“Are you saying you will give up your position as a successor candidate and support Kang Yoon-ho?”
“Yes, Grandfather. I will support Kang Yoon-ho.”
Jeon Gil-san, suddenly wondering why that guy was acting like this, realized he wasn’t the only one thinking the same as people around him started to stir.
“Hey! Jeon Gil-san! What are you talking about!”
“Gil-san! Did he drink during the day or something?! Hurry up and tell Dad he’s talking nonsense!”
“Be quiet.”
With Man Geum-jeon’s solemn remark, everyone sat back down.
“…….”
As Jang Noya waited for the crowd to calm down, he exchanged intrigued glances between me and Jeon Gil-san before speaking.
“Did you two coordinate this beforehand?”
Jeon Gil-san chuckled and shook his head before gesturing toward me.
“Just look at Kang Yoon-ho’s face. I’ve never seen that guy looking so flustered.”
Like I wouldn’t feel flustered.
I finally managed to close my mouth, which had been hanging open in surprise. I should be somewhere within the realm of expectations.
You’re going to become the successor of Man Geum Battlefield, huh? You were up all night working hard to pass the successor exam like it was some kind of fit, weren’t you?
For the first time, I pulled a night shift. Ah, I’ve taken one step closer to becoming the successor today. That guy who was making a fuss.
Why the sudden support for me?
“You also have the qualifications to inherit Man Geum Battlefield.”
Man Geum-jeon seemed to be investigating whether Jeon Gil-san was speaking from genuine feeling or just trying to poke fun.
“I support Kang Yoon-ho because he has the qualifications.”
“Support because he has the qualifications?”
“Grandfather, I’ve noticed something during my six months of trading. It’s that if I quickly coat something before others realize its value, I can earn more than those who run around desperately trying to make a living later.”
As Jeon Gil-san spoke confidently in front of the esteemed grandfather, Man Geum-jeon’s eyes narrowed in interest.
“Does he look valuable enough to give up on?”
“It would be much more advantageous for me to just carry a water jug next to that guy than to run around all day.”
Jeon Gil-san’s words were exceedingly light. Yet, because they were so typical of him, there seemed to be no regret hidden within them.
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Man Geum-jeon smiled as if he couldn’t hold back his laughter at Jeon Gil-san’s audacity.
Were the others watching shocked? The atmosphere shifted as they realized they had been surprised into silence.
“Ah, Father!”
“Grandfather! No way are you seriously taking what Gil-san said to heart!”
“Grandfather! We passed the exam too!”
“Do I look like someone who’d be decided with a few words?”
Man Geun-jeon shook his head, as if that was just a cheerful expression brought on by watching his adorable grandchildren.
“Phew…”
Only then did those seated release breaths of relief.
“What will you do?”
Man Geum-jeon asked Jeon Gil-san, as if still wanting to hear his side.
Jeon Gil-san. Just because you say you support me doesn’t mean Man Geum-jeon will decide the successor. Think of it as a little incident and just take the exam.
“I will stand by Kang Yoon-ho. I hope the balance in grandfather’s heart tilts ever so slightly, but even if it doesn’t, I will keep supporting Kang Yoon-ho in the future.”
However, Jeon Gil-san’s reaction surprised me. Why did that guy respond with such conviction without even a hint of hesitation?
“Kang Yoon-ho. What do you think?”
Me? I’m flustered. I couldn’t respond right away. I stood up, trying to maintain a courteous demeanor.
“I’m just grateful for Jeon Gil-san’s support. But how could I sway the scale of an elder with just one person’s endorsement?”
I’m grateful, but…
Jeon Gil-san. You really need to understand the situation. Look around. Even your mother looks ready to kill you!
“The one you’re supporting shouldn’t be doing anything foolish.”
Man Geum-jeon smirked at Jeon Gil-san, lifting one corner of his mouth.
In response, Jeon Gil-san cast a glance my way.
Hmm, I know your heart all too well.
What do you know? Can’t you see your cousin looks like she wants to eat me alive? Huh?! Just settle for passing the damn test!
Are you so overwhelmed with emotion that you can’t speak properly? Trust me, brother!
Was this an one-way messaging scenario? It was never going to be someone with whom I could communicate through eye contact.
Seemingly satisfied with the conversation, Jeon Gil-san looked at Man Geum-jeon with confidence again.
“Grandfather, I’ve spent the past few nights thinking about something.”
“What is it?”
“I might not be the smartest, but I’ve been told I have some sense. No matter how much I think about it, whoever inherits Man Geum Battlefield here will tarnish grandfather’s name.”
As soon as Jeon Gil-san said that, the corners of Man Geum-jeon’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“What nonsense is that!”
“Hey! Jeon Gil-san!”
“But…”
Jeon Gil-san, unaffected by the commotion, turned to me with a serious gaze.
“Kang Yoon-ho. That guy will surely outshine grandfather one day.”
There was not a single ounce of deceit in that guy’s face as he evaluated me.
I was momentarily left speechless.
Jeon Gil-san.
This wasn’t a good connection. We met under unfortunate circumstances. It was a relationship of deceiving and being deceived, where we both aimed for each other’s lifeline at some point.
And now, entangled through business and the connection of Miss Zhuge, we had somehow turned into acquaintances who offered advice and exchanged jokes.
There could have easily been some lingering animosity from the past.
That guy was now saying he would support me even to the extent of giving up the position he wanted the most.
“…….”
The gaze filled with high regard and trust from Jeon Gil-san turned toward me.
All I could do was lower my head in gratitude.
“Hmm. Do as you wish.”
Seeing me express my thanks, Man Geum-jeon nodded with a smile, almost as if he were stroking his beard.
It was now established that Jeon Gil-san, the candidate for the successor of Man Geum Battlefield, would be on Kang Yoon-ho’s side from here on out.
———–
“Elder.”
Just as Jeon Gil-san sat down with a satisfied smile, I stood up and called out respectfully to Man Geum-jeon.
Jeon Gil-san watched me with ridiculously sparkling eyes that didn’t fit the situation.
Hey, was I good? Make sure to be thankful!
Hey. I’m thankful, really. But now there’s a problem that’s come up.
“What is it?”
“Jeon Gil-san just declared he would support me, so I’d like to bring something up.”
Once one person declared support, the others were igniting hostility.
My original position was merely the representative of the Zhuge clan, who hadn’t even received a chance to be a successor yet. Of course, I would face opposition even as the representative, but Jeon Gil-san’s support had turned me into the primary target of scrutiny.
I was prepared to prove myself, yet this had become a situation I’d eventually find myself in. But I didn’t have to endure unfriendly gazes anymore.
Let’s play a little trick.
“What is it?”
“It’s about the candidate position that came up because Jeon Gil-san supported me.”
“Candidate position?”
“Ah?!”
Since there were six first passers, and now one slot is open.
“Right! Father! There were six, right?! One spot! Give it to our kid!”
“What do you mean, our kid?! If he’s a kid, he should have been disqualified for selling his youth! How can you be so brazen?! Father! There’s a slot open, so it should obviously be filled!”
“What are you talking about! If you’ve been disqualified, that’s it! Do you think this is a market looking for manual labor?!”
“Father! Let’s start with five positions!”
“Shut up.”
As Jang Noya frowned, everyone realized they had awkward expressions as they turned to face Man Geum-jeon.
Ladies, while prioritizing your children’s success is fine, but are you going to keep making noise? If Man Geum-jeon were a sports referee, he would have tossed you out by now.
“Ah… Father.”
“You may be the mistress in your married homes, but here, you are outsiders. How long do I have to tolerate this?”
Zhuge Clan’s daughters-in-law who married outside are considered outsiders regarding the clan’s major matters.
“……”
“Go on, speak.”
Man Geum-jeon gestured toward me.
“If you could give me the choice to keep or delete the candidate position…”
That was a daring suggestion, but it was something I had to do now.
“Grant the right? Jeon Gil-san, what do you think?”
Jang Noya asked Jeon Gil-san sitting down beside me about my audacious proposal.
“Well, from now on, what Kang Yoon-ho desires is what I desire.”
Jeon Gil-san shrugged his shoulders and nodded.
“Alright. What will you do?”
I briefly surveyed my surroundings.
Becoming the primary target of scrutiny wasn’t a concern. In any case, once I proved myself academically, I would become a target of scrutiny regardless. But there was another issue.
I had rushed into this competition unexpectedly.
Since I passed the first exam, they would talk about me, whether they succeeded or failed. It would be seen as if I received undue favor or had done something sly.
I didn’t mind being the target of scrutiny, but I didn’t want to become the public enemy.
What to do?
“I’d like to suggest that one of the disqualified candidates is given the remaining spot.”
At my statement, the eliminated candidates and their parents looked at me in shock.
“Not to remove it?”
Man Geum-jeon asked me with curiosity.
“Given that I started late, some may think that had I not ended up here, someone might have passed the first exam.”
If I were to eliminate this position myself, I would inevitably appear like a wicked black-haired character trying to seize the successor position. However, the opposite would not be the case.
Kang Yoon-ho saved a disqualified candidate.
Though I had appeared as a competitor, it seemed I was a somewhat reliable young man. Just how trustworthy must he have seemed for Jeon Gil-san to be affected?
The objective was to shift public opinion.
“No one could deceive the fair scales of the illustrious Man Geum-jeon. It’s just that I don’t want to hear any bad rumors about me since I’ll be working closely with Miss Zhuge in the future. Isn’t it best for family members to get along? I would appreciate it if you could fill the last spot with someone else.”
I am a potential son-in-law to the Zhuge Clan.
Let’s subtly emphasize that and create a good narrative.
If malicious words end up reaching me, how would I handle it? I’m the Zhuge Clan’s prospective son-in-law. I’ll show some mercy here. Better act wisely. I prefer us to get along too.
Of course, I wasn’t officially the son-in-law yet. But it was just a gentle warning.
With this arrangement, even a black-haired opponent would have to acknowledge me as the Zhuge Clan son-in-law. I would even be giving them a chance. This one seems alright. Change the public sentiment.
“Alright.”
Maybe he caught onto my intentions. Man Geum-jeon nodded as if he understood.
“Father! Are you serious?”
“Be grateful to that kid. No matter what the outcome, you should thank him.”
“Th-thank you!”
“Thank you. Let’s have a meal later.”
The family of the eliminated candidate awkwardly expressed their gratitude toward me.
“Head of Guards, who was the seventh?”
“That, um, we arranged only to decide disqualified and qualified, so….”
The Head of Guards spoke with an expression of surprise, as if he hadn’t expected this.
“We need to determine the sixth passing candidate. Alright, let’s take a short break.”
“Whew.”
Those who had just gained a chance at redemption released sighs of relief.
“And…”
But the moment to relax hadn’t come yet. Man Geum-jeon looked at us as if expecting something.
“What?”
“As soon as the successor candidates are confirmed, the next exam will commence immediately.”
