Gyeongchip 1782
When Yunbok opened his eyes, the space on his right was empty. The basin and towel were already laid out for him. Avoidance? Perhaps he was reading too much into her every action. He sighed and did his morning wash. Since he was going out, he wore baji instead of jambangi and wrapped on the haengjeon. Linen jeogori, baeja and durumagi, sadae, gat. The usual attire he wore every spring, summer when he went out and yet it felt like he was gearing up for a battle that morning. Snorting under his breath for his whimsy, he tied on his jumeoni (money pouch) under his overcoat and picked up his jwilbuchae from one of the drawers in his cabinet, snapping it open. Yes, all battle ready. He felt silly. Impatiently, he closed the jwilbuchae and went out to the daecheong.
With perfect timing, Suk-kwon and Jeong-hyang came in at the same time. The soban was set between them. To Yunbok's dismay, Jeong-hyang returned to the kitchen instead of sitting with them as she usually did. The strained air between them was so palpable that Suk-kwon felt he had to find out what was going on. Thinking it would be better to ask Jeong-hyang than his apprentice, he finished his meal and took the opportunity to waylay her in the courtyard.
"What's happening between the two of you? Anyone can sense the troubles within several feet of you," Suk-kwon launched into his questions and then just as quickly changed his mind on getting some answers. It wasn't a good time to talk since Yunbok would be out presently. It would not do to be caught by him, he would pick up their anxieties immediately.
"I..," Jeong-hyang wondered where she should start. In the light of the new day, she was not entirely sure why she had broke down as she did.
"We don't have time to discuss it now, he'll be out here soon. We can talk tomorrow when he's at the seodang."
He nodded to her before making his way to the warehouse behind his own house just as Ae-young came out from the kitchen to join Jeong-hyang. Yunbok appeared from the daecheong soon after just as the younger woman was debating whether to ply her mistress with questions.
"Ready? Shall we go?" he asked enquiringly and led the way when both of them nodded.
Ae-young look at one to the other worriedly as they walked up the trail to the town. It was obvious as the sun in the sky that both were troubled. For the umpteenth time, she wished she could help in some way and yet knowing it was best she should not be meddling in a private dispute that did not concern her. Yet for the harmony of the household, she hoped they would settle whatever it was and not let it drag.
Yunbok hesitated and then slowed his pace so that he was walking beside Jeong-hyang. As if drawn at the same time, they reached out to hold each other's hands and drew closer as their fingers interlaced. Their pace slowed so that instead of a brisk walk, it became a lesiurely amble. Ae-young dawdled so she was several paces behind them, desiring to give them their private space.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he said quietly, looking at the trail ahead, lined with budding trees, greens and flowers. It was empty for now but there would soon be more traffic further when the trail joined the main road.
"No. It isn't the right time nor the moment," she said after a brief consideration, regretting her lapse of control that led him to question her turmoil. She did not think he was ready to discuss the subjects she had in mind. "Let's forget about last night, shall we? At least, for a while and enjoy this trip to the town."
"All right," he smiled at her, squeezing her hand encouragingly and feeling her answer, glad that at least, for the day, there would be no thunderclouds hanging over them. "Do you want to go with us to the bookshop or head straight for the items you want to buy?"
"I'll head for the cloth shop and meet you at the bookshop. I think we'll be faster than you in our errand." She let go of his hand as they came in view of the main road and the travellers going to and fro.
"Do you have enough money?" he reached into his coat.
"Yes, you don't have to provide," she said quickly to prevent his giving her money.
"We need to discuss our finances later." He withdrew his hand from his coat, knowing she would refuse if he tried to hand her any. "Otherwise..," he cocked his head at her, thinking of more plausible quarrels to crop up over money amongst other things. They had come together without giving a thought to forming an orderly arrangement or was it agreement when to came to basic necessities. A gross oversight. "There is Ae-young to consider too."
A pang of guilt struck them as they looked at each other and then at the girl behind them who looked at them in bewilderment at their abashed expressions. Were they talking about her? Did she do something wrong? The smile from Jeong-hyang reassured her. She hurried to catch up when the older woman beckoned. The road became more crowded with horse and ox carts. Peddlars, merchants, farmers moved to and fro. A line had formed at the east gate as the soldiers manning them demanded that those with the identity district tablets to show them while those who had none were drawn aside to be questioned by officers.
A few soldiers went down the queue, inspecting the carts and the goods. Yunbok readied his identity chit and made sure Jeong-hyang and Ae-young had theirs on hand. The soldiers examined the tablets carefully and waved them on. Once past the east gate, they split up. Yunbok stood still for a moment to get his bearings as he watched the two women moved away through the crowd. Tiny chaffs from a passing load of barley on the back of a farmer went up his nose. He sneezed. Hastily, he removed himself from the entrance as he continued to sneeze a few more times. By the time he reached the bookshop, his eyes were watering.
"But why are you crying, brother Seo?" came a laughing voice as he used his sleeve to blot up the tears.
"It must be the thought of spending an agonizing morning with you," he retorted as he turned away from Young-joon to sneeze again. "Ahhh..," he shook his head, grabbing a clean handherchief from within his coat to wipe his nose.
"Tsk, tsk, here, this might help." A hand held a bottle under his nose. He jerked away from the sharp acrid smell that seemed to go straight to his head.
"That smelt terrible. What is that?!" Yunbok complained, glaring at a chortling Young-joon who replaced the chobyeong from where he had taken it; a woodware shop.
"It's just vinegar. Come, brother Seo, time is wasting," he said, taking hold of Yunbok's sleeve and gave it a tug before walking further up the street and turning into the bookshop. Only vinegar? It did not smell like it but Yunbok hurried after his friend instead of investigating the noxious liquid.
Puzzled by his friend's impatience, Yunbok followed him to the shelves. "Are you in a hurry to be somewhere?" he queried.
"Yes, and you are going with me," Young-joon said, looking at the books keenly. "That is ... I hope you will go with me," he paused to look at Yunbok.
"Where do you have to be?" he asked, sniffing cautiously. Whatever it was in that jug that Young-joon waved at him earlier, it seemed to have stopped his sneezes. His nose still felt stuffy though.
"Where I don't want to be," Young-joon replied enigmatically, pulling books off the shelves.
"What?" That did not make sense. He reached for the books Young-joon was handing over. "We have to check these through, they might not be suitable..."
"No worries, there are tables at the back of the store. We can look through them." Young-joon seemed determined to empty the shelves of books. There was clearly a grumpy look on his face now that Yunbok had a better view of him. "There, that ought to do it," he said, arms full of books.
Yunbok half-wondered if his zeal was misplaced for the entire shelves were now denuded of books. The bookstore proprietor looked positively in seventh heaven when he saw the stacks they were carrying. That delighted beam went lopsided when they carry the books to the tables at the back but nevertheless, a hopeful look hovering visibly when Yunbok glanced at him again as they sat down.
"Where is it you don't want to be?" asked Yunbok as he checked the books; Seongho saseol, Saekgyeong, Chimgu gyeongheombang, Cheonseryeok. What a mixed bag! But what was this? Qiqi tushuo? He flipped it open and was astonished to find illustrations of strange machines he had never seen before.
"Later, later," Young-joon waved his hand airily, flipping through the stack before him. "I'll tell you all about it during lunch. I reserved a table at the Moon Tavern."
"I forgot to tell you Jeong-hyang and Ae-young came with me..," Yunbok began but Young-joon simply waved his hand again as he flipped through the pages of the book in front of him.
"No problem, no problem," he said as Yunbok eyed him dubiously.
"Are we teaching the students the use of the almanac?" he asked.
"Of course not, that's a silly question," Young-joon snorted.
"True. Then why are you even bothering to look through the book you are holding now?"
Whatever it was that was causing his friend's distraction must be momentous. He watched as Young-joon took another look at the book before him before grimacing and tossing it aside.
"Why scratch the sole of the foot while wearing beoseon?"
"It's..," Young-joon paused as he caught sight of the hovering proprietor. "Not here," he sighed as he picked up another book. "I promise I'll pay attention. Let's look these over shall we?"
Following his friend's gaze, he realized Young-joon was right. It was not the proper moment to discuss his problem. He returned to his appraisal of the books. Due to Young-joon's discriminate grabbing from the shelves, it was not surprising there were several books on irrelevant topics. These he stacked on the far side of the table. It also meant time was wasted in putting the books in some semblance of order according to topic. It seemed to him they were doing the proprietor's job. They were almost done when Jeong-hyang and Ae-young turned up. After an exchange of greetings with Young-joon, Jeong-hyang turned to look at the books herself after seeing that they were still busy with the sorting, keen to find out if there were any new editions of books she was interested in. A title caught her eye. She removed the book from the shelf and turned to Ae-young who was browsing behind her.
"Ae-young, have you finished reading Daedong yaseung?"
"Yes, mistress. Some of the words are difficult but I managed to finish it."
"How would you like to read this one?" she waved the book at the young woman.
"Ongnumong?" Ae-young almost grabbed the book from her hands. "I've been wanting to read this!" She held the book almost reverently.
"I'll buy it for you then," Jeong-hyang smiled at her delight.
"This will while the nights away!" As if she could not wait, Ae-young opened the book and began to read.
Glancing at the women, Yunbok wonderd if he should go ahead to buy some books for Jeong-hyang. Having no idea what she had in mind for her subject lessons, it didn't seem like a good idea. Would there be any difference in subjects between classes? He did not think so but still, he had an inkling that she would not be pleased if he went ahead and spent his money on the books. They really need to talk about a few things, he realized. He began to wonder if he had taken her for granted. But it was still early days for them, wasn't it? He frowned as he stared unseeing at the page before him and gave a start as Young-joon heaved a sigh beside him.
"I guess we're done then, brother Seo?"
Yunbok nodded and helped to put back the books they would not be getting back on the shelves, hoping the proprietor would not be put out by the way they returned them. For certain, the books were not in the original order he had arranged them but he did not seem perturbed at all. Instead, he seemed pleased they were taking the trouble to do so. Perhaps it was number of books they were buying that sweetened his disposition.
With the books too burdensome to carry around with them, they made arrangements to have them delivered to the seodang on the morrow. Their task done, they waited for the women to join them outside the shop before making their way to the tavern. It was moderatey crowded so they were able to get a table for the women.
"So, brother Han, where is it you have to be after this?" Yunbok asked as Young-joon filled his cup from the teapot when they were done with their lunch.
"My future-in-laws. My father is trying to arrange a marriage for me," Young-joon said gloomily. Surprised at the news, Yunbok put down the cup he was about to sip from.
"What's wrong with them?" he said. "Why do I have to go with you? Shouldn't your father be with you?"
"I'm hoping they wouldn't be my in-laws." Young-joon tossed back his drink in one gulp and poured another. "I don't know the girl!" he moaned.
"But..," Yunbok regarded his friend in bewilderment. Were not all arranged marriages like that? Neither party knew the other.
"I don't want an arranged marriage," Young-joon looked at Yunbok. "I want it to be like yours. Aboji promised I could take my time but your getting married seems to have changed his mind so he told me to pick a bride. I said why not Kyoung-mi? But she said no when he asked her so he told me to pick a girl. How is it possible for me to even possess knowledge of eligible girls in town? I said I have no candidates in mind. He said he would look for me and gave me this letter this morning, telling me to present it to Master Meen. A muljiu (financier), inviting him to dinner. Before I left he said I have till Soseo to find a bride otherwise I would not have a choice. Tell me brother Seo, where am I supposed to find a wife?"
Yunbok tried not to laugh as he listened to the long delivery. So that was what was needling Young-joon. He was not sure he understood his friend's concern though. "Brother Han, why are you afraid of an arranged marriage?"
"I don't want to live with a stranger." The contents of the cup seemed to mesmerize Young-joon as he stared into it, as if he could see the visions of his future in it. "Imagine the kind of conversations we would have daily! Which is practically no different to conversing with anyone in the streets. If there is a family problem, could I discuss it with her? If I have a problem, could I even talk to her? I'm not even sure I could lay with a total stranger."
"Brother Han, you are putting too much into this stranger concept. True, she would seem like an outsider but like the uncharted lands, you would make new fascinating discoveries as time goes by," Yunbok said reasonably.
"I know I know but..," Young-joon leaned forward to whisper, as if afraid someone would overhear. "I heard the daughter of Master Meen is an ugly girl. I don't want an ugly wife!"
Yunbok seriously doubted that was the real reason of his friend's objections but his agitation seemed sincere. He tried again to get to the bottom of the problem. "Brother Han, perhaps the reasons you gave are probable but those are not really what you are worried over, are you?"
Young-joon sighed. "I really want a marriage like yours."
"My friend, you are saying you want to be certain of your bride before you marry her, is that right?"
"Yes, I want someone who loves me and I with her before she marries me."
"That's asking for a monk's sangtu (topknot). No reputable family will allow their daughters to associate with outsiders. Brother Han, your aspiration is too high," Yunbok shook his head.
"That's why I need your help. We're going wife hunting this afternoon," Young-joon announced with determination to his friend's astounded disbelief.
"How are you planning to do that? Are you hoping to find them out there in the fields?" Tried as he might, Yunbok could barely hold in his merriment. What a tale he would tell Jeong-hyang that night!
"Perhaps." Young-joon brought out a long object which Yunbok recognised as a telescope from his overcoat. The sight of it nearly sent Yunbok into gales of laughter. Was Young-joon serious? "I borrowed this from a friend of mine."
"What was he using it for?" Yunbok was certain that Young-joon's friend was not using it to gaze at the sky.
"I'll tell you that later. You are coming with me when I deliver the letter, yes?" Young-joon asked anxiously. Clearly, he wanted someone to give him the courage to do so although Yunbok could not see what was so detrimental about delivering a letter.
"Fine, fine, if you need someone to hold your hand. It's fine with me," Yunbok coughed as he tried to stifle his laughter. "I'll just let Jeong-hyang know..."
"You can't tell her what we are going to do." The red flush of embarassment bloomed on Young-joon's face.
"I'll just tell her we need to run some errands," Yunbok said soothingly although he was sure Jeong-hyang would pick up his amusement.
He got up and went to where Jeong-hyang and Ae-young were seated. They had just finished their meal, he saw as he walked up to them and informed them of his intentions. Jeong-hyang eyed him curiously, having indeed picked up his mirth. What were the both of them up to, she wondered but only said that she would return home with Ae-young. If he was in town with Young-joon, she would have that talk with master Park.
His task done, Yunbok returned and waited as Young-joon paid up before they set off to deliver the letter. The price of the lunch was astonishing, yet business at the tavern did not seem poor. Everything seemed to be as usual as they strolled along the main road but there was a detectable air of strain as people went about their business. Prices for foodstuff remained high when they paused by the grocery stalls at the marketplace to check. Just as they were about to turn up the road north, shouts were heard. Before long, someone in ragged clothing ran by, followed by a couple of soldiers.
"A homeless peasant," Young-joon murmured as the soldiers caught up to the unfortunate man, who simply did not have the energy to outpace them, and dragged him back to the western gates.
"I presume the camps are out west." Yunbok looked on sadly as the man begged the soldiers to let him go. "Are the food stores going low? I thought with the advent of spring, they would be allow to pick the wild greens from the hills."
"We delivered some stores the day before so I had the opportunity to see the situation. They are not exactly given ample food but just enough to fill their stomachs. Some of the wealthier families have doled out bindaetteok but there is only so much to go around." Young-joon felt a little queasy. "The women have been allowed to go to the hills to pick what they could but I think nothing is more filling than grain, which is what they need."
"I feel ill for having eaten at the jumak." A guilty pang hit Yunbok for he felt as if he was having good food at the expense of others who need it more.
"Me too," Young-joon groaned. They looked at each other.
"No more eating at any jumak," they said in unison and laughed before turning somber.
"What about drinks? Drinks should be fine, no?" Young-joon said.
"Since only semyeon is served, we can drink freely," Yunbok nodded.
"I hear there is bootleg liquor available if one knows where to go."
"Tsk, the penalty will be heavy if the peddlars are caught." Yunbok shook his head at the obtuse selfishness of those who hoarded much needed grain in order to make wine.
As they walked along the winding path that led to the main gate of the Meen residence at the northern side of the town, Yunbok noticed his friend's pace became slower until he was almost literally dragging his feet. Surely it could not be that terrible, having a look at his future-in-laws? Or rather them having a look at their future son-in-law.
"Brother Han, if you are not happy with this arrangement, you can reject it, can't you?" he pointed out, tugging his friend's sleeve to try to speed up his pace. "Besides, it's not as if you are going to move in with them once you are married. She's moving in with you." He stopped when Young-joon made no answer. "It's not the girl," he said suddenly as realisation struck him. "You don't want to get married at all."
"Ahh, brother Seo," Young-joon sighed. His friend had hit the nail on the head. "I like the way I am now. I can't imagine myself tied down by a wife. I mean, I can relatively do whatever I like but once I have a wife... I mean, look at you."
"What? What's with me?" Yunbok did not understand what he meant.
"Remember the night you had a quarrel with Jeong-hyang? You were so upset you did not know what to do. You looked as though you would not dare to step foot in the room she was in. I can imagine that happening to me and more. I have peace at home now, do I want to bring back someone who can kick me out of the room? Who will nag at me the moment I see her? Who will give me no peace if she wants something done? Who will question me whenever I go out?" Young-joon shuddered at the morbid visions running before his eyes.
"Brother Han." Truly, his friend had exaggerated! Yunbok was amazed he had put so much effort in muddling up his own perspective. "You are forgetting you live in an entirely different environment from me. I am not rich so Jeong-hyang and I share the same quarters. You have your own room, your own space. And so will she. And the differences you are so afraid of would only come about once you and your wife are more familiar with each other or rather, starts to care about each other. Isn't that good? It is hardly likely to occur immediately the moment she marries you. It takes time."
"Maybe..," Young-joon began gloomily and was startled when Yunbok impatiently grabbed him by the arm.
"Enough, brother Han, stop dragging your feet. Just deliver your letter and be done with it!" he said, tugging his friend the last several feet to the front gate whereupon he used the knocker once and called out before Young-joon could change his mind. He kept a hold on Young-joon's sleeve and pulled him in after him once a servant opened the gate to admit them. Since Young-joon couldn't seem to get his tongue to work, he gave their identities to the servant who went off to announce their presence to the master. Presently, the servant returned and invited them to the daecheong where master Meen invited them to refreshments.
Seated a pace behind Young-joon, Yunbok listened to his friend's monosyllabic conversation with the older man as he observed his surroundings. It was a lavish house that outshone the Han residence; fine furnishings, flooring and beautifully latticed windows and verandahs that screamed of the wealth of the owner. A flicker of movement at the far corner of the daecheong caught his attention. A sliver of maroon at the edge of the window. Was that the sound of laughter? A young woman's laugh, followed by two others and an accompaniment of thudding wood that was repeated in intervals.
The rustle of cloth pulled his attention back to the two men. The interview was over. Young-joon looked as if he could hardly wait to get out there as he bowed quickly to master Meen and got up. As they moved to the porch, Yunbok deliberately lagged behind and sidled closer to the window. Tilting his head to the right just so, he caught sight of three girls. Just as he thought, they were playing the nolttwigi. He smiled as his sharp eyes noted down some important details. He quickly withdrew before any of the girls noticed him. Ah, but he was tardy. He hurried to catch up to Young-joon at the gates.
"This way, brother Han," he said to Young-joon after they had stepped through the gates and his friend began to backtrack down the path.
"What? Isn't it this way?" Young-joon said in surprise, pointing in the direction of the path they had taken to the Meen residence.
"I thought I'll take the time to get to know the small paths around here since I have never been in this area before. Do you know who live in this neighbourhood?" Yunbok waved his hand at the houses around them as they moved further up along the path, following the length of the wall running parallel to the Meen residence.
"It's just two families here. Master Meen and the family Sohn. They are mostly into textiles," Young-joon said, pointing to the large compound south of them. "I think this path lead us to one of the eastern main streets."
"What do you think of master Meen?" Yunbok stopped and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. He could hear the girls' voices over the wall.
"I don't know," Young-joon frowned. "I don't like the look of his eyes, shifty looking."
"Fair enough, you don't know him, he doesn't know you in so brief an encounter. What plan did you come up with to seek a wife?" Yunbok half-wondered if his friend was deaf. Could he not hear the laughter and the little shrieks? "You have till Soseo, that's what your father told you."
"Actually, I don't have a plan," Young-joon sighed as he mirrored Yunbok's stance on the opposite wall. "I have some stupid idea of looking at all the women in town. That's why I borrowed the telescope so we need not have to climb walls and so on. A high vantage will do. If that doesn't work, I'll.," he trailed off as he glimpsed someone coming into sight behind the wall Yunbok was leaning against. It was a girl. How did she manage that? He blinked at the laughing joy on her face. He waited for her to appear again, which she did in a moment and realized she was on the nolttwigi.
"What's wrong?" Yunbok pretended not to understand his friend's distraction.
Young-joon did not answer, instead he moved nearer to the wall of the Meen residence. Now he could hear young women's voices and the thud of wood. Who was that he saw just now? He stood on tiptoes, trying to see. When that failed, he jumped several times, striving to go as high as he could and then looked around for something to stand on as Yunbok watched his antics with amusement.
"Who is that? I need to see." Young-joon muttered. "Don't just stand there, help me..," he began before he saw the huge grin on his friend's face. "You knew they were there, when?"
"Does it matter? I thought you said master Meen's daughter is very ugly? Why do you want to look now?" Yunbok taunted cheerfully. "Besides, do you know which one is her? You may end up choosing a maid!"
"I saw only one. I don't care who she is, help me up!" Young-joon batted Yunbok's shoulders as he put up a foot.
"Not on my shoulders, you don't!" Yunbok fended off his friend's foot which he caught in his hands and jammed his back against the wall as he boosted Young-joon higher.
It was enough to raise Young-joon to get a footing on the top of the wall. Climbing up and crouching down, he peered as Yunbok looked on in amusement. There were three girls at the nolttwigi. He knew immediately there were no maids at all. All three were wearing silver norigaes but the one who caught his attention, he switched his gaze to the one on the right. Almond eyes, fine brows, fair skin, that look in her eyes, that smile, that laugh, he gazed in rapture. Ahhh, he could stand there and watched her all day and compose poems of her paintings he could draw of her.
His daydreams came to an abrupt end when the girl weighing down the nolttwigi saw him and screamed. All three girls froze as they stared at him and he at the girl he was oggling at. All three leaped off the nolttwigi and ran to the house as Yunbok tapped Young-joon's foot and gestured to him urgently when he finally looked down. Was he planning to stay there when the alarm had been raised?! They could hear the commotion and knew it was a bad idea to be caught there and then. Young-joon dropped down and they ran. Their flight reminded Yunbok of the time back in Hanseong when he was similarly pursued for looking over the wall of somebody's house. However, this time he was hardly at fault! They skidded to a stop just before the path merged with the eastern street, striving to get back their breaths before they lose themselves in the crowd.
"Which one was it?" Yunbok wanted to know as he sipped from his cup as they sat at the Moon Tavern.
No answer was forthcoming. His friend was leaning to one side, a hand supporting his head as he gazed sightlessly into the air, his cup of semyeon untouched. Was it as easy as that? To be smittened so fast? He smiled as he thought back to the day he first saw Jeong-hyang. Perhaps it was so. Waving his hand before his friend's face brought no response. Shaking his head, he settled down to wait a while before coming up with a more drastic way to snap Young-joon out of his woolgathering.
As he sat there, waiting patiently for Young-joon to gather his wits, the murmur of conversation from the nearby table caught his attention. Especially more so when a particular name came up.
"... tried to get hold of that painting but I was outbidded."
"How much was it sold for?"
"Two gold nyang." Awed whisperings. "How could I compete with that?!"
"I think you're fortunate. I hear the paintings over at Hanseong fetched more. You could have ended up with an empty gangjeong!"
"You're saying it's a replicate?!" Disbelief clear in the voice.
"Come now, surely you must have some reservations? Most of Hyewon's paintings reside in the hands of the Yangban and rich merchants. Who would want to sell them? They're priceless! Especially since the painter himself is no longer selling his works."
"That is true. I have not seen any new authentic paintings of Hyewon's for several years now. Whatever has happened to him?"
"If you ask me, he's secretly painting and hoarding them. When he judged the time to be right, he will sell off one of his art pieces for an enormous sum."
"That's your own conjecture," disapproval in the tone. "There are so many stories going about. The most recent one I heard is that he has gone up north, to China, to study samples of foreign paintings."
"Last I heard, he's carousing in some gibang at Jeolla-do, living off the earnings of his lover." A sly tone.
"You heard of that fantastic rumor about him being a woman?"
"Aigoo! I think that must be referring to his inability to perform." The snicker was abruptly choked off as the table was rapped.
"That's a slanderous slur..."
"Probably by some jealous lover," put in someone.
"I wonder how many did he leave behind in the dust?" An envious note.
"It's all nonsense," scoffed another. "If he had that many women, surely his philandering would have turned away the others."
"Not if he's a charmer. I've a friend who can entice even the most obdurate. Why he...," the voice dropped to a whisper.
"Not least to say a terrible insult to the family name," someone said loudly.
"Speaking of which, his father disowned him, did he not? There must be some truth in his philandering."
"I have known of fathers who turned a blind eye to their sons' womanizing..."
"He must be a very good lover, I never heard any complaints...what?"
"And how would you know that?"
"I stopped by a gibang at Songdo and one of the gisaeng said she had entertained him before...um ..I was curious and um ...you see, to know if that rumor about him being a woman ..."
"And?" A few voices echoed the qeustion as the speaker stopped.
"Aigoo, that gisaeng passed a remark that he may seemed like a frail fellow but ...," the voice dropped to a whisper. A louder impatient rap sounded in the midst of a chorus of lewd comments.
"We are wasting our time with all these conjectures. My friend, it is a good investment to buy a Hyewon painting but it is very unlikely you can get the genuine article these days. The next time some dealer comes with some painting purported to be from Hyewon, I suggest you turn deaf and blind. Remember what happened last year? The local art dealer here mistook a replicate for the real thing and roused so much excitement."
"Wise words." A sigh. "Aigoo, I think I have better get going. I have an appointment with a gaekju."
The men at the table put on their shoes, rose to their feet as one of their number paid the tavernkeeper and left. Yunbok did not turn his head though he wanted to. Even though he was worried over what he heard, he had been hard put not to laugh uproariously at the nonsense. Was that what people were saying of him? A glance at Young-joon showed he was still in the midst of his dreams. He turned over what he heard. There was absolutely no chance anyone would ever suspect he was in Uiryeong. But it was confusing. Why did that gisaeng said she had entertained him at Songdo? As far as he knew, he passed through Siheung, not Songdo when he initially left Hanseong. Too, even if he had the money he would not be visiting any gibang. Someone was impersonating him. Who?
Suk-kwon rubbed his beard thoughtfully as he checked the stored bales of paper. The type of paper that could be made from the paper compressor would be more expensive, time consuming to produce and had a limited range in type of application and consumers but profitable nevertheless. There was definitely a few advantages if it was used within the administration. Sitting down on a bale of paper, he turned over the idea in his mind, examining it carefully. Yes, it could be done. He looked up as the door to the storehouse opened.
"Master Park?"
"Jeong-hyang? I thought you would be back much later," he said with some surprise and got up.
"I came back earlier. He's still in town with Young-joon," she said as he looked behind her.
"All right. Shall we go to the creek? It can get very stuffy here," he said, closing the door of the warehouse and locking it behind him. There was no sign of Ae-young so he presumed she was in the house. He got straight to the point once they were settled at the creek. "What has happened?"
"I'm not sure..," Jeong-hyang said uneasily as Suk-kwon sighed.
"How about...," he hesitated. It was like trying to walk in the dark. He was not used to any indepth discussion with a woman. Yunbok was more man than woman that he hadn't had much trouble speaking with him. "Was it something that happened yesterday?"
"It was that look on his face," she said slowly. "When he was sparring with you? There was joy, free of burdens, unrestraint. I have seen him look like that once before. That was when I expressed my wish to remain with him...," she stopped. Suk-kwon waited patiently for her to gather her thoughts. "I cried last night. He did not know why. I knew it only made him depressed, to see my unhappiness but I just could not help myself."
"Ah," Suk-kwon heaved a sigh. "That's why the both of you were so unsettled this morning." He flipped a pebble into the water. "You want him to be happy, free of the burdens he carried within but the sufferings he had undergone still weigh on him profoundly and it pains you, that's why you were upset, am I right?"
"I feel I'm not doing enough for him," she confessed disheartenly, twisting the garakji (ring) on her finger in her agitation.
"Is a spoonful of rice enough?" he smiled at her surprise. "Do you know you are very lucky? He is a child of my heart and yet there is a barrier between us I cannot cross as much as I want to help him in any way I can. You have no such disadvantages. Time is on your side. One of the reasons you unleashed your sorrows as you did is that in your desire to see him free of the millstones, you become impatient. You feel you have done little because there seem to be no improvement over the last month."
She said nothing, thinking over what he had said. Much of it was true. As each day passed, she had fretted inwardly, trying to think of ways to get Yunbok to talk about the brother and that year of wandering he had dismissed too readily. But it had been more difficult than she realized. She looked up as he continued.
"Don't deliberately discuss the problem with him. You will only create more strain between yourself and him by trying too hard. Live your life with him as you want it to be. He is content, secure, and he loves you. Let that comfort you. The opportunity that will allow you to ameliorate his emotional entanglement will present itself eventually."
She looked down at the ring on her finger and nodded. "I am indeed brooding too much and trying to force a quick resolution, I understand that now."
"If you need someone to talk to, come find me. It's best to have it out in the open than to keep it within as you saw what happened with him."
"But what about you, master Park? Who do you turn to when you are troubled?" she asked curiously.
"I take it out on the workers," he grinned maliciously at her. "Or I take it out on him," he laughed.
"We need to go back," Young-joon announced abruptly, sitting up.
"Why?" Did his friend want to take another peep? "I don't think that is a good...," said Yunbok but was cut off when Young-joon suddenly reached across the table and caught him by the coat lapels.
"I don't know who is she, what's her name!" There was an almost wild look in Young-joon's eyes.
"What do you want to do? Looking over the wall would not help you get those," Yunbok said placatingly, trying to prise Young-joon's fingers off his coat. Really, his friend was too emotional sometimes. Perhaps a wife was he needed to calm him down.
"But how do I get the information?" Young-joon let go of Yunbok and clapped his hands to his head, knocking his gat askewed.
"How about asking your father?" Yunbok suggested, straightening his coat.
"He's not at home, he left on a business trip this morning," came the gloomy answer.
"But, what about the dinner invitation?" Yunbok said in bewilderment. Why extend an invitation when the host was away?
"Oh, that's not tonight. It will be held when he comes back in two weeks. That's too long!" Young-joon wailed, thumping the table. The teapot and cups rocked alarmingly. Yunbok shoved his own cup further back onto the table before it could topple.
"There are three girls," he pointed out. "Does master Meen have three daughters? Did your father tell you which daughter of master Meen he's going to match you with?"
"I heard master Meen has only a daughter. Aboji only talked about marriage arrangements and then gave me that letter. But..," Young-joon stopped as he was about to toss his drink down his throat. "You knew those three girls were there, so you must have seen them. You could paint her portrait!"
"How will that help?" Yunbok said uneasily.
"Don't you see, if I have her portrait, aboji would know who she is. We don't have to waste time fumbling around, trying to figure out who she is," Young-joon declared brightly.
"It's impossible for your father to know who she is unless master Meen has been showing off his daughter in front of him. Have you considered that she might not be master Meen's daughter at all? She could be just some relative staying with them."
The suggestion did not seem to discourage his friend at all. In fact, he was insistent that Yunbok paint a portrait of the girl that day and threatened to go on his knees to beg if he had to.
"Surely..," Yunbok began and was interrupted when Young-joon leaped up, put on his taesahye (shoes) and paid the tavern-keeper for the drinks.
"Come, brother Seo, let's go to your house now," Young-joon urged when he returned.
Seeing that he would have no peace until his friend had what he wanted, Yunbok gave in and was nearly ran off his feet when Young-joon deemed he was moving too slow and tried to hurry him up by pushing his shoulders.
"Really, brother Han!" Yunbok was astonished by his friend's attitude. "Don't be in a hurry to ask for sungnyung from a well."
Realizing he was extremely rude, Young-joon had the grace to look ashamed and apologized profusely. On the way to the village, Young-joon could not stop talking about the girl. Yunbok wondered how much help he was going to be at the seodang on the morrow when it was evident he would have nothing on his mind but the girl and said as much to his friend as they walked up the path to the paper mill.
Young-joon had a hurt look on his face. "Brother Seo, I don't make promises I can't keep."
"If that is true, then I should have no worries on the morrow," Yunbok grinned, calling out as he opened the door of the house and heard Jeong-hyang's reply.
Leaving Young-joon at the daecheong, he went to collect his painting tools from the mungab in the back room and returned to see Jeong-hyang looking enquiringly from the kitchen. She spotted Young-joon and withdrew quickly. Knowing she would be preparing refreshments, Yunbok put out the drawing paper, weighing down the ends carefully.
"Brother Han, describe to me her features," he said as he prepared the ink.
"She has almond eyes that positively shine with her happiness, eyes that could outshine the stars at night," Young-joon began dreamily. "Fine brows that speak of her refinement, wavy as willow.."
At this Yun-bok's brows went up. He regarded Young-joon with increasing amusement as his friend's description began to get more rhetoric. Young-joon did not seem to notice Jeong-hyang when she came in. She paused to listen. By this time, Yunbok was shaking with silent laughter and holding his sides. Surreptitiously, she aimed a kick at his leg, shaking her head as she tried to keep a straight face. Quickly, she placed the soban beside Young-joon and retreated to the kitchen before she herself dissolved into hilarity. Totally oblivious to the reception to his hyperbole of the girl of his dreams, Young-joon continued.
Wiping his eyes and closing his ears to Young-joon's poetic portraiture, Yunbok began to draw, pulling whatever details he could recall from that quick glimpse he had of the girls. Judging from his friend's description, he had an idea which girl his friend had fixated upon. Young-joon fell silent as he ran out of words and blinked as his mind cleared from its dreamy haze to see Yunbok had already begun on the portrait. Not having seen his friend paint before, what he saw dazzle him.
He should have gone to that art competition years ago. The swift, delicate brush strokes, the details, that intense concentration, his friend was worlds away. Truly, he was in the presence of a great artist. Shin Yunbok, Hyewon, he muttered in awe, watching the face of the girl appeared on the paper. Life like. He had captured that expression so well, the one when he himself first saw her. So engrossed and captivated was he with watching Yunbok at work, he forgot where he was. When the last finishing touches of colours were done, he felt as if he had just gone on a journey with his friend. As Yunbok sat back to view the painting, he noticed Young-joon looking at him strangely.
He was puzzled at the strange gaze. "What? Do I have paint on my face?"
"Do you know, this is the first time I see your true face," Young-joon said solemnly as Yunbok regarded him with some alarm at that statement. See him as he was? What did he see?
"What do you mean?" he said uneasily.
"It never really...," Young-joon blinked, searching for the right words. "I never did get a chance to appreciate your talent, to experience it as I did just now." He gestured at the painting. "Brother Seo, for giving me this rare opportunity. I will never ever forget it."
"I am happy to hear I was able to provide such a chance," Yunbok said, with some relief. "Is this the girl?"
"Yes! You capture her exactly as when I first saw her!" Young-joon said delightedly, picking up the painting.
"I hope you will be able to identify her. I would appreciate it if you make no mention of me if anyone asks about the painting."
"Of course, brother Seo." The smile dropped from Young-joon's face when Yunbok reminded him of why he had to stay hidden. He looked worriedly from the painting to his friend. "Will this..?"
"Portraits are not my trademark work but someone may recognize the brushstrokes."
"I understand. I will show it only to aboji. It will not be given to anyone," Young-joon promised, rolling up the painting carefully and tucking it into his sleeve. "I have better get back. With my father away, I have to look in at the warehouse. I will see you at the seodang tomorrow, brother Seo."
After seeing Young-joon off, Yunbok returned to the daecheong. Feeling hungry, he fished a few tteok off the untouched soban, gathered up the brushes before heading down to the creek to clean them. The chore done, he returned to see that the rest of his painting tools had been packed away. He could see Jeong-hyang seated at the wardrobe in the back room and put up the wet brushes to dry on the brush stand at the desk.
"What was that all about earlier?" she asked as he hung up his gat and coat. Grinning, he sat next to her and related the events of that day.
"If he's thinking of writing poetry to her, he has better forget it," he laughed. "Brows as wavy as the willow? You can only find those on an old man!"
That certainly conjured up the most comical vision, she coughed as she tried to control her giggles. "But he is certainly smittened," she murmured as she put away the clean laundry.
"I hope his prospective father-in-law wouldn't take offense that he was sneaking looks over the wall. If all goes well, I suppose he'll be tied, well and truly before this year is out," he said as he grabbed the pile of his own clothes from the stack and depositing them into his own clothes chest. "When your classes start, how do you want the payments to be? Haraboji Yoo will want to know."
"Why ask me, you are making all the arrangements aren't you?" she said as he paused in surprise. What did she mean?
"Don't you have some sort of fee in mind?"
"You are the head of this household, aren't you? You decide," she said evenly as he stared at her, stupefied. Head of the household? Surely she was talking about somebody else! "What's wrong?" she caught sight of his confusion as she turned to pick up the clothes behind her.
"Er..ah...," he stuttered, suddenly at a lost. It was as if she had just dislodged him from a comfortable niche amidst a smoothly flowing river and now he was not sure where he was going.
"You did say we have to discuss our finances, so let's do it now. What do you have in mind?" she watched him carefully as he looked even more taken aback.
Finances? He had some sort of vague idea that they would pool their resources and use it as they see fit. But was it everything they themselves had saved or just what they earned from the classes and his work at the paper mill? She waited patiently for him to sort out his thoughts. Clearly, he had put forth the suggestion without giving much reflection about it. That he was shocked at the idea he was responsible for all the major decisions was stark on his face. Was he thinking either she or master Park would be taking charge?
"I think, we should just ask the villagers to pay what they could for the classes? I'm also thinking of pooling what we have into a common fund for expenses and such? Which will include what I earn at the paper mill. I'm also thinking of giving Ae-young an allowance out of the common fund. How does that sound to you?" he said with trepidation. What was that look she was giving him?
"Should my classes be any different from yours?"
"What do you mean?"
"You give free lessons, don't you?" she pointed out. "Why are you asking for payment?"
"I thought..," he said, abashed at his presumption of her wishes.
"My aspiration in holding classes are the same as yours. They are meant to provide help to the villagers," she said gently but firmly. "They know this and they appreciated what you do, don't they? They contribute freely what they can to you every year in the form of gifts. That is good enough."
"That they did. Then is the common fund fine with you?"
"How much do you earn from the work at the paper mill?"
He frowned as he thought about it. "Most of it comes from the sale of the paper which comes up to three hundred nyang in a good year when demand is higher. Usually, it averages about two hundred nyang. There's the work during harvest that provides my share of grain. Since I was living alone," he frowned. "I don't get to spend much at all. The villagers would give us new clothes every year and most of our food is supplemented by the vegetable patch. As for taxes, Master Park designated me as a yangban albeit an improvished one," he grinned at her, "so I don't have to pay the gunpo (military cloth tax). It's one pil of cotton cloth per year. I also opted to pay one-third of the gyeoljak with master Park so that comes up to two du of grain. For you, it should just be a surtax, right?"
"That doesn't mean you throw what you have saved into the fund," she admonished. "I'll be continuing my needlework for the extra income. My visit to town had another purpose which was to pick up some orders from customers," she added, to his surprise. "So how should we start the fund?" she prompted him, wishing to let him have the final say.
"Since I received payment for last season, I'll put two hundred into the fund less twenty pun for Ae-young's monthly allowance? Ah, I'll let you manage the fund since you are making the household purchases."
"I'll put in a hundred," she cut across him when he made to object for he was sure that sum would be out of her savings. "I can't let you contribute alone else why called it a common fund?"
"All right, we'll see how it goes then. We can make adjustments later," he said reluctantly, knowing she was right. "Is twenty pun a month too little for Ae-young?"
"As you have said, we will adapt accordingly."
Taking the matter as settled, she returned to the laundry as he watched her for a while, bemused at the subtle change in her before removing twenty pun from his money jumeoni and handing it to an astonished but delighted Ae-young in the kitchen. Not entirely sure what had occurred, he went to sit at the porch to watch the setting sun. So lost in thought was he, he did not notice Suk-kwon as he came by for dinner as usual. The older man wondered what he was thinking of, sitting in the dark. Not another quarrel? Suk-kwon was relieved by the flash of a smile when he called to Yunbok.
"What are you thinking of?" he asked.
"Just some things here and there. I heard some strange rumors today at the tavern," Yunbok repeated what he had heard to Suk-kwon who laughed. "Do you have something to do with that?"
"It's just gossip to make people confused about you. The more rumors there are, the better. The two most important aspects we are encouraging is rumors of your whereabouts. You're here, there, everywhere over the course of the years!" Suk-kwon threw out his arms. "The other," he grinned slyly, "is to leave plenty of outrageous account of your prowess as a lover of women."
"I do not see the jest in such a plan," Yunbok began, offended though he could see the point of having such gossip.
"We don't have a choice, not after what happened last year," Suk-kwon's chuckle died away. "The more confusion there is, the better. It is prudent to cast serious doubts about you. Don't worry, it'll be mostly gisaeng who will do the talking. There will be no scandal. It will just be a couple of affairs here and there in other provinces."
"If you say so," Yunbok sighed. "Though I wish there isn't any such need for it."
"All for a good cause, no? There is another matter I meant to discuss with you but since you asked about the rumours," Suk-kwon looked around before nudging Yunbok back to where he was sitting and lowered his voice further. "We are also planning to release some of your paintings."
"Release my paintings?" Yunbok was not sure where Suk-kwon was heading.
"Rumours without some evidence will not fully flesh out the confusion we have in mind. There are positive and negative aspects to your remaining hidden as you are. What happened last year pinpointed the negative effect of it." Suk-kwon took a deep breath. "To prevent such an occurance again, we will sell off one or two of your work in other provinces where you are rumoured to be."
"Ahhh, I see.," Yunbok smiled at the beauty of the deception.
"The choice of which painting is up to you but I'd suggest those on gisaeng, since you will be spending most of your time with those women," Suk-kwon chuckled. "You won't be releasing the paintings for nothing. You're going to be rich," he nudged Yunbok in the side.
"The money will come in handy in future, I'm sure. You're handling the transactions?"
Time to start planning for the latter years, Yunbok thought. The amount he would get would be staggering compared to what he earned at the paper mill. He brightened at the thought of providing some measure of comfort for Jeong-hyang.
"Old master Han will do it. I'd suggest you ask him about investments." Suk-kwon knew what his apprentice was thinking of. With more income, there was a safety resource to fall back on when he grew old. He was pleased Yunbok was thinking positively. "Let me know when you have picked one. As soon as possible so we can get it to the next stage of the plan."
"Should I ask who's impersonating me?" Yunbok wondered if it was an agent.
"Don't worry your head over it. Whoever we choose has his head firmly on his shoulders. He won't do anything dishonorable." Suk-kwon thumped Yunbok heartily on the back. "Come, let's have our dinner." In amiable silence, they went into the house.
Korean Words
Cheonseryeok - calendar of a thousand years
Chimgu gyeongheombang - treatment by acupuncture and moxibustion
Daedong yaseung - collection of folk tales and historical romances
garakji - amber ring worn by women to signify union between a man and woman
gunpo - military cloth tax
jambangi - work pants of common people, shorter and narrower than baji
jwilbuchae - foldable fan
jumeoni - pouch to contain money or personal effecs
muljiu - financier
Ongnumong - Dream of the Jade Chamber
Qiqi tushuo - Illustrations and explanations of wonderful machines
Saekgyeong - topics on orchards, livestock, farming, horticulture, irrigation, weather
sadae - waist cord
Seongho saseol - collected works of Seongho
