SSH Episode 2

After getting married, Hongwoo’s mother quickly became pregnant and gave birth to his strong, healthy older brother. To their grandfather, she must have seemed like a wish-granting spirit from a Western folktale. How much must he have adored her to name their trading company—Eunsu Merchant Guild—after her?

But as time passed, the relationship between their grandfather and mother soured. According to their father, the tension began with disagreements over Seungwoo’s education. From a young age, Seungwoo mastered both classical Chinese and Qing studies. While his intelligence played a role—he was a prodigy who understood ten things from being taught just one—it was also because their grandfather had personally taught him languages as soon as he could walk.

At first, their mother tolerated this intense education, knowing how relentless their grandfather could be. But when Seungwoo became fluent in classical Chinese at an age when most children were still playing, the conflict escalated. Their grandfather, recognizing his grandson’s extraordinary mind, immediately pushed him further, insisting he study Qing scholarship as well. Their mother argued that it was too much for a child, while their grandfather insisted that early preparation was essential. The tension only grew.

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Seungwoo’s rapid progress made things worse. He absorbed knowledge so quickly that their grandfather eventually had nothing left to teach him. To keep up, he even hired naturalized scholars as tutors. Seungwoo became both his grandfather’s greatest pride and his mother’s deepest worry. Despite her telling him he could stop anytime, he continued his studies with unwavering determination. In the end, she could do nothing but watch.

Unlike his older brother, Hongwoo grew up simply—playing well, eating well, and staying healthy. Their mother believed that a child should enjoy life and discover their passions naturally. But while Seungwoo had found his calling early, Hongwoo never did.

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‘That’s right. There’s nothing I’m good at.’

Perched on the wooden floor of the grand Jang family estate—one of the wealthiest in Gaegyeong, boasting nearly ninety-nine rooms, fourteen chambers, three wells, and twelve gates—Hongwoo let out a deep sigh. Above him, a magpie called out sharply against the blue sky.

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‘Are you crying out in joy or sorrow? Or are you trying to tell me that a welcome guest is on their way?’

‘At least you have a talent—your voice is clear and beautiful. But me? There’s not a single thing I excel at. How am I supposed to survive when I have no skills at all?’

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Hongwoo let out another deep sigh as he watched the magpie. With no plan for survival, he was on the verge of sleeping on the streets, and the weight of his worries pressed down on him.

Of course, nothing soothed a troubled heart quite like something sweet. He picked up a honey rice cake, took a bite, and sighed. Then another rice cake, another sigh. Despite having eaten a heaping bowl of rice for breakfast, the rice cakes slid down effortlessly. When the plate was empty, he licked the honey from his fingers and stood up. Sitting around sighing wouldn’t solve anything.

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‘I should at least step outside.’

As he made his way toward the main gate, he spotted Madam Kim in a heated exchange with an unusually tall beggar.

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“Madam Kim, what’s going on?”

The sight of the beggar holding out a bowl told him all he needed to know. Seeing someone begging for food left a bitter taste in his mouth. It wasn’t hard to imagine himself doing the same in the near future, knocking on doors and holding out a bowl.

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“Give them a warm meal and some soup.”

“If we start feeding every stray dog and cow that comes knocking, what are we supposed to eat?” Madam Kim huffed, snatching the beggar’s bowl. But despite her sharp tongue, she had a soft heart. She stomped toward the kitchen, grumbling all the while. Once she cared about someone, she took care of them fiercely. After Hongwoo’s mother passed away, she had been like a second mother to him.

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“I take refuge in Amitabha Buddha. The Bodhisattva of compassion.“

Snapped out of his thoughts, Hongwoo quickly pressed his hands together and bowed. So, he’s a monk? He must have endured great hardship. With his towering height, it was hard to tell if he was a beggar, a monk, or something else entirely. Looking at him, Hongwoo felt both sympathy and an odd sense of camaraderie.

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 ‘Soon enough, that’s going to be me.’

“Brother, please give me some food. I haven’t eaten in three days, and I’m starving.”

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Dressed in rags, Hongwoo knocked on the main gate, playing the part of a beggar. Seungwoo, giving him a once-over, promptly snatched the bowl from his hands.

“Ah, that’s cold!”

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Just as Hongwoo was imagining Seungwoo returning with the bowl—only to splash cold water in his face—the monk’s voice pulled him back to reality. His tone was surprisingly light for a monk.

“Sir, you seem to have many worries.”

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“H-How did you know?”

Without a single explanation, the monk simply nodded, as if he already understood everything.

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“Do you have paper and a brush?”

Once again, the monk’s words were brief and straightforward. There was something uncanny about him. Hongwoo, intrigued, quickly excused himself and rushed off to fetch the paper and brush. The house was so large that just running back and forth left him breathless.

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Panting, he handed them to the monk. The monk spread the paper on the ground and wrote: “Bokdeokchon.” Then, he handed it to Hongwoo.

“What is this?” Hongwoo asked.

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“If you go there, build a home, and live there,” the monk said, “your wishes will come true.”

Madam Kim, who had been watching, handed the monk a steaming bowl of food. The monk accepted it, left behind a few words of encouragement, and departed.

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Hongwoo, however, kept staring at the paper in his hands.

“Young Master Hongwoo, what are you doing?”

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“Madam Kim, do you know where Bokdeokchon is?”

“Of course! How could I not? Despite its village name, meaning ‘Fortune and Virtue’, it’s actually a place where those who have nothing gather.”

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“People… who have nothing?”

Hongwoo fell silent. It wouldn’t be long before he, too, became one of them. Living within the walls of a wealthy merchant’s estate and suddenly having nothing were two completely different realities.

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Still, having a roof over his head was better than sleeping on the streets. He asked Madam Kim for directions and set out.

Hongwoo was terrible with directions. He had a habit of charging forward without thinking, often ending up lost. He had left at midday, but after stopping repeatedly to ask for directions, he only arrived at Bokdeokchon as the sun began to set.

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It was farther than he had expected. A twinge of loneliness hit him at the thought of not seeing his older brother or Madam Kim every day. But at least the village was cleaner than he had imagined, which was a small relief.

He picked out a spot in an open area and, as he walked back home, began planning. A main room, a bedroom, and maybe a small annex should be enough, right? Compared to the grand house he lived in now, it would be no more than a child’s playhouse. But given his circumstances, he had to be realistic.

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‘Once I finish building it, I’ll prepare a delicious meal and invite my brother over first.’

The thought of having his own place sent a thrill through him. Though leaving home wasn’t his choice, the idea of starting fresh wasn’t entirely bad.

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‘Maybe my brother really did see this coming all along.’

Hongwoo walked home with a spring in his step.

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After finding a spot in Bokdeokchon, he set off right away. By the time he returned home, it was late at night, and he had collapsed into bed, fast asleep. But as soon as dawn broke, he was up again. Barely awake, he grabbed a quick breakfast and went out in search of a laborer who worked on house repairs.

“Are you busy today? Do you have time to help me?”

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The worker, startled to see Hongwoo so early, widened his eyes. But after hearing the request, his face darkened.

“Young Master… The eldest master warned us that if we help you leave, he won’t let us off.”

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In other words, they couldn’t help him. No one would dare risk his brother’s wrath. Even if someone wanted to assist, Hongwoo knew better than anyone how terrifying his brother could be. He couldn’t bring himself to ask, knowing it would only bring trouble. Even if they offered, he would have to refuse—he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night worrying about what might happen to them.

“I see… Don’t worry about me. Go on with your work.”

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Hongwoo forced a smile—his lips curved upward, but his eyes brimmed with sadness. He let the worker go, though he felt lost. What was he supposed to do now?