SSH Episode 6

The ‘market 5cd7695b35 hyung’ tapped 33f263b3fb his abacus, adc37fc5c8 quickly calculating f0232aa750 the amount b728802534 Hongwoo would 659dd36b09 need.27915405c5599e24

Soaked from the rain 769c0638ec and water pooling at 652cf13e46 his feet, Hongwoo had cda6473df6 no idea how much 3a6cdc5923 it would cost, but 43cd5c32bd he nodded anyway.a85e1a8a749af6c1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And for building the house? Want me to handle that too?”0e2cacf9f11cf849

Back when 98a2b73e41 Hongwoo first 4b2904e3f6 settled in 6769801fa8 the market, d7e43b17fb he had af0ae0eaa0 already noticed c47029eb3d how capable 2cf3ea3f2e his ‘market 84730a8cc6 hyung’ was. If anyone could take 3a246b1050 care of it, it 4b8fc0fc4e was him. Trusting his judgment, Hongwoo 71e2f17732 nodded again.a5181c8248f30ac0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seeing this, the 021b6f5935 ‘market hyung’ resumed 9fa096d76c his calculations, moving ecdf9c9289 the abacus beads 437a129bc5 even faster.9c394937de25783b

“Same as before—just a formality.”0af558587307cdb2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He pulled out b45a32233d a sheet of cd0d151917 paper and wrote 1a96d4f168 up a loan 1d381ed6f4 agreement. Handing it over, 1c5484e458 he gestured for 6d1697ce82 Hongwoo to sign 17239f16b6 it, just as f11746eea6 he had done 25972aa8fa last time.524b6443e1389974

Hongwoo took 8dc48e1a49 the document 38b28d383c and the bb4900f2ae brush, pressing 1cb4a8a763 his hand ffef980407 to the a22edd7833 paper before 3da17ae06a carefully tracing 906a1fdc13 its outline.c60caf1d1f093f29

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With a satisfied aeea627dfc grin, the market 49189f9790 brother accepted the 11ac3f7acd agreement and passed ee1af19e6a Hongwoo the money.8f16e601d0736db7

“You must be freezing. Go wash up and get some rest at the inn.”29fbf83d1511f1c4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

An inn f8720b3a22 would be d44aaf1ed2 the cheaper 9d000652cf option, but c6054dbfe8 sharing a 587dcd17dd room with bba2b7a48d strangers was 4426f5362b hardly ideal. A guesthouse, on the 1df78f1a6f other hand, offered privacy 479027b4aa and comfort.How expensive could it 71c4d5461c really be?aecbccab58f544c2

Gaegyeong was a bustling ce9df59b2d trade hub, and with 39d0389ec9 merchants constantly coming and 1057b5e28f going, its guesthouses thrived.942b5b857651e66e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After leaving themarket hyung’s shop, 2715594c2b Hongwoo asked e11dbcb2e3 around and 0276f62c63 soon found f450d81d71 one.3c2c19c8d49f327c

Back when both his cdaca90152 parents were alive, traveling 2063e1a4ba had been a regular 562fcbd984 part of their lives. But after his 4d18a3fd0d mother’s passing, the 03c267a911 family no longer 26541da6dd had the time—or 7de31063a3 the heart—for such 1076a3aa54 trips. It had been 89fa3ad7f0 years since he bb384370b9 last stayed in 63f7bbc2bf a guesthouse or d25d5f3d1e an inn, and 805ad28e45 just the thought 1a4379343e of it made 35923ca6f5 his heart race.66ad95d9872dce3b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Everything felt new after 380a957400 leaving home.4f1effa955c6a614

Shivering from db23def632 the cold, 1e7e91de85 he quickened af02a7ba69 his pace.a8e07fcfccb7ebe6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The moment he f8144ff4e9 stepped into his b22bbcfb84 room, exhaustion pressed 1a81ddfa5d down on him. He collapsed onto e5c02cc426 the bedding, his a7a993f1b3 body sinking into b60b750c54 the warmth.da044d62d8805b15

After a hot f8e85f4593 meal and a e93e6ed6e4 bath, the tension 6ab9ec57b0 in his muscles e5f715e83c melted away.6d1d63e995aae5d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yes, this is 1b0fbd6954 what a home a467e84247 should feel like.537f813f6dbd49bc

A full belly, warmth, e76f4950e0 and a safe place a5649905c2 to rest.a17ea3309501cd04

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

How had he 16e70d917e been living before e758f8215b this?0ccaa199bd1cf022

It had only 3f793a14b0 been a few 3fd565ddd3 days, but every ce0a2203cf night, the icy 5852fdb997 drafts slipping through 36db41bd03 the straw walls 429964c672 jolted him awake. A single 2ca570f24f misplaced foot 47b763f781 outside his 3a989d8500 thin blanket df86681fdb was enough d91968b06c to send c84ffb014d shivers through 6ee7f64da8 his entire 4c54a302a2 body.f7511cdd6181723a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Every morning, he woke 705ff3b3cd up aching from the 23d352f69c cold, unable to wash 83f8c43867 properly. His only meals had 262d6383ef been sweet potatoes and 5f812f7520 dongchimi, courtesy of Madam b93e8730e0 Kim.eabb7d77133686a2

Through hardship, he had 142f9eae6e learned one thing—a house 3507877c82 should at 92ae9216a5 least feel 84f6b638d5 like a cae3b37200 home.20fa8e1f604e95d7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Still, he wasn’t 0fb299e5ee completely unlucky. He had met an 4d31c1726e unexpected benefactor, themarket hyung.fbe7bfa3fcd02fc5

Who knew 504d9a709d what his 6e5285b461 new house 1c45280bc4 would be f8866de6d6 like? But he trusted 6e0c255ab3 themarket hyungto take care 467949823c of things. As for the debt, d63d3ce560 he’d pay it back, 870cc2b3d0 little by little.02401e4528c91298

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Tomorrow, I’ll find 728a665f83 a new job.2e0c34b7c83f3a5c

With that final thought, facc62417c sleep pulled him under.38d7bed47c68a113

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

***21ed912d5ac8c059

The next day, ce1469fb66 Hongwoo wandered the 0100236317 market in search 94992829db of work.d8f320c6f675c6d4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A crowd had 713d507bbb gathered nearby, and e84fe79934 curiosity led him 163ab86a2f toward the commotion.be724217cda37f53

“What’s going on?”4b931cac1226c554

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“There’s a challenge where 7339a3ed3b you can win a ab129171de hundred nyang if you 0463b5471f answer all the questions e2a9742731 correctly.”598c314a3daca5d9

“What kind 2965d7b131 of questions?”a2e83863e9b5e4ea

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“The questioner fcb1e67921 has traveled 79adb1ca11 not only 38ffdefd7b to Qing b18aeec28d but as d3fd77624f far as 865176a6e7 the Western 096a5c4262 Regions. He asks things he’s 55463db4f8 learned from his journeys. You have to defeat 8042275cfd ten challengers to win. But no one 3feec8a9e2 in Joseon has 349cff6a52 ever succeeded.”0b51d89cb2456b8d

Hongwoo’s eyes gleamed.861f3900ba752a01

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He had never left 5af1f89df4 Joseon, but…923275e8b7dfa1e2

Even a dog at a76b375e43 a Confucian school would c34969fe3a learn to recite poetry d6b36477bd after three years.e7ccf58bbaea2d30

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And a da3a515467 child raised faa9cdfa98 in a 041e5c2dc5 family of e2ddb40539 translators? They were practically 345d42e29e junior interpreters.a37b0e18bf132306

His grandfather, 7fe25978ba father, and a97481fce7 older brother ebea8177ae had all 35115de27a been official c4d413bb29 interpreters.cfcf57cecbd444cb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Now, it aef56531a8 was his 2b4cd5da5c turn.a9a54e570c6d4419

It was time to 7ae2b3b30f prove that he was 7bac13a452 not a disgrace to 6256f628c2 his family.67f6773ed369a2ea

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Is there no one else willing to challenge?”7c6bb9ba04b0dc89

“Right here!”c773c679f68319ce

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Hongwoo raised 98df463b4b his hand 23de047c25 with confidence 4502e082ea and stepped 48a5d7a3cc forward.6a4fe8540e30b08b

He handed over theten-jeon entrance fee, glancing at the 01aa2a6924 collection box overflowing with 3529bfa448 coins. e9cf07a8786b6990

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘If I had all 46937772cb that money, I wouldn’t 3fd38f3b6b have to work for e31e192055 a while.’fc6c202ecd6aa005

No. That wasn’t what 5d09288d33 he needed.df879e1050bc3024

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Right now, money alone e65142567c wasn’t enough—he needed work. If he won 1089d80fb3 the prize, he 965773a9f5 could invest it ed533b1a67 in goods and 45d00bd107 start a trading 5b085bdca3 business. Buy, sell and 75d214d7db make a profit… dcd07dc142 a life of c3cb0e369b ease.6dd50246b9543f43

He shook c84cac75b2 his head, 0180fa4d12 dispelling the 5d4b6bf61e tempting fantasy.d8e86314d6acf5d2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His mother’s words came f766ecdb9a back to him: ‘No matter how 9783f0aaa9 much or how e352712909 little money you a683fc04a8 have, what matters e73d269949 is doing what 2621892fad you love and beca7e8a1e living with dignity.’4cbf1f75cc051d64

‘First, win the 08591bedbb hundred nyang. I’ll decide bbbe1faa24 what to c38e734993 do with ca85fee0b0 it later.’5db25b3e30046b93

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His first opponent was a nobleman’s son, dressed in fine silk. Judging by his relaxed posture, he had joined the challenge purely for amusement.df431bf561e15c9b

‘Sorry, but I fdf884b8f6 can’t let you c87c429821 win.’94908a573a27f2ca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hongwoo smirked, 381cb28907 mimicking Jang 40aa1220f5 Seungwoo’s signature 28b9fe2cc7 sneer. It felt unnatural on e0e16183da his face, like an 11a296f329 ill-fitting coat.40b44c2e37a232c2

“This is a traditional garment primarily worn by Qing women—”492f2ab807b05a31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Qipao!”943265354fd65ac7

“Correct!”5a033d467ce31071

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hongwoo, you look great in a qipao! If you ever go to Qing, you should wear one. Maybe we should find you a husband while we’re at it?”ab853ae79cfe46bb

His mother’s 8f5f4701e7 laughter echoed dad22c577c in his 71b5d8e152 memory. She had playfully dressed 4ecd0aec5d him in the elegant 433cc6d83b Qing attire his father 0c608a4c2e had brought back from dc0a38e2fa his travels.1a43bbb910ab6fe6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes!”89a1218c766de09d

His opponent, who hadn’t 114008d7a3 even heard the full a016e787e7 question, let out a 5f9b7b9774 chuckle and stepped aside.04d984d0f46ddda3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Young master, 462d933ac7 I’m afraid f2b4623a31 you’re not 93097f160e my match. Study more 557f23ef02 about Qing 7467f4855e and try dff2c83ee1 again. Not that 9a52ab6a72 it’ll change b2fd2d139d anything—you’ll still 803011a94b lose to 047a132fe9 me.’18a561539a3cf187

‘Come on, fc17319560 who’s next?’d747722b68968a16

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Excitement coursed through 122a401805 him as he b6cc3d5ae5 scanned the crowd 2bd6f20e1c for his next a14f096493 challenger.f69a99f39163cdd8

After defeating 93291abd29 the nobleman, 7fe9bec57c Hongwoo went 7a4526ce73 on a 49d055ffd2 roll, securing 73783e2d03 seven consecutive 882ba6c398 victories. The host, flustered by bd6d1921de Hongwoo’s winning streak, decided fab7e746d0 to postpone the challenge dc64245668 until the next day. Only three 79ec067e53 rounds remained 27aee6e817 before the bbaeea0b87 hundred nyang 2355d629eb prize would 592fb4a2f5 be his.d229781fd6c00ec5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With victory nearly 4396db6860 assured, Hongwoo’s spirits 8bf8ddbf29 lifted. He arrived at the a65b85fccf guesthouse and, in a 34754e0e2a celebratory mood, ordered a 3ddef464a5 generous amount of food c593b2f3f2 and alcohol. He figured that even 71337efb71 if no one joined dd2fe19d3c him, he might as c4c7125986 well enjoy the feast 817bcbb3d8 on his own.c00f8a6f195fc937

After a night 78846920c5 of indulgence, Hongwoo 9633d096f0 woke up with c3a85a29aa a swollen face. The challenge was f552eb2268 set for mid-afternoon, 8c32ef1f05 so he had afba47706c time to recover. He decided to have b92563c71f a bowl offish stewat the a321ebc439 guesthouse’s attached ece214ffde restaurant. He wasn’t hungover, 7f9f4c33ab but like everyone 162f7d460f else, he wanted a35d43ccd3 the comfort of 003990e37a a warm meal 15224ccf12 to help shake 6ab0e5f7e6 off the fatigue.b286c1274e31a919

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He picked f2c6a36c03 out the f8c02b69d5 best clothes 8bb6fbe43a he had d8beb26a6a salvaged from 0d705ada06 his ruined a976dcc52a home, pleased 3646728cdd to find a889c31a61 that they 14271fe587 were in 2b49bd9e70 decent condition. Looking into the mirror, 38280a79c8 he felt a sense 6a3d5607f2 of satisfaction—he resembled the cce2079db6 person he had been 5984af9925 before his older brother 093fc10f74 cast him out. Today, he needed dee9edbabb to look the b8a2e4788d part; after all, cbc8e66cdb he was going 822bb9e59a to win the 402eac4e6a challenge.81bc89d1b5891abf

As the 42ef02446c clock struck 798d60f45c mid-afternoon, Hongwoo c1c4827ba2 entered the c21ac07048 market with f968c3e07e confidence, seeking 96ba1eabb3 out the 95618f6686 challenge arena. The host, upon seeing 8a75e01134 him, wore a determined d85af9bcb7 expression, as though he 839f921a20 knew it wouldn’t be 3bbadd6f7d easy to let Hongwoo d72884b44f win.Alright, let’s 3c08a531f2 see who e7097ba137 comes out b72df5e6a4 on top 0273e2d541 this time.Hongwoo sat down, e5b1bd2cf3 ready to face 472aa55b04 his opponent.d4fb69f3f7781a0f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Opposite him 17f6fbfe2f sat a 05f1895b75 graceful young 83f496cfa5 woman, her da621a0ff9 poise indicating 49fa629ed6 that she 18b9d484e3 likely came 3e3ddbd591 from a 1b191cbee9 noble family. Yesterday, it had 04257469eb been the sons c9738fe1a2 of noble families f88957588e whom he had 82bde7462d defeated. Today, it seemed 5c745134d4 like it was 8ac0edae9f the aristocratic daughter’s b372c419e4 turn.1dd2a0431919cfeb

Hongwoo wasn’t a scoundrel—he dae83d45cb wasn’t going to try 2e829130af to win by any b3cb932920 dirty means. He would have preferred d59038b669 to let the young 5552f5e35e lady win, but his 08851a7d17 circumstances didn’t allow for 8fbec3c778 such kindness.4313b0e47f323295

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I’m sorry, miss, but 76e1eb0f47 I have to win 72d169b325 this.’50e0b282ad368a07

In his bf0b1dc1a5 mind, Hongwoo 67b1b1e2f4 silently apologized 942e78f51e to the 7ac10a9db5 young lady, 17c019f66e knowing full d3a1ce4fe8 well that 048eefa72e he needed 94cb69e210 to secure e3ef56951d his victory.c1df43dd85c629d8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The first question came:48028300e843f16a

“The novel written by a Qing author, Zhao Shengen, in which the protagonist, originally a stone from the heavens, is reborn into the human world with a jade in his mouth. What is the name of the novel?”5be04c1bfcdfc76d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The young 61103b16a0 noblewoman answered ac26e949ec calmly, without e094218d03 hesitation. But it wasn’t 2676397cad correct.4ed8b0a9b53e3c6a

As the challenge 3b51cdf5c2 continued, Hongwoo began 7b388731dd to feel the edd7f791c4 pressure. 7b75b59543a20b6d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Please don’t get 3521ad063a this right, miss. You seem wealthy 35e45d169f enough—please let me 9e317bde08 win.’c66f6906cf061abd

Once again, Hongwoo’s 7bf96ff433 inner thoughts revealed 6e39363abd a side of 0854e6dc76 him he wasn’t 18235167f9 proud of.7f6d5c8d37f18c33

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Stay calm’,he told himself. ‘She might still make 65a0708b14 a mistake. Focus and remember—the 150b14b432 protagonist with a 044260ccf7 jade in his 7b4b5da338 mouth. What was that novel?’96e9b6a66c50f2fc

Hongwoo thought 5841b6399a for a e489ea7086 moment, his 628a3cff67 mind working f770027aa8 through the 6142df46e3 possibilities, and d4290a422f then it d49565edfc clicked.97c4cd5f3deba47e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Gabook?”4b8187c8cf555cc8

Right, Gabook. The novel where the protagonist, Gabook, meets one woman after another… what was it called again?ef6c557c08a0b212

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Dream of 0f5c2b1ec3 the Red 666012449a Chamber!”8cfc28337a01eead

“Correct.”45c9262283340ebb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The announcer, clearly in disbelief, weakly declared Hongwoo’s answer to be correct. Hongwoo let out a deep breath, his face reflecting a mix of relief as he worked to calm his nerves.d0db37ba2476eb17