I Became the Eldest Daughter of a Fallen Family - Chapter 79

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

Chapter 79. Upgrade (4)
So Yeon-u even made a sincere effort to connect with them, though what she spoke of was rather different from what she’d initially imagined.
“How long has it been since you’ve eaten?”
At So Yeon-u’s question, one child began counting on his fingers before stopping. It seemed he couldn’t quite account for the exact number of days.
Sometimes a brief silence speaks more than any answer ever could.
So Yeon-u regarded that young face for a moment before speaking gently.
“It’s all right. I was like that not so long ago. I couldn’t get even one proper meal a day, so my stomach would growl the entire time.”
“……Really?”
The child looked at So Yeon-u with suspicious eyes. Given the rosy cheeks and plump faces the So Household children wore now, it was hard to believe such a claim.
Yet So Yeon-u paid no mind and nodded.
“Yes, truly. Our household struggled quite badly for a while too. There were days I went to bed having drunk only water. In fact, it was like that for quite some time.”
It must have been around the days when Father was paying the Communal Land Tax.
He’d labored ceaselessly to farm that vast expanse of land, but Wang came by and claimed every last vegetable, saying that all the yield from the land had to be paid as taxes.
Back then, with no understanding of what “communal land” meant, there was nothing to do but watch as it was all taken.
And I wasn’t yet familiar enough with nature to forage for food in the mountains.
“But you know what? My older sister and I caught fish, made Tanghulu, made Spiced Sauce, made confections—and look at us now! Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
At So Yeon-u’s innocent boasting, the child’s eyes darted between the So Household children’s faces and the bowls of porridge.
“Your older sister made all of it?”
“Yes. But I helped too!”
So Yeon-u’s shoulders rose with an air of self-satisfaction. Then, without warning, she placed her hands on her hips and spoke in a solemn tone.
“Anyway, don’t give up. Even when it’s hard, if you persevere and keep trying, things will change.”
At this profound wisdom, the child looked up at So Yeon-u and asked.
“Were you ever in pain too?”
“Yes. But I’m all right now.”
So Yeon-u answered with a gentle smile, and said nothing more. Yet it was enough.
The shadows were visibly lifting from the faces of the children as they received the bowls of porridge.
So Yeon-u looked brightly around at them all.
“When my older sister has extra okara, she said she’d share porridge with you again tomorrow or the day after. So eat what we’re giving you today with joy, and keep your strength up until then, all right?”
“……Yes.”
Following the boy’s reply, small voices echoed back from here and there.
The hands holding tight to the porridge bowls—stained with broth—looked so fragile and yet so resolute.
So Yeon-hui hadn’t the heart even to step forward; instead, she handed the ladle to her siblings and withdrew a pace behind them.
[Benevolence achieved: You have engaged in relief activities for impoverished children.]
[30 Good Deed Points have been credited.]
[Current Points Balance: 1,075pt]
The sight was so beautiful in itself that accepting the Good Deed Points made my conscience ache.
* * *
After their first relief activity, undertaken in the name of the So Household’s confectionery shop, was complete,
So Yeon-hui gazed at her two younger siblings with eyes full of wonder.
‘When did they grow so much? Our troublemakers.’
I had thought them nothing more than thoughtless children, yet somehow they had blossomed into such noble figures, knowing how to give to others.
The image of them sharing Okara Porridge with their peers using their small, fern-like hands was enough to bring tears of emotion unbidden to my eyes.
So Yeon-hui felt a slight tickle at the bridge of her nose and quietly averted her gaze elsewhere.
“I won’t have it. You two are getting something special today.”
“Huh? Something special?”
At the word “special,” So Yeon-u’s eyes lit up at once.
The composed manner in which she had been looking after the children just moments before vanished entirely; her eyes had reverted to those of a ten-year-old in an instant.
“Could it be…… like last time?”
“Yes.”
“Candy?! Caramel?!”
“No, Chocolate this time. It’s different from candy or caramel—it’s even more delicious.”
At So Yeon-hui’s brief explanation, even So Yeon-su swallowed hard.
She was generally one to keep her desires and wants hidden, but she was still only ten years old.
At the mention of something special, her eyes were already brimming with anticipation.
So Yeon-hui stepped back into the corner of the shop and opened the Jijang Market window.
Immediately, So Yeon-u pressed herself to her side and began unleashing a barrage of questions.
“Chocolate is a name I’ve never heard before—what flavor is it? Is it sweeter than candy or caramel? Or is it more savory?”
“Who knows? Once you taste it, you might be completely hooked. Chocolate really does have an addictive quality to it.”
At So Yeon-hui’s casual remark, So Yeon-su tilted her head and asked.
“Is it more delicious than candy?”
“Perhaps.”
So Yeon-hui purchased three of the most basic chocolates from Jijang Market.
Moments later, a familiar delivery box appeared silently in midair, and So Yeon-u snatched it up eagerly.
“What? Is that all? It doesn’t look like much.”
“Come on. At least open it up before you judge?”
At So Yeon-hui’s words, the twins joined forces to tear open the box. When they saw the chocolate—twice the size of their own palms—they paused. It looked different from what they had expected.
“The outer shell looks strange.”
“That’s the wrapper. You peel off that metallic-colored shell and eat only the brown lump inside.”
“A brown…… lump?”
So Yeon-su made a small retching sound as if the very thought made her stomach turn.
Meanwhile, curiosity brimming in her chest, So Yeon-u peeled away the foil wrapping with a soft rustling sound, then placed the large brown lump in her hand just as So Yeon-hui had described.
She sniffed at it and tilted her head.
“Hmm. The smell is pleasant, but…… what on earth is it made of?”
“Just try it.”
Uncharacteristically hesitant for a moment, So Yeon-u finally shut her eyes tight and took a big bite.
There was a soft cracking sound as the chocolate broke apart.
At the same moment, So Yeon-u went completely rigid.
“!!!!!”
The boy’s eyes slowly widened. His cheek moved as if he were rolling something in his mouth, and then his small feet began tapping rapidly against the floor.
“Wow! What is this?! It’s so, so delicious!”
“Really? It’s truly that good?”
“Yes. No—it’s not just delicious. It’s like a flavor from a completely different world!”
So Yeon-u cried out in excitement. He paid no mind to So Yeon-su’s interjected skepticism, plunging himself back into eating the chocolate. Brown smudges spread from his lips to his cheeks without his notice.
“Oh dear. You’ve got it all over your face.”
So Yeon-hui found a handkerchief and wiped around his chin, but he was already too worked up to be stopped.
Meanwhile, So Yeon-su picked up another piece of chocolate, unwrapped it, and cautiously took a bite.
‘……!!!’
She remained silent for quite some time. Yet her eyes widened slightly, then slowly closed.
Save for a subtle movement of her cheeks, there was no reaction at all—but that very stillness spoke volumes about what she felt.
After a long while, having finished one chocolate cleanly, she spoke.
“……Sister.”
“Hmm?”
“Why didn’t you buy this sooner?”
“Huh?”
“You should have bought it ages ago! It’s this delicious!”
So Yeon-su looked down at the now-empty chocolate wrapper with an aggrieved expression.
It was clear she felt deeply wronged for having lived all this time without tasting such a confection.
All traces of her usual composure and maturity had vanished.
“……Would you like half of one more? Or a whole one?”
So Yeon-hui smiled awkwardly and held out her own chocolate.
And just as she was about to break it in half for her siblings,
-Ding.
A short alert sound chimed, and a window materialized in the air. But this time, it wasn’t the familiar Good Deed Points notification.
[ Congratulations! ]
[ You have exceeded a cumulative purchase amount of 10,000pt at Jijang Market Level 0.
An upgrade to Jijang Market Level 1 is now available. ]
[ Would you like to upgrade Jijang Market? ]
[ Yes ]　[ No ]
……Huh?
Huh?! Huh?!
It could be upgraded too?

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