“This applicant can be assigned to the counter, and if this applicant is rotated to the site, would that work?”
After Im Ha-yeon left the Tea Bookstore, I was pondering how to allocate the staff while looking at the applicants’ documents.
I thought there would be some people giving up on their applications, but everyone’s applying! At this rate, we have enough personnel.
I should keep the staff doing relatively easy work and let those doing the hard work leave early or give them a day off, or do some kind of rotation.
“Im Ha-yeon should primarily work on the second floor.”
I chuckled while looking at the documents of the top candidate from the bookstore staff’s free contract market.
Anyone who sees her beauty would find it unforgettable for the whole day.
It would cost a fortune to meet her if she became a proper courtesan, but now all I have to do is have her come to the Tea Bookstore.
Plus, as a former courtesan, she would likely have a good service mindset for the job. She’s truly the perfect asset for selling tea at the Tea Bookstore!
Once we reopen, will I not be able to rake in the money?
“Kang branch manager! Fortunately, you’re still at the Tea Bookstore!”
As I imagined myself raking in money with a pitchfork, someone from the Literary Association entered through the door of the Tea Bookstore.
“What brings you here?”
“The Literary Association Chairperson is calling for you.”
——
What’s up with that?
I immediately visited the Chairperson’s residence.
I knew I was going to get busier again, but I couldn’t refuse the Water’s request for wage support along with providing staff.
Having sat next to the Chairperson, who drinks heavily at drinking parties, I may have discreetly sneaked away to another table. Or maybe I poured and spilled my drink on my sleeve to avoid getting drunk.
Or perhaps I poured water into my wine glass secretly and endured it.
I feel even more tense when summoned without having done anything wrong.
“Have you been waiting?”
The Chairperson entered the room where I was waiting and took a seat of honor.
“I just arrived.”
“Thank you for staying with the Literary Association event from start to finish. You could have thought of it as someone else’s problem since you’re an outsider.”
Isn’t it natural since he’s letting me select my staff?
It’s not random drawing; I can screen them all based on their faces.
But really, is that the only reason you called me, when I’m busy with so many people?
“Outsider? I can’t think of it that way. How can it be someone else’s business to find sprouts that will become the pillars of Yichang?”
Contrary to my thoughts, I smiled, feigning hurt at his words.
“Ha ha. You really have a way with words. So, I’m not just here to appreciate your hard work today; I also called you to apologize concerning the work-study scholarship students.”
The Literary Association Chairperson laughed heartily at my words but soon said with a serious tone.
Apologizing about the work-study scholarship students?
Could it be that he’s unhappy with how Kang Yoon-ho’s fame is rising through this system, draining talent away from the Tea Bookstore, and even receiving half wages?
Suddenly, a bad feeling washed over me.
He wouldn’t be canceling the support, would he? Or saying he would abolish the system?
“Apologize? For what?”
“When you first suggested the work-study scholarship system, I honestly thought you were just seeking help to hire staff.”
“……”
That’s true.
“But I think I misunderstood your intentions.”
“You mean a misunderstanding?”
I tilted my head slightly as I looked at the Chairperson.
“Your words on the podium really touched my heart. Even while worrying about tomorrow’s meals, you wanted to give hope to those who want to be writers. It was not just a formal statement; it truly came from the heart.”
Of course. I’ve been hungry before.
Having fallen into this world and crawled my way up to become a writer, it wasn’t hard to convey emotions.
“As a bookstore owner, I understood the plight of struggling writers. Since I lived a humble life myself and barely found my footing, it did not feel foreign to me.”
My primary goal is to capture Im Ha-yeon, but helping struggling writers by hiring them is also a secondary objective.
“Yes. You might have seen it, but just now, the person selected as a work-study scholarship student thanked me with tearful eyes. They were on the verge of giving up after being rejected this time, but they gained the courage to try again. Hearing that made me reflect on whether I had been lacking in any regard.”
The Chairperson sighed with a troubled expression, reflecting on what happened yesterday.
“How could the Chairperson’s contributions possibly be lacking? There’s no place in the Hubei Province where a system to support new writers like this exists. Moreover, you selected the winners solely based on their skills and fairly, so those awardees will surely become great pillars of Yichang, wouldn’t they?”
If I had heard about the rookie writer competition during my days as a dialogue partner, I wouldn’t have thought twice and would have headed straight to Yichang.
Such is how groundbreaking the Literary Association’s support system is.
“…… Is that so?”
“Of course, while some run forward with a full belly and high-quality shoes towards the goal, others have to run barefoot while carrying their sick families. I might not be on the same level as you, but I want to help those who are struggling to run towards their goals.”
“I thought you were just a talented merchant for discovering Ho Pil, but it seems you’re a deeper young man than I thought.”
The Chairperson stroked his beard, looking at me with a newfound perspective.
Yes. From the Chairperson’s view, I might only appear to be a bookstore owner who can discover commercially viable writing. He might have thought so little.
“I need to maintain a good relationship with the Literary Association.”
Since it’s a powerful group in Yichang, keeping a good relationship would benefit me.
“I should change my course while maintaining their impression.”
When someone openly claims to see me anew, it also indicates that my likability has increased, along with the chance to raise it even higher as they’ve lowered their guard.
I can’t just end up as a competent merchant. I need to leave an impression on the Literary Association Chairperson.
Only then can I get good articles written about me, receive future talent provisions, and have staff wages supported.
To earn more favor with the Chairperson of the Literary Association, I continued.
“In Joseon, there’s a saying that you earn like a dog and spend like a minister.”
Starting with an unfamiliar Joseon saying, I tried to pique his curiosity.
“What does that saying mean?”
“It means that when making money, one should not shy away from base work, but when spending, do so meaningfully.”
“To earn basely but spend meaningfully?”
The Chairperson surely thought of me as a merchant, who he just claimed had good business acumen.
His expression might indicate that he connected that saying directly to himself.
So now, let’s naturally show him that Kang Yoon-ho spends like a minister through one bridge.
“I am a merchant. I earn my keep to the best of my ability from my position. However, just because I earn money diligently, I do not intend to send it to the heavens or take it with me to the afterlife. Therefore, I operate with one belief when conducting business.”
“What belief is that?”
“Business is leaving people behind.”
“Leaving people behind?”
“Now that I, as a person, have started my business, I will continue to support many writers in various ways, and as I sell good books, countless people’s enjoyment and knowledge will grow. The more money I earn, the larger this scale will become. What else could be business that leaves people behind?”
Simply accumulating wealth is seen as wrong in the eyes of writers. Especially, the more educated someone is, the stronger the aversion to merchants tends to be.
Why do you think the social structure in Joseon viewed merchants as the lowest?
To build wealth and then give back to people.
My speeches on the podium, the proposal of the work-study scholarship, and this recent conversation would make the Chairperson see me as someone a bit more committed to this belief.
“And since I need to build a reputation while making money anyway…”
If I’m continuously building respect from others, wouldn’t that further establish my reputation?
“To leave people behind through business… Ha ha ha. At yesterday’s event, the one who should have spoken at length to the attendees was not me but you.”
“How could that be in front of you, the former Chairperson of the Imperial Palace? I’m merely expressing that as the owner of the bookstore in Yichang, I’ll continue to operate with conviction.”
So please continue the support.
I earnestly told the Literary Association Chairperson while bowing my head, as if bearing a heavy resolve on my shoulders.
“Yes. For a moment, seeing you gave me a feeling of the old Chairperson returning. So, thinking like that, I can’t just sit idly by. How can I help you…”
You’ve already helped me so much, and you want to help again?
I had to desperately hide my urge to cheer.
What will you offer me?
After a moment of contemplation, the Literary Association Chairperson declared to me,
“I will fully support the wages of the work-study scholarship students.”
