I Became the Eldest Daughter of a Fallen Family - Chapter 59

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 59. The Red Brick House (2)
So Yeon-hui smiled brightly at the man’s words and asked him a question.
“Oh, how wonderful! May I ask your name?”
“My name is Jung Ga.”
“Mr. Jung, I’m so grateful. Would you happen to know anyone else who could work with us? It would be ideal if we could find two or three more people.”
At that, Jung Ga glanced around at his two neighbors, exchanged a silent look with them, and quickly nodded.
“I’ll do it! I’m Yi.”
“And I’m Yu! The eldest daughter-in-law of the Shim Household—they’re close with the So Household—is my cousin!”
“Excellent. Then we’ll begin the construction a week from now. Please come to the So Household early that morning.”
So Yeon-hui bowed with a bright smile, then with an air of dignity, pulled the cart and made her way out of the village.
Just as they were leaving the village entrance, So Yeon-su, who had been listening from inside the cart, asked So Yeon-hui softly through the cart window.
“Sister, are you trying to bind these villagers to you with wages?”
“Not bind them.”
So Yeon-hui answered, eyes fixed ahead.
“I’m simply showing them they have a choice. Working for the Wang family isn’t their only option—they can work for us too. When people have more than one choice about how to feed themselves, their attitudes change.”
Let’s see whose purse is deeper, shall we?
So Yeon-hui laughed softly, her lips curling up, but So Yeon-su frowned with concern and spoke.
“Sister, sometimes I think you’re rather cunning.”
“Can’t you call it clever instead?”
Why was her judgment of me harsher than anyone else’s?
So Yeon-hui sighed quietly, then urged the donkey forward. She had declared she would undertake a major construction project—now it was time to earn money diligently.
* * *
A week later.
From early morning, the So Household courtyard bustled with activity.
So Yeon-hui stood before the three workers she had engaged and explained the construction plans earnestly.
Perhaps because the building she wanted differed from the ordinary traditional thatched house style and required much explanation, she was pouring unusual passion into the details, gesturing with a stick to indicate positions.
“Right now the thatched house has two rooms and a half room that serves as a kitchen. I’d like to expand the kitchen eastward by about this much. The firebox should go over here, and we’ll need a window around this area for proper ventilation.”
“Hmm. A window in the kitchen, and above the firebox no less. That’s rather novel.”
“On this side, I’d like to add two more rooms, and perhaps create a bathing area at the end. The floor will need to be treated with tile to prevent slipping—I’ll handle that part myself.”
“T-tile treatment? Well, at any rate, I understand.”
“And I’m thinking of expanding the wall this way to secure more courtyard space. We’ll raise the wall by about a foot and a half above its current height… Oh, and I’m considering making the front gate larger too!”
“Kitchen expansion, two additional rooms, wall repairs, and a new front gate…”
Jung Ga folded his arms and looked around the thatched house. With a discerning eye, he examined this spot and that, then nodded.
“Well, once we get a few pillars up, it should go fairly quickly. The earthen walls aren’t too badly damaged, so there doesn’t seem to be much else that needs repair. We’ll have to gather most of the materials from the mountain, though?”
“Some of it, yes. But I’ve already purchased some materials separately.”
“What? You actually bought materials with money? Why waste your resources like that?”
At Yi’s remark, So Jin, who had been standing quietly beside him with his arms folded, finally spoke.
“Not all of it—just some portions. They’re materials that can’t be found in the forest, so please don’t concern yourself.”
“Well, that’s… if that’s your intention, then so be it. But may I ask what materials you purchased?”
At Jung Ga’s question, So Jin nodded and led them toward the back courtyard.
The three workers followed So Jin as if enchanted, then suddenly stopped in their tracks when they saw piles of reddish blocks stacked in one corner of the back courtyard.
“What in the world is that?”
They were rectangular stones with a reddish tint. No—bricks.
Jung Ga, who had once been conscripted to work at a high official’s tomb construction, raised his eyebrows and stepped closer.
He examined the stacked bricks carefully, picked one up with his hand, turned it over in his palms, and suddenly furrowed his brow deeply.
“Sir. And miss. These bricks… are they not fired brick?”
“They are.”
So Yeon-hui answered calmly.
“Why would you stockpile material meant only for tombs like this in your courtyard?”
“Ah, I’m planning to use them to build walls. It’s a sturdy material, and there’s no law saying it can only be used for tombs, is there?”
Jung Ga and the workers exchanged glances. Their expressions had stiffened with shock.
At their bewilderment, Yu stammered and opened his mouth.
“You… do you really intend to build a house with these? This isn’t a joke, is it? You’re serious?”
“Yes, of course. Why would I joke about something like this?”
“Well…!”
He scratched the back of his head, glancing alternately at the cart and So Yeon-hui. Yi, who had been quietly observing the situation, muttered softly to himself.
“If you build a house with tomb bricks, won’t ghosts take up residence…?”
“Ghosts?”
So Yeon-u suddenly bristled and stepped forward.
“What ghosts! If bricks could summon ghosts, then brick workshops would be absolutely swarming with them, wouldn’t they?”
“Yeon-u.”
So Yeon-hui gently restrained her younger brother and addressed the workers.
“I’ll be frank with you. Bricks are used in aristocratic tombs because they’re fire-resistant and durable. A tomb for the dead cannot be repaired, so they built them sturdily so they would never crumble for all eternity. Why shouldn’t such excellent material be used for the living?”
“Well, when you put it that way… there is some logic to it.”
Jung Ga rested his chin on his hand and looked down at the brick again. He seemed neither ready to agree nor to outright refuse.
So Jin walked over beside him and spoke quietly.
“I spent a long time in war. And what I know is this: in the Northern Region, when stone materials are scarce, they sometimes build fortress walls with fired clay bricks. While not quite as fine as proper stone, they’re far sturdier than earthen walls. I can vouch for that myself.”
Sturdy enough to be used in fortress walls?
And with a man who had spent years in war personally guaranteeing it, the workers’ expressions shifted somewhat.
Jung Ga thought for a moment, then chuckled.
“Well, if you speak for it like that… I’ll simply do as I’m told and stack them.”
So Yeon-hui clapped her hands together and laughed as well.
“Then let’s begin by setting up the pillars first. We can’t build the walls until all the pillars are in place anyway.”
Just then, Jang’s voice came from the kitchen.
“Yeon-hui, the soybean dregs porridge is ready! Come quickly!”
“Yes!”
So Yeon-hui answered quickly, then turned to address the workers.
“Since we’ve reached this point in the morning, shall we have breakfast and then begin work? A full belly gives strength.”
Jung Ga laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.
“Breakfast too?”
“It’s the first day, after all. And it’s nothing fancy—just porridge.”
The workers exchanged glances. Generous wages and such careful provision of meals?
The gossip that the So Household, being a disgraced family, would be cold-hearted seemed to be merely idle rumor.
While they stood bewildered, a straw mat was laid out in the center of the courtyard.
Lady Hong, the elder, emerged with her daughter-in-law, carrying wooden bowls brimming with soybean dregs porridge. Beside the steaming porridge, a small plate held some pickled vegetables.
Jung Ga took the wooden bowl and, sniffing it, opened his eyes wide.
“This… what kind of porridge is it? It smells remarkably savory.”
“It’s soybean dregs porridge with pork and millet. The savory richness combined with salt makes for good flavor. I’ve made plenty, so please eat generously without hesitation.”
“My goodness. There’s meat in it too?”
Jung Ga grinned widely, then silently exchanged a knowing glance with the man beside him.
The next moment, he suddenly turned to So Jin with a broad smile and called out.
“Thank you! I’ll eat with gratitude!”
“Me too! I’ll eat with sincere thanks!”
So Yeon-hui watched from the kitchen entrance and smiled quietly.
Indeed, there were times when a single meal spoke louder than ten words of persuasion.
These men who not long ago had watched the Wang family’s every move and followed with clubs in hand—today they came of their own accord to the So Household and called So Jin by his name with such familiarity.
Perhaps it seemed too transparent, too obvious. But what did it matter? If goodwill could be built this way, it was all for the better.
“Yeon-hui, come and have a spoonful yourself.”
“Yes, I’m coming!”
At Jang’s call, So Yeon-hui glanced around the courtyard once more and hurried toward the kitchen.
The savory aroma of the soybean dregs porridge stirred her appetite so strongly.
She felt she could easily empty three bowls without difficulty.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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