Chapter 45 — To the Provincial Office! (1)
"..."
"Are you buying it or not?"
Before Doyul appeared, Yeoni had been hesitating.
"Um..."
"Tsk. If you're not going to buy it, move along!"
...What should I do?
"Yeol has been eating more lately. I should send more rice."
"...Yes."
Whenever Yeoni received her salary, she kept only a small amount of rice for herself and sent the rest to her younger sibling.
But the merchant who delivered the rice on her behalf constantly told her that Yeol needed more.
So Yeoni had continued reducing her own share.
If she wanted to buy the spinning top, she would have to send less rice to her sibling.
Shake, shake.
I can just eat less.
Yeoni had been prepared to give up part of her own food to buy the toy.
"I'll take this too. And that one. Ah, give me that as well."
"A-All of these?"
"...!"
Then Doyul appeared, and everything changed.
"Yes."
"Oh! Forgive me, I didn't realize I was dealing with such an honored customer!"
"Th-That, um...?"
"Hm?"
"...Th-There's too much. Th-Thank...? But why...?"
"...Hmm."
Yeoni was completely flustered by Doyul's kindness.
Doyul, however, simply pulled out more silver.
"Everyone, take some of this too."
"Young Master? What's this?"
"Buy whatever you want with it. If it's not enough, come ask me for more."
"Oh, Elder Kang Bokman, you should take some as well."
"M-Me too?"
"Bangul worked hard. Please buy him some feed with this."
"And I'd appreciate it if you bought some for the other cattle too."
"Th-Thank you! Of course!"
Kang Bokman and Donggu readily accepted Doyul's spending money.
Yeoni did not.
Shake, shake!
"...You don't want it?"
Nod, nod.
Doyul stared at her for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully.
"I see."
"Then I'll buy things for you myself."
"......?"
Yeoni looked startled.
Donggu and Kang Bokman, however, both nodded in approval.
"That is a very wise decision."
"Of course! That's exactly what you should do!"
"Mooooooo!"
Even Bangul nodded.
"Good. Then let's meet again in a little while."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
"..."
The group scattered.
Doyul began walking around the market with Yeoni, asking what she wanted.
"Yeoni. Is there anything you'd like?"
"Um..."
When she couldn't continue, Doyul scratched his head.
"Hmm. I suppose there's no helping it."
"...?"
"If I buy enough things, something you like should eventually turn up."
"......!"
Doyul turned to a merchant selling decorative accessories for girls.
"I'll take all of these too."
"Excuse me? All of them?"
"Yes."
"......!"
Yeoni glanced around nervously.
Doyul simply began buying anything that looked like something a young girl might enjoy.
"...!"
"Hm?"
Flustered, Yeoni wanted to say something.
She was clearly grateful.
But the whole situation also seemed painfully embarrassing to her.
Unable to find the words, she merely tugged repeatedly on Doyul's sleeve.
"Hmm."
And Doyul, faced with nonverbal communication from a girl for the first time in his life, fell into deep thought.
...What does that mean?
After considerable contemplation, he reached entirely the wrong conclusion.
That's it.
She must want something over there.
"I understand. There's something you want over there, isn't there?"
"Shall we go that way?"
"...!"
Shake, shake!
"Hmm... What do I do, then?"
While Doyul was struggling again, Donggu and Bangul approached, both chewing on something.
"What are you two eating?"
"Bangul is eating hay. I'm eating jerky."
"Mmmmoo."
Doyul stroked Bangul's head as the bull ate happily.
"...Where did Elder Bokman go?"
"He seemed to be talking seriously with some merchant."
Donggu stared at the flustered Yeoni for a moment before casually commenting,
"You haven't even started looking around the market yet."
"What do you mean we haven't started? I've already bought this much."
Doyul showed him the gifts in his hands.
Donggu firmly shook his head.
"No."
"If you're going to explore a market, the first thing you do is put something in your mouth."
"...Ah."
Doyul nodded.
He's right.
I should feed her first.
What does Yeoni like?
He was about to ask her.
Then he realized that would probably be pointless.
No.
Even if I ask, she probably won't answer.
"Hmm... Meat, maybe?"
Donggu shook his head.
"Okchun candy."
"Huh?"
"If you walk around a market for a long time, you lose your strength."
"But if you keep sweet okchun candy in your mouth, you get your energy back."
"And okchun is colorful, so girls like it."
"That sounds surprisingly reasonable."
"The only way to win a woman's heart is okchun."
Doyul nodded along with Donggu's seemingly flawless logic.
Then suddenly looked at him suspiciously.
...How would you know that?
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"...No reason. I'll be right back."
Doyul took Yeoni to a merchant selling okchun candy.
"I'll take everything you have here..."
Shake, shake!
"...Actually, just give me one for now."
"Haha, certainly!"
Doyul handed the candy to Yeoni.
"Eat it. If you want more, I'll buy as much as you like."
"Th... thank you."
Yeoni turned the colorful candy over in her hands.
But instead of eating it, she hugged it tightly against her chest.
Doyul was about to ask why.
Then he understood.
...Ah.
"Eat it now."
"B-But..."
"If you eat it right now, I'll buy plenty for your younger sibling too."
"...!"
After hesitating, Yeoni carefully placed the candy in her mouth.
Doyul watched with satisfaction.
That's it.
If I keep mentioning her sibling, I can buy things for her.
The moment the candy touched Yeoni's tongue, her eyes widened.
She had never tasted sweetness like that in her life.
"......!"
"I'll buy you as much as you want, so eat slowly."
Nod, nod!
Doyul smiled faintly as Yeoni's eyes grew wide like a child's.
No matter what she's been through, she's still just a kid.
"Yeoni."
"...Yes."
"Don't worry."
"I don't know all the details, but..."
Doyul awkwardly scratched his cheek.
"I'll make sure whatever you're worried about doesn't happen."
"...Th-Thank you..."
Yeoni lowered her head deeply and fell silent.
Doyul turned back toward the merchant.
"Hmm... Then give me another hundred pieces of okchun..."
Shake, shake!
"...Ten more, please."
"Haha, certainly!"
Just as Doyul finished buying the candy, Kang Bokman came running toward them in a hurry.
"Hahaha! There you all are! Hurry and look at what I bought!"
"...What is that?"
Kang Bokman had bought a piece of silk.
"What do you think?"
"Beautiful color, isn't it?"
"She's getting to the age where she should start dressing up a little."
"You need things like this if you want to look your best!"
The silk was a beautiful reddish color.
Doyul wasn't sure exactly how it would be used, but it was clearly something decorative.
He immediately admired it.
Right.
Yeoni is at exactly the age when she'd start caring about dressing up.
"...I hadn't thought that far."
"I'm learning a great deal from you and Donggu today."
"The color is lovely. I think it'll suit her perfectly."
"As expected of you, Scholar! You truly have an excellent eye!"
"It looks expensive, though. Were you able to buy it with the money I gave you?"
"Of course I added some of my own!"
Doyul looked at Kang Bokman with newfound respect.
...I didn't realize he cared about Yeoni this much.
But Kang Bokman walked straight past Yeoni with a broad smile.
"...Where are you going?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
He naturally tied the silk tassel around Bangul's neck.
"Mooooooo!"
"Hahaha! Look at you, Bangul!"
"Now that you're all dressed up, you look magnificent!"
"......"
Doyul stared at Kang Bokman with complete disbelief.
Cheongun looked at the group, whose luggage had somehow increased dramatically, and asked in confusion,
"...It seems you enjoyed yourselves at the market?"
"We bought a few things."
"Here. Your rice cake."
"Ah, thank you."
Choi Sihyeon glanced at the luggage as well.
"Still, at least the heavier baggage has been reduced."
"With this much, you should be able to manage with a single cart."
"I'll assign some people to help you on the road to Daegu."
"...Thank you for your consideration."
The cattle Doyul had borrowed from Yeongsan would have to return home.
So Donggu said goodbye to Bangul.
"Stay healthy."
"We'll be back soon."
"Mooooooo!"
"I think so too."
"Bangul knows difficult words now."
"Moo."
At least I feel better sending him back with a gift.
Doyul smiled at the two.
Meanwhile, Cheongun peered curiously at the silver Doyul had exchanged.
"That must've been quite a large caravan."
"To exchange that many coins all at once..."
"...Ah."
Cheongun's words reminded Doyul of Hong Gil.
Cheongun came to Daegu because he wanted to meet Hong Gil.
Doyul turned to him.
"You said there was someone you wished to meet in Daegu."
"Yes."
"I'll probably have to move separately once we're inside the city."
He's a secret royal inspector, so he probably can't move around too openly.
Doyul nodded.
"...I think I may have just met the person you're looking for."
Cheongun's eyes lit up.
"Oh?"
"Then tell me the details on the road."
"Hehehe. As expected, a provincial post is where the money is!"
Governor Jo Jinkyung of Gyeongsang Province had accumulated a great deal of wealth through corruption.
For his own gain, he would use any means necessary.
And among all methods, the safest and most convenient was to handle public matters through official channels while quietly mixing in personal motives.
Jo Jinkyung grinned as he read the letter Hong Gil had sent.
"For a mere thief, he certainly knows how to play with words."
The letter denied the accusations against a defendant currently imprisoned.
[Though Hong Myeong is of lowborn status, he did not attempt theft. I humbly ask that the Governor show mercy in his judgment...]
"Hehehe. How touching."
"Lowborn scum worrying about other lowborn scum."
Jo Jinkyung was in an excellent mood.
A subordinate of the famous leader of the eight provinces had recently walked into his hands spouting nonsense, so Jo Jinkyung had immediately arrested him.
Then Hong Gil offered a large sum of money in exchange for Hong Myeong's release.
He also claimed to have another request.
Jo Jinkyung saw an opportunity to make a great deal of money and had ordered Hong Gil to come to the provincial office himself.
Bang.
At that moment, the government slave Yeol entered.
"G-Good heavens!"
"S-Sorry, Governor... I-I have something important to tell you..."
"You idiot!"
"How dare you barge into the governor's office like that!"
Smack!
"I-I'm sorry..."
Yeol clutched his cheek where Jo Jinkyung had struck him and repeatedly bowed.
"What do you want?!"
"W-Well... the prisoner hasn't been able to eat anything."
"The jailer told me to ask the Governor on his behalf..."
"You stupid brat!"
Smack!
Jo Jinkyung slapped him even harder.
The thin Yeol collapsed to the floor.
His emaciated abdomen became visible beneath his clothes.
Jo Jinkyung frowned as if he had seen something filthy.
"Hmph. You've ruined my mood."
"You filthy little fool."
"Why should I care whether some worthless thief misses a few meals?"
"As long as he stays alive, that's enough."
"B-But..."
"Get out!"
"...Yes."
For some reason, Jo Jinkyung treated Yeol especially cruelly.
Hmph. Damn brat.
He's an eyesore.
Yeol fled the office.
Later that night, after clutching his empty stomach and hesitating for a long time, he went to the prison.
"...Are you awake?"
"Who's there?"
"W-Well..."
Yeol handed over a rice ball.
Hong Myeong, imprisoned inside, looked at him suspiciously.
"...What's this?"
"I thought you might be hungry, so I brought it."
"..."
His nerves had been worn raw by imprisonment.
For a moment, Hong Myeong wondered whether the food might be poisoned.
But the thin boy's eyes were so clear that the suspicion could not take root.
Once the doubt faded, another question replaced it.
Why would a starving government slave who looked as though he barely had enough gruel for himself...
Offer food to him?
"...Why are you giving this to me?"
"You haven't eaten."
"......!"
"Th-That's all."
Yeol smiled brightly.
