## Chapter 4 — The Thousand-Nyang Lawyer (1)
"Y-Young Master! What exactly are you saying?"
The usually simple and good-natured Donggu stared at me in shock.
"Joseon values musong, the virtue of avoiding lawsuits! Oejibu who encourage people to sue each other should disappear! S-So how could you possibly become one yourself?!"
I thought for a moment before cautiously answering.
"...Wouldn't it be fine if I became an honest oejibu?"
"There's no such thing as an honest oejibu! They learn a little law, act like they're better than everyone, take people's money, and then stop caring!"
His words stung.
...That's pretty insulting to a lawyer standing right in front of you.
"And oejibu is work done by jungin! You are supposed to become an official someday, Young Master. You cannot lower yourself to that kind of profession!"
Hey. A few hundred years from now, you won't even be allowed to judge lawsuits unless you've learned how to do that so-called lowly work.
"And that Ppaengi fellow is ridiculous too! He saw the magistrate personally admire you. How could he still come here asking you for something like this?"
"Come now. I'm still a jungin, you know. Must you really speak so informally to me...?"
"Be quiet!"
I couldn't tell whether Joseon's hierarchy had somehow turned upside down or whether the drama's historical accuracy was simply terrible.
Either way, Donggu had Ppaengi thoroughly intimidated.
"Even someone like me, who can't read a single character, knows that oejibu are forbidden by the state and ought to disappear!"
...Hmm. What should I do?
Listening to him, it seemed society's opinion of oejibu was much worse than I'd assumed.
Well...
It made sense.
There were no professional licenses in Joseon.
If someone properly learned the law and genuinely helped others, that was one thing.
But if some unscrupulous person took money and filed absurd lawsuits for profit, the damage could be enormous.
It was understandable that society treated them almost as criminals.
I think I understand why Donggu is objecting so strongly too.
In modern terms, it'd be like a student preparing for the civil service exam suddenly deciding to become an illegal legal broker.
But perhaps opportunity really did arise from crisis.
Donggu's fierce objection had made the situation awkward...
Yet it also gave me an idea for solving the problem.
The only issue was that I really didn't want to do it.
Haah.
I guess I don't have much choice.
***
Doyul spoke calmly.
"First, I should hear what happened to you."
"Y-Young Master?"
Donggu stared at him in shock.
Doyul looked back at Donggu for a moment, then steadied his breathing.
...Haah. I came into a historical drama and now I even have to act.
Doyul actually possessed an unexpected talent.
Acting.
"When our little Doyul says he dreams of becoming Chief Justice, why does he want that?"
"Yes! I want to catch bad people! Repay society! And become a wonderful judge!"
"My goodness! Such difficult words from such a young boy!"
It had begun when he was nine, acting like a good child under the producer's direction.
After that, Doyul often had to hide his true emotions in front of others.
Since he believed presenting a model image was part of his duty as long as he received sponsorship, he had spent years wearing whatever personality people wanted from him.
Naturally, he became good at acting.
"Donggu. Do not look at me that way. When did I ever say I would accept money from this man?"
Donggu's and Ppaengi's eyes widened simultaneously.
"...Y-Young Master?"
"Scholar, are you saying...?"
"It has always been a scholar's duty to help those in hardship. If this is something I am capable of helping with, I should naturally do so without payment. If it is not, I simply need to decline."
"Th-Then... you're saying you'll help an innocent commoner without taking anything in return?"
"Of course!"
Donggu and Ppaengi were visibly moved.
"Y-Young Master...!"
"Scholar! Is that really true? I never imagined someone so virtuous lived in this county! Sob!"
With a benevolent expression, Doyul spoke to Ppaengi.
"It must have been difficult for you to seek out a complete stranger."
"S-Sob! N-No! The fact that you would concern yourself with me... Thank... thank you!"
"Hmm. Since you trade in the capital, can you read at all?"
"Yes. I can read enough simple writing for business... but why do you suddenly ask?"
Relieved, Doyul slowly picked up a brush.
"I imagine you've suffered quite a bit. I thought I might write something for you to lift your spirits. My calligraphy isn't anything worth boasting about, but perhaps it will offer you a little comfort."
Ppaengi's eyes filled with tears of gratitude.
"You're helping me, and now you're even writing something for me?! I will make it a family heirloom! I've picked up some reading over three years of doing business in the capital! Hehe. I can read simple writing!"
"...That's fortunate."
Doyul smiled gently.
Good thing I studied some classical Chinese while learning law. Writing shouldn't be too diffic... huh?
The moment Doyul picked up the brush, classical Chinese characters came naturally to him.
He could write them as easily as Korean.
...Hmm. Did that psychopomp give me some kind of convenience so I wouldn't struggle?
Doyul calmly began writing.
"Ohhh! Even in the capital, you'd have trouble finding handwriting like this! Scholar, not only is your character admirable, but you're also a magnificent calligrapher... Hm?"
But as Doyul continued, Ppaengi's expression became strange.
[Speaking strictly prohibited.]
"Scholar? This writing is somewhat..."
"Haha. What do you think? Do you like it?"
Doyul smiled and cut him off.
[Fee to be disclosed after consultation.]
Ppaengi finally understood.
[Nod if you agree.]
...His servant can't read, so he's communicating secretly through writing!
Then everything he'd said earlier had been an act?
Ppaengi gave Doyul a complicated look and was about to complain.
"Now, it's not as though I said I wouldn't pay you, but did you really need to go this far...?"
"Oh? It seems you don't like my writing."
Ppaengi suddenly remembered his position.
Forget finding a skilled oejibu.
In a rural area where even literate people were rare, there was almost no one capable of giving useful legal advice.
So who held the stronger position here?
"..."
Having tasted the merciless laws of supply and demand, Ppaengi's face went cold.
"Hmm. You truly don't seem to like it. What a shame. I suppose I tried showing off a useless talent and only offended you."
"No, no. Your writing is simply so magnificent that I was struck speechless..."
Donggu, who still had no idea what was happening, joined in.
