“With this level of skill, there should be plenty of jobs available, but you still choose to be a delivery person?”
If a third-rate martial artist is at the level of an average person who has mastered martial arts, then a second-rate martial artist is at the point where they can operate inner energy.
Being a martial artist is nothing to scoff at, and to say you want to be a delivery person is like taking a crash dive into a stable job.
“You really don’t understand, do you? That’s only true for those from the Central Plains. It doesn’t apply to us black-haired folks.”
In response to my question, a young martial artist of the second-rate level bowed his head and answered.
“I’ve heard the postal service doesn’t hire easily. Yet, there must still be places that need martial artists for security, right?”
“It’s all the same. If you’re black-haired, you’ll either be put in the most dangerous position or, at worst, used as a body shield. If it’s not that, you’ll get a meager salary.”
Seems like foreign workers suffer too; even if they have the same skills, they end up doing hard or dangerous jobs in the martial arts world.
“Yes, it’s true that delivery jobs pay decently, but that’s only when compared to ordinary jobs. They’re not hiring second-rate martial artists.”
What I planned was to raise third-rate martial artists as delivery workers.
At the level of second-rate, they would likely want to quit, so I thought I’d keep them engaged with the bait of being a postman, then cheer them on to live bravely in the martial arts world when I finally let them go.
But who would have thought second-rate martial artists would show up.
“We’ve all worked hard to reach this level. However, in order for us to be treated well, we’ll have to associate with the faction, particularly the Black Knife.”
“I take it you don’t want to go that far?”
They were essentially a gang of sword-wielding robbers. They were exactly the type I wanted to avoid while wandering the Central Plains.
“Even though we chose the path of wielding a sword, we still learned the basics of ethics from our fathers. Even in dire straits, we wouldn’t want to steal from others.”
In the Central Plains, it seems like wielding a sword makes it easy to assume others’ pockets are yours. But true to our Joseon nature, they were earnest young men.
“In the end, you’re saying you want to start as a delivery person and then get introduced to the postal service.”
If only their ulterior motives weren’t so obvious.
“If you truly help us like that, then I won’t forget this debt of gratitude.”
The martial artists didn’t disagree with my words.
“Go back.”
“Club Leader!”
The martial artists, who had been bowing at my feet, looked up in shock.
“You have no heart for the chants, only for the scraps. I’m picking delivery riders who will work sincerely, not looking for postmen.”
The position of postman should be a reward for the delivery workers.
If from the beginning the goal was the postman position, I would just hear complaints about when they would get the job throughout their work, and that’s something I don’t want.
“I’ve heard you need to work for several years. I’m not planning to take it lightly!”
“I didn’t refer to it as a delivery rider for no reason. The first delivery workers to become postmen must set an example; only then can the Joseon people who get recommended next aspire to be postmen. Moreover, my name as the club leader is on the line.”
Could they really handle such a significant responsibility? I looked at the martial artists as if to scold them.
“Please evaluate us over several years!”
“We will work hard to always satisfy the heart of the club leader. If we catch your eye and become postmen, we promise to not bring shame to the Joseon people!”
“Club Leader! You don’t need to recommend us. Just grant us the opportunity! We’ll do our utmost!”
The Joseon martial artists begged with desperate expressions, kneeling down.
‘They really seem desperate.’
I shifted my gaze from the bowing martial artists to look at the Sam-gu brothers. The brothers nodded in agreement, signaling me that these guys could be trusted.
So they’re second-rate martial artists, huh.
Unlike the third-rate scholars that I had to train to barely meet the minimum threshold for inner energy, I could just teach these second-rate guys light body movement and have them ready for delivery immediately.
If they could work diligently without complaints for several years, that would actually benefit me.
“If there are no problems, then go ahead and use them.”
After much deliberation, I finally spoke.
“Really?!”
The martial artists looked up at me with joy lighting their faces.
“The first evaluation will not be done by me, but by the club members. If you pass without issues, then you may be employed.”
“I will devote my loyalty!”
——————-
The Joseon second-rate martial artists turned out to be more capable than I expected.
They passed the club membership evaluation easily and decided to begin training martial arts with other Joseon individuals who would work at the franchise.
Kang Yoon-ho the club leader has chosen delivery workers. He intends to teach them martial arts and plans to reward the talented ones with elixirs. He’s even said that if they perform well and reach significant achievements, he’ll introduce them to jobs at the postal service in a few years.
Rumors in the Joseon club spread rapidly.
“This boy is Jeong from a leather-making workshop. He is the second child in his family.”
“Hello, Club Leader! Since I was young, I’ve consistently learned the Three Traits and Heart Method!”
“This kid is the youngest in the Joo family working as a docker at the port. I heard Choi I-gu taught him a thing or two.”
“Club Leader! Just selecting me means I’ll work with all my heart!”
After passing the club’s evaluation, the applicants gathered in the yard of Innkeeper Ahn’s house.
“There are quite a lot of them, aren’t there?”
Even in the spacious yard of Innkeeper Ahn’s place, it felt chaotic like a sports day with so many people around.
“Grand Leader Kang! Here you are.”
Choi Pyosa, who was to be the martial arts instructor, approached me with a cheerful expression.
“Choi Pyosa, are there that many talented kids?”
Although Im Ha-yeon was scheduled to make the final selections, it almost felt like a rural branch school entrance ceremony with this many people.
“Well… it appears the rumors may have gotten a bit out of hand.”
Choi Pyosa said, smiling awkwardly.
“Out of hand?”
“It looks like since we announced the recruitment, word has spread throughout families with children who seem to have potential.”
“Club Leader! Is it true that you will teach these kids martial arts?”
“Before my grandfather passed, he applied to the military exam in Joseon! Though I’m nothing special, our third child bears a striking resemblance to him!”
Choi Pyosa had to restrain the eager parents who were rushing toward us like they were excited school parents.
“This is a job to select employees. Didn’t the Joseon club filter them?”
There were far too many applicants.
“It’s not that I selected just anyone. I picked them based on those who seem to hold potential.”
Choi Pyosa lamented how all of the children from the Joseon club had applied, creating quite a challenging situation.
“You should have chosen more carefully. There aren’t many spots, and soon, many will feel disappointed and leave.”
Having many applicants is good; it allows you to pick talented kids. However, isn’t this just a bit too enthusiastic?
I could understand their excitement since it was the first time, but I chided Choi Pyosa to avoid making mistakes next time.
“Well…”
“Don’t be too harsh on Choi. The entire Joseon club has stepped up for the sake of Grand Leader Kang.”
Just as Choi Pyosa was trying to respond with a troubled expression, Innkeeper Ahn, the owner of the house, interjected.
“Innkeeper Ahn? What do you mean by that?”
“Grand Leader Kang has personally taken it upon himself to teach the kids martial arts and provide elixirs, not to mention even giving them postal positions. Could our Joseon club simply stand by? We aim to collectively educate the most gifted kids, then recommend the best to become delivery riders.”
It felt like decades ago when people gathered just to select one child to send to Seoul from a poor village.
“I can’t pay so many kids a salary considering the limited jobs available, not to mention, I’d need significant space to teach so many.”
“Didn’t we buy this house with the funds from selling the guesthouse last time? Let’s open it up for the kids eager to learn.”
I glanced around the yard of Innkeeper Ahn’s house. The space was large, resembling a rural home, though it had only a few rooms behind its walls.
“But about the salaries…”
As I started to drag my words out, the parents listening from behind suddenly jumped in alarm.
“Club Leader, how can you say that? No educational institution charges the teacher!”
“That’s right! Instead, we’ll collectively gather to support the kids!”
“Learning martial arts is still considered education.”
“Studying is ultimately about learning something that will be useful, isn’t it?”
“Furthermore, Club Leader.”
“Choi Pyosa?”
“I plan to establish a sort of academy with kids who have learned some characters and lessons. We’ll teach both martial arts and academics, and in doing so, recommend the most capable child to become a delivery worker.”
“You’re right. People endure tough lives, and thanks to you, the Joseon people are finally getting the chance to pull together and improve their children’s education that they couldn’t even dream of in Wuhan. If you agree, we’ll take care of it ourselves.”
I looked at the eager parents, waiting for my approval with slightly dazed expressions.
Joseon people living lower-class lives in Wuhan, their faces worn by the passage of time and toil, were filled with the determination in their eyes not to let their children live that way.
“Then let’s go ahead with that.”
If it doesn’t cost me anything, then I gain nothing by turning it down.
Rather, as long as I can keep receiving excellent talents, it will greatly contribute to the expansion of my business in the future.
“Oh, thank you, Club Leader!”
“Well thought out!”
With my approval, smiles spread across the faces of the parents.
———————
“Hmm. Hmm-hmm.”
On the way back to the guesthouse, I could hear Im Ha-yeon’s pleasant humming.
“Somehow, I’m feeling good.”
“Seeing the Joseon folks reminds me of my childhood.”
“Childhood? When you were in the courtesan house?”
Could it be that she thought of pleasant memories as joyful as a sports day from her childhood?
“Before my mother passed away, before I entered the courtesan house.”
“I heard it wasn’t a pleasant experience.”
“True. I was hungry, with no one to rely on. Eventually, I ended up at the courtesan house.”
“…”
I felt like I had inadvertently stepped on a landmine.
Im Ha-yeon noticed my expression and chuckled lightly before continuing.
“Don’t look too serious. The older sisters and younger sisters were all good people. …But, it did get a bit suffocating. The courtesan house felt like a pit.”
“A pit?”
“A pit from which one cannot emerge. To devour the scraps thrown from above, you have to manage to look pretty.”
That’s quite a serious topic.
Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like it’s too heavy, as Im Ha-yeon’s eyes remained serious, yet her lips continued to smile.
“So you grew up well, hogging all the feed.”
You’re quite the bottle-fed person, I thought, and chuckled lightly as a joke.
“Hmph. What are you saying?”
Im Ha-yeon playfully elbowed my side and took a step forward in a light-hearted stride.
“But what does that have to do with the Joseon people?”
“They looked similar. People are kind, but there’s no way out. Everyone struggles daily, but that doesn’t make tomorrow better.”
“We’re nothing but foreigners in a distant land.”
An underclass barbarian trying to make a name for themselves in the Central Plains seems a long shot.
“If you weren’t here, that would be the case.”
With a step ahead, Im Ha-yeon turned back to look at me.
“You mean me?”
“You seem uninterested, but while being with the Joseon people, one constantly hears about how you’re praised. ‘Thanks to the Club Leader, we have a way to survive,’ ‘We feel secure because the Club Leader is around,’ ‘There’s hope because the Club Leader is here.’”
“My ears are itching; I don’t want to hear more.”
When I pulled a disgusted expression, Im Ha-yeon couldn’t contain her laughter and covered her mouth.
“Everyone is struggling. With roles as innkeeper, delivery worker, dock worker, and now even postmen and security jobs guaranteed. It was a pit before, but now we have stairs to climb.”
With a cheerful tone, Im Ha-yeon declared, suddenly jumping up onto the wall beside her.
“Be careful.”
“Who do you think I am?”
A genius at light body movement. A woman who would become known by rich families far and wide as the Shadowless Thief.
But that’s not the type of danger I’m referring to.
“Hahaha…”
The wall is so high that I can just see glimpses under her skirt.
I should keep a safe distance to avoid an embarrassing situation.
Finding myself in an alley devoid of people, we walked in step, each on different heights.
It was a little embarrassing even when looking from below. I thought I had gotten a bit accustomed to certain parts of her upper body, but her stunning silhouette from behind wielded an entirely different power.
Without even realizing, I was staring at her when she started speaking again.
“That reminded me of the past. It wasn’t just like me, but similar, and it made me feel good.”
Her voice had a tinge of nostalgia with a sense of fondness as she spoke.
“Im Ha-yeon.”
I stopped walking and called out to her.
“…”
Im Ha-yeon turned her head to reveal a hint of bitterness on her face.
What thoughts are swirling in her mind? Jealousy for the Joseon people? Remembrance of her past self? Or perhaps her current circumstances?
I didn’t care about any of that.
“What I want to rescue from the pit the most right now isn’t a Joseon person.”
The one I want to save the most in Wuhan is you, Im Ha-yeon.
I gazed at her solemnly.
“…Ugh. Truly you…”
As the sun began to set, her face reflected the red hues of the setting sun, creating a captivating sight.
“What are you staring at?!”
“I was looking at your shoes. They’ve gotten quite worn from your hard work.”
In the end, I got caught.
