Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 206

The government offices in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and surrounding areas continued sending people to the Gibyeolcheong [a government archive] daily to copy the *jobo* [official gazette], as before. However, regions that previously received the information after several days now preferred the neatly printed version over the messy handwritten copies.

‘They say seeing a clean printed version after looking at scribbled handwriting makes their eyes feel clearer? Well, if the handwriting is messy, it’s hard to read.’

There must have been people who made a living by interpreting and selling the *jobo* before, so I’m considering offering employment contracts to those who used to do that job, fearing they might become unemployed.

The development of industrial technology creates unemployment, so rapid technological advancement isn’t always a good thing.

Of course, right now it’s not mechanical mass production yet, so it’s actually creating jobs.

“I heard the rental bookstore hired new staff too?”

“Yes. Not only because of the *jobo*, but the rental bookstore itself is also growing, so I can’t handle it all alone. Isn’t it all thanks to you, young lady?”

“Right now it’s once every five days, but if sales stabilize a bit, we might have to sell like this every day, so you should be prepared.”

“Oh dear.”

Mr. Jang was groaning, but he was smiling.

I’m also taking better care of him as he’s working hard. People who came to the rental bookstore to buy the *jobo* also took the opportunity to browse the bookstore and subtly reach for novels, which unexpectedly increased sales.

‘I expected it, but the sales are quite good.’

There are still some tricky parts about pricing, so I wonder if there’s any way to reduce costs.

If I consider selling in bulk, I could lower the price a bit more.

‘Should I sell two types of paper quality? Wealthy people might want something better. But then again, there are many cases where the content isn’t worth keeping for a long time, so it might not be meaningful… Besides, I’m planning to increase the content in the future.’

Right now, the printing house isn’t used to mass production, and it seems difficult to fill it with content other than the *jobo*, so I should proceed slowly.

“How’s business at the rental bookstore these days?”

“It’s not bad, but I’m a bit disappointed that there aren’t many big hits these days. Both Teacher Jicheon’s works and other popular works saw a surge in sales when they were made into plays, but things have been a bit stagnant lately.”

“Ah. Nothing stands out these days?”

“Yes, a little bit. Still, books that sell consistently are still doing well. They’re still selling well next to the theater stage. For popular works, we’re trying illustrated versions like ‘Flower Shadow,’ but some people want to sell them as illustrated versions from the start, while others don’t like illustrations, so it’s not easy to predict demand.”

“Then should I just add a protagonist illustration from the beginning? Or maybe include a separate sheet like a title page or bonus. After all, if there’s a picture, it’s more eye-catching and memorable than just a title, right? It would also differentiate it from other rental bookstore books.”

“As expected, young lady, your business acumen is extraordinary. But I’m worried about what if it doesn’t sell well even if we sell it that way.”

“Hmm… Printing pictures is a bit cumbersome, isn’t it? Try proceeding within a reasonable limit. I know you can tell which works will be successful anyway.”

I couldn’t run the rental bookstore if I didn’t trust this guy’s judgment.

“Since you say so, young lady, there’s no reason not to. By the way, Siyoungwon [a group of artists and writers] introduced me to another illustrator these days, so the number of illustrators has increased… There are people who come to us saying they want to try it too, so would it be okay to hire other illustrators?”

“There’s no need to only work with Siyoungwon people. If their skills are good enough. Diversity is needed everywhere, and people’s tastes vary.”

“I understand.”

Is this how new job categories are created?

‘But it’s probably still just a side job. In this era, the main focus of painting is mostly…’

Thinking that far, I grabbed Mr. Jang.

“Just in case… no books that could cause serious moral corruption…”

“Ah, no! Everyone who knows that you are the owner of this rental bookstore knows, how could I sell such books?”

Mr. Jang jumped up, flustered, and I saw Cheonho, who had been with us, turning his head as if he hadn’t heard.

‘Ah, was it not something to talk about in front of a teenager?’

I don’t know if Mr. Jang really won’t sell them, but since this rental bookstore has gotten a taste for mass production through printing, handmade erotic books (roughly 18+ erotic picture books) wouldn’t be the main product.

“I’m not saying don’t sell them, but you know it’ll be a hassle if you get caught, right?”

“Y-yes.”

“Can you take responsibility if strange rumors spread later?”

“You’re still young, how could I!”

I guess he means he’ll sell them properly when I’m old enough to be called Madam.

“I don’t want to be too strict… but my surroundings aren’t like that, you know? Be careful just in case.”

“Yes, I understand.”

In fact, this era isn’t a big deal even if I read something racy, but since I still look like a child, the overprotection around me is severe.

Like Soi, who’s glaring behind me right now.

‘It doesn’t seem like Soi doesn’t read racy books at all either.’

It’s not like the palace maids aren’t interested in that kind of thing. They’re just desperately trying to keep it out of my sight, and I’m pretending not to notice because their efforts are kind of admirable.

I walked through the market with a nonchalant expression, feeling refreshed for the first time in a while.

“It’s good that the streets are lively, but it’s strangely chaotic.”

“Well, I heard that a new high-end restaurant has opened recently, could it be because of that?”

“Hmm. I’ve heard about it too, I guess business is doing well?”

“Yes. I heard people are lining up.”

Originally, the hottest high-end restaurant in Hanyang [old name for Seoul] was the one I created by hiring Siyoungwon people a while ago.

Former nobles… no, my servants are in charge of the kitchen, and Siyoungwon people and people who got jobs through the usual methods coexist.

It was created relatively long ago, but the profits are still being maintained smoothly.

There have been problems from time to time, but now they have a lot of experience and can be independent.

“So it’s a competitor to our restaurant.”

“Haha. Are you curious?”

“A little bit?”

“But I heard it’s so crowded there that you have to make a reservation to get in.”

“Really? Then I’ll make a reservation, what.”

I’m a powerful person with all the wealth and power of this era~

What I lack is~

“A-and I heard that children are not allowed to enter.”

“Huh?”

…Hmm, what I lack is aging? No, growth?

Cheonho, seeing my sullen face, smiled awkwardly and explained.

“They also sell alcohol, and I heard it’s a quiet place. Some of the people who used to go to *gibangs* [traditional Korean houses of entertainment] have naturally gone to Siwolgak [the protagonist’s restaurant], but many people are looking for that place too.”

“Hmm. But it makes me feel uneasy when you say that.”

“They say they’re just doing performances like Siwolgak, but we won’t know what it’s like unless we go inside.”

Cheonho didn’t mention it directly, but I could roughly understand what he meant.

The restaurant I run also sells alcohol, and it’s rare for people to bring children, but from what I hear, the atmosphere seems a bit different.

“Well, even if we got rid of the *gibangs*, it’s not like the demand from that demographic is decreasing.”

There’s no way the guys who lived a dissolute life would suddenly become chaste.

Of course, in cases where the only purpose is to create a festive atmosphere with ‘performances,’ they are still doing business trips under strict management, but people don’t change suddenly.

There were originally *gisaengs* [female entertainers] who sang as self-employed people in Dabang Valley, and I didn’t bring them all to Siwolgak either.

‘It’s hard for me to do anything about that.’

Even so, the number of people who can perform at Siwolgak or Suyeong Park is limited, and competition has become more fierce as *gisaengs* are brought in from the provinces, so there must be quite a few who can’t get in.

Besides, even if they are pushed out by ability, resentment can arise…

“It would be arrogant if I thought I could manage everything, but it’s a bit annoying to think that something like that has sprung up again.”

“It hasn’t been open for long, so it’s difficult to know what the internal situation is like. It’s not certain if business will be good.”

“Hmm. Well, that’s true too.”

Business isn’t easy in the first place.

‘I’ll watch it for now.’

There are many ways to find out, but I don’t want to look like I’m checking up on a competitor too much.

If it were just a normal restaurant, I wouldn’t worry so much even if it was a competitor, but something felt uneasy.

‘Actually, it’s not good to have too few competitors…’

But the businesses I do generally don’t have many competitors.

The businesses that Gaia is doing have relatively competing merchants, but I heard that there is a difference between places with strong backing and those without.

Besides, my credibility is so strong in the vegetable business, and the winter vegetable business is something that others can’t easily imitate.

The Siyoung Playground, also called Siyoung Park, is an amusement park and performance venue that wasn’t created to be one, but business was doing well, and I heard that they were putting up makeshift spinning rides in other empty lots and charging money.

However, the rides here are different from the outside, and they are sturdy as much as they cost money, and the operation is run by trained professionals, so it’s different.

‘I heard that some places had accidents and operations were suspended.’

There were also talks that the government should crack down on this.

So I just… dispatched our artisans to places where there were no accidents to properly make the rides and receive production costs and commissions.

If management negligence becomes a problem later, that’s their responsibility again.

Since they can’t compete in terms of scale, they weren’t competitors.

‘But that newly opened restaurant… might not be a competitor either.’

And not many days after thinking that, I heard unexpected news.

“Ongju [a princess’s title], news. Have you heard?”

“How would I know if you say it like that.”

I was sitting in the pavilion in the back garden, enjoying a peaceful time.

There was a cat and a crow next to me, one was a pet and the other wasn’t a pet but stuck around.

In fact, I let the crow go properly before going to Gangwon-do in the winter, but not long after I returned to the palace, I felt sorry for it wandering around injured, so I took it in and treated it.

‘It’s the same kid… I guess.’

It doesn’t matter if it’s not.

Was it a problem that I took care of it in the heated room while it was injured? It seemed like the wound had healed, so when I tried to release it, it came back inside and refused to go outside…

I thought it would go out on its own when the weather got warmer, but it didn’t go out and was bothering people like this.

It doesn’t go out, so I can’t starve it. I’ve been feeding and taking care of it for the past few months, and now it doesn’t run away even if I don’t put it in a cage and starts to bother me.

On top of that, the crow still likes shiny things, so it’s bothering people again, so I’m lightly punishing and educating it.

These days, it often fights with the cat, which has grown out of its small size and become somewhat plump, and the palace people laugh that it’s not a dragon and tiger fight (龍虎相搏) [a fierce battle between two powerful entities], but a phoenix and tiger fight (鳳虎相搏).

“…Even if it’s a cat, shouldn’t it lose weight?”

“Ongju, please listen.”

“Okay. Speak.”

“It’s about the *jobo* business that you are doing.”

“Why the *jobo*? His Majesty has already allowed it.”

If the Seungjeongwon [Royal Secretariat] and His Majesty the King said OK, isn’t it okay?

“A memorial has been submitted by the Yangsa (兩司) [the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of the Censorate].”

“Yangsa (兩司)? Yangsa means the Office of the Inspector General (司憲府) and the Office of the Censorate (司諫院), right? Why there?”

The Office of the Inspector General and the Office of the Censorate are departments that generally give direct advice to the king and exist to check the royal authority, and although their rank is low, they can be said to be in a position of real power.

I heard that it’s an elite course there, and you have to go through the Three Offices (三司, Office of the Inspector General, Office of the Censorate, and Office of Special Advisors) to open up a good path for promotion.

It has nothing to do with me though.

“Even the Seungjeongwon checked the contents. Did I leak any state secrets?”

“That’s not it. But since you are already doing a lot of business, a memorial has been submitted that even selling the *jobo* is suspected of being a privilege.”

“I came up with the idea of printing and selling the *jobo*, so if it’s a privilege…”

Of course, if being able to ask the king directly and proceed is a privilege, then it’s a privilege.

No, then should I have done some kind of public bidding…?”

“Then His Majesty will… no, there will be separate remarks through your brother later, so it’s better not to pretend to know.”

“Yes. Ongju.”

“And no matter how things go, I have to keep interpreting the cursive script.”

“…Please hire someone else.”

As expected, the next day. The Crown Prince called me through someone and explained what had happened yesterday.

“Hmm. So, I spoke through His Majesty and it was done first, but there were people who were originally planning it, is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s what I heard. They said that the Ongju started the work that the people were trying to do as a means of livelihood, so they couldn’t even try.”

“It’s a plausible statement, but…”

Unfortunately, I was very skeptical about how many of the politicians would really think about the people and say such things to the Ongju.

‘I think there’s something going on.’

But apart from that, I wasn’t so negative about other people doing similar businesses to me.

‘Originally, there’s no development without competitors.’

Of course, while I’m running it now, I have no intention of doing anything bad, whether it’s monopolizing or anything else, but it was obvious what would happen if a company that prioritizes profit entered a monopoly system without competitors.