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chapter 30
Yang Bok trembled and busily wracked his brain.
Dan-yeop continued speaking.
“The Je-hyung Yu-gun made with silk and embroidery has a set price for the silk, and ultimately, it’s the embroidery that costs… Master Yang, you know the embroidery merchants inside out. It could be made for seven nyang, so set it at ten nyang. Even then, that’s a profit of three nyang. Adding the profit from the Wonryongpo and Je-hyung Yu-gun together, that’s a total of five nyang. Leaving yourself more than ten nyang is just overcharging.”
Biting his lips anxiously, Yang Bok said,
“You know only one side of the story. Rich people think a garment is valuable because it’s expensive. If it’s cheap, they assume there must be something wrong with it.”
“Oh, come on. Even just ten nyang versus ten and a half is an enormous sum. How can anyone call a single garment over ten nyang ‘cheap’?”
“You fool, at other fabric shops, a single Wonryongpo costs twenty-two nyang. Twenty nyang is considered cheap.”
“That’s an expensive shop. The cheaper ones sell for twelve nyang. So ten and a half nyang is respectable.”
Dan-yeop, having already surveyed Seosi’s entire fabric shop, spoke boldly.
Clenching his teeth, Yang Bok shouted,
“No! I won’t!”
“In that case, I’ll honestly tell my customers exactly how much profit Master Yang is making.”
“And you think I’ll let you do that?”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“Of course, I’ll throw you out. Do you think someone without a single penny can survive this winter?”
“I can work at another fabric shop. I already know the business inside out—finding a job won’t be a problem.”
“If you cause trouble and leave my shop, do you think Elder Yang will help you find work? Not a chance.”
“Even if Master Yang doesn’t help, I have enough skill to manage on my own.”
Dan-yeop had no money but carried himself confidently. If he couldn’t get a job elsewhere, he would even follow Ma-deung around selling water.
Seeing Dan-yeop’s determination, Yang Bok’s resolve wavered.
“You ungrateful brat! How can you treat me like this? I gave you money in advance and let you work freely.”
“I appreciate the hundred mun you gave me in advance, but thanks to me, you earned five nyang in silver coins. That’s not ungrateful, is it?”
“Ugh! I give in. I’ll add one more nyang for you. But don’t say another word about the clothing prices.”
In the end, Yang Bok decided to appease Dan-yeop. He figured that keeping nine nyang for himself was better than risking a dispute.
However, Dan-yeop didn’t fall for Master Yang’s trick.
“No. I made a promise to So-hyeop. I can’t break it.”
“What promise?”
“That I would help people buy what they want at a reasonable price.”
“Damn it! So you’re going to stick to your stubbornness?”
“It’s not stubbornness. I just want to do business honestly.”
Suddenly enraged, Yang Bok shouted,
“Get out! You brat!”
“Does that mean you want me to quit the shop immediately?”
“Who said quit? Just go and do your own work!”
“Ah, yes. Anyway, please honor my request regarding the clothing prices. You can handle Master Yang’s customers however you like—I’m flexible enough for that.”
“Go. Now.”
“Yes.”
After Dan-yeop left, Yang Bok immediately sent for Yang Hoe.
About half an hour later, Yang Hoe Mun-wi entered Yang’s fabric shop.
“Brother, you called for me?”
Seeing Yang Hoe’s face, Yang Bok groaned.
“Elder Yang, I’m at my wit’s end because of you.”
“Eh? Why? What happened?”
“Dan-yeop is giving me a headache. He’s wearing me down.”
“Dan-yeop? What did that brat do?”
Yang Bok recounted the entire affair in detail.
“…He even decided the clothing prices himself, saying the Wonryongpo should be ten nyang and the Je-hyung Yu-gun ten nyang. What? Is he the shop owner? Why is such a clueless kid acting so boldly?”
“Oh dear! If someone acts without knowing their place, you should scold them, brother. Why stress yourself?”
“I did scold him, but it had no effect. He wouldn’t even make eye contact on the first day, and now he’s so brazen. It’s enough to make me sick.”
“Then what do you want me to do? Should I bring him back?”
Yang Hoe assessed Yang Bok’s expression. In truth, hearing Dan-yeop being scolded made him uneasy. His master, Dan-bulwi, had instructed him to take care of Dan-yeop.
Yang Bok waved his hand.
“No, don’t be too harsh. Just dampen his spirit a bit and make him follow orders.”
“Understood. I’ll meet him and scold him. If he still doesn’t obey, then I’ll take stronger action…”
“Hey! Don’t make me the bad guy. I just want him scolded a little.”
“And if he still doesn’t listen?”
“Ha! Then I’ll keep him under my watch and teach him properly.”
“Excellent. By the way, how much is Dan-yeop’s monthly salary now?”
“Two hundred mun.”
Yang Bok, who had been giving him fifty mun from verbal transactions, looked at Yang Hoe as if to say, Why ask when you already know?
“This time, don’t deduct from verbal transactions. Just pay him the full 250 mun.”
“Give that to Dan-yeop? Why?”
“Winter is coming. He should prepare for it.”
“I see. I’ve been a little worried about that anyway. But go find him and give him a firm word.”
Yang Hoe looked puzzled.
“Is he not here?”
“He couldn’t grasp the work properly, so I sent him out to serve customers.”
“Understood. I’ll find him and scold him properly.”
Yang Hoe left the shop and searched for Dan-yeop.
Finding him wasn’t easy. After wandering through the shop all morning, he headed to Hyangmanru at noon.
As expected!
Dan-yeop was calmly eating noodles in a prime spot with a great view.
“Dan-yeop!”
Seeing him, Yang Hoe shouted briefly in frustration.
Dan-yeop swallowed his bite and asked with a nonchalant expression,
“Oh? Who are you again?”
“You shameless brat! It’s Yang Hoe!”
“Oh! Elder Yang, you came for lunch. Want to sit?”
Dan-yeop gestured to the empty seat across from him. Yang Hoe calmed his anger and sat down.
The shop assistant approached and kowtowed.
“Elder Yang, you’ve arrived. What would you like?”
Yang Hoe, feeling slightly hungry, ordered food.
“Bring lamb soup and Roujiamo (meat-stuffed bread).”
“Yes, right away.”
Once the assistant left, Yang Hoe growled softly,
“Tell me exactly what Master Yang did wrong.”
Dan-yeop clicked his tongue lightly and began.
“Tsk! Master Yang must have phrased it strangely. Actually…”
Dan-yeop briefly explained what had happened with Master Yang.
Yang Hoe, listening with a stunned expression, asked,
“Even though Master Yang offered a nyang, he refused?”
“Isn’t trust more important than money in business?”
“Have you forgotten who you are? You’re not a merchant. Do you want to be the shop owner?”
“Not at all. My goal is to rise higher.”
Dan-yeop pointed upward with his index finger.
“Then you should take the silver coins.”
“I’ve learned that doing my best at my own work is enough.”
“You… that’s…”
Yang Hoe, about to comment That’s something only sages would say, shut his mouth when the assistant returned.
Soon, a bowl of lamb soup and a plate with Roujiamo were placed before Yang Hoe.
Dan-yeop, having finished his noodles, focused on the Roujiamo.
Yang Hoe picked up a piece and handed it to him.
“Try this.”
“Thank you.”
Dan-yeop tore it with his hands and ate it. The meat melted in his mouth.
After finishing it quickly, Yang Hoe subtly pushed the plate toward him.
“Eat more.”
He then called the assistant to order another plate.
“So, you won’t follow Master Yang’s orders?”
“You may handle Master Yang’s customers as you like, but at least for my customers, I want to serve them at fair prices.”
“I see. If that’s your wish, I can’t stop you.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“By the way, your monthly salary will now be 250 mun, not 200.”
“I’ve noticed Master Yang is extremely stingy. If I get a chance, I’ll consider moving elsewhere. Is that okay?”
“Of course. Everyone should manage their own affairs.”
Yang Hoe looked at Dan-yeop with new eyes.
This is the same kid who couldn’t even meet my gaze two days ago…
He seemed completely different, even in demeanor and expression.
In the end, Yang Hoe just bought Dan-yeop his food and left.
Chang’an City
East Wing, Main Hall
Jinbo Chamber
Na Geum-ryeong’s daily routine never changed.
In the mornings, she went to Hyeonmugwan to learn martial arts. In the afternoons, she stayed home composing poetry or playing the pipa.
Her elder brother, Na Bu-gang, was similar, except he studied at Samunhak after graduating from Hyeonmugwan.
When Na Bu-gang returned in the afternoon, Na Geum-ryeong approached him.
“Why?”
“It’s just strange, the more I think about it.”
“What is?”
“What did you find so appealing about the shop assistant you met at the fabric shop?”
Na Geum-ryeong stared at her brother.
How could the meticulous elder brother contract the Wonryongpo without question? She couldn’t understand.
Na Bu-gang asked in return,
“Why did you want to buy the Je-hyung Yu-gun?”
“I only agreed because I followed you.”
“That sounds like an excuse.”
“It’s the truth. Why did you do it?”
“I just liked him.”
“Because he’s handsome?”
“Didn’t you feel something when he approached you?”
“Delicate? Frail?”
“Exactly. So you only noticed his face.”
“I told you I didn’t look at his face.”
“His gait was subtle. Like when the Grand Master performs Yuwunbo, a certain elegance is conveyed.”
“That shop assistant was a martial artist?”
Na Geum-ryeong’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t say martial artist, only that his gait was subtle.”
“That’s the same thing!”
“Not really. His gait could be unique for another reason. Someone slim doesn’t usually look suited for martial arts.”
“So you helped him because of his subtle gait?”
“No, I liked what he said. He’s remarkably honest.”
“Not strange?”
Na Geum-ryeong recalled what Dan-yeop had said. Even if she excused it, it wasn’t something to say to a random passerby.
“Hahaha! You’re right. He’s unusually honest. I must speak to him at once.”
Na Bu-gang jumped up, and Na Geum-ryeong followed, stunned.
“Suddenly?”
“Fate flows like a river. If you don’t seize the opportunity, it will just pass by.”
Ignoring his surprised sister, Na Bu-gang strode out.
