“Are you saying you want to recruit people who want to be cargo handlers?”
There’s something that three people need to sort out before living together.
I called in Choi Il-gu, Choi I-gu, and Sam-gu, the brothers in charge of the loading dock in Joseon.
“Right. Find strong kids who can save me in a crisis.”
“Is this for something dangerous?”
Cargo handlers are the laborers of the delivery party. A laborer won’t regret or be obsessed if they choose to exit this world during work.
Unlike regular delivery workers, cargo handlers were sometimes looking for temporary contracts. Although they pay well, most of the jobs are dangerous, so everyone hesitates to take them.
I shook my head, denying the brothers’ suspicions.
“I got a recommendation because there’s an open spot for a cargo handler at the Seocheon Post Office. It won’t be as dangerous as the smaller post offices.”
It’s true that some might have to deal with bandits or mysterious masters targeting cargo, and even wolves in some areas, but with the reputation of Seocheon Post, the risks should be relatively lower.
“Seocheon Post Office? Are you saying that to get in, you have to take the imperial examination?”
The Sam-gu brothers looked simultaneously surprised, as if they had prepared in advance for my words.
“What examination?”
“It’s run by the Sichuan Tang Family. Of course, they don’t have much power around here, but there are rumors in Sichuan Province that even regular postmen want to be cargo handlers at Seocheon.”
“Is that so?”
I heard the pay was good, but was it that much?
“Indeed, you are the club leader!”
“The Joseon’s famous Ho Pil!”
“Since becoming the club leader, you’ve been finding jobs for Joseon people… how on earth…”
Everyone seemed to be deeply moved.
I smiled weakly at the brothers, who were looking at me with teary eyes.
It’s a place rife with discrimination against black-haired barbarians.
Even doing lowly, hard labor, it’s barely enough to make ends meet, but finding a proper job is difficult.
In the few months since becoming the club leader, I promised positions as loaders, delivery staff, small inn owners, cargo handlers, and eventually even postmen.
These days, whenever Joseon people wander around Wuhan, it’s not just for show that they bow and greet me.
“You guys need to keep your mouths shut.”
Now that enticing bait has been thrown, it’s time to get to the point.
“What do you mean by keeping our mouths shut?”
“Because of your sister-in-law.”
I sat at my desk with a concerned expression, resting my chin on my hand as I spoke.
“Are we talking about the incident where she tried to be polygamous and ended up in trouble?”
“Hyung! You were too greedy! How could you think about having two absolute beauties by your side? They would have a significant sense of pride!”
“That’s right. Especially the Zhuge family. Are you out of your mind?”
No, not that.
Rumors sure travel fast.
“Not the rumors about me. I’m talking about your sister-in-law being in a predicament.”
I was about to say that I’ve patched things up but refrained.
“Your sister-in-law? Are some ruffians bothering her?”
“What?! Hold on a sec. I’ll gather the kids.”
“Which ones are they? Just say the word, club leader!”
The Sam-gu brothers spoke to me with fiery anger, as if they had heard that their elder sister was wronged by a bunch of young hoodlums.
It seems those from the hometown association care more for Ha-yeon than for me.
“That’s not the case; your sister-in-law is just too capable.”
“Yeah, that’s true. But what does that have to do with this?”
I slowly looked around at the concerned faces of the Sam-gu brothers, then opened my mouth.
“There are people trying to kidnap your sister-in-law.”
“Your sister?!”
“As you know, your sister-in-law is essential to the delivery business. It seems the Black Knife is investigating who’s dealing with the Nine Black Qi Hands.”
There’s no need to mention that Im Ha-yeon is also a runaway courtesan.
Linking Im Ha-yeon’s personal crisis to that of the hometown association.
Naturally, protecting Im Ha-yeon becomes equivalent to protecting the association.
“Those damn Central Plains guys! They think just because they got a bit of power, they can take everything!”
“We’ve already told everyone not to speak carelessly, but it seems they’re making a move now. When they ask if they know a pink-haired woman or a lady handling Nine Black Qi Hands, tell them you don’t know.”
“Got it. We’ll make sure to keep everyone in the association zipped!”
“As per usual, we don’t talk about our matters to those Central Plains people. It shouldn’t have leaked out.”
“Your sister-in-law has done so much for us. We need to defend her. We’ll make sure to warn everyone.”
The Sam-gu brothers said, slapping their chests, as if trying to reassure me.
The reason I didn’t stop the hometown members from calling Im Ha-yeon ‘sister-in-law’ is precisely because of this.
The advantage and disadvantage of a community on an ethnic level is its closed nature. Once Im Ha-yeon integrates into the hometown association, everyone will actively protect her as if she’s one of their own.
In fact, intervening this much is partially due to Im Ha-yeon’s natural friendliness.
“Okay. This is an issue for the whole hometown association. Whether we can protect your sister-in-law or not will determine whether Joseon people in Wuhan can live comfortably in the future. Everyone should keep an eye out.”
“Yes, understood!”
I made sure to tell them to let me know if those snooping around Im Ha-yeon appeared.
I’ve already spread the web for those from the poison clan.
They likely think they’re tightening the encirclement around Im Ha-yeon while watching me.
The ocean they’re targeting.
Their encirclement will simultaneously overlap with the web I’ve woven.
If they want to discover Im Ha-yeon’s whereabouts, they can’t avoid the eyes of the hometown association. And all reports from the association come to me.
Once they signal me with the web I’ve laid, I just need to adjust the plan accordingly.
It’s a powerful advantage of being the club leader of the Wuhan Joseon Association.
“Club leader!”
“What is it?”
“I have a secret suggestion. I think you can definitely pull it off.”
Choi I-gu looked at me like a steadfast general ready to give advice while I was lost in thought.
Does he have a good piece of advice regarding Im Ha-yeon?
“Go ahead.”
“If you want to have two women on the bed, I have a method. First, make both of them completely exhausted in their separate beds, then slyly bring them together on one bed and satisfy them again…”
“Get out.”
At the mansion of Man Geum-jeon.
“Eek… What do I dooo?”
The silver-haired beauty, Miss Zhuge, returned to the mansion half a day after being chased away, pulling her hair and rolling on the ground in distress.
“Yesterday, she danced a fan dance as soon as she met Master Kang at the front gate, but why is she like this today?”
“Right? Today she looks disheartened. Yesterday, she was frozen until Master Kang saw her off, and the moment she got inside, she had a beaming smile.”
Miss Zhuge couldn’t stop pondering, even at the sound of the chatter outside.
When she had been kicked out, she felt like she didn’t know where to go, but when Master Kang proposed living together, she felt embarrassed but extremely delighted.
Even the fact that she returned home receiving Master Kang’s farewell yesterday was nice.
Reflecting on what happened yesterday, Zhuge Xiang smiled widely, only to lower her head again.
The problem was what happened during Master Kang Yoon-ho’s farewell.
One Exchange Diary, I’m looking forward to it.
With great difficulty, she gathered her courage and proposed the exchange diary. In response to Master Kang Yoon-ho’s expectant voice, Zhuge Xiang nodded and became absorbed in writing the diary.
Until she realized the most important fact.
“I don’t have much to write in the exchange diary since I’m home all the time!”
Even as a shy person, a diary where she can express her inner thoughts sounds good. Receiving Master Kang’s expectations is also wonderful, but…
Zhuge Xiang glared at the blank paper in resentment.
“There’s no way a story just about reading books and painting every day can be interesting!”
Fifteen days ago. Slept after reading a book.
Ten days ago. Slept after painting.
A week ago. Read a book and got so into it that she painted and fell asleep.
A life where she only stays in her room every day. If someone asked what they did a week or a month ago, there wouldn’t be a need to think.
Because she did the same thing every day.
“What do I dooo?”
In her frustration, Zhuge Xiang rolled on the ground, her feet stamping anxiously.
Should I write about the times I went out with Master Kang? No way, it feels too revealing!
But those are the only things I can write about. Then again, should I write about my feelings when I was with Master Kang?
Zhuge Xiang imagined the scene where Master Kang Yoon-ho would read her diary.
Did you think this back then? You seem more pitiful than I thought.
“Ah! Ahh!”
Zhuge Xiang repeatedly bumped her head to the ground. No way, if I heard that, I’d want to die.
“I don’t want to be thought of as a pitiful woman!”
Though in reality, a pitiful woman wouldn’t be wrong. Still, she didn’t want Master Kang to think of her that way.
If it had been the usual Zhuge Xiang, she might have written it despite her embarrassment.
After all, the things she could write about were somewhat limited. If she thought of her inner feelings as a way to get to know each other, she might have managed to brush it off.
If it weren’t for one woman.
“She’s incredibly beautiful, but…”
Zhuge Xiang recalled the face of Im Ha-yeon, who was always by Master Kang Yoon-ho’s side. She seemed perfect in every way.
Why she doesn’t like her remains a mystery.
Zhuge Xiang couldn’t forget Master Kang’s face when he spoke about Im Ha-yeon.
Im Ha-yeon is the one who helps me the most.
Master Kang’s face was filled with trust and belief that Zhuge Xiang had never seen before.
“I want to be trusted by Master Kang toooo.”
Seeing Master Kang speak about Ha-yeon made her heart ache.
What if as she kept writing the diary, she revealed more of her pitiful self? Especially with the perfect woman next to him.
Zhuge Xiang felt a sense of fear as she tried to write the exchange diary.
“Should I give up on the diary now that we live together?”
Now that we’re living together, I’ll have a chance to talk with him more often, right? Maybe it’s not necessary to write down everything.
It’s the first time she has a proper conversation with a man, and the first time she feels understood and acknowledged by someone. Master Kang doesn’t let trouble come to her anymore.
What if she writes something like that? She might just end up looking pitiful.
Zhuge Xiang was lost in thought.
“Anyway, I’ll be seeing Master Kang’s face every morning from now on.”
Now, when she wakes up and rubs her eyes, Master Kang will be right in front of her, so does it really matter? Zhuge Xiang attempted to compromise with herself, imagining the morning sight of Master Kang Yoon-ho.
Miss Zhuge, are you up? Shall we have breakfast together?
If Master Kang is chopping wood shirtless, she’ll approach him to ask if he slept well.
“Hmph. I feel embarrassed!”
Zhuge Xiang covered her eyes with both hands and muttered. Yet, she couldn’t stop the happy fantasies of living together with Master Kang expected in the future.
“Grandfather is calling me about the cohabitation issue.”
“Ah!”
Until Man Geum-jeon calls her.
