My Dream: Eat, Play, and Live Easy (1)
"Huang Zu! Huang Zu! Huang Zu!"
"Huang Zu—is he the reincarnation of Huang Bo-sung or something?"
A festival had broken out in Yangyang. There was every reason to celebrate, after all—they'd slain the vanguard commander of Yuan Shu's invading army, Sun Jian himself, in a stunning victory against the Jingzhou assault. Sure, Sun Jian's famous generals like Huang Gai, Cheng Pu, and Han Dang had survived and retreated with their troops back to Yuan Shu in Nanyang. But that didn't dampen the mood.
"Should've left the academy with more people after all?"
I hadn't expected this win at all. If Yuan Shu's supplies had held up, Sun Jian could've beaten Hua Xiong without breaking a sweat. Against him, Huang Zu—practically Sun Jian's equal in a single strike—should've had no chance. But no. The academy I'd evacuated as a temporary shelter felt ridiculously overcautious now, sitting there in eerie quiet and peace.
"Looks like we were the only ones who evacuated, Teacher."
"Heh heh, you're right. Wol-yeong, heh heh heh."
Sima Hui just kept grinning at me.
"Teacher! This was a life-or-death situation. How can you be so nonchalant when you never know what might happen?"
"No, this...?"
Sima Hui mimicked my attempt to persuade her, mocking me right back.
"Hindsight's twenty-twenty! Huang Zu won, so it worked out, but if he hadn't, running was the right call!"
"Fine, fine. I've seen a new side of you this time. Heh heh. Want me to make a prophecy?"
Sima Hui laid a hand on my shoulder, still chuckling.
"You need to marry a decisive, capable woman. You know, like the husband of that legendary 'Zhuge Liang' from the tales."
"What?"
"If you'd been born a woman, you might've been a master of domestic support. Heh heh, perfect, just perfect."
"Already planning my wedding?"
"I said the husband of Zhuge Liang. You think women like that grow on trees? Heh heh, of course..."
Sima Hui flashed a sly eye-smile and nodded toward one side. There, Xun You and Sima Yi were holding hands tightly, sleeping together on the bed.
"Being the husband of someone who's not Zhuge Liang would be fine too. As long as you support her well, you'll turn your wife into someone even greater than Zhuge Liang."
"A man doing the supporting?"
"Exactly. Wol-yeong, isn't that your dream?"
Sima Hui gave me a suggestive smile and clapped her palms together.
"Pillar husband."
"........."
Can't... deny it...?
* * *
Three days after the battle. Xinya was still quiet, and I'd stepped out to the village to buy the harvest grain with gold.
Peaceful. As if news of the battle had never reached here.
It made sense—by the time word arrived of Jiangxia's fall and Yangyang's siege, Sun Jian was already dead and Yuan Shu's army retreating. People panicked for a day, then went right back to their lives: farming, selling goods, kids' laughter echoing nonstop.
In a peaceful world like this...
"Someone's husband."
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to settle down with a family. I'd never had one, so I had no idea what it even meant.
"A husband?"
Sima Yi, who'd come along, stared at me blankly and pressed on.
"Are you thinking of getting married?"
"Nah. Just talking with Teacher Sima Hui about it. About the kind of woman who'd be my wife."
"...What kind?"
"Dunno."
A wife.
"Never really thought about spending my life with just one woman as a lifelong partner."
"Then... what kind of woman would you like?"
"Someone capable enough to feed me?"
Pillar husband.
I finally got why they called her Teacher Water Mirror. Her words pierced straight through my skull, planting a dream in my head.
"See, Yi-ya, I want to be a pi—"
"Teacher Kim— -_-—!!"
A voice like thunder shaking heaven and earth. I nearly dropped the bamboo slips I'd bought to record the battle.
"General Huang...?"
Far off, a massive general had dismounted his horse and was charging straight at me. He looked thrilled enough to have jumped off, but couldn't he just ride over?
A giant twice my size, arms spread wide.
"Kuhahaha!"
Charging right at me!
"Guhhh, Teacher, Teacher!"
Huang Zu bear-hugged me. I got the excitement, but getting crushed by another man? Hard pass!
Damn, he's a general for a reason—strong as hell!
I struggled to break free, but it was useless. Huang Zu treated me like his lifesaver, so this over-the-top greeting made sense. Still, a simple bow would've been nicer.
"Let him go."
Sima Yi grabbed Huang Zu's wrist. He flinched back in surprise, and I finally escaped with my life.
"Hah, hah. General. Thought I was done for."
"Ahem, sorry about that. Got too excited. Anyway, who's this girl...?"
"Sima Yi, eldest daughter of the Sima clan. Studying under Teacher Sima Hui."
"R-right. The Sima clan... I see."
Huang Zu seemed aware of Sima Hui to some degree, so the name rang a bell. He gave an awkward laugh, then clasped his hands in a formal salute and bowed deeply to me.
"Teacher. I got carried away in my joy. Forgive me."
"It's fine. Congratulations on your victory, General Huang."
"My victory isn't mine alone—how can you say that? I just followed your plans and moved my body. Copying answers from the answer key isn't my merit."
"........."
This guy was a master flatterer. Better with words than swords, maybe?
"So if you want, I can recommend you to Jiangxia..."
"General."
Recommend me? Bullshit.
"I'm not the type for office. If you try to use me in Jiangxia, it'll backfire on you someday. I just want to quietly teach kids at the academy here."
"Is that so? Ngh... Shame."
Thankfully, Huang Zu accepted my refusal outright. I'd worried he might push me to be his schemer, but no dice.
Made sense—he'd gotten everything he wanted. He'd abandoned Jiangxia once, but framed it as a strategic retreat with solid justification, luring Sun Jian away with minimal harm to the people and little backlash. Sure, locals might eye him later with "gonna abandon the city again?", but he'd blame the lack of soldiers and advisors.
"Don't you have people to support you now, General? Promote those who've earned official posts. They'll become your men."
Huang Zu was heading back to Jiangxia as its prefect. And Liu Biao, to prevent another Yangyang siege, pledged full support to "Victorious General" Huang Zu: supplies, gear, talent. His elite one-man-army warriors were still few, but now he had clever heads under him—mostly promising sons from Jingzhou's notable clans.
"They're all ambitious youths dreaming of glory. Use them well, General, and no matter who attacks, you'll have a way out."
"Heard about it. The officials coming to Jiangxia with me studied under you here? Another connection. Haha!"
"......Heh heh."
Exactly. The officials joining Huang Zu were fresh-faced twenty-somethings newly appointed. And they'd all briefly learned life lessons from me at Suyeon Academy. Not quite disciples since the time was short, but they'd leverage my name to cozy up to him.
They don't even realize they're hostages.
These were sons of Jingzhou and Yangyang's power clans. Liu Biao had appointed them—helping Huang Zu run Jiangxia while weakening the clans' influence. One stone, two birds.
Even if Jiangxia's attacked later, the clans won't ignore it like before. How could they, with their kids vowing to fight to the death? They'll send reinforcements.
Liu Biao was sly as hell. Huang Zu exploited it eagerly, and the clans linked with Huang Zu to check Liu Biao.
Humans are fascinating.
Liu Biao built Huang Zu as a bulwark against Yuan Shu's potential return. Clans backed Huang Zu to counter Liu Biao. Huang Zu solidified his prefect position.
And me? I just chill at Suyeon Academy, sipping sweet water. Send disciples to anyone who needs workers. I sit back yelling "Hwang Wol-yeong, you bastard!" at the sky.
"You might end up as Jiangxia's warlord at this rate."
"Haha, warlord? Come on..."
He played coy but didn't deny it. One win had him buzzing with self-delight, though he kept his ambitions under wraps.
"Teacher, looking forward to more help."
"Of course."
That was enough. When else would I bond like this with a city prefect?
"Oh, right. Before heading to Jiangxia, I want to give you a humble gift, Teacher."
"A gift?"
"Yes. Your surname 'Kim'—you said it's a pseudonym?"
"Yeah. Don't even know my real name. Orphan."
"...Ahem. Well, I thought of something. I know someone."
Huang Zu turned serious.
"Ever thought of a nominal adoption?"
"......?"
Adoption's adoption—what's nominal adoption?
"The Cai clan's eldest daughter married a guy I know, but he's... unique. Details from them directly."
"Who's that?"
"Huang Shengyan."
Huang Zu scratched his head.
"Calls himself a Taoist master."