“YOU! JUST NOW! Huh! I HEARD IT! Huh!”
How hurriedly did you run here?
Jeon Gil-san couldn’t quite catch his breath after bolting over the moment he heard I had become a candidate for the successor.
“Catch your breath a bit. You should do some simple martial arts training when you have the time. If you keep drinking and hanging out all day, you’ll kick the bucket when you get old.”
After living recklessly and going for a health checkup, the doctor said to me with a serious face:
“Ahem, you have fatty liver disease. Your cholesterol is high as well. Blood pressure is a bit elevated too. You really need to exercise. Have you had any changes in your environment lately?”
“Uh, I’ve just been living as usual.”
“Ahem, eat less greasy food, use less salt, and eat a spoon or two less rice. Total abstinence from alcohol is a must.”
Only then did I realize that living life thinly was impossible. The exercise in old age was not to look good, but rather to survive. Don’t regret it too late, you fool.
“I don’t look like that now! Huh! Sigh.”
As Jeon Gil-san was panting to the point of almost choking, he finally sat down and began to breathe deeply.
“Make me a cup of tea.”
Even though he came to yell at me, he was still a guest.
I carefully took out the teapot from the cupboard. Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I brewed tea myself. Hae-yeon usually brewed it for me.
As I set the water for the tea and got lost in small thoughts, Jeon Gil-san, having finally caught his breath, spoke up.
“Is it true?”
What truth? I didn’t really need to ask.
“It happened.”
I nodded while touching the tea leaves.
“Right… That’s why it felt so weird.”
Jeon Gil-san spoke as if he had finally caught the culprit after having a suspicion.
“What is?”
“You sent away a woman who seemed like she couldn’t live without you and had no reaction at all! If it were such a big deal, it would have been normal for you to spend the night drinking with me! You were way too nonchalant about it! Your intention was to get rid of the woman who would interfere with the succession right in front of your grandfather’s eyes before starting!”
Jeon Gil-san pointed at me as if he’d figured out the secret to making six burned corpses from five dead people, sounding like a detective who solved the alibi.
“Sigh.”
You shouldn’t open a detective agency, you know that, right?
“Don’t try to brush it off with a sigh! You deceived me! You bastard!”
“When did I ever deceive you?”
“Scary! I knew you were a scary guy, but you’re even scarier the more I know you!!!”
Jeon Gil-san looked at me with a mix of horror and astonishment.
What to do about this guy?
If we were just acquaintances, I would threaten him and never see him again, but right now, he’s my crucial source of income.
During the Ho Pil recruitment incident and when I tried to take over the delivery inn business, everything turned out to be failures, but he has good judgment.
Lately, he’s been selecting only prime locations and operates two franchise stores. Thanks to that, he has been filling my pockets with cash and vouchers every week.
‘If I end up marrying Miss Zhuge, Jeon Gil-san becomes my brother-in-law.’
How depressing. But if I get tied up by kinship, I won’t need to pretend anymore.
I must win him over.
In a world where blood relations, regional ties, and academic relationships are a given. While I can’t rely on blood ties, kinship will still be something I can hope for in the future.
Fortunately, I had a plan in mind.
“I also heard a few days ago. Man Geum-jeon suddenly told me to take the successor test.”
Starting with an appeal that it wasn’t my choice.
I intentionally clicked my tongue, wearing a displeased expression.
“Are you asking me to believe that? Is the successor qualification a joke?”
“He’s your grandfather, after all.”
“Ah…”
An ‘aha’ expression flashed across Jeon Gil-san’s face. He sure is formidable even towards family.
“I went to report on the business, and he seemed satisfied, so I thought the tiresome test was over, and I would be getting back Da-seo-gak. Who knew he would suddenly ask for the successor test?”
“He seemed satisfied? My grandfather…?”
I subtly placed the teacup down in front of the bewildered Jeon Gil-san.
It wasn’t something I wanted to do. You know your grandfather better than I do, right? That old man is utterly unpredictable.
Having made my point clear, let’s move to the next topic. I sighed quietly and opened my mouth.
“If I pass, I pass; it’s not like I move on to the next hurdle. What nonsense. In fact, I was debating whether to tell you or not, but as soon as I came out of Man Geum-jeon’s mansion, I went straight to your shop.”
Was I trying to deceive you? Not at all. I genuinely wanted to consult my worries with you first. I make my intentions clear.
In reality, I just dropped by on my way.
“You’ve done that before? When?”
“Remember when you asked me why you looked so pale the other day?”
“Pale? When was that… Ah! That day you suddenly wanted to go see Mae-hyang with me, but then changed your mind?!”
“When did I say that?”
“Do you even know how unfair it was when I tried to touch Mae-hyang’s hand but got rejected, and then told not to make any more reservations?!”
“……”
Why is that my fault?
“I only managed to switch my favorite from Mae-hyang to some other courtesan because of you! Anyway, a few days ago, I heard…”
Jeon Gil-san seemed to be scanning my face to see if I was lying.
Go ahead, try to find it.
If this guy suddenly declares himself our enemy from tomorrow onwards, there’s not much I can do, but still, parting on a less hurtful note is part of living as human beings.
As long as he doesn’t suddenly quit the franchise business and treat me like an irreconcilable enemy, it’ll be fine.
“Kang Yoon-ho.”
After a while, Jeon Gil-san looked at me with an oddly serious voice that didn’t match the occasion.
“What?”
“So, what will you do?”
Is he asking about my intent?
“I’ll go all the way.”
I responded with a firm resolve.
Having explained my situation, I didn’t want to engage in the succession struggle. It was just that I had no choice but to participate. I could muster up some nice words.
However, I cannot avoid what I must not avoid.
“…Are you saying you’ll go against me?”
I nodded my head.
“You have someone to back you up, but I don’t.”
“No backup?”
“If you fail the successor test, you’re still fine. You’re Man Geum-jeon’s grandson. Your life as a well-to-do young man from Wuhan won’t change much.”
“And you?”
“If I fail the test this time, it’s over.”
Putting down the teacup I was holding, I locked eyes with Jeon Gil-san intentionally.
“Over?”
“It would be an opportunity for you, but I’m hanging off a cliff holding onto a lifeline. Also, the sword is in your grandfather’s hands.”
Da-seo-gak is mortgaged to Man Geum-jeon, and my business is built on Man Geum-jeon’s money too. The last remaining Da-seo-gak in Wuhan also belongs to Miss Zhuge.
If I don’t please Man Geum-jeon, everything I have will disappear.
Jeon Gil-san knew this fact too.
“Hmmm…”
“All I can do is climb up and give your grandfather a real blow before he cuts the lifeline.”
“Ha! You plan on landing a blow on my grandfather?”
“If I can.”
I said with a chuckle.
Creating a small bond between Jeon Gil-san and me by subtly forming an enemy without lacking in compassion.
“Right. That’s how it is.”
I explained my unavoidable circumstances. But if push comes to shove, there’s nothing I can do. If I have to compete with you, then I will.
I wonder if my intentions have been understood.
Finally, Jeon Gil-san took a sip of the tea I brewed.
“Your tea tastes bad.”
Jeon Gil-san emptied the teacup without saying a word and left behind a short impression.
“You can go ahead and drink it.”
It’s the same tea leaves, so why does it taste worse than the one Hae-yeon made?
“Still, it was nice.”
Jeon Gil-san stood up just like that.
“Are you leaving?”
“As long as you didn’t deceive me again, that’s fine.”
“……”
Could it be that the point of his anger isn’t the successor issue but the lies instead? Well, the first meeting with Jeon Gil-san was him getting deceived, after all.
“Oh, right.”
Jeon Gil-san opened the door, then turned back seemingly forgetting something.
“Huh?”
“My mother knows who you are, so she didn’t scold me. I’m off!”
There are too many aunts; I don’t even know who’s who.
Jeon Gil-san waved goodbye to me before rushing off just like he’d come.
————————
“You’ve arrived! Everyone is waiting for you.”
Two days later, the meeting for the candidates of Man Geum-jeon’s successor was held at a different location, not his mansion.
“Miss Zhuge. Shall we go in together?”
“Yes.”
Miss Zhuge seemed tense, perhaps because she was still recovering from the exhaustion of the past week, as she weakly grabbed my sleeve.
“Master Kang and Miss Zhuge, please come in!”
As the door opened, Man Geum-jeon, his daughters, and the candidate successors came into view.
“That guy…!”
“It’s really the black-haired one, isn’t it?”
“Why on earth did grandfather…”
“Didn’t I tell you to watch your mouth?”
“But, mother. That black-haired guy appeared late when everyone was waiting!”
So many people.
Man Geum-jeon originally had twelve children. His only son passed away, and one of the contender candidates had an unforeseen accident, so a total of ten candidates were gathered here.
Despite hearing the names of Man Geum-jeon’s grandsons echoing endlessly in my ears, they really do look as though they’re the kind who would create endless trouble.
“You’re here.”
I arrived before Man Geum-jeon, receiving the combined gazes of possible successors or young hoodlums.
“Thanks to your consideration, I arrived comfortably.”
I should have realized when he offered to send a carriage. He deliberately made me arrive late to steal all the attention. What can I say; I’m at a loss.
Man Geum-jeon seemed to catch onto my thoughts, as one side of his mouth curled up.
“Everyone is looking at you.”
I turned to look at Man Geum-jeon’s words and then positioned myself, facing all the staring gazes.
“Nice to meet you. I am Kang Yoon-ho. I run a small business with Miss Zhuge.”
Miss Zhuge, who was next to me, also made a greeting.
“How does a small tavern count as a business?”
A small scoffing sound came from somewhere. It seems like they did a bit of investigation on me.
Not that it matters.
I’m a candidate chosen by Man Geum-jeon himself.
“I arrived later than others. However, now that I’m at the starting line, I will do my best to run.”
I cannot emit the presence of a martial artist like a prayer. However, I can certainly make myself appear larger than I am.
I assert myself with full confidence.
Correct posture, vocal skills. A passionate expression while processing the pouring gazes. I present myself like a tall tree, standing firm and declaring my existence.
“Ugh.”
A pained groan came from somewhere.
“Tch. So brazen.”
“Hah…”
Jeon Gil-san, why are you sighing?
“Huff, huff. Go sit down now.”
“Master Kang. Miss Zhuge. Please follow me.”
“Everyone is gathered. Now we shall proceed as I mentioned earlier.”
Upon seeing Miss Zhuge and I take our seats, Man Geum-jeon immediately jumped into the main topic.
“Grandfather, saying you’re going to proceed with the story implies…”
Surely, there wasn’t homework while we were absent!
“Yes. I will decide on the passers for the first test. Head of Guards!”
Thank goodness. I’m not getting kicked out.
“Yes, Man Geum-jeon. Everyone has worked hard for the past half a year. The passers for the first test are six in total.”
“Six?!”
“Six of them?! Father! Are you saying you’re cutting nearly half in one go?!”
“Have you gone deaf before your father? Or are you trying to complain to me?”
“……”
No one could answer under Man Geum-jeon’s imposing might.
“Head of Guards, please announce it.”
“Yes! First, Master Kang Yoon-ho! Passed through the Delivery Tavern business!”
“Thank you.”
I stood up and gave a slight bow to those around me.
“Next! Master Song Gyeom!”
“Gyeom-ah! You did it!”
“Yes, mother! Grandfather! Thank you!”
“Next!”
The atmosphere felt like the announcement day for college acceptance. Each name called evoked mixed emotions of delight and despair.
“Last one!”
Before I knew it, five names were called, leaving only one remaining.
“Please!”
“Pleaseee!”
“Father!”
The head of guards surveyed the almost crying faces and finally calmly announced the last passer.
“Master Jeon Gil-san!”
“Huh.”
Oh, it’s Jeon Gil-san. He lowered his head and let out a sigh of relief.
“AAAH!”
“Noooo!”
“Gil-san, you need to stand up now!”
Someone who looked like Jeon Gil-san’s mother patted his back. It was a “who-is-she” moment, and it turned out to be that lady. They do resemble each other slightly.
“Master Jeon Gil-san?”
Why isn’t he getting up?
“Grandfather.”
Slowly, Jeon Gil-san stood up and looked at Man Geum-jeon with a solemn expression.
“Hmm? Do you have something to say?”
“Yes. I have something to say.”
Jeon Gil-san firmly closed his mouth and nodded.
“Speak.”
What in the world is Jeon Gil-san going to say?
As he took a deep breath, all eyes that were previously noisy turned towards him.
What’s going on? Jeon Gil-san swallowed hard, and soon expressed something with a determined look.
“I will give up on the successor test.”
“Give up on the successor test?”
What did he just say? All eyes in the room widened.
“Yes. And instead…”
“Instead?”
Jeon Gil-san’s head turned.
As if he had come to a firm conclusion, his gaze was fixed on a specific point.
And that point wasn’t his grandfather or his mother, but…
“I’ll support Kang Yoon-ho.”
It was me.
