I Became the Eldest Daughter of a Fallen Family - Chapter 60

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

Episode 60. The Red Brick House (3)
After finishing a hearty breakfast that morning,
So Jin and the laborers set about removing the damaged fence first.
Though it was called a fence, it was merely bamboo culled from the surrounding grove and woven together haphazardly, so So Jin had thought removing and rebuilding it wouldn’t be terribly difficult.
But somehow the posts had been driven in far deeper than expected. The workers, straining to uproot the fence by sheer force, soon had sweat dripping down their backs.
It made one wonder just how Wang had managed to destroy it so thoroughly.
While they worked, So Yeon-hui stood beside her father with the blueprint in hand, confirming the shape of the new fence to be built.
“Height matters, of course, but the base needs to be designed so it sits flush against the ground. That way foxes and weasels won’t be able to slip through like last time.”
“Do you have a good way to manage that?”
“What if we wove the bamboo vertically instead of horizontally?”
“Vertically, you say?”
“Yes. If we weave the bamboo strips vertically and then tap down on them from above with something heavy, one end will sink into the ground without needing to be driven in separately—just like a stake.”
At this, Jang, who had been wrestling with posts not quite like stakes, went pale.
“You mean…to drive them in even deeper? And how exactly are we supposed to repair it next time?”
* * *
There was some brief back-and-forth over the fence’s design, but ultimately they agreed to weave the bamboo vertically as So Yeon-hui wanted.
The posts that three laborers had failed to uproot with all their effort were extracted with astonishing ease by So Jin’s hand—a simple “whoosh” and out they came.
As a result, the title by which the workers addressed him shifted from the familiar “brother” to the more respectful “sir,”
though really, what harm in things turning out well?
After felling thick bamboo and setting posts at arm’s width apart, threading three sturdy cross-beams through, and weaving the vertical strips front and back to match the color—the work took until roughly midday.
By then the sun had climbed halfway up the sky.
At the same moment, an impressive spread of food was laid out on the mat.
A bowl heaped with white rice, one steaming pot of pork bone broth, a plate of golden-fried tofu, and salty, fragrant jangachi alongside—
How could anyone focus on work after that? The men could only steal glances toward the kitchen and sniff the air.
Jung Ga swallowed hard, watching the broth in the pot.
At that, Hong, with a brusque gesture, set another dish of jangachi before him and spoke.
“Eat it while it’s hot. I’ve been simmering the bones since dawn, so the broth is rich—it’ll settle your stomach wonderfully.”
“Yes, yes! Thank you so much. I’ll eat gratefully.”
Jung Ga bowed and sipped the broth.
Then, as if enchanted, he let out a cry of delight.
“Oh my! This is no ordinary skill! In my forty years of life, I’ve never tasted broth like this!”
“What skill is needed to simmer bones? You just boil them long enough. Stop the flattery and eat before it cools. The sooner you eat, the sooner the dishes get washed.”
Hong replied matter-of-factly, but as she turned away, a faint smile crossed her face.
‘My goodness, our grandmother too. What’s the difference between a foul-mouthed grandmother and a soup-stall owner?’
Did Grandmother realize that her gruff manner made the bone broth taste all the better?
As So Yeon-hui stifled a laugh, Yi Ga picked up a piece of fried tofu, bit into it, and tilted his head with puzzlement.
“Say, young lady. What is this? It looks like jelly, but the taste is different.”
“Ah, that’s tofu. You can think of it as jelly made from soybeans.”
“From…from soybeans? How do you make jelly from soybeans?”
“Isn’t it intriguing? There’s a method to it. The women from the Shim Household and I sell it at Jinseong Market, and it flies off the shelves. It’s a rather premium dish—four copper coins a plate.”
At that, not only Yi Ga but Jung Ga and Yu also looked at the tofu again before eagerly taking another bite.
The mention of it being a premium delicacy at four copper coins a plate seemed to make their appetites sharper.
“…It’s fragrant. Even better with soy sauce.”
“Right! It tastes just like tender, fatty meat!”
“Tender yet fatty meat? Where does such a thing exist? Anyway, this fellow’s knack for exaggeration deserves recognition.”
“What do you mean? How else would I describe such an extraordinary flavor? It’s unlike anything I’ve ever eaten—so wonderfully strange. If I could, I’d eat it every day.”
At Jung Ga’s excitement, So Yeon-u eagerly jumped in.
“It’s good fried in perilla oil with soy sauce sprinkled on, but it’s even better in sweet and sour sauce! The sweet-and-sour flavor is so addictive, you can’t stop eating!”
“I prefer it plain.”
So Yeon-su quietly disagreed from the side. So Yeon-u bristled and fired back.
“No, it’s not? Sweet and sour tofu is more delicious?”
“Oh, you two again. There’s nothing wrong with liking different dishes—in fact, it’s fine when people have different tastes. Why do you get so worked up about it? You’re both impossible.”
As the bickering showed no sign of ending, So Yeon-hui sighed, glancing between the twins.
For some reason the adults found the sight hilarious and burst into hearty laughter.
Jung Ga, finishing his rice, bowed deeply toward Jang.
“Thank you, ma’am. That was delicious. Your cooking is truly excellent.”
Jang gave a short nod. She said nothing, but quickly gathered the empty bowl and brought more broth, her expression betraying that she was pleased by the praise.
So Jin, eating quietly, spoke to Jung Ga.
“I noticed this morning you have real skill. Have you been doing carpentry long?”
“Yes. I learned from my father as a boy. But these days there’s so little work…”
Jung Ga trailed off. So Jin nodded wordlessly.
So Yeon-hui sipped her broth quietly as she listened.
Most of the villagers were tenant farmers on Wang’s land. For those with no other income beyond farming, ten days’ wages would be substantial money indeed.
‘In the end, these people are all pushed around by Wang too.’
So Yeon-hui set down her chopsticks and rose from her seat.
“Please, everyone—once you’ve eaten well, rest a while. It’s the hottest part of the day, so an hour or so of rest won’t hurt.”
Jung Ga’s eyes widened.
“We may rest?”
“You’ll receive your wages in full. It’s better to rest so you don’t get heatstroke and fall ill—otherwise you can’t work.”
The laborers exchanged glances once more. This time their eyes held something far more complex than before.
‘Good heavens. How suspicious people have become. A harsh world indeed. So very harsh.’
So Yeon-hui sighed and shook her head, heading toward the kitchen.
So Jin, likewise unable to bear the sudden awkwardness, excused himself shortly on the pretext of using the outhouse.
And so, with all the So household members gone from view,
the three men who had been hunched over their hot rice and broth suddenly felt a weight of shame pressing down upon them, and they bowed their heads.
In particular, Jung Ga took a sip of water and then spoke in a low voice, half to himself.
“…To be honest, I was uneasy at first.”
Yi Ga glanced at him.
“About what?”
“That day. When we came here following Wang’s word. I should’ve just pretended not to hear and gone home, said I was ill.”
Yi Ga said nothing. Instead, he slowly set down the pot he’d been holding.
“Truth is, I felt it was strange the whole way here. Wang clearly stirred up some trouble, but why would we target the innocent So household? That’s what bothered me.”
“But what good does it do now? We came the moment he mentioned losing our tenant plots.”
“Well, what else? We can’t starve our children…”
Jung Ga gave a bitter smile.
In truth, they were all in similar straits.
They had been promised a hundred acres and settled in this remote area with their families, but because they were not native to this place, they had failed at farming for years running and lost all their land.
With no real skill to speak of and no day-laborer work to be found, what choice had they? They became tenant farmers.
But that very thing was the trap.
From that day forward, they had become something like Wang’s servants.
Laboring alongside Wang’s family all day long, bowing their heads at his every word.
So the talk they heard about the So household was nothing but vicious rumor,
and though they wanted to dismiss it, they could not rid themselves of suspicion.
“Wasn’t it Wang Chun-bae who said so? That the So household must have committed a crime most heinous?”
“He did. He said with a face that smooth, this So surely seduced women left and right, carrying on shamelessly. Hmph. As if such refined breeding could mirror that wretch’s mind.”
“The master is handsome, and the mistress is beautiful—jealousy must be eating at him. You know how he is. The moment he sees someone younger or better-looking than himself, he stirs up trouble.”
“Hmph! That he’s gone unwed at his age is his own doing—who’s to blame for his state?”
“Anyway, now that we’re here, the wages are generous, the food is good. I never imagined day-labor work could be like paradise.”
“Who wouldn’t? Thinking back to coming at him with cudgels, of all things… Good heavens.”
Jung Ga shook his head, embarrassed.
If the first stitch is sewn crooked, the whole garment is ruined. But could this really be mended?
“Sigh…”
All three men bowed their heads and sighed deeply.
Why is remorse always too late, no matter how quickly it comes?
The leftover broth tasted all the more bitter for having been so delicious.

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