“You didn’t write it under your real name; you used a pen name. Hurry and touch it up and submit it with your real name.”
Yichang Literary Association Chairperson. Sang Gwan-ak’s House.
After telling the Tang family folks that I had some business, I checked whether the rookie authors were submitting their works properly for a few days.
“I’ll go get a new cover.”
“Don’t worry about it; we won’t deduct points for a dirty cover. Just submit it. Next person! The info here is different; what’s the relationship?”
“I’m a servant.”
“Where did you learn to just waltz in without manners? Are you thinking of making the prize a servant’s reward? It’s basic for the author to submit their own work at the Literary Association. Get the author here quickly!”
“Yes, yes! I’ll go let them know right away!”
Who’s trying to game the system here? Do they think the announcement is just for show?
“Is it okay for Manager Kang to handle such trivial tasks?”
As I was diligently organizing the works I received, one of the Literary Association members came up and asked.
“We don’t need to look at the works until the final judging, so I’m just passing the time while checking the authors’ qualifications.”
“What are those notes you’re writing as people submit their works in the last few days?”
“I’m marking them to verify if the submitted personal information matches.”
I had my own reasons for checking.
I compared the documents I received from Hwang Seong’s brother one by one and recorded the necessary additional information.
“It must be bothersome, but you’re being very thorough. By the way, it seems there are no more submissions?”
At the mention of the dwindling atmosphere, I glanced around and looked up at the sky. The sun had almost finished its day’s work and was hastily nearing the end of the day.
“There are still people who haven’t submitted.”
I said that with a disappointed tone while thinking about the woman who hadn’t yet arrived.
Isn’t it a bit too early for everyone to leave? There are still many employees yet to finish their work. Suddenly, I recalled the department head’s voice, begging not to receive calls during break.
The sun had already decided it was time to leave by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, hurriedly hiding its face like Kang Mo, who was barely visible when trying to be called over.
“You said until dusk, but the sun is almost gone. Everyone who was coming must have come. Will you be heading to Kiryun with the Literary Association folks later?”
“I will.”
Despite the Literary Association member’s words, I continued to stare at the door, waiting.
How long did I wait?
The Literary Association member was busy rambling about how the new courtesan dancing was very good, worrying that, while she danced, she might lock eyes with him, suggesting she might be in love with him. In the distance, I finally spotted a figure.
“Am I late?! Kang Yoon-ho?! Why are you here?”
Im Ha-yeon rushed up to me from the entrance.
She’s incredibly fast. Her light body movement technique is definitely impressive.
“I was cutting it close. Hurry and give it to me.”
I reached out my hand to her.
“Ugh?!”
Im Ha-yeon, clutching the book to her chest as if she didn’t want to let go of a dark history notebook that mustn’t be discovered, hesitated at my outstretched hand.
Will she submit it or not?
“Haha. So the reason you waited this long was for this woman.”
“You were waiting?”
Im Ha-yeon looked at me with wide eyes.
“I just didn’t want someone to miss their chance by a hair’s breadth after working hard. Now, hurry and give it to me.”
I nonchalantly extended my hand again.
“……Here.”
“Since we’re done for the day, let’s get up and go to Kiryun!”
The Literary Association member shouted excitedly like a manager announcing the start of a fun gathering.
He’s saying that out loud?! I caught a glint of contempt in Im Ha-yeon’s eyes.
“It’s dark now. It could be dangerous for a woman to walk alone at night, so I’ll take you home.”
“What did you say?!”
She looked at me as if I had said something absurd.
“Follow me.”
Are you unhappy that I’m offering to accompany you? I have something I want to check.
Aren’t you going to come along? You’re the judge for this contest, right?
In the end, as I stepped outside, she quietly followed me.
—————-
“Do you really not want to go together?”
Im Ha-yeon asked, sounding awkward as we walked in silence.
“Kiryun isn’t that fun.”
Sitting with a bunch of shady guys I don’t even know, drinking? No thanks, that feels like a business trip.
“How can you say that when the courtesans put in so much effort to entertain?”
Her irritation was oddly directed. She said, sticking out her lips at me.
“Did you really work hard?”
I gave a little snort at her words and inquired about her work.
“Ugh… I forgot to eat and sleep and wrote with all my might.”
“Haha. I can see that.”
I glanced her up and down.
You look like you haven’t eaten properly for days; your skin looks rough, and your hair is a mess, hastily haphazardly tied up, resembling a bird’s nest with grease all over it.
“Uh?! Do I look strange?”
She seemed to finally realize her appearance, her mouth agape and her face hardening.
“The smell of dumplings wafts nicely ahead. Jin-soi! Please pack some dumplings for me.”
I have to avoid answering. Ignoring her, I moved toward the steaming dumpling shop.
“Ah! My goodness! Look at my hair!”
Im Ha-yeon started rearranging her hair, making efforts to salvage a disaster.
“Take them.”
“Ugh… Don’t stare at me so much. What is this?”
Im Ha-yeon lowered her head, hunching her shoulders to avoid being seen, peeking up to catch sight of what I had handed her.
“You haven’t eaten, have you? Go on, have a bite.”
I need to reel in the fish named Im Ha-yeon. But first, I need to toss some bait.
I casually handed her the packaged dumplings, trying to sound considerate.
“…….”
“I’ve added kimchi dumplings too.”
“……Please.”
Im Ha-yeon carefully accepted the paper bag containing the dumplings.
“My consideration ends here. I intend to be fair during the judging.”
When I throw out the bait, I need to see if the fish will bite.
How will the target react to the bait? Does she have no intentions of eating it? Does she loathe me to the point of not wanting to get involved?
Will she only take a bite because she’s hungry, or does she have other desires too?
Handing her dumplings is an act of kindness towards the daughter of an ally, but not a bribe. I declared with an indifferent expression.
Now, let’s gauge her reaction to the bait.
“Please, don’t be so cold-hearted!”
She finally took the dumplings and dashed away. She’s fast; I doubt even the constables could catch her at night.
I chuckled quietly as I watched her vanish in the distance.
She probably finds me repulsive but still wants to become a writer, right?
Yeah, good. This might allow me to move things along as planned.
I turned back and headed for the Literary Association Chairperson’s house.
“You and the woman who just left don’t seem to be on good terms.”
When I reached the door, the Literary Association members, including the one I had just been with, stood waiting.
“Haha. It seems she didn’t let me in.”
“Are you going to go to Kiryun? There may not be a beauty like that, but there are talented courtesans as well.”
“Thank you for the offer, but no. I need to meet with the Chairperson again.”
“May I ask what that is about?”
“I have suggestions for a Literary Association event.”
I got a good read on her reaction.
Now it’s time to draw up a proper plan.
————
The Literary Association award ceremony was quite grand.
Not only was the scale of the event large, but the guests attending were also impressive.
Sang Gwan-ak, as the Chairperson of the Literary Association, was from the prestigious Hallim Academy. It was only natural that local dignitaries and important figures attended such an event.
“Hey, this is Kang Yoon-ho, the manager of Dasuok.”
“Kang Yoon-ho of Dasuok!”
Connections matter. In the past, a black-haired barbarian like me would have been told to come here to beg for food.
But now, I was invited as a judge, proudly making my social rounds.
“Ah, you’re the manager who found author Ho Pil! I’ve heard stories about you and Dasuok.”
“I’ve heard much about the esteemed Sang’s reputation as well. It’s remarkable that someone from Yichang is so interested in a small bookstore.”
“Ha! Rumors are often exaggerated!”
The flattery seemed to work well. The Chairperson was grinning widely, unable to hide his joy.
“You look sharp; you might even be able to find hidden authors in no time!”
“I’ve read ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’! There should be more novels like that!”
“I’ll ensure that there are many more novels like ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ in Yichang.”
Of course, I’ll be using Ho Pil’s name a lot.
After greeting everyone present with a business smile, I tried to sit down while disguising my fatigue.
Is she here yet? I scanned the seats but couldn’t find the pink pigtail girl.
Hope she’s not arriving late again.
“Is it alright if I sit here?”
Just when I was contemplating whether to rummage through a barrel of wine, a voice came from a side.
“An attractive lady! Miss, did you also support the new author event? Please, take a seat.”
Thankfully, today she wasn’t late.
——-
“It looks like all the participants are seated, so let’s begin the event.”
“First, we’ll hear from Sang Gwan-ak, the Chairperson of the Yichang Literary Association.”
“Ahem. To all the learned men from Hubei Province gathered here today, and esteemed guests, I’m delighted to see you all here on this auspicious occasion. As the Saying goes… Now, everyone…”
This guy is delivering a sermon; is he a teacher or something?
Thinking about it, since he’s from Hallim Academy, he practically is one. Time seems to freeze. I stopped trying to think until his address is finished.
“Whoever is bowing their head and playing in the dirt while someone is trying to make an important address?”
He wasn’t a cliché teacher just lost in his speech.
“Sorry!”
One of the invited authors shouted out in a panic after being called out.
Oops! I was even doodling in the dirt. I quickly rubbed out the butterfly shape I had drawn.
“I was going to end here, but seeing you all, I think I need to say a few more words! As the saying goes, a young man finds it hard to learn, and every moment cannot be taken lightly!”
Someone save me, please.
——–
“I’ll begin the awards. The encouragement prize will be presented by Kang Yoon-ho of Dasuok.”
It’s already my turn? I wanted to be a presenter, but I can’t even give out the top awards.
“Is it really him, the presenter Kang Yoon-ho?”
“Who’s that?”
“Weren’t you informed that they invited the manager of Dasuok as a judge for the Literary Association?”
“Are they really letting an outsider present an award? That’s impressive!”
“It shows he’s recognized, I suppose.”
“First of all, as a member of Yichang, I’m truly grateful for this honorable occasion and would like to thank all the literary association members and everyone from Yichang.”
I exchanged pleasantries with the guests before pulling out the award list.
“This year’s encouragement prize for new authors goes to…”
I cautiously glanced at Im Ha-yeon. The way she was anxiously folding her hands and staring me down made her look like an exam taker waiting for results.
“Yoo Sung-jin!”
“Yes!”
But what now? It isn’t her.
As soon as I called the winner, Im Ha-yeon’s head drooped in disappointment.
Unfortunately, her head won’t be lifting back up again.
“The runner-up is…”
“And the gold award goes to…”
“The coveted grand prize winner is!”
Im Ha-yeon isn’t on the list either.
—–
Why did Im Ha-yeon reject my help?
A runaway courtesan. A thief who won’t steal. In a situation where she can’t even eat properly. Why would she turn down help from her father, the literal Agenda?
Is it purely out of hatred for him?
No.
“It’s because there’s hope of becoming a writer.”
No matter how tough the situation is, if there’s hope, pride can prevail.
So how should I begin?
— Miss Im Ha-yeon. I can help you to the second evaluation, but won’t be able to help you reach the final evaluation. Is there any chance…
— Please be fair. How could I insert personal interest into such a glorious position?
How do I get her to accept my help?
How do I get her to be a part of Dasuok?
“Of course, I’ll have to start by removing her only glimmer of hope.”
