Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 208

Thanks to that, Siyoungwon branches were being established not only in Gangwon-do [a province in Korea] but also focusing on areas with Gibeangs [traditional Korean courtesan houses].

I held onto the related reports and sighed deeply.

“Still, Gangwon-do is where the branches are being established the fastest.”

“Ongju [a princess], please don’t worry too much and relax. The people at Siyoungwon will take care of it.”

Soi said that, concerned about me, but I had been worrying about this lately, so naturally, my heart felt heavy.

“Still, I can’t help but worry. I’ve started so many things here and there.”

I needed to see it properly established in Gangwon-do to feel secure about the other regions as well.

“Besides, we’re even creating a printing house and a book rental shop…”

“You said it’s for selling jobo [cheap novels].”

“Yeah, and Siyoungwon is also providing lodging and meals like a tavern.”

“And they’re even building amusement facilities like Siyoung Playground.”

“Yeah… I think I might have started too big for the first time.”

“Gangwon-do is significantly faster than other regions. If it fails here, you can make up for it in other regions, can’t you?”

“Hmm. I think I got too excited and started too big without realizing it.”

Thinking about it, it was like that.

I’m not sure if this word is right, but it’s like a restaurant, a theater, and a book rental shop, but it even has shopping, so it’s… a kind of multiplex.

‘It’s not as big as modern shopping malls, but the whole thing is connected.’

Because the beginning was so vague, it’s scattered here and there in Hanyang [old name for Seoul], but in the provinces, it’s being built systematically, so it’s possible to build it in one place.

‘So it costs money…’

It would be a problem if it fails…

“Haa.”

Maybe it’s because it’s the first time, but I’m worrying a lot.

“Ongju, please relax. I’m worried you’ll harm your body.”

“Okay… let’s think about something else. Hmm…”

I was troubled because other people were worried about me because I was tired.

“It’s getting hotter, but the Gangwon-do area is cool, so it might be better to live there, right?”

“…It might be cool because it’s spine-chilling…”

Soi, remembering the last trip to Gangwon-do, was very negative.

“Ah. Now that I think about it, it might be good to have the Gisaengs [female entertainers] brought from Gangwon-do go down there for a while for the opening.”

“That’s true. How about having some other Gisaengs go with them?”

“That’s good. There will be a lot of people coming when it first opens anyway.”

That’s right. The opening boost is important.

We had to make the opening splendid and secure money—no, customers.

I should send those famous kids to Gangwon-do for a while.

“By the way, have you decided which Jongchin [relatives of the royal family] to send to Gangwon-do?”

“Yeah. I prioritized those with good grades and older age.”

If they have the same status, the older one is the superior! I had to make the older one a senior to make things easier later.

“Shortest is 1 year, longest is 5 years. Similar to the Siyoungwon teachers, right?”

“Isn’t 1 year too short?”

“Imagine living comfortably in Seoul and suddenly going down to the countryside to work. They’ll get sick of it. But they have to endure at least 1 year to say they’ve worked somewhere.”

“Do you not trust the Jongchin young ladies that much?”

“It’s the first time for everyone. It would be amazing if they do well. We have to pay attention to the escort so that their parents don’t come looking for them later…”

In fact, thanks to the Jongchin young ladies’ employment, the girls who had learned martial arts at Siyoungwon were unexpectedly forced to find jobs. Of course, not only the girls but also the boys changed their career paths to become escorts.

Even the kids who had talent in martial arts but originally planned to do other things were like, ‘Escorting Jongchin young ladies? Then they’re related to the young lady, right? I’ll do it. Sounds fun,’ and they slowly raised their hands.

I don’t know if it’s okay to start this for fun, but motivation is important, so whatever…

They received intensive etiquette and martial arts training for a while, saying it was to escort nobles, and just in case, they also had to take business-related classes.

I was planning to attach as many people as possible to each region to be dispatched, so I needed a lot of people, and the trouble of finding external personnel was reduced, so it was definitely… convenient.

“They might just get a job in that family.”

Especially for female escorts, it’s good to become attached to the same gender, and even if they get married later, they can take them along.

‘They’ll figure it out later.’

When I picked the top performers and took them to Siwolgak [a gisaeng house] to introduce them to the job-seeking… no, the Jongchin young ladies, they were all so happy.

“Then will we have someone to protect us later?”

“I’m strangely excited.”

What should I do if they’re so excited when I introduce girls to girls…

‘Is there a story about a young lady and a bodyguard among the novels that have been popular recently?’

Of course, it was difficult to entrust close protection to the boys, so I was planning to have them say hello when they left, but should I not even introduce them?

If such a problem arises and I receive a complaint, I would feel too wronged.

Fortunately, Songan and the oldest member who had married early but lost her husband and joined this group were leaving this time.

‘It’s a relief that they are the oldest members who have experienced a lot.’

Sadly, there were quite a few cases of getting married early and becoming alone because sudden deaths were really common in this era.

Rarely, there was someone who requested to do it herself, not her father.

‘She said she wanted to live a different life.’

If possible, I hope she can have an experience that she can later think was not bad.

That depended on the customer level in the Gangwon-do area, so it was out of my hands now.

I left the Jongchin young ladies to bombard the stiff escort kids with questions and went down to check on the Gisaengs.

The ones going to Gangwon-do were mostly the most famous entertainers from Siwolgak.

Of course, there were many Gisaengs from Gangwon-do among those who were going together. I thought it would be good to have familiar faces going.

‘It could be counterproductive… but it could also be stimulating.’

I just hope they don’t fight.

While I was thinking that, the one who broke the sign more aggressively than anyone else last time found me and approached me.

“Agissi [young lady]!”

“Maehyang is going too?”

“Sob sob. I don’t know how sad I am that I won’t be able to see Agissi for a while if I go to Gangwon-do this time.”

“Come back when it gets cooler. Maehyang is so talented that I think you’ll be going to other regions often in the future, what should I do?”

“Oh my. That’s often a problem. I can’t help but go this time because Agissi is paying so much attention to it.”

“Yeah. I trust Maehyang.”

Maehyang, who lowered herself to meet my gaze, smiled regretfully.

“I’m sad to think that you’ll grow up so much while I can’t see you. I hope you don’t grow taller than me in the meantime?”

“There’s a limit to the speed of human growth, so I can’t grow that fast, so don’t worry about that.”

“Yes.”

Among the people who seemed busy packing their bags and checking the performances they had to do in Gangwon-do, there was also someone who seemed particularly free.

“Haewol looks bored?”

“Oh my, you know I can’t go because I’m scared.”

Haewol, who unintentionally reported treason in Gangwon-do, was under my protection in Siwolgak.

Anyway, the guys who were involved at the time were all exiled and executed, but just in case.

“It’s your hometown, wouldn’t you want to go back later?”

“Now Hanyang, this Siwolgak, is my hometown. I don’t know how happy I am to be able to come here.”

I heard that Haewol was also sold by her parents. It’s a good thing if she settles down and lives well.

Haewol was also popular in Siwolgak as much as she made a name for herself in Gangwon-do, so she was busy.

“Haewol will be busy while Maehyang is gone.”

“Hoho. I think it’s okay to be a little busy if I think that all of Maehyang’s followers will become mine.”

“Oh my, anyway, they’ll all come back to me when I return to Seoul, so what does it matter while I’m gone?”

I don’t know if they have a good or bad relationship.

‘It would be best if we could operate without a gap.’

People are always looking for something new, so rotating like this with other regions might not be bad.

‘……Is this a tour performance?’

Something strange came to mind, but it wasn’t important, so I quickly erased it.

“From the owner’s point of view, it’s best if sales don’t drop.”

“Don’t worry, Agissi. The new kids who started performing on stage a while ago are quite popular, aren’t they?”

“It’s like this, but when we see those kids, we feel the young energy and keep looking at them, don’t we?”

“Ah… those kids…”

I vaguely trailed off.

What Maehyang and Haewol are talking about now are the idols… no, the kids who have sprung up in Siyoungwon.

“But those kids seem to be better suited for outdoor stages than Siwolgak.”

“Ah, well, I was a little worried that the stage would collapse.”

“I think it would be good to rebuild it this winter.”

I guess they like them too.

‘The reviews aren’t good for the older ones. Tastes vary after all.’

Siwolgak has a lot of polite customers, so young kids jumping and singing didn’t suit the customer base.

Thanks to that, those kids were put on the Siyoung Park stage rather than Siwolgak.

I even put up a tent so they could perform in the summer, and I heard that people are flocking to it regardless of the heat.

‘Hmm… should I just make an indoor amusement park?’

Then we can operate regardless of the weather, and we can perform comfortably.

But to do such a major construction, we have to make money first.

“Agissi, you must be thinking about how to make money again.”

“You’re really a reliable person.”

Now that I’m lost in thought, everyone reacts like that.

“Agissi. You should rest, why do you keep working?”

“I think this is a bit of a disease.”

“I’m glad you know.”

Soi sighed and pulled me out.

“Come to think of it, have Soi and Cheonho ever seen the Siyoungwon kids dancing?”

“I’ve seen it at Siyoungwon.”

“Me too.”

Now that I think about it, you saw it together when you went to Siyoungwon with me.

“Hmm. I heard that the people who are dancing on stage with costumes are quite cool, so their followers are increasing, so I’m thinking of checking it out with my own eyes.”

“I heard that it’s so crowded that I’m worried. Wouldn’t it be dangerous for Agissi to go?”

“I’m worried that people who dance or watch in the middle of summer will collapse.”

Ah, really?

“Anyway, I have to see it once. Huh? Cheonho, over there.”

“Yes?”

In the place I pointed, there were siblings who frequented Siwolgak and had become familiar after meeting them several times.

And they looked like they were in very bad condition.

‘Yeongcheon-gun is gone, so what happened again?’

“I hope it’s nothing serious, but just in case, Cheonho, go and find out.”

“I think people around me think I like that sister because of Agissi.”

“That’s because you’re close to her.”

Even though he grumbled, Cheonho approached kindly and found out the cause.

“They lost their parents and had a cousin who they relied on, but he disappeared a long time ago and recently appeared somewhere.”

“Isn’t that a good… thing?”

Even as I said that, I felt a little uneasy for some reason.

“Yes. He looked good and his spending on the two of them increased, so they thought he had returned after doing well somewhere. But a while ago, that cousin said he needed money urgently and borrowed the money the siblings had saved up… and then he lost contact again…”

“No, how could he rather take the liver of a flea… ?”