SSH Episode 6

The ‘market hyung’ tapped his abacus, quickly calculating the amount Hongwoo would need.

Soaked from the rain and water pooling at his feet, Hongwoo had no idea how much it would cost, but he nodded anyway.

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

Back when Hongwoo first settled in the market, he had already noticed how capable his ‘market hyung’ was. If anyone could take care of it, it was him. Trusting his judgment, Hongwoo nodded again.

Seeing this, the ‘market hyung’ resumed his calculations, moving the abacus beads even faster.

“Same as before—just a formality.”

He pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote up a loan agreement. Handing it over, he gestured for Hongwoo to sign it, just as he had done last time.

Hongwoo took the document and the brush, pressing his hand to the paper before carefully tracing its outline.

With a satisfied grin, the market brother accepted the agreement and passed Hongwoo the money.

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

An inn would be the cheaper option, but sharing a room with strangers was hardly ideal. A guesthouse, on the other hand, offered privacy and comfort. How expensive could it really be?

Gaegyeong was a bustling trade hub, and with merchants constantly coming and going, its guesthouses thrived.

After leaving the market hyung’s shop, Hongwoo asked around and soon found one.

Back when both his parents were alive, traveling had been a regular part of their lives. But after his mother’s passing, the family no longer had the time—or the heart—for such trips. It had been years since he last stayed in a guesthouse or an inn, and just the thought of it made his heart race.

Everything felt new after leaving home.

Shivering from the cold, he quickened his pace.

The moment he stepped into his room, exhaustion pressed down on him. He collapsed onto the bedding, his body sinking into the warmth.

After a hot meal and a bath, the tension in his muscles melted away.

Yes, this is what a home should feel like.

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

How had he been living before this?

It had only been a few days, but every night, the icy drafts slipping through the straw walls jolted him awake. A single misplaced foot outside his thin blanket was enough to send shivers through his entire body.

Every morning, he woke up aching from the cold, unable to wash properly. His only meals had been sweet potatoes and dongchimi, courtesy of Madam Kim.

Through hardship, he had learned one thing—a house should at least feel like a home.

Still, he wasn’t completely unlucky. He had met an unexpected benefactor, the market hyung.

Who knew what his new house would be like? But he trusted the market hyung to take care of things. As for the debt, he’d pay it back, little by little.

Tomorrow, I’ll find a new job.

With that final thought, sleep pulled him under.

***

The next day, Hongwoo wandered the market in search of work.

A crowd had gathered nearby, and curiosity led him toward the commotion.

“What’s going on?”

“There’s a challenge where you can win a hundred nyang if you answer all the questions correctly.”

“What kind of questions?”

“The questioner has traveled not only to Qing but as far as the Western Regions. He asks things he’s learned from his journeys. You have to defeat ten challengers to win. But no one in Joseon has ever succeeded.”

Hongwoo’s eyes gleamed.

He had never left Joseon, but…

Even a dog at a Confucian school would learn to recite poetry after three years.

And a child raised in a family of translators? They were practically junior interpreters.

His grandfather, father, and older brother had all been official interpreters.

Now, it was his turn.

It was time to prove that he was not a disgrace to his family.

“Is there no one else willing to challenge?”

“Right here!”

Hongwoo raised his hand with confidence and stepped forward.

He handed over the ten-jeon entrance fee, glancing at the collection box overflowing with coins. 

‘If I had all that money, I wouldn’t have to work for a while.’

No. That wasn’t what he needed.

Right now, money alone wasn’t enough—he needed work. If he won the prize, he could invest it in goods and start a trading business. Buy, sell and make a profit… a life of ease.

He shook his head, dispelling the tempting fantasy.

His mother’s words came back to him: ‘No matter how much or how little money you have, what matters is doing what you love and living with dignity.’

‘First, win the hundred nyang. I’ll decide what to do with it later.’

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.

‘Sorry, but I can’t let you win.’

Hongwoo smirked, mimicking Jang Seungwoo’s signature sneer. It felt unnatural on his face, like an ill-fitting coat.

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

“Qipao!”

“Correct!”

“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?”

His mother’s laughter echoed in his memory. She had playfully dressed him in the elegant Qing attire his father had brought back from his travels.

“Yes!”

His opponent, who hadn’t even heard the full question, let out a chuckle and stepped aside.

‘Young master, I’m afraid you’re not my match. Study more about Qing and try again. Not that it’ll change anything—you’ll still lose to me.’

‘Come on, who’s next?’

Excitement coursed through him as he scanned the crowd for his next challenger.

After defeating the nobleman, Hongwoo went on a roll, securing seven consecutive victories. The host, flustered by Hongwoo’s winning streak, decided to postpone the challenge until the next day. Only three rounds remained before the hundred nyang prize would be his.

With victory nearly assured, Hongwoo’s spirits lifted. He arrived at the guesthouse and, in a celebratory mood, ordered a generous amount of food and alcohol. He figured that even if no one joined him, he might as well enjoy the feast on his own.

After a night of indulgence, Hongwoo woke up with a swollen face. The challenge was set for mid-afternoon, so he had time to recover. He decided to have a bowl of fish stew at the guesthouse’s attached restaurant. He wasn’t hungover, but like everyone else, he wanted the comfort of a warm meal to help shake off the fatigue.

He picked out the best clothes he had salvaged from his ruined home, pleased to find that they were in decent condition. Looking into the mirror, he felt a sense of satisfaction—he resembled the person he had been before his older brother cast him out. Today, he needed to look the part; after all, he was going to win the challenge.

As the clock struck mid-afternoon, Hongwoo entered the market with confidence, seeking out the challenge arena. The host, upon seeing him, wore a determined expression, as though he knew it wouldn’t be easy to let Hongwoo win. Alright, let’s see who comes out on top this time. Hongwoo sat down, ready to face his opponent.

Opposite him sat a graceful young woman, her poise indicating that she likely came from a noble family. Yesterday, it had been the sons of noble families whom he had defeated. Today, it seemed like it was the aristocratic daughter’s turn.

Hongwoo wasn’t a scoundrel—he wasn’t going to try to win by any dirty means. He would have preferred to let the young lady win, but his circumstances didn’t allow for such kindness.

‘I’m sorry, miss, but I have to win this.’

In his mind, Hongwoo silently apologized to the young lady, knowing full well that he needed to secure his victory.

The first question came:

“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?”

The young noblewoman answered calmly, without hesitation. But it wasn’t correct.

As the challenge continued, Hongwoo began to feel the pressure. 

‘Please don’t get this right, miss. You seem wealthy enough—please let me win.’

Once again, Hongwoo’s inner thoughts revealed a side of him he wasn’t proud of.

‘Stay calm’, he told himself. ‘She might still make a mistake. Focus and remember—the protagonist with a jade in his mouth. What was that novel?’

Hongwoo thought for a moment, his mind working through the possibilities, and then it clicked.

“Gabook?”

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

“Dream of the Red Chamber!”

“Correct.”

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.