I Became the Eldest Daughter of a Fallen Family - Chapter 61

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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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Chapter 61. The Ridgepole Ceremony (1)
There is nothing more important in building a house than ensuring a solid frame.
Though there was no rebar or concrete, it was only while extending the new building that So Yeon-hui learned for the first time that a house made with a wooden frame could be remarkably sturdy.
On the morning of the fourth day of construction, she finally reaped the fruits of labor—having come out since dawn for days now, tamping the earth to lay the foundation and finishing the timber.
At last, she was raising columns atop the foundation stones and lifting beams into place.
“Now, let’s set the first column!”
When the master carpenter Jeong’s thick voice rang out, three workers pooled their strength and raised the thick column timber onto the foundation stone.
Thud—a heavy resonance traveled up through the soles of their feet.
Watching the traditional construction process for the first time, So Yeon-hui did worry whether the column might topple, but it never wavered.
It was because Yu, who had worked as a mason, had carved shallow grooves into the foundation stone beforehand, and once they aligned the column’s base with the stone and carefully worked it with a chisel, the two materials locked together as if they were one.
Then came Jeong, Yu, and Yi, as well as the eldest son and steward from the Shim Household, whom they had asked to come help.
Half a dozen men set to work, hoisting the beam onto their shoulders and matching their rhythm to the carpenter’s commands, and the beam rose into the air.
“One, two, lift!”
The moment it settled onto the columns, the sound of wooden mallets rang out in sharp bursts, and short cheers erupted from the workers.
The mortise and tenon joinery had been executed so perfectly that even after just a few strikes of the mallet, the beam and ridge board locked so firmly that the building’s frame stood absolutely solid.
‘Well, I’ll be damned. Can’t really dismiss the old ways, can you? It seems far sturdier than those cheap apartment complexes they’re always showing on the news.’
With the wooden structure now nearly complete, the only thing left was to raise the ridgepole and perform the ceremony—the final step.
As So Yeon-hui carefully examined the columns, her face filled with anticipation, she fetched a gift from her room and arranged it carefully on the table placed beside the ridgepole.
Then she approached her father and carefully spoke first.
“Father. Could you write the blessing inscription for the ridgepole?”
At So Yeon-hui’s request, So Jin looked at the inkstone, brush, and ink arranged neatly on the table.
There is a prejudice that generals, having spent their lives on battlefields, must surely be illiterate, but he too was a member of a scholarly family.
How could he find writing difficult?
The only concern was whether his hand would still be steady—since arriving here in exile, he had been so occupied with farming that he had scarcely touched a brush, much less opened a book.
“Of course. I will do it.”
So Jin approached the table and carefully poured water into the inkstone, grinding the ink with a cautious hand.
Meanwhile, word had spread that the ceremony was being held, and villagers began arriving, making the surroundings pleasantly bustling.
On the day a new house’s frame is completed, the owner customarily shares blessing with those around them—whether it be a meal or a rice cake. People had come hoping to receive a share of such good fortune.
However, contrary to the boisterous atmosphere some had anticipated, the So Household’s ceremony was remarkably solemn.
In the quiet surroundings, the majestic So Jin quietly ground the ink alone, while the carpenters knelt silently, simply waiting for the blessing inscription to be written.
“Well now. Are we having a feast or not?”
“According to Jeong, So’s eldest daughter brought piles of meat just the other day….”
Those who had arrived uninvited, caught off guard by the unexpected solemnity, exchanged glances nervously and said nothing.
Still, So Jin’s bearing as he ground the ink was so refined that they could only gape in admiration at intervals.
“What’s this? That fellow So looks completely different when he’s working in the field. The air about him has changed entirely.”
“Indeed. And to think, is that how ink is meant to be ground? I always break mine. So you’re supposed to handle it gently like that, like handling a child?”
They say grinding ink is the same as grinding one’s mind.
Moved by So Jin’s composure, everyone stopped what they were doing and gazed at him with fascination for a moment.
Once So Jin had sufficiently ground the ink, he slowly rolled up his sleeves and grasped the brush staff with his calloused hands.
One might have expected them to tremble from such a long absence, yet he showed no fear of error, closing his eyes briefly before moving the brush.
Swish. Swish-swish.
Each stroke was decisive and swift like the unfolding of swordsmanship, yet fluid as water. Wherever he paused, strength was evident; wherever he flowed, there was no hesitation.
Responding to the Three Lights of Heaven and Possessing the Five Blessings of Earth
May we respond to the three lights above and possess the five blessings of the earth.
It was a common phrase, one conventionally used in blessing inscriptions, yet—perhaps because it had been written in the hand of a general who had wandered the battlefields—
The ridgepole, which had been nothing more than a trimmed timber, now radiated the valiant bearing of a sacred tree.
“What a splendid hand! If that inscription goes up to the ceiling, it truly seems like blessings will come to this house.”
“Right? They say his family used to show their authority before exile. There’s certainly something different about them. When my youngest branches off later, maybe I should ask him to write a blessing inscription too?”
All the men who had gathered to watch marveled at the magnificent calligraphy carved into the ridgepole and the sturdy frame of the building standing before them.
To live in a house like that even once in one’s life—such remarks kept flying about.
The women’s sentiments were much the same. Only, their interest lay less in the ceremony than in what they might eat.
They pressed forward to get a better view of So Jin, their eyes gleaming.
“My, look at those forearms. His sleeves aren’t even fully rolled, yet they’re so well-muscled!”
“Who says otherwise. And that fine profile—just for a day, I’d love to live as the wife of this household.”
“Goodness, when this sister starts talking, there’s nothing she won’t say, even with three children! The father would be scandalized if he heard.”
“What, can’t I make a joke if I have three children? You, Yu’s wife—you couldn’t take your eyes off those strong arms for the longest time. How much scolding do you expect from your husband later?”
“My, is that so?”
The foolish whispers continued without end. One young woman had even let her mouth fall open, half her soul seemingly departed as her gaze remained fixed on So Jin.
‘Honestly, why are they all making such fools of themselves over a married man with three children? And right while his kids are standing right there with eyes wide open.’
With an ill sense of foreboding, So Yeon-hui shot a sidelong glance at her mother, Jang. But Jang said nothing—she merely twisted the cloth towel in her hands slowly, very slowly, with all her strength.
‘Well, this is bad.’
So Yeon-hui quickly turned her gaze away. The best response to this sort of disaster was to pretend ignorance.
Meanwhile, her father stood alongside the carpenters and set about seriously raising the ridgepole.
The Dragon character faced east; the Tortoise character faced west.
As the workers pulled in rhythm using the cotton rope, the ridgepole slowly rose toward the sky.
So Yeon-hui watched intently as her father’s characters climbed to the highest point of the house.
After one final ring of the mallet, the frame of the new building was at last complete.
“With the frame standing so well, now we just need to fill in the walls.”
“As sturdy as the youngest pig’s house?”
At her murmured words of emotion, So Yeon-u asked with gleaming eyes.
It seemed the tale of the three little pigs and their house-building had made quite a deep impression on the boy.
So Yeon-hui laughed and gave his nose a gentle pinch.
“Of course. Let’s build it sturdy enough to last at least thirty years.”
After that, we can prepare more resources and do a grand, magnificent reconstruction.
“But first, we need to conduct the ritual offering with utmost sincerity, don’t we?”
To ensure everything goes smoothly until the last day of construction.
At So Yeon-hui’s words, her two younger siblings nodded with grave determination, then quickly spread a straw mat in the center of the courtyard.
Then the matriarch Hong, along with her daughter-in-law, prepared and arranged small ritual tables with wine, rice cakes, and a plate of seasoned meat.
“What’s this? No pig’s head?”
“So we’re not meant to eat the meat?”
While onlookers smacked their lips in disappointment, So Jin knelt before the altar table.
He was a man who seldom bent his knee in any circumstance, yet today he prostrated himself with more reverence than ever, giving thanks to the Earth Deity and the House Deity.
He thanked them for allowing his whole family to build a house in which to live safely, and asked them to watch over all those dwelling on this ground.
He recited a brief blessing and bowed solemnly to the modestly arranged altar, then slowly poured wine onto the earth before crying out in a loud voice:
“The ridgepole is set!”
“The ridgepole is set!”
“The ridgepole is set!”
Standing beside him, So Yeon-hui watched and felt her heart swell. Her eyes grew warm, but she could not cry on such an auspicious day, so she held back.
“Now it’s our turn.”
“Indeed. I never expected so many people to come. We’ll have our hands full today.”
At Hong’s words, So Yeon-hui deliberately turned away with exaggerated hand-clapping and a smile.
Yet somehow, her steps felt light as if her feet might lift away.

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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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