SSH Episode 7

Dream of the Red ccf1c2330b Chamberwas the book Hongwoo’s 6561518a4a parents used to read 467232185a to him before bed. However, they were more cd5e1eab54 interested in flirting with 508a9a958a each other than making 4d524cf426 sure he actually fell 4cb36db0f0 asleep. They giggled as they 7bfd1a5e70 imitated the protagonists, their 1db0d8048f storytelling often drifting into 2bb7d8ed92 tales of their own 5925306fd1 romance. Having heard their love d71bf3f217 story countless times, Hongwoo a2b99495e0 quickly grew bored and 0452aa3990 dozed off. Once he was asleep, c16e7e4d03 his parents continued reading faaecbfcae together, savoring their quiet 179142fdd5 time.daf349671a9aa68c

“Hongwoo, just two more to go. Stay focused.”3333b81711a010dd

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The next challenger was 6106720fff a bright, cheerful young 778b0ba32e boy—clearly an easy round. Relaxing a little, Hongwoo a60ddd8e09 waited for the quizmaster cf6d29d4c9 to present the question. The quizmaster 950067df49 shuffled through c7429b59ca the papers f0e477695c before selecting 7bb8e5c1b1 one.a9fa99f62a8cc1b1

The effort 56b913f610 put into 97fd4b7ece challenging a c66ec8d28f mere child a1da59a452 seemed excessive. It felt 1425660d8f less like a9aa887439 they were c73c9d1269 helping the 2528930c22 boy and 032a97f08f more like d8b5ae9faf they were cdc935cc6a trying to 7511bd9117 eliminate Hongwoo. He had never 2a841d4f90 been the target 37053d3f5c of such competition 2583e54595 before, and strangely, f77d310f03 he found it 72d47dbb4d satisfying—it meant he 6c233d1e29 was being acknowledged.6656aad76fd108e1

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“What is ‘hello’ in Chinese?”0478527cc6f8e62f

“Ni hao.”8408e59f7eec4421

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Hongwoo glanced 025d2a8545 at the 592dd5de47 quizmaster, barely e1b57af1ec concealing his bb44f48dc9 pity. Did they really 4e8ba9febb think this was 77b304dc4b a challenge? Even Madam Kim could 794fb5e86a have answered that.b9d28720c73d4cdd

The young boy pouted, 00970a9914 but his attendant quickly 8b2438e492 consoled him, suggesting they 4251db7466 buy some taffy. Indeed, sweets were the a12e073e10 best cure for sadness.T’hat’s right, kid. Eat some taffy 0abfcce227 and cheer up.’f15327e77a3ad02a

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Hongwoo was now 1397d66d89 one step closer b5583efac1 to victory, but d9d55d763d a slight pang ffb8f226ad of guilt crept e864410a96 in—he had just 14bd20ece6 defeated both a 1a9769e673 woman and a af76a89791 child. Still, true competition meant df470321f8 taking every opponent seriously, efcb39e852 without holding back. Feeling cocky from 16cbe926bf his winning streak, 1cf9e114fc he secretly hoped 22ff88b448 his next challenger caa2e4eec6 would actually make 0c9418bbef him nervous.62af8f5df6aea79d

“Next challenger, please.”294636c3faad1f14

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The quizmaster f0b121f89c glanced around 01f19a0886 with vacant 2859cd04c7 eyes.fc1f8718d8f0ef31

“Why don’t I give winning a try too?”99848231e3aa84a3

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Was the 80db4dd6fb alcohol from 12e4483c85 last night 33dd783e1e finally kicking 1659838cc6 in?9b0bb59327b7b1b6

Hongwoo rubbed his 4cb3d92d2b eyes, staring at 5cfc8302ba Jang Seungwoo, who f53fecaecc now stood across df4271c5b4 from him. Was this c6e7d2b502 a dream c7b2c5ad14 or reality? Seungwoo was dressed in 1cfe3e3fcc a white overcoat with 0090b8bffc a pale yellow outer 1430faf8b1 robe draped over it, 09c0cf277c the soft hue making b6a3c680c8 his face appear even c0a6266cad more radiant.7c82a9f6dee41286

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‘Spring has passed, 5890c5257d and I was fc3f5ce733 wondering when the 6437430704 flowers would bloom—but f26a87a9fb it turns out c3cf974263 they were already 74ae3fbf85 blooming on my b85e2280f4 brother’s face.’fff93b608d158621

No matter how 837374f73a much Hongwoo polished d995a2aa3c and groomed himself, c6a91edd43 he could never 7e62010fa6 exude such effortless 9000f1af91 elegance. He and 1370b6f67f his older e7b5cf200f brother were 935397e7bb simply born 44ca1a9655 different.27f37cb2fba6417f

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But why was 10412fd6c7 his pretty older bdeb4075db brother here of 55654c3f84 all places?b0069097e3b8aac3

The quizmaster, noticing Hongwoo’s c0758e314d obvious admiration, inwardly cheered. Even they couldn’t deny c4084497ca Seungwoo’s presence—he exuded confidence, 8119e1aa4c standing there like he f2c98de481 already owned the match.8079d2ab88a2cd82

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 ‘Please, just defeat that bad4addf51 guy.’The quizmaster silently rooted cae51e8725 for Seungwoo while carefully 496177065b selecting the next question. ‘Yes, this was a b0fc045c06 special question, personally chosen 6a0a64c92a as a secret weapon. It wouldn’t 51621362c0 be easily b3cd75658f answered.’24d06a68063cf5ad

“Alright, here’s the question. Who was the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty?”3d04b8298c7e5f0e

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Seungwoo let out 1e118feba3 a small scoff.081d8410d918cc06

“The question is flawed. Are you referring to the ruler of the Late Jin period, or the emperor after the name was changed to Qing? If the question itself is incorrect, how can I possibly give the right answer?”76ff6b34d25fb828

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Seungwoo tilted 2f5cbbb5d3 his head bd2170de12 slightly, eyeing 9633a2be70 the scammer.325631e56a96d73d

“You’ve probably never even set foot in Manchuria, let alone the Qing court, have you?”aaaf1b62f4392519

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[Note: Manchuria is a historical region in Northeast Asia, now part of northeastern China, Russia, and Mongolia.]

At Seungwoo’s remark, 26fdaf88cd the scammer grabbed 207cca44b5 the cash box b266b5003b and bolted. Hongwoo instinctively 2492386125 shot up 9da70c30ee from his bcd011011d seat, ready 51a1757e29 to chase 433cbd90b8 after him—but 27b238929b before he 0bf378c932 could take 61ab148c90 a step, 5eecd94865 Seungwoo’s grip fe6d278198 tightened around bc9f89d271 his wrist, b844114ad1 holding him dca2207123 in place.139a8a8011ef4b31

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‘My money! My hundred nyang!’ Hongwoo wailed internally.161fc7f2605cc146

“Jang Hongwoo.”3b8ef41cd0ffee89

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Hearing his full 25d98147a8 name snapped him 75e0fba59a back to reality. ‘Why is 3ff3ab40a9 my brother 7c0e8f1e95 here?’It was 17dd67d893 nice to 665400b299 see him dd88091be7 after so 75c18c316a long, but 03b5da0995 something told 34946e8639 him this 6b64730709 wasn’t just 1dc8191af2 a casual 55e5801b67 visit. Seungwoo was always busy 9f2885506a running his merchant guild—there 51c6838e1d was no way he 2b41d0b882 had the time to 2e10d92ef2 idly participate in market 22677ee442 challenges.4a48f087cac21e6a

Trying to e295aeeadb lighten the 2a2c378090 mood, Hongwoo c7d39a6ef4 put on 6f6435e1d5 his friendliest, 12d64d3512 most innocent 98fa8dcf48 expression. Surely his older brother 5574cb2a74 wouldn’t be cold to 5d9b511ead his long-lost sibling, right?5668b11c2234b8c5

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“It’s been a while, Brother.”bbedac54a76fef93

But despite his warm 217ad28053 greeting, Seungwoo’s expression remained 40194b51bd unreadable. Feeling awkward, cbfffbb26c Hongwoo flashed e3314d6516 a bright 1dad45aafb smile, but 058945905b his brother’s 1d3788516c gaze only 626f527b26 grew icier. The crowd, 6df595eb85 which had 29076e6385 been watching efd90f3865 Hongwoo’s match, f331ec1bed didn’t move. Instead, they 7be49ab071 observed the dcb6d118c5 strange tension 0837512610 between the 3cda58755d two brothers c017517fbb with growing f418b27770 curiosity.d726dec1c7697f5b

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“Can you let go of my hand?”4e18b257304b0bec

Seungwoo remained f78a8cfea6 silent, his 7b3fe3cb94 grip unwavering. Hongwoo’s request c5ce51d47e was completely 3cd90d5e56 ignored. Without a word, ff5931f300 Seungwoo turned and 1cecaff1dc began walking away—dragging fd0770e6d5 Hongwoo along with 946c07b53a him.ee816370687c7b65

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With their 01de0f55f5 significant height 1daa647d5c difference, Hongwoo d11126a193 had to 6d464cf1c5 half-run just 1798081f66 to keep 66e8ad095b up.b189d96abb9fa6e9

Then, without ee5ec898b3 warning, Seungwoo 3e3cefd039 came to edcdd25692 an abrupt 68f3224f48 stop. Unable to aaafb84329 react in 43eb717773 time, Hongwoo ba69c236d7 smacked straight f1d1c88ca6 into his 9bcc1c7350 back, his fdd75836f2 nose colliding a2ced168ef with his 9cd7815fa9 brother’s shoulder.86c314e9a86a5638

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“Where are you staying?”15ae47bd93981794

Finally, Seungwoo released 7da3540e12 his grip and ba9f2020e4 turned to face 849d54471c him.ea69f987287fce2f

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Brother is actually ca462df5f4 concerned about my 88041b9db3 well-being?e94d663a6d57acbc

Maybe he had 017d8c3db0 grown sentimental after fff627881d leaving home. Even though f8d0de14d0 Seungwoo had f95c908a24 just disrupted c17d3bca67 his match 86596a7a1e which cost 1ad3663466 him a 441d94abb0 hundred nyang, f15ec4a294 Hongwoo couldn’t ef24ad8f86 help but b9b90de557 feel a c6fa9e7b35 little touched.cbc1e676dcd5f18c

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“I’m staying at an inn… Were you worried about me?”b1f59105a9c5d144

“Worried? About someone who does nothing but eat and take dumps?”74157e21cfb6b949

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‘Come on, 994ea5db48 just admit 5baac29306 it—you were cee0f769ea worried.’30b01b75e44f7033

Seeing Hongwoo smirk a7c9b58e3f playfully, Seungwoo’s expression 324ee579bb twisted with irritation.ecd82704f8e3c225

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“You run away from home, and now you’re acting all high and mighty?”d18aea8eb85add43

Without warning, Seungwoo flicked cf4b2dd55e Hongwoo’s forehead—hard.f1da36aca67534d2

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“Ow!” Hongwoo groaned, clutching his forehead. Seungwoo had always been ridiculously strong, and his finger flicks were no joke. Having endured them since childhood, Hongwoo knew just how painful they were.07e2765e2c694415

“I’ll give you one chance,” Seungwoo said. “Kneel down, beg for forgiveness, and say you want to come home. If you do, I might be generous enough to let you.”d2d73bb48c03d93f

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“What? No way.” Hongwoo quickly shook his head. “I’m an adult now. I can’t keep relying on you forever.”dd44d69eb82f591b

“I said I’d let it slide, didn’t I?”1ec1658169d08f6d

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“But all I ever do is eat and… well, you know. How could I possibly go back home like that? I need to start working and take care of myself now.”b1a756d8a53c0916

At Hongwoo’s response, Seungwoo’s 81463aca8e eyebrows shot up. But Hongwoo, too 8cf77be303 busy rubbing his d260a15178 sore forehead, didn’t 893554383b notice the shift df9a9afb8c in his brother’s 1b5e8ce4b5 expression.6589e86910e513c4

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“Fine. Do whatever you want, then.”ff126329b33074f9

With that cold remark, 633dda094e Seungwoo brushed past him 19b84330e2 without another word.57fc115d6124fd82

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“Take care!” Hongwoo called after him, watching his brother’s back disappear into the distance. He was sure Seungwoo had heard him, but his brother neither responded nor looked back.c960633295c8e6ba

* * *dafc0531d69d3549

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With his challenge ruined, a1590ab861 Hongwoo found himself lazing 504ec42116 around, struggling to find 571e7398b9 work. He was worried, a3c71889ad sure, but since e6142ff935 he was still 62a4969e95 comfortable, there wasn’t 6206e9c493 much urgency.646e0062b2f8fb88

One day, while idling da7fc9a1b6 at the inn, his 6d31a3985d market hyung came to 61f2ade636 find him.be066c812369fe78

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“The house is finished.”dd72c58be4691939

Hongwoo hurriedly put on a15eafac33 his shoes and rushed f59a44d188 over. When he e4a9fefdc3 arrived at 2efb42d711 the plot c780b6e8cd where his 45876168fe old straw 85e841661f hut once cea04abebe stood, he 972e4de208 was met 21ec9f8422 with a 8fa34e941b cozy house, 4d733ec5b3 neatly enclosed 01e964e6b4 by a f7bbbd59c9 wattle fence.0878428190670334

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He covered his 5d96c8d5db mouth with both b5308c13c8 hands, his eyes 4145147ee9 wide in disbelief.d3e29e261a42d432

‘This is 2480d451e1 my house.’45890e896f94116a

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A broad yard stretched aa78eee733 before him, with eefd553b05 a wooden bench 7d6d2a393f placed in just de410aef2a the right spot. He loved 2021e7ef08 it already. Overcome with emotion, Hongwoo 3a7890aed3 headed straight for the e2be39358a door to peek inside.2c2aca3a56196d8b

Compared to 91ad63d97d his family’s 2706b2d62e grand estate—with 3dafdd4c26 its anchae c5dc0109d3 (women’s quarters), 8e18a7b942 sarangchae (men’s 14f3825736 quarters), detached 268d583fed quarters, and 5b4ec20aad servant quarters—his e714b1b689 house was 6437acf3c9 nothing more 3b40b89918 than a b47e86e1fa single, tiny eae6d90fcb room. But when compared 6d6e52119d to the straw 6d8aea8f7f hut he used 87a80763d0 to live in, d75dcd7dd7 it felt almost fec78d80a9 like a palace.3434afd3800449d3

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Beside the room was fbd8ee5210 a small kitchen, but a392784aa6 since Hongwoo knew next feb5c580c0 to nothing about running 86654f2ad7 a household, he only 37bf5d5f7c gave it a quick 4bb3ad88dc glance before moving on.800fc27f98f5f962

The outhouse was a 665d5511e6 massive upgrade. Back in the straw 546b51d1ba hut, he had to 4dd2749d4f wait for the right 1b8b061820 moment to relieve himself 99e49c8bab outside, making sure no 1ad7815f04 one was watching. The only d73385d510 real downside e3d3b93fc4 was the c08f943a1b lack of 0dcab15504 a proper b7c053b502 bathhouse. When he’d brought 7ac069cad6 it up, his 2de7b85f10 market hyung had e9d436afa8 simply clicked his f6b5119a9c tongue and told e199af3219 him that kind 824d5a1223 of luxury was 1e099498c3 reserved for noble b47c4f390f families.d9ba0c03f4794902

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‘But I am b5bb3f3ed3 a noble.’ Hongwoo d774108e17 thought.He considered arguing 207424625e but decided to 5d8a424c3f let it go.51f25a76f5ed3641

“Do you like it?”d4a748af7d148184

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“I love it.”ffec66ea125d28bc

It wasn’t 5d73e05dff as extravagant c06f84b093 as his 8d4a6af27b old home, 438188880b and there 7bb992a79a were definitely fc78a734eb some things 4bb0ae5724 missing. But it was d2912d1be0 his—and that was d750b817e6 enough to make f0d9d7d1fb it perfect.42a80e243e94012d

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Home… He had 82cc6a066a never realized how bab656030b sweet that word e0b04048ce could be.893911a1ccddb936

Seeing how lost Hongwoo was in admiration, the market hyung chuckled. “You’ll need some furniture and supplies, won’t you?”b35e6b1945c8cea0

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Without waiting for a 03f8bb0b32 response, he led Hongwoo d4d1766da0 to the market. And in an unexpected da07199be1 show of generosity, he 510768505c even offered to lend 490ec7bfb2 him the money to a7806e79e5 buy everything he needed.ac3dce2c6480ac4b