A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 160

160. Entering Yewon (2)

The elegant and slender woman’s smiling face was incredibly charming. Her gentle, mature smile captivated even other women.

“It’s been so long, and yet you won’t indulge even a small whim of mine. How heartless.”

Hwa-wol pouted, her words playful. Though clearly older than Sa Su-yeon or Son-bin, she seemed as endearing as Seo-rin at that moment.

“Though it’s just a sudden impulse, I never expected to be so delighted to see Noh-gun…”

Hwa-wol placed a hand on her chest and sighed softly.

“I feel somewhat wronged.”

Hwa-wol spoke with a sulky expression. She seemed genuinely aggrieved, yet her demeanor was so charming it could steal anyone’s heart.

“What have you been muttering to yourself since earlier? Are you getting old, too?”

Noh-gun spoke brusquely. It seemed her charm was lost on him.

“Old? How rude to a still vibrant maiden like myself.”

“Maiden?”

Noh-gun frowned.

“If I recall correctly, you’re well past thirty…”

“Ah!”

*Flap.*

Hwa-wol suddenly waved her hand in front of Noh-gun’s face. The sleeves of her vibrant dress fluttered, interrupting his words.

“T-there was a bug suddenly… Ahem, I apologize. Showing such a disgraceful sight upon our first meeting.”

Hwa-wol cleared her throat and regained her composure, clasping her hands together. Her posture exuded elegance. The playful atmosphere from moments ago was gone.

“I am Hwa-wol. Thank you for visiting Yewon.”

With impeccable grace, Hwa-wol bowed. Son-bin smiled and returned the greeting.

“I am Son-bin.”

“So you are Master Son.”

Hwa-wol said with a bright smile. Son-bin waved his hand.

“The title of Master is too much for me. I am merely a scholar who teaches children in a small village school.”

“Perhaps…”

“Hyung [older brother/male friend] is a failure! He slipped up during the civil service exam!”

Seo-rin interjected proudly, though the content wasn’t something to be particularly proud of.

“Ah, is that so?”

Hwa-wol feigned surprise and turned to Seo-rin, smiling gently.

“What is the name of this wonderful young master?”

“I’m Seo-rin! My teacher gave me the name!”

Seo-rin puffed out his chest.

“Seo-rin?”

Hwa-wol tilted her head. The name certainly lingered in her memory.

“Could it be that young master is…”

She didn’t finish the question, as the Buddhist prayer beads peeking out from Seo-rin’s waist provided the answer. She let out a soft exclamation.

“I see.”

After gazing at Seo-rin with a momentarily wavering gaze, Hwa-wol smiled again.

“Welcome to Yewon, Young Master Seo-rin.”

With a gentle bow, Hwa-wol paid her respects to Seo-rin. It seemed excessive for the young Seo-rin, but he simply bowed his head in return, as he had learned from Son-bin.

“And this beautiful young lady is…”

So saying, Hwa-wol turned her gaze towards Sa Su-yeon. The moment their eyes met, all of Hwa-wol’s movements ceased.

“Ah.”

A soft sound escaped Hwa-wol’s red lips. Her eyes, as she looked at Sa Su-yeon, were clearly trembling.

Sa Su-yeon was slightly taken aback by Hwa-wol’s gaze, which lacked even a hint of a smile. They were clearly meeting for the first time, so why was she reacting this way?

“Have we perhaps met before?”

Sa Su-yeon asked first. Hwa-wol’s shoulders flinched at the sound of her voice. Hwa-wol quietly shook her head.

“No. But perhaps we might have met before.”

Hwa-wol said in a subdued voice. Son-bin suddenly wondered if this was her true self.

“I am Hwa-wol. Welcome to Yewon, Miss Sa.”

With a respectful bow, Hwa-wol paid her respects. Sa Su-yeon’s eyes lit up.

“You know me?”

She hadn’t introduced herself yet, but Hwa-wol had clearly stated Sa Su-yeon’s family name.

“How could I not? Your eyes are exactly like your father’s.”

Hwa-wol said with a bright smile. Her eyes and expression had returned to their previous state.

Hwa-wol turned her head towards Dang Wol-ah. Before she could even open her mouth, a soft voice flowed from beneath Dang Wol-ah’s veil.

“Dang Wol-ah of the Dang Family.”

Dang Wol-ah said.

“No need for formalities.”

Hwa-wol’s eyes widened. She looked back and forth between Dang Wol-ah and Noh-gun.

“What is going on?”

Hwa-wol said, her expression one of disbelief.

“For Noh-gun to be with a young lady of the Dang Family, could it be like before…”

“Heok!”

*Flap flap.*

This time, Noh-gun waved his hand. Noh-gun’s old sleeve fluttered in front of Hwa-wol’s eyes.

“Ahem, there’s a bug… More importantly, are we going to spend all day introducing ourselves?”

“Of course not. But I can’t possibly miss this elegant young lady.”

The person Hwa-wol looked at was Jeok Se-hwa. Having stayed at the inn for several days due to the aftereffects of riding the fisherman’s boat, Jeok Se-hwa bowed gracefully to Hwa-wol.

“I am Jeok Se-hwa of the Cheongwon Huyeon Martial Clan.”

“Welcome, Miss Jeok.”

Hwa-wol smiled.

“But who are these children?”

Her gaze landed on the siblings, Kang-rin and Kang-min.

“They are children I happened to meet along the way.”

Noh-gun said.

“So you didn’t bring them here to hide them in Yewon, your hidden children, I presume.”

Hwa-wol sighed deeply.

“How disappointing. I thought there would be a more interesting story.”

Hwa-wol, looking regretful, rested a hand on her face and gazed at the Kang-rin and Kang-min siblings. Her gaze was quite sharp and stern.

“There’s no point in acting now, is there?”

“Acting?”

Hwa-wol smiled at Noh-gun’s question.

“Yes. Originally, I would have coldly kicked them out. Then the children would wait for a chance to meet me while performing in the streets of Hangzhou or at inns.”

“If you kick them out, won’t they give up? They’re just kids.”

“If they give up that easily, they can’t walk the path of a Yewon artist. And most of the children who come all the way here have that much tenacity.”

Hwa-wol continued.

“Of course, I secretly send someone along. There are so many bad people in the world. If the children’s circumstances are too difficult, I secretly connect them to a suitable inn or tea house. That’s how I observe the children’s behavior and skills for several months, or even up to a year.”

Son-bin realized what she was saying. In short, it was a very long test.

“That’s how the children get chosen. The fact that they knew about Yewon and came here in the first place means their basic qualities are already acknowledged.”

For children to know about Yewon meant they had been recognized by at least outer-level experts. Of course, a Yewon artist’s eye was quite different.

“Did Yewon do things like that?”

Noh-gun muttered. Hwa-wol spoke with a sulky expression.

“It’s been a while. Of course, Noh-gun wouldn’t know. You never come.”

“Hmph, Yewon this.”

Even with Hwa-wol in front of him, Noh-gun’s words were unrestrained. Hwa-wol turned her head back towards the Kang-rin and Kang-min siblings.

“This might be a disadvantageous situation for you.”

Her voice was quite stern and cold. There was none of the playfulness she had shown earlier.

“You only have one chance, and you know this is a test. It will be very different from performing at inns or on the streets as you always do. If you want, you can come back later, about half a year from now. What will you do?”

Hwa-wol’s gaze as she looked down at the children was imposing.

Kang-min swallowed hard. His hand, tightly gripping his sister’s, was damp with sweat.

“We’ll do it now.”

The one who answered was Kang-rin. Unable to see, she raised her head towards the place where Hwa-wol’s voice was heard.

“There’s no need to wait half a year. Whether it’s Yewon or the streets or inns, the path I must take is already decided.”

Lin’s voice was clear. A different light shone in Hwa-wol’s eyes.

“Good.”

Hwa-wol said.

“I hope your zither is as great as your smooth tongue.”

Her voice was sharp. Hwa-wol looked at Noh-gun and said,

“Would you like to come watch?”

“Not really.”

Noh-gun said dismissively. But Noh-gun’s words were not yet finished.

“…But I suppose I should go with you.”

Noh-gun said with a click of his tongue. The expression on Son-bin’s face as he looked at him clearly revealed his desire to see it. Sa Su-yeon, as well as Seo-rin, were looking at Noh-gun with sparkling eyes.

“Ah, I’ll go watch with you!”

Noh-gun said. Hwa-wol smiled involuntarily at the sight.

*

*

*

*Clang, clang.*

The sound of the zither echoed through the beautiful garden. As always, with a calm expression, Lin continued to play. Each time her white fingers moved across the zither, a beautiful melody spread like a wave.

A comfortable feeling bloomed on the faces of the group listening to her performance.

However, tension was evident on the face of her younger brother, Min. Whether or not they could enter Yewon depended on this one performance.

*Clang.*

The performance ended.

While Lin was lost in the lingering notes, Min watched Hwa-wol’s expression. And when he saw that Hwa-wol’s expression was not very good, his heart sank.

“Not bad.”

Hwa-wol’s voice echoed softly. But the emotion contained in that voice was by no means favorable.

“People must be very amazed when you play, right? I bet they are. The sight of a pretty young girl who can’t even see playing the zither must be quite a spectacle. It would also be a good fit for a place entertaining distinguished guests. There are quite a few people who prefer not seeing, after all.”

Her tone was cold. And it was just as merciless.

“But the novelty is only temporary. A young and beautiful appearance is also fleeting. Your technique is quite good for your age, but to those who stain the strings with blood every day, it’s a childish level.”

It was almost a harsh criticism, but Lin’s expression did not change as she listened. On the other hand, her younger brother Min’s face turned pale.

“Do you know any ancient zither songs?”

The history of the zither is long and deep. Besides the songs commonly played in the marketplace, there are also many old and famous songs. However, those songs were not easily accessible despite their widespread fame.

Moreover, due to the nature of the zither, which varies greatly depending on the performer, one cannot say they know a song just by hearing it once or twice. Performances by artists known as masters are difficult to encounter even once in a lifetime.

“I don’t know them.”

Lin said.

“If you don’t even know the songs that are the mainstream of the zither, your technique isn’t that great, and you can’t even see, why should I choose you?”

Hwa-wol’s voice was cold.

“You don’t have to choose me.”

Lin said. Her voice was also stiff.

“I already know that my zither is lacking. But I will not give up. I have decided to become a performer who is not ashamed of my brother’s faith and the respect he has for me. And someday, I will definitely…”

Lin bit her lip slightly and said,

“I will become a performer who can move people’s hearts with seven strings.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Although Lin’s voice was sincere, Hwa-wol’s expression was not very impressed.

“But how will you make a living until then? Do you have money?”

Lin’s face turned white.

“M-money…”

“You don’t, do you? No, it’s not easy to earn enough to live day by day, is it? Do you know what happens then? Eventually, you end up becoming a prostitute in the back alleys. Even becoming a concubine to a greedy pig wouldn’t be easy for you, would it?”

Lin bit her lip. But she couldn’t refute Hwa-wol’s words.

Those without power are bound to be broken by the violence of money and power. And right now, the siblings were the most helpless and vulnerable beings.

“But how are you going to become such a performer?”

“I’ll do it!”

Her younger brother Min jumped up and shouted.

“I will protect my sister. Whether I clean at an inn, beg, or even steal, I will definitely protect my sister!”

Min said with a flushed face. But Hwa-wol smiled wryly instead.

“Did you hear that? Your beloved brother is going to steal. But you’re still going to cling to that zither? You’re a really shameless sister.”

Lin’s lips were blue. The small, white hand clutching the zither trembled. She didn’t even seem to feel the strings digging into her hand.

“I won’t make him steal.”

Lin said in a trembling voice.

“I won’t make him beg either. But I won’t give up the zither. Even if something happens, this zither…”

Lin’s voice, which she had been continuing through gritted teeth, eventually broke. Tears welled up in her closed eyes and began to flow down.

“I’m sorry, Min-ah.”

Lin could no longer hold back and began to sob softly.

“Noona [term of endearment for older sister]!”

Min ran to his sister and hugged her tightly. Tears were also flowing down Min’s cheeks.

“Haa.”

Hwa-wol sighed softly. And she lightly raised her hand. As her slender and beautiful hand was raised, a servant appeared and bowed.

“Wash those children and guide them to a place to stay for the time being.”

Min raised his head and looked at Hwa-wol. Lin, who could not see, also turned her face towards Hwa-wol.

“Opportunity must be given fairly.”

Hwa-wol said in a cold voice.

“Learn ancient songs here for a year. If you’re determined to become such a performer, as you said, this much should be easy. But if you disappoint me…”

Hwa-wol’s eyes flashed.

“I’ll strip you both naked and kick you out, so keep that in mind.”

Min nodded vigorously. And he quickly grabbed his sister’s zither. Lin held the zither that her brother handed her dearly.

“Come this way.”

The servant spoke to the two children in a respectful manner. Lin, who was about to follow the servant, suddenly stopped. Min, who was holding her hand and about to go ahead, turned back with a puzzled expression, and Lin said.

“Master Son.”

“Yes.”

Son-bin replied. Lin turned her head towards the place where Son-bin’s voice was heard. Tears were still glistening in her closed eyes.

“I will definitely become a great zither player. So please don’t forget the promise you made to play with me someday.”

“Yes. I will be waiting, Miss Lin.”

Son-bin replied with a smile. Lin smiled slightly and bowed her head towards the direction where the group was.

“Thank you all. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to come this far.”

“Thank you!”

Min also bowed his head deeply.

“Take care.”

Sa Su-yeon said with affectionate eyes. Min nodded vigorously and followed the servant, holding his sister’s hand.

“Hmph.”

As the three people disappeared outside the garden, Noh-gun snorted.

“What an obvious act. What’s the point of doing that when you’re going to accept them anyway…”

“Oh my, an act?”

Hwa-wol smiled brightly. There was no trace of the cold expression she had shown until just now.

“Everything I said was true. Although it has nothing to do with us.”

“The treatment of artists isn’t very good, is it?”

Son-bin said in a slightly low voice. Hwa-wol smiled faintly as she looked at Son-bin.

“It’s not all the same.”

Hwa-wol said in a quiet voice.

“I am ashamed to say this, but we are sometimes invited to perform for the imperial family and show our small talents for special people. We know etiquette and uphold integrity and fidelity, and we are not lazy in learning classics and calligraphy.”

Hwa-wol smiled slightly.

“Although some of those who call themselves artists become concubines of high-ranking officials or dignitaries and settle down, please do not confuse us with those people.”

Son-bin knew that her pride was great.

No one dares to ignore or belittle the women who have become concubines of high-ranking officials or dignitaries. Some of them make a name for themselves in literature or calligraphy. But she hates even being compared to such women.

“How is Miss Lin?”

Hwa-wol smiled again at Son-bin’s question.

The title of Miss is awkward for that child, but there must be circumstances. Besides, it’s not a bad thing for Hwa-wol.

“She’s quite good.”

Her answer was quite different from before.

“My assessment of her songs and techniques is sincere. But there is a certain intensity in that child’s zither. Not the petty pride that is easy for someone of that age to have, but, how should I put it…”

Hwa-wol, pressing her slender finger lightly against her lips, said.

“A clear will towards a higher realm? It’s like she’s seen the sound she should aim for. That’s not something you can easily have. So I have high expectations.”

Hwa-wol said with a smile.

“But that means it will be a difficult task for that child.”

High expectations mean that the level required of Lin will be higher. The seven strings being stained red with blood flowing from her fingers will soon become Lin’s daily life.

“You will be staying in Hangzhou for a while, won’t you?”

Hwa-wol said to Noh-gun. Noh-gun frowned.

“How do you know that?”

“Pardon?”

Hwa-wol looked puzzled at Noh-gun’s question.

“Weren’t you here to attend the Yewon Soju Gathering [gathering with alcohol]?”

For a moment, Noh-gun’s expression froze. Then a soft sound popped out of Noh-gun’s mouth.

“Damn it.”

Noh-gun cursed openly.

“I’m doomed.”

Noh-gun said with a deeply frowning face. But Hwa-wol tilted her head.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but don’t get so angry.”

Hwa-wol said to Noh-gun.

“It’s a good opportunity, isn’t it? The Gathering of Flowers doesn’t happen often.”

Son-bin and Sa Su-yeon were just as unable to understand. Seo-rin, who was sitting next to them, also tilted his head again. But in fact, he had been unable to understand since earlier.

Seo-rin glanced at his smart sister, Dang Wol-ah.

But Dang Wol-ah was just admiring the garden as if she had nothing to do with it. The soft scent of Longjing tea [a type of green tea] was slowly rising from the teacup she was holding.