
"Come on, I'll walk you to the Silver Wind Squad."
"Sure."
Seok Il-song lived with Yu So-ak in the annex, so he could head to the accounting office with him later.
But they chose to escort Kwak Hyeong-jin to his squad first, then go.
"Man, what are we gonna do on vacation?"
"Beats me..."
Just then, they spotted a welcome figure ahead.
Eun Seo-ho.
To the two boys, he was a benefactor.
He had saved Kwak Hyeong-jin's life in the bamboo grove near his home.
He had rescued Seok Il-song from wandering the streets as a beggar.
Eun Seo-ho held special meaning for them.
'Heard he caught and thrashed that con artist heading to Shaanxi.''Took three merchant groups under his wing there, they say?''What a legend.''No wonder Dad sings his praises.'
They hurried over and bowed.
"Hello."
"Hello."
Eun Seo-ho greeted them warmly.
"Hey. Coming from lessons?"
"Yes."
"That's right."
Because it was Eun Seo-ho, they felt comfortable asking about their current dilemma.
"Um, we have a question."
"Shoot."
"We're getting dog days vacation."
"Nice. So day after tomorrow, huh? Lucky."
His envy felt genuine.
"What're you wondering about?"
"How do you spend your vacations, Branch Leader?"
Eun Seo-ho laughed heartily.
"I don't get vacations."
"Huh?"
They froze in surprise.
"Not since I became branch leader."
"..."
"I did squeeze in a couple official days off last summer, but work piled up, so..."
"..."
"If things aren't too crazy, I can steal a day or two unofficially."
To them, Eun Seo-ho seemed perpetually swamped.
It was hard to imagine him carving out even a single day for rest—especially when he couldn't even take his allotted time.
Kwak Hyeong-jin spoke up.
"Truth is, we don't know what to do with our break."
Seok Il-song followed.
"What should we do?"
Eun Seo-ho grinned.
"First off, have fun."
"Huh?"
"Head to the market district, check out the goods, watch the street performers. You'll figure out what you want to do while you're at it."
I watched Kwak Hyeong-jin and Seok Il-song walk away.
Vacation, huh...
Man, I'm jealous.
My Shaanxi schedule had dragged on, so my official two-day break was toast.
Too much backlog to enjoy it anyway.
I licked my lips wistfully, then quickened my pace.
Father had summoned me.
"You called?"
Father gestured to the low table.
"Sit."
"Yes."
Offering a seat meant a long talk was coming.
A maidservant brought tea.
"Seo-ho."
"Yes, Father."
"You'll need to visit your aunt."
"...Pardon?"
He handed me a letter as I blinked in confusion.
"Your cousin from her side passed the metropolitan exams."
"..."
I took the letter and read it.
Your cousin had aced the provincial qualifiers and now the metropolitan round, and they were hosting a celebration banquet.
The civil service exams started with the local prelims, sub-exams, and origin test.
Passing those made one a licentiate.
All licentiates then gathered for the provincial exam; passing elevated one to recommended scholar.
Recommended scholars could snag minor posts, but to reach the capital's core bureaucracy, one needed the metropolitan and palace exams.
My cousin had passed the metropolitan.
Worth celebrating.
Those were brutally tough.
The palace exam ranked the top for final postings, crowning the zhuangyuan.
"So, go in our stead and escort your grandfather. As you know, Jeong-ho and Jin-ho are both away."
"I..."
"You're heading to Beijing anyway. You gonna skip the report on the Shaanxi Wu-i Merchant Group?"
"..."
He had me there.
Inspections required a report within a month.
I'd planned for end of the month...
"When do we leave?"
"Day after tomorrow at latest."
"Understood."
Aunt had married into a Beijing merchant family.
I'd met her household last time I was there.
"Get ready."
"...Yes."
I left Father's office.
Meet the cousin, huh...
Honestly, I found him awkward.
Like all scholars, he droned on endlessly about Confucius this, Mencius that.
Last solo trip to Beijing, I'd been deep in studies myself, so I'd slipped away after seeing just Aunt.
This time, it was official—for the cousin.
Sharing a formal seat was etiquette.
Unless swamped, at least an hour.
My ears are gonna bleed.
I don't care for that Confucian mumbo-jumbo. That's why I admire Steward Yu and his pupils Kwak Hyeong-jin and Seok Il-song.
Wait.
Didn't they say their three-day vacation starts day after tomorrow?
I turned back toward Father's office.
"Father, I have something to say."
I got permission to take Kwak Hyeong-jin and Seok Il-song to Beijing.
For broadening the horizons of our future talents.
And Grandfather needed conversation partners anyway.
That afternoon.
When I told Seok Il-song and Kwak Hyeong-jin about the trip, they lit up.
"Beijing?!"
"For real?"
Their bosses—Internal Steward Yu and External Steward Go—couldn't bring themselves to say no amid the joy.
That's what I was aiming for.
They weren't handling critical duties yet, so a month off was feasible.
The next morning.
Right after my meditation, Master appeared.
"Good morning."
"Morning, Master."
"Let's begin today's training."
Today marked the start of the eighth form of the True Snow Twelve Forms Swordsmanship.
One Point Hanging Ice.
A single icicle.
"Focus on a single point for the strike. It's a one-hit-kill technique."
"Must take serious concentration."
"Exactly, Branch Leader."
Wonder how long this one'll take.
Sounds time-intensive already.
Today's session was meaningful, though.
Even if I inwardly chanted 'Master, I hate you' a bit.
"That's enough for today."
"Thank you for your teachings."
Master looked at me.
"Hyeong-jin's over the moon about Beijing."
"Ah..."
Suddenly, he bowed in salute.
"Wha—Master?"
I was stunned.
"Take good care of my boy."
"..."
A father's bow for his son.
I returned it respectfully.
"Yes. We'll return safe."
After breakfast, I headed to the carriage depot.
That's where we'd depart from.
Everything was perfectly prepped on arrival.
Then, frantic footsteps—Kwak Hyeong-jin and Seok Il-song, huffing.
"Sorry we're late."
"Sorry."
"No worries. You're on time."
Grandfather hadn't arrived yet, so they were fine.
But they lugged hefty bundles.
"What's with all the stuff?"
"Clothes... and snacks for the road."
"...?"
"Internal Steward packed 'em."
Yu had become a father figure raising Seok Il-song.
I eyed Kwak Hyeong-jin.
His load was hefty too.
He scratched his cheek.
"Mom..."
"Got it."
Then Grandfather emerged, dressed sharply for his rare outing.
We split into carriages.
He rode with the boys; I took one with Palgap and Yeo Chang's aide.
Some work en route.
"Let's head out."
"Yes."
With family farewells, we departed.
Kwak Hyeong-jin and Seok Il-song beamed riding with Grandfather.
Seemed they were getting useful insights.
I told them to listen hard and memorize.
Priceless advice money couldn't buy.
A few days later, we reached Beijing.
The journey was smooth.
Roads were excellent.
Our advance notice had Aunt, Uncle, Cousin Seon-il, and Seon-mi waiting to greet us.