Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 234

“Someone higher up?”

“Yes. Especially among those who enjoy Baduk [Go, a strategy board game], there are some rather unusual individuals, which makes things easier to get things done.”

“Haha, I see.”

I reviewed the sales figures as I listened to the report.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected a profit so early on, but it was surprisingly good.

“Everyone is working hard.”

“Didn’t you scare them, Young Miss? You said that this new venture was experimental and might fail.”

“No, I was just stating the truth.”

“No one wants to lose a job that they finally got. Besides, everyone knows that the places you run are good to work at.”

“Hmm. I’ve been a bit negligent in creating other jobs lately because I was busy opening a branch of Siyoungwon.”

Actually, I didn’t want to increase the workload either…….

The manager in charge of this new establishment, also from Siyoungwon, smiled and continued the explanation.

“As you instructed, we’ve strengthened the security for the ladies and moved the seating to a separate, quiet area, so noblewomen are increasingly holding gatherings here.”

Sadly, women’s gatherings always come with potential threats, so we increased the number of security personnel to prevent suspicious individuals from approaching. Naturally, most of the security personnel in this case were women.

Here, too, anyone causing trouble was firmly expelled, so women could come with peace of mind.

“Noblewomen are surprisingly big spenders, as the mistress of the house is usually in charge of managing the household finances. Besides, children imitate their parents, so those children might become our customers later on.”

“Indeed, your insight is exceptional.”

“Of course, there’s also the possibility that we’ll go bankrupt before that.”

“……”

“……Young Miss.”

Unlike the manager, who was at a loss for words, Soi, who was next to me, sighed and gave me a look, but I still couldn’t be sure that this place would succeed.

“You, you don’t have to worry. Fortunately, more people are visiting our establishment, and interactions have become more active. At first, only the most common games like Baduk, Janggi [Korean chess], and archery were popular, but now everywhere is bustling.”

“Hmm. So, it means we can proceed as planned?”

“Yes, Young Miss.”

The manager, who already had experience managing a restaurant, nodded at my words.

And a few days later, several new notices were posted in the restaurant and arcade.

Those who frequented the restaurant and arcade were stirred by the sudden announcement.

“They’re holding a tournament?”

“They’re holding monthly tournaments and giving prize money to the winners and the top few?”

“It seems to be limited to popular games like Baduk and Janggi.”

“Well, there’s no competition or fun if there aren’t enough people.”

“But with this amount…… couldn’t you just play Baduk and not do anything else?”

“!!”

For reference, the notice was also published in the newspaper on the same day.

‘We’re expanding the game.’

Most modern sports are also supported by corporate sponsorships, aren’t they?

Besides, people come to watch the matches, so it wasn’t as much of a loss as I thought.

Charging a separate admission fee might still be off-putting, so the restaurant usage fee is enough for now.

I was considering charging a separate fee if there were too many people, but it wasn’t time for that yet.

It’s a bit divisive, but the high-end restaurant charges really high prices, and the commoners’ restaurant has increased the number of lighter menu items. However, it’s hard to call it comfortable because it’s so crowded.

I was wondering if I should apply something similar to the arcade in the provinces if it goes well later, but the situation is different between Seoul and the provinces, so it might be difficult to do something similar. Besides, it’s not a problem to worry about right now.

And along with the announcement about the tournament, something else was also announced.

The notice was written in Hangeul [Korean alphabet], just like the newspaper, so most people could read it.

“To maintain the dignity of the tournament, those who frequent gambling dens are prohibited from entering the arcade……?”

“Ah, I see.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

Several people gathered and buzzed around the large notice suddenly posted in the arcade.

Some understood the meaning, and some didn’t, but when there were so many people gathered, there was bound to be someone who liked to explain.

“Didn’t you know? The restaurant across the street, you see…….”

“I didn’t know!”

“That’s right. There’s even a rumor that the guy who caused a ruckus here before was actually sent by them.”

“Seriously, those guys have no fear. Who do they think they are to cause trouble here?”

“Ahem. That’s right. This is clearly different from where common thugs play.”

“They’re just illegal gamblers, so they probably don’t see what’s in front of them.”

Since the distance was close, those who frequented gambling dens naturally came to our establishment.

Jia and others who had infiltrated that side, and the gatekeepers who worked there, recognized the people who frequented that place, so they quickly realized that people who went to the gambling den were coming to our arcade.

Most of them looked decent on the outside, but they weren’t of good character, so they often cheated to win or caused trouble by finding fault in our arcade, so there was sufficient reason to prohibit entry.

Here, the stakes were just a meal or tea, but they were willing to cheat dangerously, so who knew what they would do if there was prize money involved.

For reference, those who cheated were caught on the spot, rolled up in a straw mat, and kicked out.

‘I heard the customers all loved it…….’

They cheered as if they were watching a special event, so I wondered if I should tell them to come occasionally.

They claimed they weren’t, but catching those who frequented gambling dens wasn’t as difficult as I thought.

Perhaps it was because the population was smaller than in modern times, so it was relatively easy to filter them out.

“No, who are you calling a gambler!”

Of course, there were cases where they didn’t admit it and made a fuss, but when the big guys went and explained kindly, they all quietly backed down.

“Do you know where you are causing a disturbance? Do you think you can handle the consequences if Princess Ongju [a royal title] gets angry?”

“……”

Of course, I also used my name.

Occasionally, there were complaints, but if someone said they saw them entering that restaurant, they couldn’t deny it.

They might not have gambled, but how would we know if they did or not?

“I only went there once, because my friends called me! I don’t know if it’s a gambling den or what, I just went there to eat!”

However, if they pleaded as if they were wronged like that, we checked their identity and let them in.

“If we see you frequenting that place again, you will be banned from entry.”

Now that people were starting to have gatherings in the arcade, those who couldn’t enter were being asked, ‘Are you actually a gambler?’

Even those who gambled had the awareness that it wasn’t something they could proudly say they were.

Thanks to that, whether they gambled or not, everyone had to say they didn’t here.

Moreover, someone later discovered someone frequenting the restaurant with the gambling den and reported ‘That person is a gambler’ and received a reward.

Gamblers were quick with their hands and quick-witted, so those who knew this used it as a way to eliminate competitors.

There were quite a few false accusations, which was a headache, but one thing was certain.

“Their profits must have decreased quite a bit.”

“Of course, they would, right?”

Anyway, the rewards given at the arcade tournaments included not only prize money but also honor.

The winner was featured in the newspaper, and their name was engraved in large letters on the building where the tournament was held, and they were called a Meijin (名人) [a master or expert], so they couldn’t help but feel proud, and people coveted that position.

Among those who wanted to receive the prize money, there were those who also gambled, but most of them were addicts who couldn’t quit gambling, so they were immediately kicked out.

Gambling addiction isn’t easily cured.

And they were venting their anger at the gambling den.

‘Good. Keep it up.’

The news that Jia found out at the gambling den is relayed to me via Cheonho.

“Someone who was kicked out of the arcade yesterday caused a disturbance at the gambling den.”

“Good for them.”

The gambling den wasn’t exactly ruined, but it wasn’t as thriving as it used to be.

The replenishment of easy targets, those who went to the gambling den with a light heart and had their house deeds and land deeds taken away, had decreased, so only familiar faces remained.

There was no way to make money by playing with the same old faces.

Besides, the rumor that it was a gambling den had spread so much that people in the neighborhood called it a gambling den, not a restaurant.

As a result, even passersby looked closely at people entering the gambling den, or rather, that restaurant, thinking, ‘Is that person going to enter the arcade later? I should report them if I see them and get a reward.’ So, people with money who cared about their reputation didn’t hang around there.

There were even rumors that someone was monitoring them to catch the gambling den, so they had blocked the passage connected to the restaurant, let alone supplying easy targets through the restaurant as before.

As the arcade became more famous, those who frequented that side were recognized as failures.

Of course, there were people who didn’t care about the eyes of those around them, so it wasn’t ruined yet, but slowly going bankrupt wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

From my perspective.

“Speaking of which, what happened to those who tried to steal because of gambling debts back then?”

Soun, who brought tea and snacks while I was listening to the report and raising the corners of my mouth, asked.

Others besides Soi, who followed me exclusively, were a bit late with information, so they often had belated questions.

Still, if I asked if they would go instead of Soi, they would all quietly decline.

……Am I overworking Soi too much?

“I told them to resolve it internally, so they are resolving it internally.”

“?”

Since Siyoungwon had many people, problems often arose internally.

Come to think of it, the amusement park ride was originally created because of that.

‘Somehow…… it seems to have changed a lot…….’

It has changed from being used to punish children to being used to entertain many people for money, so the gap is quite large.

‘It’s okay. It’s a creative economy!’

Many people are enjoying it, and we’re making money, so isn’t that enough……?

Besides, within Siyoungwon, children who have committed minor offenses are pulling the amusement park ride so that other children can ride it.

Of course, it depends on the offense.

Anyway, that’s why Siyoungwon was forced to punish children who had committed offenses in various ways internally.

Still, in the case of children who still have potential but have committed serious crimes like this time…….

“I heard they went to the childcare room.”

“Childcare room? The place where they raise babies?”

“Yes. Among them, there is a place dedicated to taking care of babies who can’t even walk yet. There…… you can really clear your head completely.”

“?”

Since I was the last baby in the palace, there weren’t many people in the palace who had raised a newborn baby.

It’s hard for people who haven’t taken care of babies full-time to understand, but babies inherently grow by depleting the physical strength, health, and mental strength of their caregivers.

Young and strong labor was always welcome.

“At first, I just locked them in a room and made them write reflection papers, wondering if there was anything we could find out about the gambling den. Now that there’s nothing more to find out through them, we have to make them work.”

“Is that enough?”

She looked like she was wondering if there wasn’t a more severe punishment.

“It’s because you haven’t raised babies…….”

“Princess Ongju, why do you sound like you have……?”

The childcare room is divided according to the age of the children, and children under about 100 days old cry a lot day and night, so the noise pollution is severe, and it is slightly separated within Siyoungwon like a place of exile.

In the case of children who have committed a crime but are not capable of taking care of a baby or do not intend to take care of a baby, they are made to write reflection papers alone in a room near there.

‘Not being able to escape a place where the sound of babies crying never stops day and night is close to torture…….’

Within Siyoungwon, it seems to be called by names such as exile or hell room.

Just in case, I didn’t decide that.

Originally, it started as a way to discipline some children who looked down on the women in charge of childcare in Siyoungwon, but the effect was good, so the tradition continues.

It is said that children who are tormented by the sound of babies crying while writing reflection papers later beg to be allowed to soothe the babies and enter the childcare room.

“It’s a good thing that they are exhausted and fall asleep because taking care of babies all day is not an easy task. Still, how great is it that they are not doing it alone.”

Besides, it was also a rewarding task. Surprisingly, there are children who reflect and live righteously while taking care of babies, so it wasn’t a bad thing.

And conversely, there are cases where some of the children who come out of there swear that they will never have children…….

Considering that there are surprisingly many boys among the children who enter there, which is not a high percentage in Siyoungwon, I wonder if that is the reason why the marriage rate of Siyoungwon children is low…….

‘Anyway, experiencing real childcare in advance isn’t a bad thing.’

It’s better to experience it to some extent, even if it doesn’t interfere with their studies.

And even though it’s a punishment, they are paid wages for recognizing childcare as labor, so they can save a little money.