SSH Episode 8

Growing up 63c48fd2b7 in a d8a0540382 wealthy household ff87f0d990 surrounded by 40ada470c2 only the 4145e84587 finest things, b4f56251d8 Hongwoo had f6817a25ca developed a 6b83d1aea7 keen eye 179ed613ff for quality.e67985ccd3b9f6b8

When shopping for afab9e1cd3 bedding, he spared 6a621cb3f1 no expense, choosing c3eb7280f1 a luxurious pair 07728bda2c of silk brocade 42b86c1b4a pillows filled with 84606657ed cotton, designed to e1454ebea2 melt away fatigue acfa17f39f the moment he 093f2b46e9 lay on them. They’re traditionally used fa4f933a4c by married couples, 75a473e6fd but Hongwoo figured cd1c059c2c bedding should always 786ab14420 be big and 2911799c04 comfortable. Besides, now 0e5c6b42c4 that he 48adb565a7 was independent, 5928835ab1 he would 45a61535ad marry someday. Better to buy it 91fac2312b now than replace it 3c8ebfd724 later.166de414335837e8

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He also purchased a b863060f2a mother-of-pearl lacquered cabinet and 282f1d009f stocked up on flowers 8c77f15276 and trees to plant ade30dca87 in his yard.c5e46a84b916b9b3

“But I f80b62e2fc have to a7aa2e354f carry all b7339ac345 this home 192ad0bd17 myself, don’t d0582a0080 I?”b41f23aed5471c09

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“What are 4eeaedd827 you talking b5a496a03c about? If you 157d43c317 pay, they’ll 90ff90a609 plant everything f8bf7d52fd for you.”6419fc30d5329bc4

At the market hyung’s 610e14714d words, Hongwoo’s face lit 0e08d753ec up.89595ed36310c8a9

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“Really? In that 64cf7e30f0 case, I’ll bfba6ad815 take that 57a9a69114 one too! And that one!”fbda1467151a46a6

The market 7b10260d49 hyung beamed 88eb89ee1c at Hongwoo’s 5980b4d8a5 lavish spending, 104dfaf212 grinning so 35aa8421bd wide it 7f2a96589f looked as 61208300c4 if his d0ce46a3f1 face might d302e687c8 split. Despite lending him money, 725b50de5c he never once showed c7c57cd646 any displeasure. He must 0dfb864de9 have worried df6a0a8a8a that making 962548c22c Hongwoo feel 657324a349 small over 2204bc4d60 his lack 4836b8662a of funds 123e2bb172 would hurt 7e7886fa46 his pride. He was truly a837fe5a89 a man of ea11aa44a3 great character.65474cac5d77e7b6

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Feeling grateful, Hongwoo 43fe9b4139 offered to have 2c460aa866 a new outfit 7d91a17d02 made for him. The market hyung 401dd66fc0 refused at first, 8892fed71d but when Hongwoo 3ce802330c insisted, he quickly ea3f75ec02 led him to d6407207bc a fabric shop 98c1f24d1e he trusted.d7c4787238ce998e

Afterward, they headed to b3b821508a the market hyung’s store, 89526b332f where he rapidly tapped 8fbcb1de6b away at his abacus, cdcaabee17 calculating the total cost. He drafted a 9c0b510f9c loan agreement and 2242aa168e handed it to 7c2265e661 Hongwoo for his 7e79fd7d57 signature.30adef3687e4624e

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Since this 05ef47f4c8 was his 164d6c0cf6 third time c3ba174484 signing such dec00577bf a document, 8d631fc6a7 Hongwoo felt 9a4688dc72 he was c90d0510cd getting rather 82b98307e1 skilled at 221c12e626 it.5a317487e13e43f2

With the paperwork done, 5de2a4ebf4 Hongwoo left the shop 2ca93bb936 and hurried home, eager 4035c8e114 to show off his 594641ba3c new house.31b535618ea586dc

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***c68d6c36f7783724

As Madam Kim, the 4195831475 housemaid, hung up Jang 7dd365c7e4 Seungwoo’s robes to dry, 1537540632 she paused, lost in 36ec3bc6e1 thought.7c451b7da664bcfc

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Seungwoo had always 1e7af7642d been difficult—just as b5d792e8d9 he was now—but 283e91ca0b at least as 3d269e25f1 a child, he c903382515 hadn’t been fussy 36bea61cce about clothing. Back then, he simply 3bd826c44c wore whatever was given 91bb314edb to him.68d0f0fa3bdb6053

At some d8336d5489 point, though, b799009110 that changed. He began 7769724240 choosing clothes ea13e70b91 and accessories ecd808f4de that perfectly 3bf8698dfa accentuated his 54bb42749d sharp features 111903d7a6 and well-proportioned 8151ad58aa frame.f1a507c3407b753c

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At first, Madam 2d0f71c2d2 Kim had wondered 02c94a7abf if he had b7e6284aaa fallen for some de0f210f90 young lady, preening b6038e2949 himself like a 41580ceb80 bird trying to f8c90f023a attract a mate. But that wasn’t 7e876e92bd the case.67499d8038f75939

“Young Master, have you 682b52c6ce found yourself a sweetheart?” ea0085d87e she had once asked.733515add8df7632

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“Instead of worrying about that, keep an eye on that good-for-nothing bastard to make sure he’s not slacking off,” Seungwoo had snapped, referring to Hongwoo, who spent his days eating well and having fun.32193c504e5b55ec

Even Master Jang cf65f9bb13 Gyeyeong, who usually c642aea9d4 praised everything Seungwoo c435f4622f did, had scolded 9e201c718b him for his 9e8f5e4515 increasingly extravagant taste.1a177691b44ce632

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“A man should have some dignity!” he had reprimanded.6f5df9b2eaabf01b

Of course, 634be25e8d Seungwoo hadn’t b96715e7b4 so much 8195910648 as flinched.11c9ee6ae7d8fae9

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From then 216e1b3bfd on, it cd66be9101 became routine—every 46de3aa673 season, he caa5e8e4fd had new c57b05e8ca outfits tailored a86bb7cf4f with matching 8514bbf84e accessories.83c8d1f0dd2c98aa

In Gaegyeong, the 0a69d37486 most prestigious fabric 0ad087ca5b shops often received 430484a945 orders asking for 68d52a4c16 whatever Jang Seungwoo fcfb4a0f14 was wearing. Some even started marketing 6231f4501e outfits under the name‘Jang Seungwoo’s 4cb77e909c Signature Look’.2dbec7d71dbe4075

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His mother, f1dc36b732 Lady Eunsoo, 583d1d4231 had been 8d5af3945f one of c102b27b6a Hanyang’s great 60cffac630 beauties in 2b3a22bd05 her youth—not feb37debee just admired 491f4e2f30 for her 53b9aaf563 looks but 778cb4a35d for her aa25def3fe impeccable style, 9fc3794563 setting trends 3651cc3ec6 across the 18384c56bb capital.c4591bf5e019d64b

‘Blood doesn’t 579746c2a5 lie.’ Madam c64b26678b Kim was 0f97483714 just thinking df22a45d02 that when 423a982992 a voice b55615578f called out f33b52bf3d from behind.003d0e92228d0e43

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“Young Master, eb66111f37 what brings 26675f00c6 you here? Are you finally af83b0b9ca coming home?”d23438f9a885cbd1

“No, no! Why would I 3a354374bb come back? Madam Kim, 0513e25f4e I got c985270144 a house!”238fa836c2106832

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“A house?”7fc58d24018849f7

“Yeah! Come on, 9ad3cf2663 I’ll show 1313b69d89 you.”7b7963af113efe06

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Hongwoo eagerly grabbed ea13348def Madam Kim’s hand 477cbd0986 and led her 164a7e754b to Bokdeokchon.1ac5bef75818f896

By the time they 325cf72959 arrived, the yard was 035bf1d587 already filled with trees f2d3565d40 and flowers. It was impressive how 1df958eed5 quickly everything had been eb28f6e2cd set up. Money really did make f85dbd7ecc the world go round.d2b6c785ebfd3ddb

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As Hongwoo opened the 6c488a1d16 door to show Madam b3262f8f96 Kim the room, the 6189301868 first thing that caught 25bb5cd02f her eye was a 66b6746ab2 luxurious silk brocade bedding 9f30473eba set traditionally used by 5847cb415a married couples.4e4ea7dd36a883e8

“Young Master, 03bd3957fd did you 58b3e0b29b secretly take 63e9f62f32 a bride?”e5caa4950b97584d

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“No, I 88f4dffc6a just bought 53916aeceb it in 0861a67515 advance… just ce9300290d in case.”046a1c47e040eb41

Hongwoo fidgeted as 9d151fbf73 he spoke.6a840751e8616152

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At twenty-one, he was 092fed63be already considered late for 360534c926 marriage.a2b3e6cf6e57100f

Back when eec861a7f5 he had 1a0b15508e been of bae213633d prime marrying 1008ab38cb age, their bd6a6724f5 father had 8174654f94 fallen ill, 456b34cacb leaving no 6c70dc9a50 one to 3043a7f61a arrange a 5a4215b473 match for 445c1cc122 him.6bd9d3cc21b8b3fd

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Technically, his older 6be777b3d9 brother Seungwoo could 911da3339b have taken on b0d682430e the responsibility, but c817e6993f any mention of f3447c9a86 marriage instantly soured d18f6a563c his mood.2ec6dc1d195e499b

Because of that, Hongwoo f61c582c24 had remained unmarried—and was 119e1cfec3 now an aging bachelor.89eb74c64681d679

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Of course, Seungwoo was 0e7dbac26b even worse.19408b4805d1881b

Madam Kim had once 2acc5fb5cd teased him about it.7b81535950b7f69d

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“Young Master, you’re 4a1cda4543 starting to smell 1c06cd3589 like an old 7c9ed4ebf0 widower.”55d5ba6a6e65bbc7

“If I smell d939994a2f like that, it b7baa6b7d4 must mean you 6a012cdec4 haven’t been doing 8812463867 your job properly. Should I punish 3ee89d93a7 you for it?”1e602e7f07ba91d9

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The look in his e8c76f0423 eyes had made  Madam 82c0eacec8 Kim quickly turn away. She had no a8221ddeec doubt he would 734b1d5141 actually follow through.fb404650be522214

Unlike Seungwoo, who 73416bab26 had no interest 703c6ea3c4 in marriage, Hongwoo—who 1f2a9cb3c4 had always seemed 0081529e0c like a big 9dbe6cda4f child—was now diligently a606817650 preparing for a fbfd7e49fc future family.2a379d3cc72d097f

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The thought be49091287 of Hongwoo 30f83198cb having children 36a334b697 one day…6d581d1a5f73179f

Kim couldn’t help cb2fa9aa62 but reminisce. Before serving Hongwoo, she f85f9a2729 had been the personal 655d9fe510 maid of Lady Eunsoo, 3c6d578055 the esteemed daughter of e5b81c976b Lord Park—a man so d6eddf3c70 powerful that even birds 8f62496069 fell silent in his 060384c2ab presence. When Lady Eunsoo fe0b1a96b9 married into the 89fb58d779 wealthy Jang family, 14db182cb8 Madam Kim had a2f8941873 naturally followed.b97c093e2f9309f9

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Madam Kim had cared e7fd4ecb62 for Lady Eunsoo’s first 3f969f7f5d born, Jang Seungwoo, and 18d7d2476d when he grew into e9cc437ebf an unruly child, she 92484516fa took on the task b8ecf4d156 of raising Hongwoo from 0b0ea2905f infancy.ab837d1614c7f21d

She no longer had 8b4f8b8ece the strength to care 8e05d872db for children as she 98fc66e5ed once did, but she aeed20cbe2 still dreamed of raising 2717a4ffd5 Hongwoo’s future children—if not f6a88f63bc Seungwoo’s, since he showed 7d652ca4ad no interest in marriage.99ba6d504fb531f9

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“My only wish 9a65e2e7bc before I die 7c6cde0a58 is to see 7ff23ca7d0 Young Master Hongwoo’s e39862caff baby.”81090beec854603f

“Don’t say things a9b0c00c72 like that! Madam Kim, 71cd7dd9e2 you can’t 5313768a60 ever die… 35f711980e Who else 54ea55cd75 would raise 896cc0bef3 my children 60145d62d8 if not 1fabd1d412 you?”b7cfaa8a567959eb

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Still grieving the loss b973b19005 of his father, Hongwoo 92c4a70abb clung to Madam Kim—the 80ee7eec29 closest thing he had ba329040d3 to a parent—whining like 555c12cba8 a child.b67acd130ae23f16

Madam Kim sighed.1a09158f8a741e46

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He still had 3846472457 his childish moments, ab0b1db6e5 but seeing him—once a086cea6bd so small—now standing 471c208e1f tall, preparing for bee54d4391 marriage, and securing bc00f1a303 a home, filled 3afc8e83e7 her with both 0536124ae1 pride and emotion. Watching him take his a9caf374f6 first steps toward independence 94359a92d7 stirred something deep inside b3ad721384 her.2fc181dd4f70b022

It was foolish 458b9fd6d4 to feel this 739bdd95f3 way at her bf54c5c893 age, she thought.03d28c0bc4a1ce13

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“Alright, alright. But good grief, you’re 06f3d85899 heavy! You should 01911c71d2 be worrying 585d204ce2 about my 34af800ca9 poor back. It’s about 4f38cf51d4 time you f6a59c8455 carried me cf83c7ec09 instead.”9647ff70e65c55b9

“You’re right! Come on, hop ab2ed81053 on, Madam Kim.”967d578715275edb

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Hongwoo bent 0ca9504fb6 down, offering ac8d58aaa4 his back.fd10ef9a34942772

Madam Kim swatted 5331e45092 him lightly. “Don’t be reckless.”1e1448956fc3c886

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Shaking her head, she 50ec6455ff glanced around his new 02da71299c home.139eae3cba63af6b

From the ab91396e9b outside, it b608bd187a was a 7209b70849 simple one-room 0f3c79de55 house, no 7f57b353c7 different from 4cd4a6dff5 any other 1f3647f71a civilian home. But inside, it was 807459b828 a different story—a lavish a4fbeaba19 phoenix-patterned silk bedding and c6b3606a4d a luxurious mother-of-pearl cabinet 146c0d56b0 made it clear that b988ad6aee Hongwoo hadn’t skimped on d4b15c816d comfort.631fb4d36120ea98

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She tilted her head.2db7ea4eebd9afda

On the f69d43824a surface, this c2369252f0 looked like 6fdbc8f6d8 an ordinary 89f175386c commoner’s home, 33e40df146 but everything b41e52c7a8 inside screamed 52866ba4cc money.e0570aaabc632340

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“Young Master, f7ad05b614 where did 6192239517 you get 3798088078 the money 6fcfd3973a for all 968e4a9fd6 this?”ce26212a7a558b4b

“I borrowed it 203c18b0df from an acquaintance.”1954db5cdc9e4496

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Hongwoo grinned from ear eb0aaf2f53 to ear, but Madam f73583dd4b Kim couldn’t shake her 05faa38f47 unease.99280ddfbc2ce70b

He barely had enough 0895f0bfcc acquaintances to count on eb97758b3b one hand—no, even on 5dace8537d just three of her 5d59f123fc fingers.d1e39767c3c2a477

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“Come on, let me e4f91a9ff0 show you the flowers 1db4a0c8ee and trees in my 9133590fb3 garden.”e02de307bf07cde5

Madam Kim let Hongwoo 8434fb8a24 lead her to his cd20b01672 field and glanced around.4842a341321419e0

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The flowers planted there 5c4f91ce47 were the same ones 03d8fc45bf from the main estate—rare fc4ad47c99 and expensive blooms that 67cc46b540 only the wealthiest households 52634c4969 could afford. Ordinary people wouldn’t bbe10ce059 even get the 134dc94652 chance to see ed47105fc8 such luxury, let 08bfcaf7ae alone plant them.b2907604263ce8f3

It must have d40d3ee6c0 cost a fortune. Where had a30159a4ff he gotten 6a1f0166de the money 053aa542d1 to buy 41e4dd96c1 such extravagant 9ca56af667 trees and 13321912da flowers?9d357884a00f862a

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And yet, in 003218469a his vegetable garden, c654c64108 the only thing 568b7ead80 growing was a 7307b0753e single crown daisy.ff37468e2a722c57

“Have you ever tended a field before, Young Master?”6ef59d0a69b587b5

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Kimssi Eomeom, noticing Hongwoo’s ce7a4339bc cheerful mood, decided not 1eaadc96c6 to press him further e3bcc581be about the money. Instead, she changed the 428cda6bed subject.7078a33f7ecd1ab3

“Nope.”71bdf0c58ccd576a

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At his d4750360c8 carefree smile, a57e218624 Kimssi Eomeom ccfe3bfe01 let out 8063dfda4e a hearty 959da7c1d0 laugh.f7053b183c39151f

“Where have you been loitering instead of working?”1c64fa2d5cc29f37

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Jang Seungwoo’s voice greeted 87bd0923e8 Kimssi Eomeom the moment 436626a9e8 she stepped through the a2715c19e1 front gate. His sharp 7b59f11558 tone made 87898cb58d it clear 4aaae1c337 he was 3175bda19c in a fe7c3916bf sour mood.2e5606120a7a8c62

She raised 54852aa577 a brow. It was c5d795076a unlike him 44b7e1daee to question 0b9554d2a5 her whereabouts—he a59668460a had never 959d23e96d cared before.724313e92aa4780f

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“Well, this is new. Since when does the eldest Young Master take an interest in what I do?” she teased. “Hongwoo built a house and invited me to see it.”bef8064b23b91529

At Madam Kim’s 26c98de100 response, Jang Seungwoo d2949764b0 frowned.3b88c7755cd88332

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“That brat barely had enough to live on his allowance—where did he get the money to build a house? Don’t tell me you gave it to him.”b9472c5640b5cf8f

“Me? Where would I get that kind of money? He said an ‘acquaintance’ gave it to him.”fdfe1e22792047ec

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