Chapter 134 Festival

Chapter 134: Festival

The next day.

Once all contract hires were finalized, Geum Jahwan began assigning them to positions suited to their abilities.

Those with low martial prowess were assigned simple tasks like gatekeeping, dawn patrols, and warehouse guard duty. The two powerful martial artists, Park Ryong-mun and Sima Hun, were placed in the strike team, while Sima Hun was assigned to the security team, beginning their duties at the main building.

Once the personnel assignments were complete, vitality instantly began to flow through the division.

This was because those previously overwhelmed by work now had some breathing room.

And that included me as well.

“Ugh…”

Thanks to that, I got to spend the morning comfortably lying down.

Geum Jahwan grumbled about the self-imposed vacation, but what could he do?

‘If you tell me to do it, I have to do it.’

In Guryongseong, which was practically like the military, the orders of superiors were absolute.

After lazing around and sleeping late, spending the morning that way, I came outside and perched on a bench at the inn.

The waiter, who recognized me, hurried over.

“Be careful. You’ll fall.”

“Hehe, did you cough, sir?”

Every time I saw him, I noticed he always greeted people with a smile – a good service spirit, that guy had.

That’s why I tip him a coin every three days.

“What would you like today?”

“The usual, please.”

“Yes, sir, coming right up.”

After waiting about a moment, the waiter brought over a plate piled high with food.

“Enjoy your meal!”

“Alright.”

Gulp.

Maybe because I skipped breakfast, just seeing the food made my mouth water automatically.

‘Kya! This is it.’

The menu was the Jinmujeon-style brunch.

What the hell is that?

A superb menu featuring fried eggs made with fresh eggs, something sausage-like made from minced pork coated in flour and deep-fried, and finally, bread called bing and caffeine-packed green tea.

What else could this be but brunch?

‘If only there were cola, it would be perfect!’

By the way, this brunch menu was developed in collaboration with the owner and chef of this inn.

“Yee-haw! I’ll make it just as you ordered!”

Recalling his voice full of passion, I took a bite of the sausage. With every chew, the juices burst out – it couldn’t be more satisfying.

“Mmm.”

Life isn’t about grand things.

This is happiness.

Thinking back to my past life, when I believed spending ten thousand won at a brunch cafe was pointless compared to a hearty bowl of hot soup, I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me.

‘The seat makes the man.’

But what could I do?

In my past life, I couldn’t even claim to have sat in a high seat, even as a joke.

Doesn’t enjoying oneself require a certain amount of leisure?

After eating such an upper-class brunch and returning to the room, an unexpected sight caught my eye.

Shiny and sparkling.

Because the cleaning lady was freshly washed and putting on makeup.

And she was even wearing a gorgeous outfit for going out instead of her usual yellow work clothes.

Shiver.

The terrifying sight made my body tremble involuntarily.

There are two reasons a woman dresses up.

One is to meet female friends, and the other is to meet men.

Since the maid, whose hometown was a thousand miles away in Hubei Province, had no reason to meet friends, this was clearly for meeting a man.

‘Oh dear! Today marks the sacrifice of precious youth!’

As I silently offered condolences and shook my head, the maid’s voice reached me.

“Why that look in your eyes?”

“Wh-what look?”

“…It seemed like you were looking at me like I was a bug. And shaking your head like I was pathetic.”

“What are you talking about? When did I ever do that?”

“No, but… It was exactly the same expression my brothers give me when they look at me…”

“Seriously, I told you it wasn’t like that. I was just thinking I couldn’t take my eyes off you, all dressed up like that for the first time in ages…”

At my attempt to defuse the situation, Cheongso-so’s eyes lit up as she asked.

“Really? Am I that pretty?”

Cheongso-so is objectively pretty, but she’s not the kind of stunning beauty that makes your eyes pop.

Think of her as the local beauty everyone in the neighborhood knows about.

‘The problem is I’ve seen so many ugly things I don’t notice it.’

But there’s no need to crush someone’s spirit when they’re going on a blind date.

I decided to boost her self-esteem.

“Of course! I said she’s incredibly pretty?! She could even enter Miss Jungwon!”

Though she’d probably get eliminated in the preliminary round.

“Mi… Mi what?”

“Just think of it as something like the World’s Most Beautiful Woman Contest.”

“Oh my…”

She cupped her cheeks with both hands.

Her flushed face suggested my words had hit home.

I began giving her some realistic advice.

“This isn’t from my own experience, but a friend told me: even if you like a guy, don’t just throw yourself at him…”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Why are you suddenly talking about guys?”

“Aren’t you going to meet a guy?”

“Why would I stop someone from getting married? What guy…?”

“Then why are you all dressed up like this?”

Cheongso-so answered with a bewildered look.

“Don’t you know what day it is today?”

“…How am I supposed to know that?”

“Ugh! Seriously.”

She patted her chest as she spoke.

“The festival celebrating the start of the Lunar New Year begins today, right?”

“Ah…”

Right.

They said there was some festival.

I even stamped the permit myself, yet I’d forgotten.

“And I was wondering what…”

My interest vanished instantly, and I started heading back to my room when the cleaning lady grabbed my arm.

“Let’s go together.”

“No. It’s a hassle.”

Despite my cold reply, the cleaning lady didn’t give up.

She started clinging to me even more than before.

“Oh, come on. Let’s go together, eat something delicious, and look around. It’ll be fun if the three of us play together, including Myohyang.”

“Well, you two can just hang out together, I guess.”

“……It’s dangerous, you know. Just the two of us girls… What if someone tries to harm us?”

I nodded toward Yuk Hak, who had been glaring at me since earlier.

For reference, he hadn’t been going to work lately and was staging a protest in the courtyard, demanding a rematch with me.

I maintained that since no actual battle had occurred, there could be no rematch.

“Well, you could go with that guy over there. With the Iron Blood Gang escorting you, who’d be bold enough to pick a fight?”

“Th-that… Uncle Yuk said he has somewhere to go.”

“Somewhere? Where?”

“Well… he said he has someone who’s doing well lately, and he planned to meet them today.”

“Oh, come on, don’t lie. With that face, a lover?…”

Just his face alone could conquer the bandit world…

But, upon hearing the cleaning lady’s explanation, I couldn’t help but nod.

“I told you, it’s not like that. When Uncle Yuk was at the brothel, how many ladies followed him around? Right, Uncle?”

“Ahem, well, yeah. I suppose it’s because he has a certain masculine appeal…”

Well, I suppose some women do like muscular types.

‘Come to think of it, Dong-seok hyung was popular too. He even married a model 17 years younger.’

As I nodded, thinking how varied people’s tastes really are, the cleaning lady looked at me with a pleading gaze and asked.

“So, could you please come with me?”

Faced with that expression, like a Maltese puppy begging for a treat, I couldn’t help but nod.

“Hmm… Fine, I guess. But you’re buying dinner.”

“You’re loaded, yet so stingy…”

“So, is he home?”

“Ah, no. He’s just resting. I’ll come get him when we’re ready to leave.”

* * *

― Hey, come try our delicious bingdanghola! Ten for one won!

― Guess where the ball is, and I’ll double your winnings!

― Top-grade beef noodle soup is here! Come taste it before you go!

The scene around the market was completely different from usual.

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, the merchants of Hanjung closed their shops and lent their stalls to street vendors.

This was a Han-Chinese tradition, offering street stalls to the poor and those who aided them, providing an opportunity to earn a lump sum.

Prime corner spots were especially claimed by welfare organizations like orphanages or free meal centers established in Han-China.

Passing through the bustling market street and approaching the Sangryeon building, I saw Myohyang waiting at the main gate.

Working even during the major holiday of Spring Festival? I couldn’t help but compare him to the deadbeat next to me.

“Soso, Team Leader!”

Spotting us, she waved brightly.

“Huh? Where’s Brother Yook?”

Myaohyang’s question prompted Soso to reply hastily.

“Oh, he went to meet someone who’s doing really well lately…”

“Wow, that’s unexpected! Guess we’ll have something to celebrate soon? Heh heh.”

“Maybe…?”

After exchanging greetings, we headed towards the festival grounds.

“Let’s buy that and eat it!”

“This too!”

“Those dumplings look so good…”

Munch munch.

Cheongso-so began stuffing street food into both cheeks.

“Team Leader, look over there. The colors are so beautiful. How much do you think this fabric costs?”

“Oh my, they’re gambling over there? Hmm, looks like it’s designed heavily in favor of the organizer, doesn’t it?” ”

“A bowl of noodles made with Zhejiang mountain sea cucumber broth costs one wen… Doesn’t seem like the unit price would work out?”

Myohyang was busy analyzing the cost of nearly every street vendor.

“……”

Following behind them, she was looking around the festival grounds.

“Lord of the North Palace?”

She encountered an unexpected figure.

“Huh!”

It was none other than Park Ryongmun’s North Palace Janghwan, doing business with his disciples.

And selling noodles, no less.

“What are you doing here?”

“Huh! Ha, I’m letting the Han people taste our Park Ryongmun secret recipe noodles.”

“…I see.”

A lie as plain as day.

‘Looks like they got scammed worse than I thought.’

He probably opened this stall hoping to make a killing during the Lunar New Year period.

Considering the festival crowds, he likely figured even selling just one bowl per person would be a huge success.

The problem was.

Dead quiet—

There were absolutely no customers.

“……”

That’s just how the food business works.

If it’s delicious, people will trek to the top of a mountain for it; if it’s bad, they won’t go even if it’s run by family.

For reference, in my past life, I visited my mom’s army stew restaurant once and never went back.

The situation was painfully obvious, but these folks survive on pride as street vendors.

Pointing out the problem might just make them fly into a rage, claiming insult.

I resolved to pretend I hadn’t noticed and continue on my way.

“……Since you’re here, why not have a bowl before you go?”

I couldn’t bring myself to leave after Lord Bukgung’s invitation.

A master of his caliber had set aside his pride to solicit customers; I couldn’t just turn away.

“Hmm… Alright.”

“Thank you.”

As we sat down at the Baekryongmun stall, Cheongso and Myohyang, who had gone ahead, returned.

“Again! You’re eating delicious food without me…”

Cheongso, who had been complaining loudly, saw the gloomy atmosphere of the stall and quietly sat down.

While we waited silently for the food, Myohyang whispered in my ear.

“It looks kind of dirty. The workers don’t look very friendly either.”

“…I know. But since we know him, let’s just get what we need and leave.”

Nod.

That was it. A street vendor’s business is run by someone who’s done it before. What would those guys know, holed up in their sect just throwing punches?

Of course hygiene and service would be a mess.

Sure enough, when Park Ryong-mun served the noodles, his thumb was still in the broth.

In a world without hand wash or soap, it was an unforgivable mistake.

‘Better eat fast and get out of here.’

Since it was Park Ryong-mun, someone I couldn’t exactly call an outsider, I drew a mental ‘patience’ character and let it slide.

And then.

“Gah!”

The moment we lifted our chopsticks and put the noodles in our mouths, all three of us’ eyes widened in shock.

Pwoo-ahk!

The taste was like something only demons from hell would eat, and we spat out every last bit of noodles we’d put in our mouths.

“You’re selling this for money? Are you out of your mind?”

“Exactly! This is a crime!”

“Hanjungsangryeon will cease all future transactions with Park Ryongmun.”

It was the moment Park Ryong Noodles’ star rating plummeted.