Chapter 408

Upon hearing that a name had been decided, Son Representative Ho let out a playful gasp.

However, despite his slick demeanor, he swallowed hard while staring at Qing, desperately trying to hide his nervousness.

“Wheeyoung. Yeom Wheeyoung.”

“Oh, that’s a name more impressive than I expected! It’s not a common name either. What does it mean, Mother?”

“It means ‘shine’ Whee and ‘comfort’ Young. I hope you become a shining person who brings comfort to everyone.”

“Wheeyoung. Wheeyoung. Wheeyoung.”

Son Representative Ho repeated Yeom Wheeyoung’s name several times, awkwardly, like a child with a toy he’s never had before.

“But don’t people usually choose names like ‘Strong Man,’ ‘Noble Person,’ or something that sounds tough and commands respect?”

“Why not something like ‘Cucumber’ or ‘Sambo’ instead?”

One of the naming methods in the Central Plains involves using the last digit of the parents’ ages to form a name, ensuring that parents won’t forget their child’s age.

“That’s not it. It feels too wholesome, as if I’m supposed to become an even better person. Should I really strive to be a good son from here on?”

“I said to become a comfortable person, not a good one. What’s so hard about being a difficult person? When people become great, they usually become hard to deal with. Even a master, being all serious and solemn, is hard to approach, right? You can’t mess with difficult people, but you also can’t easily get close to them.”

In fact, being a comfortable person while being a shining genius is quite the challenge.

The word ‘comfortable’ carries such a positive connotation, encompassing physical lightness, a relaxingly free mind, a fondness for preferences, and even the ease and benefits life can bring.

It suggests all kinds of cozy feelings: good, snug, leisurely, and easy.

So, people easily approach those who are comfortable, reaching out for a handshake, giving cheerful smiles, and warm welcomes.

Because they are comfortable. Simply put, they are nice people.

“So, the comfortable person is truly the one beloved by all. Since you’ve hardly received anything up to now, I thought I’d grant you all that you deserve. Sound good?”

Last night, I hugged Gyen Pohee and lay on the bed, feeling incredibly cozy.

Indeed, the bed is a magical place where excellent ideas bloom just as sleepiness kicks in.

As I squirmed warmly in Uncle’s embrace, it suddenly struck me how truly wonderful comfort is.

“Hmm. I can’t relate at all. Be a comfortable person? Isn’t that suggesting I become a clown?”

“What? So you don’t like it?”

Yeom Wheeyoung smiled satisfyingly.

“No, I really like it. Regardless of the meaning, the important thing is that Mother has thoughtfully chosen good characters for my name. That’s what matters. It’s all about wishing for a child to do well. I appreciate it, Mom.”

“Ugh, I told you to stop that!”

Qing blushed and began rubbing her arms, feeling her skin crawl from embarrassment.

“I mean it. The meaning doesn’t resonate with me, but if it means you thought hard and chose it for me, then what’s the problem?”

With that, Qing smacked him on the forehead.

“After all that effort to name you, do you really have to put it like that? You should appreciate the thought behind the gift instead of nitpicking!”

“What’s important to me is that thought, Mother. Can I show off some tricks now? Since I haven’t been able to for fifty years, is it okay if I do it for the next fifty years?”

“Do people usually show off tricks for fifty years?”

“Then how many years, Mother?”

“Let’s see, no matter how long it is, I doubt it lasts more than twenty.”

“Nice! So you’re saying twenty years is okay? Mother, just tell your son. What’s this about the Salwold Sect? They dared to bother you? Should I sort them out?”

Qing, however, shook her head seriously.

“Don’t talk like that. I won’t stop you if you want to do something, but I will never lift a finger to swing whatever ‘mother of a kid’ title you think you have. When a child is over fifty, they should be well on their path, not lingering around their parents.”

Yeom Wheeyoung smiled more broadly, as if she had gotten one over on Qing.

Even though she had clearly drawn the line, Qing stated firmly.

“Don’t have any ideas about ‘parent and child’ being together for a lifetime. Love you, Mother.”

Qing shook her head.

“Did you not hear me? I said to go your way, shoo! Uncle, get me some salt. I think this place is misfortuned; I swear I need to sprinkle a whole lot to make it into a salt field.”

“Uh? Would getting about two hundred pounds work? So how many loads would that take? One sack is ten bushels, and three bushels is forty pounds, so for a hundred pounds… hmm, three, six, forty… uh-oh.”

Gyen Pohee was fervently folding and unfolding her fingers, adding and subtracting. Finally, she grinned and said, “I don’t know. Should I just buy about two sacks?”

“Just one bucket will do. I want to drive someone away, so I’ll sprinkle it everywhere!”

At that, Gyen Pohee shook her head.

“Uncle, you can’t do that. Your nephew will be upset.”

“Truly, the only one thinking of me is you, Auntie. You’re the best!”

Qing rolled her eyes. She just wanted everything to fade away.

That was Qing’s true intent.

—-

Thanks to her unexpected son’s deeds, public sentiment in Gwangju had shifted. It was now time to gather people and properly restore the manor.

The restoration work for Jin Gajang wasn’t something I was spending my own money on, so of course, it required the permission of whoever was paying for it.

Slowly, Qing started looking for someone to take up the job and sought out Jin Jagang.

As luck would have it, he was in front of the house, flailing his arms around while digesting his breakfast in a somewhat messy form of Tai Chi.

Jin Jagang seemed flustered upon spotting Qing.

Now that his party had increased, the young man in front of him didn’t seem so surprising, but he was completely taken aback to see Myeonsanya wrapped around Jin Jagang, looking utterly cozy.

Seeing as how he looked at ease, it only confirmed that this was very much the norm for him.

“Cheonhwa-geom? Is there something wrong?”

“Oh. Uncle. Let me down. I need to greet you properly, you know. This is my uncle, Gyen Pohee. She loves being carried around. I swear it’s not for my comfort; it’s completely out of necessity. Right?”

“Yup. Yup. Hello? My little brother has been quite the help.”

The two ladies gave their greetings.

“Who’s this young man?”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about him.”

Though Gyen Pohee had initially come to attend to Qing, Yeom Wheeyoung, having nothing else to do, decided to follow along to observe what her mother was up to.

Yeom Wheeyoung seemed to contemplate for a moment before politely bowing her head.

“Greetings. I’m Yeom Wheeyoung, a humble visitor, and I’ve come knocking on your door, bearing no small audacity as my mother resides here.”

“You called her mother?”

“Yes, head of the household. This is Cheonhwa-geom, and she is my adoptive mother.”

“……? Cheonhwa-geom? You have such a grown son? Oh, umm. Perhaps there’s an arrangement between you, but… uh, you truly have a remarkable child.”

Though surprised, Jin Jagang responded with courtesy, now that her niceties had been acknowledged.

Indeed, he was a man of truly excellent character.

“Adoptive child, no, um, great child, rather?”

“Ah, great child. I see.”

‘Great child’ refers to someone regarded as an adopted child but typically means someone is not biologically related.

If you take someone who is not related at all under your wing, you would use ‘great child’ as a more common term.

Jin Jagang wore a curious expression but refrained from probing further; that was simply how he was.

However, Yeom Wheeyoung didn’t plan on letting her lips rest.

“I’ve often acted wickedly since I was young, committing many sins; however, my mother scolded me sternly, and thus the villain has found reform, much like rebirth. So I eagerly wish to serve my uncle.”

“Ah. I see. Um. A good story, a good story…”

Jin Jagang was utterly perplexed.

A villain finding transformation and declaring their wish to serve, how serene would it be if a person of ten or so had accepted counsel after falling into bad company.

A beautiful story that sounds like it’s of ancient times, no less.

However, however, it felt a little off for a seeming twenty-something young man claiming to serve an eleven-year-old girl as his aunt.

Like, if your mother is younger than you, that’s indeed a strange tale that only gossipers might venture to spread.

And the confusion began to spread to Jin Gajang too.

“Seomun Sulin! What’s going on in your third conference? Oh, there is someone among your party? Huh? Your son? Ah, good to meet you!”

“Cheonhwa sis! Chang-a wrote graffiti with bricks. Oh, oh. Who is this elder brother? Uh, son… I am, Jin Yuwol.”

“Wow, Qing Ah? Who’s that? You brought along such a handsome young man. Uh, indeed. So, uh, your great child is really tall, and the way he speaks is fantastically polite.”

The staff at Jin Gajang, who had been off duty, greeted Qing warmly upon seeing her.

Despite the fact that they treated her rougher than casual banter, they acted all respectful and polite towards this young man, which was a bit vexing.

Then suddenly, a beam of light broke through.

“Seomun Sulin? What on earth is happening here? No, how can that be? Claiming a great child for a girl just past her blooming years? Don’t they have any thoughts at all?”

“Jin Sulin!”

Qing grabbed Jin Seol’s hand tightly.

Isn’t that the common sense reaction?

However, Jin Seol felt rather cold.

“Seomun Sulin too. I get that you’re well-meaning, but that doesn’t give you an excuse to blindly accept.”

“Exactly, it’s true!”

However, regardless of this, Qing was feeling emotional.

While wanting to share this feeling, the Jin family, busy due to a shortage of people, dashed away.

Now, Qing had her own tasks. She needed to transition from searching the Gwangju construction site to officially requesting reliable construction.

And so, dressed as the Civil Engineering Fairy, she sought out the lumber street, knowing very well not many would recognize her.

“Oh, Fairy! I hear you’ve finally accepted? That’s pure merit!”

“Where’s today’s construction at? Oh, I hear you’re going to be putting it up today. Are you going to have the head carpenter take care of it? Oh, you’re not taking on the job? You could just hand it to the Kang or Yang family. Oh, but I hear you really went through with it?”

Even yesterday, that scatterbrained girl appeared, sprinting over and throwing her arms around Qing while making goo-goo eyes.

“Oh, Mother!”

“How did that little runt find out? If you start chasing after men at this age, it’s game over!”

“Hehe, Mother, one day you’ll have a daughter too.”

“I’m not interested in that kind of romance. Just solve it between yourselves.”

“Hey! I told you, that little one isn’t my type! What age do you think I’m at?”

“I’m not a kid! I’m fifteen this year; I’m an adult!”

“Kiddo, I’m fifty. If I’ve lived three times longer than you, I think I have every right to call you a kid.”

“……? No way. You can’t fool me!”

News of the prior day’s spectacle had already spread through the town, and upon seeing Yeom Wheeyoung beaming behind Qing, people were excited for them.

“Fairy, may I take on the role of foreman? I’d be a disgrace if I left even a crumb behind, saying you depend on me! But if that’s the case, what does the great child become, the carpenter or the inheritor to the shrine?”

Now, Qing was no longer a little lumberjack but had become a recognized master carpenter in her own right.

When she first posed as the Civil Engineering Fairy, she had merely been masquerading as something she wasn’t, but now there was no one in Gwangju who doubted her skills.

It wouldn’t be strange to take charge of a construction project; she had become an experienced carpenter.

The seasoned foreman was now discussing how many workers would be needed, how the construction would proceed, how much material was available, how to procure what was needed, and every pipeline in the conversation flowed seamlessly between carpenters.

Seated on a stump common in lumber streets, Yeom Wheeyoung rested her chin on her knees, observing the scene.

Son Representative Ho’s lips curled into a gentle smile.

The daughter of a vegetable vendor looked back and forth between Qing and Yeom Wheeyoung three times, her eyes bulging in realization.

“Elder brother? No way! Right?”

“Ah, so that’s why Mother said you started acting wild? Look at you, totally lost in all your debauchery!”

“No, I’m just…”

Yeom Wheeyoung chuckled and tousled the girl’s hair.

If Seomun Sulin were here, she would have raised fire over recklessly messing up a lady’s hair, even if she’s just a child.

In half a day, she had met too many people who greeted her cheerfully, as if she had always been a native of Gwangju.

Even though the big elder of Zhengpai was necessarily a not-so-friendly master to the common people, none of them were acting like they were intimidated.

“Comfy people, huh? Just a bunch of chumps? However, they don’t seem so bad, after all.”

“What? What do you mean by that?”

“Well, that’s not a worry for you. What did you say a moment ago?”

“Hey, speaking of, aren’t those pesky guys still okay? They’re not causing trouble anymore, are they?”

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